Why is watching/downloading child porn illegal?

Because it's both disgusting and immoral.

But I can foresee a time when paedophilia is just as normal as homosexuality. It was seen as "disgusting" and "immoral" (and still is by some) We were much less accepting of homosexuality 50+ years ago, and over the last 50 years we have gradually become more accepting of it. I predict that one day, unfortunately, the same will be said of paedophilia.

Violent porn, snuff videos and the like are illegal.

Violent porn, snuff videos and the like are illegal.

I really doubt it. Homosexuality was "unnatural and sinful". It was deemed disgusting and perverted but the individuals involved were normally consenting adults.

Paedophillia is never about consent. A child can rarely give knowing consent and in 99.9% of cases having sex with a child is abuse and rape. This is not the same as a poorly-understood activity between adults.

That said, I have no problem with paedophillia. I have a problem with actual abusers, not those who keep their feelings to themselves and don't harm children.

Why?

If it involves consenting adults... why should it be illegal to make or distribute?

Why?

If it involves consenting adults... why should it be illegal to make or distribute?

Because it supports the 'industry'. If people are allowed to produce it, then they will begin to sell it, which creates a market in child porn as it becomes a commodity. This should be discouraged.

exactly this

Viewing internet pornography of any kind is immoral.

I doubt it would be possible to "sell" child porn online without getting caught very quickly. Online payment>website>online account/proxy account>bank account>paedo. It's pretty simple to catch someone who's trying to make money from it even if they try and use complicated payment methods also the person buying it would get caught as well as their bank details will be on record.

I can't believe someone would even post this. If you see something child rape happening, you should report it not touch yourself to it. Disgusting topic.

I agree with this tbh. I also don't see child rape as being significantly different to adult rape.

This thread seems to be about a few people who want a libertarian society but don't know where the boundaries and rules should be.

The essence of a free society is that people are both free to do as they please and free from harm knowlingly caused by others. Thus, there must be rules.

If you think watching child porn, snuff videos and the like should be free and legal, can you account for the people who get benefit, financial or otherwise, from you doing so? The people who will kill, maim and rape for money, notoriety or something else?

Do you believe all policing efforts should go soley into catching those who commit the act and not those who watch it? What about those who film it, but are not involved with the actual abuse? What about borderline cases where consent may or may not be present? What about the issue of giving consent when there is evidence to suggest you don't truly understand what is happening? How about the effects of supply and demand?

This isn't just a case of "isn't Stanhope a legend with his boozy rants about the hypocrisy of society". If you have the brains, balls and evidence to coherently discuss the suitability and morality of a given law, in all its complexity, I'd like to hear it.

Personally, I'd like to see all media that involves the killing, hurting and sexual abuse of non-consenting individuals to be both illegal to film and illegal to distribute. However, I realise this poses a problem for news outlets, for welfare organisations, for under-cover work, for staged "fantasy" porn and for those who engage in consensual activities that are deemed too . . . odd for anyone in their right mind to be involved with. I don't have all the answers but a lot of you seem to think you do.