What's the difference?

[April]

I've mentioned this guy before, Dr. John. He's spent more time in jail here than "real" criminals, people with assault and robbery charges, etc.

If you go to the link, there's a pic of his store. Half of the store is lingerie and swimsuits the other half is part-sex toys, part-videos.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4359950/

What's The Difference Between Dr. John, Pay-Per-View?

TheOmahaChannel.com
February 23, 2004 - The man known as Dr. John has spent months in jail for selling obscene video in Omaha, but how do his wares differ from hotel pay-per-view or cable?

John Haltom (pictured, left) is best known as Dr. John. He has 10 adult novelty shops across the country. He just got out of jail in Utah for selling obscene videos. Last year, he spent 6 months in a Douglas County jail for similar charges.

"There's always a good thing that comes out of it," Haltom said. "They arrest me, I go to jail, sales go up."

Haltom said his sales make it clear that people in Omaha want access to what he sells.

Pornography is big business. It's estimated that the sex industry pulls in around $50 billion a year worldwide.

One estimate shows that half of American hotels provide adult entertainment channels. One survey found that almost half of business travelers who check in to hotels, spend some time watching the adult channels.

In the Omaha metro area, a random check of 50 hotels and motels showed that 21 offer adult videos. The Nebraska Hotel/Motel Association said the videos are a "convenience" for guests.

What the difference between the content hotels offer and tapes that put Haltom behind bars?

"It really is a matter of the consensus of the community in it's everyday life," said Marty Conboy, Omaha's city prosecutor. "What are they willing to put up with without complaint? What's available in the community right now?"

Conboy said it's up to a jury to decide when something is obscene. He said the videos being shown in Omaha hotels and on cable are different than what Haltom was selling. He said Haltom's videos were "hard core."

"Very little story content. They are just sex acts. Very graphic. Very explicit," Conboy said.

Haltom said he expects to eventually be arrested again by Omaha police. He's still selling the same videos that landed him in trouble the first time.

"Do I want the cops to come and arrest me again? No, I don't. Will I mind? No, I won't. It's good for business," Haltom said.

[Peanut]

Ummm...let me see if this makes any sense. (I haven't read the article yet because I have small eyes all around me, so pardon my lack of info from the article or anything beyond what you have posted). I also do not know what the pornography laws are in Omaha.

(I did not want this to sit fallow because it is a valid debate topic.)



Here I am, for the sake of debate, a Soccer Mom Extraordinaire, looking for a swimsuit. I look in the yellow pages under swimwear and find this place listed. Let's say I pull up to this store seeking the perfect suit to hide the baby-belly-pouch I have, the stretchmarks, etc. etc.. My kids walk in to the bathing suit store with me.

WHOOPSIE!

By the time I realize this isn't just the basic bathing suit store and that the suits they sell most likely won't suit my post-baby bod, my four year old spots the videos and wants to know if we can borrow one. Meanwhile, my seven year old asks me why there is a giant, ebony colored, double ended penis hanging on the back wall.

Exit, stage left...

Pay per view porn, however, would be something one KNOWINGLY seeks, and wouldn't stumble across on day-to-day business. I think that is the difference.

Just like I have not read the article linked because I know in all likelihood my children may walk into the room and possibly see or read something inapropriate, I would not knowingly walk into a store like that with them along. However, if I was seeking a swimsuit and didn't KNOW...

Pay per view is usually fairly clear as to what you will be seeing and up front about it (no pun intended).

[Lucid]

The link is safe Peanut . The only pics are one of Dr. John in orange and one of the front of his store from a distance it looks like a small department store .

I cannot speak for Dr.John's store since I have never visited it . The one adult store I have been in had blinds on every window that stayed closed and a huge neon sign that said " Adult Store " , and a sign on the door "adults only" . The manager that ran it when I went was a friend's uncle . They did not even allow sleeping infants in there.

If his store is laid out like Peanut's scenerio I can see folks being upset by getting an eye-full of toys and explixit video covers when they are not expecting it .

But if he has nothing porny in view from the street and an adult only sign on the door I do not see what the difference would be . Except videos encourage passive action (watching) were it might could be argued that the toys encourage non passive action .

[April]

You can't really tell from the pic but there are bright neon letters saying it's an adult store, and the whole front walls are glass. The right side of the store has swimsuits hanging in the window. There is a wall between the two halves of the store. The other side is blocked by some kind of display. As soon as you walk in, you're asked for ID. So there's no chance of kids seeing it.

[goddess]

I don't think selling porn should be a jailable offense. It infuriates me that prudes make laws against sexuality in this way. We are sexual beings, and guess what? If the prudes in omaha don't like it, DONT BUY IT, but don't infringe upon my right to do so.

This is so wrong.