Avoiding controversy

I'm certainly not going to be doing that in this post. Some controversy should not be avoided.

But it is with fear and trepidition that I wade into this particular unpleasant subject matter and go on public record stating my opposition to porn. I know there will be fallout. I fully expect horrid comments left on my blog --- and I will delete anything that is offensive, obscene, blasphemous, etc.

Most people who have had the courage to express public opposition to porn also feel a need to issue disclaimers so that no one will think they are self-righteous prudes out to ruin people's fun. Frankly, I don't care if people pity my poor husband for being married to the sort of person they will assume me to be. I'm not going to waste my time trying to convince anyone that I'm not some sort of dour killjoy.

Nor am I going to debate the morality of pornography, or the differences between erotica and porn, or the beauty of the human form, or any of the other stuff that people love to debate in defense of their porn use.

Instead, I'd like to post a link: The No Porn Pledge.

As far as I know, the only agenda the No Porn Pledge website has is this:

What this site is:

This site was created as an answer to those who claim that "everyone uses porn," and to those who try to make you feel isolated and weird because you're uncomfortable with pornography use. One of the goals of pro-porners is to get you to think you're uncool or asexual because you don't like porn, like you're the one with the problem. As a result, far too many people - especially women - go around thinking they're the "only ones" who dislike porn, and we know that simply isn't true. Our goal is to make you feel more comfortable about your discomfort with porn. You are definitely not the only one.

This site is a place for you to publicly declare your porn-free status. By adding your name to the list, you are affirming that:

• You will not use pornography in any format.

• You will not date, sleep with, or have a serious relationship with a known pornography user.

This site is intended only for people with their minds made up. Signing is obviously voluntary. If you are a happy porn user with no plans to quit, you shouldn't sign. If you are in a committed marriage with a porn user and have no plans to divorce them, you shouldn't sign. If you're not sure whether porn use is a good or bad thing, you shouldn't sign. If you add fake names or sign up your buddies without their knowledge, well, you're only making us look more numerous.

Finally, we know that people arrive at antiporn views through different routes. Some are former porn addicts who've damaged their relationships with porn use. Others have been exploited, betrayed, or abused via someone else's porn use. Some hate porn for religious reasons, others for feminist or political reasons. We don't care how you got here, as long as you are willing to declare yourself one of us.

Do you have the courage to sign the pledge? They aren't even asking you to give your last name. Don't worry; signing it won't make you a feminist or a religious fanatic. All it means is that you are willing to be counted as someone who is anti-porn.

And, unpopular as it is, I've decided to go on record. Let the chips fall where they may.