Congresscritters told "internet porn = heroin"

Conservative porn-prohibitionists addressing Congress yesterday compared online porn to heroin — and urged lawmakers to fund studies about "porn addiction" and create a propaganda public health campaign warning of the dangers. Perhaps a surgeon general's warning for vibrators and videos is in order. All joking aside, how you feel about porn isn't as important here as how you feel about, in their words, "curbing" the internet and other forms of communication. It always starts in the name of the children, doesn't it?

Mary Anne Layden, co-director of a sexual trauma program at the University of Pennsylvania, said pornography's effect on the brain mirrors addiction to heroin or crack cocaine. She told of one patient, a business executive, who arrived at his office at 9 a.m. each day, logged onto Internet porn sites, and didn't log off until 5 p.m. Layden called for billboards and bus ads warning people to avoid pornography, strip clubs and prostitutes.

The panel discussion ranged from hardcore, violent pornography to audience complaints about a sexually suggestive promo that aired prior to this week's "Monday Night Football" game. Brownback, an outspoken Christian conservative who has championed efforts to curb indecency on television and the Internet, said the public is beginning to realize "they don't just have to take it." But he acknowledged the First Amendment right to free speech has limited congressional efforts.

Link. Just in case they're right, I urge you — whatever you do — to please, please not click on the Suicide Girls ad that appears to the right of this blog post. Like pot, it leads to (ahem) harder things. (thanks, JP)