[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Absolutely ... no argument with any of that. I really doubt whether any rational person in any civilized country (or even an uncivilized one) would try to defend photographic images of a four year old being forcibly raped as anything other than porn ... and a crime against the child.

Agreed, and I've seen a bit of that. I have daydreams about finding the rapist. He'll find it hard to do it again if he no longer possesses the equipment...

Now, marriage to your 13 year old cousin may be taboo in some places, and totally accepted in others.

Which is all part of the fun of globalization, as cultures where the opinions differ meet and mingle. Consider the cultures where arranged marriage is accepted practice, and kids may be betrothed to each other well before puberty, because it's seen as in the interests of their respective families.

Another good reason to do a bit of research before you find yourself in jail in another country for doing something that wouldn't even cause a batted eyelash in your own.

That describes my attitude about the chap mortally offended about being told to take his camera across the street in Washington, DC. If I travel to another country, I am on someone else's turf, expected to play by their rules. I'm well advised to find out what those rules are before I go, and should not expect sympathy if I break them through ignorance.

Getting up in arms about a new US Customs policy, instead of understanding it .. what it is attempting to do ... and what, if any, practical impact it will actually have on you, is counterproductive and tends to lead to a bunch of people being convinced that their ebook reader or laptop is going to be confiscated because they can't absolutely PROVE they legally purchased their copy of "Huckleberry Finn."

As though the TSA will even look, or have any way of knowing whether it's a legit copy, or care one way or the other. They won't.

Ummm .... they are not going to do that, if you really believe they are going to do that, do NOT .... I repeat ... DO NOT even think about leaving your home ... ever. You are not completely equipped to deal with the outside world. Make yourself a nice foil hat and join the rest of the crowd in paying pshrynk's laddie at the door.

I've encountered some of the tin foil hat crowd elsewhere. As mentioned before, my response is "You wish you were important enough that anyone could be bothered to spy on you!". And I think that's precisely their problem: classical paranoia is a defense mechanism against feelings of insignificance and inferiority. If everyone is out to get you, hey! You're important! You matter! Someone cares enough about you to go through the trouble of trying to get you!

I'm not important. I don't matter. No one is interested in what I do. I like that.
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Dennis