Never ceases to amaze me ...

... How people can condone graphic violence but yet find sex unacceptable. And I'm looking at you, Utah!

My argument has always been that our naked bodies and sexual activity are both very natural (as it turns out, sex is even mostly necessary). These things should not be considered shameful or "bad." Sex should be framed as adult activity that requires responsibility, but in that light it's not much different from driving a car. You get to do both at about the same age, too. That's no real coincidence.

Sure, sex can involve seamy things, but mostly these are violence and degradation. Between consenting adults, I can't think of much (outside of violence, etc.) that should bother anyone. But that's me. Sex does not pull us down a hole (heh) to the Dark Side. Trust me. I've been married twice, and I can say with certainty that sex with my wife (both of them, but not at the same time) does no harm to either of us. Frankly, it's quite enjoyable.

So what's the deal? I'd like to hear an argument from someone for why sex should be banned (as in the movie theater example cited here), but violence is OK. Violence is not OK, and we should shun it with all the vim and vigor with which we seem to shun sex. Well, at least some of us shun sex ... (don't look away, Utah, this post's for YOU!)

I'm going to say it, but many will disagree with me. It's all about control. Religion, that is. They talk about not loving violence, abhorring it, detesting it, etc., but that's only violence directed at them. If they can get you to wreak violence on some other group, in their name, well then, that's different. But it's not different.

I can watch violence in popular entertainment almost as well as most people. It's all made up--not real--so altogether it has less impact. But I'm an adult and I know the difference between reality and fantasy, and between right and wrong, as well. Our children don't know these things, though, and they get confused. Arguably, that's a good reason for carefully monitoring the amount of exposure they get to things sexual, as well, but we really don't have an equal standard, here, do we? Well, that's my assertion, anyway.

YMMV.