When you mention to people in the office you’re off to cover Sexpo they give you a funny look.
And when you get back they laugh and ask if it was a freak show.
And when you look them in the eye and ask if they look at porn on the internet they sort of squirm.
It’s kind of a dumb question I suppose – to get a surprising response you’d probably have to ask the opposite – do they NOT look at porn on the internet?
In fact a recent Newspoll found a massive 70% of Aussie adults are in favour of adult material being available in restricted premises. And when Newspoll talked to young people – it jumped up to 82%.
Interestingly a whopping 80% of Australians that have children are in favour of non-violent erotica being legal and available from adult shops compared to 69% of those that don’t have kids.
The problem is that non-violent erotica is still illegal to sell in NSW. The X-rated stuff. Even though 5 million X-rated tapes are sold here every year. Shopkeepers just do it, risking prosecution. And the police ignore it because the law is so stupid.
It’s kinda silly given a study carried out way back in 2002 found 26% of Australian adults regularly view adult material online or on DVD. Way back when the internet was a novelty not a necessity.
And one this year found nearly half of women are accessing adult material online.
And what about people who never had a real shot? What about people who aren’t beautiful? What about the people who are disabled? What about the people who are single?
Why should they be denied the right to access adult gear?
And is it too outrageous to insinuate that Catholic priests would be less likely to commit indiscretions with members of their flock if they could either get married or masturbate? Maybe it is.
Anyway. People have a laugh at Sexpo – but I bet most would love to go and have a look at what’s on offer. I suppose it’s just easier to do it from behind their PC.
P.S. The writer would like to stress he never looks at porn. He also reserves the right to judge those who do.
Sexpo runs from Thursday 24 July to Sunday 27 July at the Hordern Pavilion and the Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park, Sydney.