General News Thread

[SteelBeowulf]

So politics is only important to you when it hinders your hobby, that's fine. But you do realize that the Feds are the ones who implemented 18 U.S. Code § 1466A right? As LegalLoliLover, Then shouldn't you hate the US like you hate China? I mean I thought it would make more sense to say "fuck the feds" a few more times than a country you are a diaspora of and no longer lived there nor has any political influence in.

[SpoonyViking]

It's hard not to associate Lovecraft's racism and xenophobia to his work's general theme of foreign-abominations-out-to-get-you.

Yeah, horror is an interesting genre partly because of that dichotomy: at its heart, its often very conservative, even reactionary in nature ("Dracula" being a classic example of that), but it has also - for a variety of reasons - attracted queers (and I don't mean just in the sense of non-hetero sexualities), especially once you get more sympathetic portrayals of the monsters.

That said, I'm thinking Lovecraft's obvious racism, xenophobia and classism actually diminish the horror in his works. What really separates his works from others in the genre is the existential despair of understanding it's not just you as an individual, but the human species as a whole that is completely meaningless. In light of that, the colour of one's skin shouldn't mean anything.

[LegalLoliLover]

So politics is only important to you when it hinders your hobby, that's fine. But you do realize that the Feds are the ones who implemented 18 U.S. Code § 1466A right? As LegalLoliLover, Then shouldn't you hate the US like you hate China? I mean I thought it would make more sense to say "fuck the feds" a few more times than a country you are a diaspora of and no longer lived there nor has any political influence in.

Thing is, on a federal level, lolicon is perfectly legal in the US. China is more of a threat because creators will often censor themselves in order to break into the Chinese "market", which, given its communist nature, is less of a truly free market and more a swarm of locusts moving at the beck and call of the party insecromancer (or whatever type of mage Zouken is). As for stateside, as I mentioned, despite being legal on the federal level, its legality per state varies. Now, this is where it gets odd. Despite it more likely being legal in blue states over red, I found that in terms of activists, it's those on the left who spout the "problematic microaggression" nonsense:

while those on the right don't seem to care that much about cartoons.

And last time that I checked Jack Thompson is a Democrat, but I also heard that he changed affiliations, so I'm not sure. Usually, the states where it is illegal is not because of laws pertaining to actual child porn, but rather laws pertaining this subjective, ridiculous notion of "obscenity", which could in theory cover pretty much every fetish in existence. Now, in terms of my... compatriots, the loli site, ATF, has a politics sub-forum, as many sites do: https://allthefallen.moe/forum/index...s/politics.68/ And while it is generally mixed, it appears to lean a bit more to the right than to the left.

[Pendant]

[rxrx]

What a minute, when is being a pedophile LEGAL in USA?

[LegalLoliLover]

More like, fiction and drawings don't count as child porn federally but may still be considered "obscene" in a given state.

[Mattias]

Sure, but what's the split at the state level? I'm guessing more lean towards 'Illegal', especially which how conservative the south is.

Which poses an interesting question, if there's no federal law against it, but the majority of the states do have laws against it, is it generally considered illegal in the US? What's the threshold? 51%? 66%? 90%?

[SteelBeowulf]

Doesn't matter, obscenity laws for fictional works are pretty stupid to begin with. Downright puritan.

[rxrx]

Let's expect war, hot or cold seeing how USA is demanding the closure of the Houston Chinese Embassy. Does Trump really need such tactics to ensure a win in the elections?

[Twelveseal]

Honestly? Maybe? His popularity is tanking still, last I'd heard.

[LegalLoliLover]

Sure, but what's the split at the state level? I'm guessing more lean towards 'Illegal', especially which how conservative the south is.

Which poses an interesting question, if there's no federal law against it, but the majority of the states do have laws against it, is it generally considered illegal in the US? What's the threshold? 51%? 66%? 90%?

The Supremacy Clause of the Constitution of the United States, establishes that the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and treaties made under its authority, constitute the "supreme Law of the Land", and thus take priority over any conflicting state laws. It is legal in RI, California, and Oregon. I actually thought that it was illegal in Massachusetts, but given that I bought doujins of Eliza and Helena at Anime Boston, probably not. Most likely, the "majority of states" do not have anything direct against it, but rather if they want to pursue something, they go for obscenity, not child pornography. Obscenity, which is essentially every fetish in existence.

