Toby's Ironman-In-Training Blog

The organization which governs much of how the Internet works recently approved a new “top-level domain” for adult-oriented content. Websites ending with .xxx will belong to this new domain, and a company was chosen to administer the domain based on a specific set of criteria and operating guidelines.

As far as I’m concerned, this seems like a great idea for everyone involved. Responsible adult websites can set up shop in this domain without fear that they will be accused of trying to lure underage or unsuspecting visitors. Parents who wish to prevent their children from viewing such content can easily set up a firewall to block it (assuming, of course, that they know enough about computers to keep their kids from bypassing the firewall). Libraries and other organizations which are under fire for being too lax in blocking this content will have a much easier time.

Unfortunately, the Bush administration and certain self-righteous religious groups are now raising objections to this domain. The “Family Research Council” made the following incredibly ignorant statement: “pornographers will be given even more opportunities to flood our homes, libraries and society with pornography through the .xxx domain.”

As big a supporter of President Bush that I am, it always annoys me to see him give in so easily to the religious right and other “family” groups. Cancelling Kid Rock from appearing at an inauguration event hosted by his daughters is a great example of this. If you don’t like Kid Rock, don’t watch. And while you’re at it, explain to your kids why you don’t approve of his music. Why does it so often seem that the very groups which espouse taking responsibility for raising your own children are the first ones to complain loudly and bitterly when they feel others aren’t doing enough to set standards for them?

The entire point of this new domain is to allow the adult industry to regulate itself in a voluntary, responsible manner. It’s the websites that try to pose as something else, then serve up adult content once unsuspecting websurfers enter, that these groups should worry about. It’s the websites that try to trick search engines into redirecting queries for popular information to their sites that are a problem. Any website that would set up in a domain specifically created for adult content isn’t trying to trick anyone!