we assume this needs to be spoilered

to get it out of the way:

libertarian-alert libertarian-alert libertarian-alert

so like, the argument we hear is that watching it supposedly makes ppl more likely to start watching real material (which is made by harming and exploiting children, and is obvsly bad because of that) or harming kids irl. supposedly there are studies that point to that being the case, and other studies that point to that not being the case. personally we dont rly buy that, because it just sounds like the same exact argument ppl used/use to say that “violent video games” or BDSM or whatever would do the same, or even like the old “weed is a gateway drug” stuff that also had a number of (extremely flawed) studies to “prove” it. what exactly makes this different from any of that other than just feeling more yucky and “wrong”? are there other arguments, are we missing something?

we dont personally watch that stuff tbc (tho if u already think were a filthy pedophile for even asking all of this theres no way were gonna get u to change ur mind lbr) but we dont want to base our feelings on this on just “that feels gross therefore its bad”, we all know where that logic leads, and were struggling to come up with a legitimate reason

Edit: ty for the replies everyone doggirl-thumbsup

  • DogThatWentGorp [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    10·
    9 days ago

    supposedly there are studies that point to that being the case, and other studies that point to that not being the case.

    From what I have remembered reading (which doesnr exactly put me in super elevated place of expertise) the studies that conclude “yes this is a problem” are much more numerous and more well done IMO. Wish I could source those but I can’t remember for the life of me what I was looking at.

    I think if your goal here is objectivity, you’ll reach a better conclusion on the topic by digging deeper into the literature. Change the “supposedly there are” to “I’ve read a lot of studies on this and here’s what they say and here’s some of the blind spots and issues”.

    Could it be bunk like the weed panic? Depends on the studies, methods, reproducibility, expert opinions etc etc etc. But that’s the value of doing research: you can parse studies and the data yourself and work out areas of naunce vs areas of very definite answers.