[Twelveseal]

Sounds about right, tbh.

[rxrx]

Honestly? Maybe? His popularity is tanking still, last I'd heard.

If that's the case, it is understandable for the increasingly hawkish tactics. COVID-19 still a menace everyone with no end in sight, BLM protests all around. There is a need to divert attention all right.

[LegalLoliLover]

COVID is directly connected to China, and the riots are connected to China in the same way that Trump might be connected to Russia.

[AsGryffynn]

Honestly? Maybe? His popularity is tanking still, last I'd heard.

I am sure that's how Biden intends to win: by keeping himself out of the spotlight... I mean, when did we last hear about the guy?

[rxrx]

I am sure that's how Biden intends to win: by keeping himself out of the spotlight... I mean, when did we last hear about the guy?

That's the best strategy for now. Trump self-destructs.

[Twelveseal]

I am sure that's how Biden intends to win: by keeping himself out of the spotlight... I mean, when did we last hear about the guy?

It's not that he's staying silent. He's just keeping his activities low-key by comparison. Trump, meanwhile, has a psychological compulsion to seek out attention and approval, so he eats up the airwaves.

[OverMaster]

Even under the best mental circumstances, an acting President in functions would have a much better amount of available exposure during a major health crisis than someone who doesn't control the system yet. It's just that Trump has managed to turn that public attention completely against himself. Granted, I think that in the long run the whole thing is pretty much useless (the virus is too sneaky and no economy and society can possibly outlast it in this attrition game), but had he played his cards well, he at least could've gotten some shorter term recognition from his handling of the situation.

[LJ3]

There's not really any value in expecting Trump to show positive leadership, considering everything that's happend since his inauguration.

Well, I would guess those who believe him to do no wrong would consider so far to be great, but that's such a disconnect from everyone else.

Dude just can't help fucking up basic consolation and empathy. Whiffing all the softball opportunities.

[Deathhappens]

Thing is, on a federal level, lolicon is perfectly legal in the US. China is more of a threat because creators will often censor themselves in order to break into the Chinese "market", which, given its communist nature, is less of a truly free market and more a swarm of locusts moving at the beck and call of the party insecromancer (or whatever type of mage Zouken is). As for stateside, as I mentioned, despite being legal on the federal level, its legality per state varies. Now, this is where it gets odd. Despite it more likely being legal in blue states over red, I found that in terms of activists, it's those on the left who spout the "problematic microaggression" nonsense:

while those on the right don't seem to care that much about cartoons.

And last time that I checked Jack Thompson is a Democrat, but I also heard that he changed affiliations, so I'm not sure. Usually, the states where it is illegal is not because of laws pertaining to actual child porn, but rather laws pertaining this subjective, ridiculous notion of "obscenity", which could in theory cover pretty much every fetish in existence. Now, in terms of my... compatriots, the loli site, ATF, has a politics sub-forum, as many sites do: https://allthefallen.moe/forum/index...s/politics.68/ And while it is generally mixed, it appears to lean a bit more to the right than to the left.

I don't know why I came back to this thread, but I was informed just last week that as per obscenity laws lolicon is absolutely illegal in federal terms. California, I think it was, has precedent against it, but I wouldn't bet my continuing freedom and existence as not-a-pariah-of-society on that if I were you.

- - - Updated - - -

to wit:

Obscenity Involving Minors

Federal statutes specifically prohibit obscenity involving minors, and convicted offenders generally face harsher statutory penalties than if the offense involved only adults.

Section 1470 of Title 18, United States Code, prohibits any individual from knowingly transferring or attempting to transfer obscene matter using the U.S. mail or any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce to a minor under 16 years of age. Convicted offenders face fines and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

In addition, Section 1466A of Title 18, United State Code, makes it illegal for any person to knowingly produce, distribute, receive, or possess with intent to transfer or distribute visual representations, such as drawings, cartoons, or paintings that appear to depict minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and are deemed obscene. This statute offers an alternative 2-pronged test for obscenity with a lower threshold than the Miller test. The matter involving minors can be deemed obscene if it (i) depicts an image that is, or appears to be a minor engaged in graphic bestiality, sadistic or masochistic abuse, or sexual intercourse and (ii) if the image lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. A first time offender convicted under this statute faces fines and at least 5 years to a maximum of 20 years in prison.