Thoughts on War and Porn

This is so outrageous a statement that I have to announce 1) I'm too much of a girlie-man to actually endorse it but 2) I can't help posting it.

My theory on why war and pornography contribute so much to technological advance is, not that they spur advancements, but that they reduce the barriers to advancement.

It's obvious how this works in the case of war. Desperation in the face of imminent destruction will loosen up most people. In the case of pornography, well, it's a furtive, antisocial vice to begin with. The "What will the neighbors say?" factor is already eliminated. And, it oftened involves fantasy, so the limits of current reality are eliminated as well.

Drugs are oftened touted for similar effects, but unfortunately they make you stupid. Maybe they reduce the barriers, but they also reduce your ability. So war and pornography are better.

Thanks to Bob.

It's not often that someone will champion both war and porn as crucial elements of technological and social evolution. So, when someone does, you really have to seize the moment.

Actually, come to think of it, maybe that's why my audience will just never get all that big. Liberals love porn (in theory, anyway; a lot of them are real prigs); conservatives "love" war-- well, not love it so much as see it frequently as the lesser of two evils.

But there's not a big demographic for porn-lovin', war-lovin' blog readers.

I guess we're a very select group. We should be proud... I guess.

Let's be honest: we're a bunch of warmongering perverts.

But Seriously... His point about war changing society is undeniable. Many of the most important changes in society occurred due to war, because war is such a serious, deadly business that long-standing but stupid traditions are no longer an affordable luxury, and society changes because it has to.

Women working in factories, for starters.

posted by Ace at 11:42 AM

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