Sunday, March 26, 2017

Spanko Brunch 2.0 #169

It's the weekend, and that means it's another chance for us all to renew old friendships and forge new ones at our regular spanko brunch. Lately I have been dipping into the various new blogs that Ronnie announces in her In with the New feature. Spanking blogs have one thing in common—the subject—but beyond that, the variety of content is amazing.

This brings to mind a topic of a brunch from some years ago that I thought should be readdressed. It was the subject of a discussion between my husband and me, and I am eager for your opinions.

Are spanking blogs pornography? What, in your mind, differentiates a spanking blog from a pornographic blog? When does a spanking blog become pornographic?

Leave your response as a comment and I will publish a summary of our discussion once everyone has had a chance to join in.
From Hermione's Heart

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

When a blog goes from shared advice to titillation it edges into erotica (if executed tastefully) or pornography ( if done in a more tawdry or vulgar way).

Where the line is drawn between the two is a matter of opinion.

Roz said...

I think it depends on the nature and content of the blog. For example, blogs which mainly feature spanking images or focus on graphic descriptions of spanking could be verging on pornography.

Bonnie said...

I have to ask what is the definition of pornography? Is it any type of erotic expression? Is it any erotic expression that some people find offensive? Is it erotic expression that is vulgar, commercial or sleazy? Does it necessarily have to be obscene? And what does that mean?

I think anything that sane, consenting people do is OK. Recording it is also OK, again as long as everyone involved is safe, sane, and consenting. Recording it for money is OK too and so is selling it. Some of the resulting recordings may appeal to me and some may not. But all are legitimate expressions of human sexuality. Adult spankings are, at least for us, just another form of erotic expression.

Just because I don't care for a certain type of scene doesn't make it pornography. I can say, "that's not for me," and not desire to keep it from those who do like it. In fact, I feel obligated to be open minded because I am certain that lots of people would prefer to ban media that appeal to me.

The connotation of the word is something bad, immoral, or at least unproductive. I don't see it that way. Healthy sex and healthy attitudes about sex have tremendous benefits for individuals and for society. Erotica is one way that people can identify, refine, and embrace their own unique interests.

I don't think I answered the question because pornography is such an elusive concept, and perhaps one that has outlived its usefulness.

Anonymous said...

I look at it this way, if it takes my attention away from my wife then it's pornography.

Yorkie

Dr. Ken said...

Pornography is in the eye of the beholder.

Aimless Rambling said...

As Dr. Ken said, I think it is all up to the individual. I'm sure the Puritans would think it pornographic.

Baxter said...

Dictionary.com has this definition: noun
1.
sexually explicit videos, photographs, writings, or the like, whose purpose is to elicit sexual arousal.

So spanking blogs do fit the definition. As I have been reading spanking blogs over the years, it did occur to me it was pornography. But that has not stopped me from reading them and enjoying the stories and pictures. And I fully intend on continuing to read them and enjoy spanking tumblrs and reading spanking erotica.
Baxter

ronnie said...

A lot would say it's pornographic but personally, I think its all up to the individual.

Love,
Ronnie
xx

ronnie said...

Hermione, forgot to thank you for the mention.

Love,
Ronnie
xx

Sweetspot said...

In the obscenity case of Jacobellis v. Ohio (1964), United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously wrote in his short concurrence that "hard-core pornography" was hard to define, but that "I know it when I see it". I can only speak for myself but I rarely SEE anything that I consider pornographic in the "spanking" blogs that I frequent.

A common definition of pornography is that if an event, item, amusement, etc. has no redeeming social value but serves only to satisfy a prurient interest, [prurient interest - let me put it this way, something whose only purpose is to scratch your sexual itch.]and patently ignores community standards in it's gross display of ...well I guess of whatever grosses you out but sex and excretion, in particular it is pornography. Everything from breast feeding to dropping the F bomb offends somebody. Is there no redeeming value in telling a joke that has the topic of spanking? Is sharing examples of spanking in the comic strips without value for historical purposes? If spanking titillates me how is that any different or less valuable to society than say tits titillating me?

You are your own best judge in considering what is pornography, I for one don't trust the "community" to make decisions in this area for me. But I am law-abiding and will conform to the rule of law particularly as it concerns protecting those who can't protect themselves. I don't consider the true spanking blog to be any more pornography than Fifty Shades of Grey...only a lot more entertaining.