(this thread has gone down a weird road)
I absolutely do not understand you. Perhaps my speaking tone makes you uncomfortable? Perhaps
@galactus got uncomfortable? I think it's great to read, to think, to express. Agree or disagree, it's a good exercise. There's no win, lose or draw, misunderstandings can be corrected, it's far more interesting to say your pieces, and see how it goes, rather then keep a distance to avoid potential uncomfortable or misunderstanding.
What I see last few weeks (1) this one Hitomi/agency story generated three threads in this forum, (2) there was the case of male AV fan-performer stabbing an idol, (3) the ex-AKB48 trainee (Yua Hikami) making AV and saying something about her past, (4) discussion about Yua and other AV performer working as prostitutes. It's almost enough to construct a conspiracy theory that "dark forces" are attacking porn and sex industry. So it's a good place to figure out how we (yes,
we, why not? of course
we may not all share agreement) see this whole ball of wax.
This thread is hardly about one Hitomi Fujiwara case or even collection of few cases. It's the legal, ethical, moral question of sex industry.
About
@Motiman 's post, I think it might be an interesting exercise to re-think the whole thing and switch out sex for something else, like caffeinated beverage. My point is that we (actually by
we I really mean Y'ALL
）have been brainwashed into treating sex differently from other commercial products like coffee or limo service or investment advice. If you look at objectively the sex industry is cleaner and nicer than most so-called mainstream respectable business or political sectors.
Why can I say that? Well it seems the worst that those anti-porn activists can come up with is Hitomi case, which is... come on... it's far less fucked-upped than your typical Hollywood or Broadway behind-the-scene dirty secrets. Only it's sex so suddenly a little inappropriate pressure tactics become this big deal.
There was this other interview of a soapland worker (i.e. hooker) who said it takes a lot of intelligence to be successful soapland hooker and she has a whole practical career plan that will see her to her retirement with a comfortable and rewarding professional and private life. I like to see a world that if a young woman want to (or perhaps just try out) a sex work career, it's comparable to when a young man tells his parent he's gay. A bit uncomfortable OK, but not totally outrageous or scandalous or disappointing.
What I like about Stoya's angle is that we are entering (hopefully?) this post-feminist, post-sexual-revolution era. I like that a snobby-upper-classy magazine would publish a big article on a porn star as a person and a careerist maybe even an artist or thinker, not as a victim (but I dislike the title of the article). I think we should fight the brainwashing that "male sexual desires and fantasy" is the root of some kind evil and victimize these girls to enter this shady world and blah blah. What truly victimize these women are not AV buyers or agency or studio or johns or pimps or mama-sans. What truly piss me off is these tabloid journalists and police and judges and lawyers and politicians who do everything they can to make AV performers and hookers feel bad about themselves, to make the society to look down on them.
Today's women are strong and powerful, these people who claim to protect women (how curious fundamentalist Christians and Muslims are united on this) really want to strip women of their power and their worth.
