Pornography on Smart Phones, Essay Example

Some people argue that “Individuals are morally entitled to watch pornography on their smart phones wherever and whenever they want to, if that is what they want to do.” The same argument could also be extended to watching pornography in public places such as on computers in public libraries or during commute on public transportation systems. The position of the opponents is best summed up by Lewis Goldberg who argues that when he brings his media into a public space, he has certain responsibilities towards others as a member of a civil society (Richtel). The defenders of the argument fail to distinguish the different between private and public space and they also realize that many rights guaranteed by the constitution do not always come without restrictions.

We can get drunk in the privacy of our homes but getting drunk in public space or behind the wheels has legal consequences. We can smoke within private premises but the right to smoke cannot be enjoyed in all public places. The reason we have different rights within private premises and in the public spaces is that our actions affect others in public spaces, too, thus, the law seeks to protect others from our risky choices. When we watch pornography in the public space, we cannot guarantee preventing exposure to individuals who need to be protected such as children and teens. We ascribe ratings to movies so that we can limit the access to only certain groups. But such a precaution is almost impossible in public areas even if one watches pornography on personal smart phones.

As members of the society, we also have obligations towards other and allowing pornography on smart phones will threaten the society’s ability to protect its children from mature content as well as create a hospitable and family-oriented environment in public spaces. The argument that we should let people do what they want is weak because it hints at an absolute freedom and even the most democratic societies do not guarantee absolute freedom. There is a reason we have laws against drugs and prostitution.

Reference

Richtel, Matt. He’s Watching That, in Public? Pornography Takes Next Seat. 21 July 2012. 15 November 2012 <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/21/us/tablets-and-phones-lead-to-more-pornography-in-public.html>.