[O/T] Sins of the Flesh:

[joe king]

The secret history of porn and crime.
This is slightly off topic because it was mainly about the US. It had an english narrator (so us 'Brits' could understand her?) but the scenes and culture was all american. It was an interesting series which skirted the line between sensation and an even-handed approach to the subject. I (maybe I am biased) thought it was relatively even-handed and straight.

The story of the law and US obscenity trials was interesting. It had stories on John Holmes, Linda Lovelace, Traci Lords, Ginger Lynn, Tom Byron etc.

The last episode was slightly peripheral, 'snuff' movies just seemed to be a weapon to cause publicity and stop porno.

But I was a bit agitated at the possible 'universality' of the program, it seemed to imply that the US represents the world and we can therefore relate to the events therein.

[alec]

Very similar techniques to those used by the US authorities were used against Mary Millington - i.e. harassment in various ways, including over income tax. Only it resulted in suicide rather than prison. Though she did bring it on herself as far as tax was concerned, if I recall correctly from Sheridan's book.

[magoo]

I agree. As far as americans are concerned the USA is the world. Nice to see you posting in english Joe. Sharon Mitchell is still looking good (or am I perverted). What has she done recently? I am a fan of the older woman (sorry Sharon).

[joe king]

(Linda Lovelace looked ill (she is indeed ill)).
I liked Sharon Mitchell as well,
She is part (or founder) of AIM (aids testing for US Porn Stars).
The thing I learned from the show was
1. Pay your taxes (US mode of harrasment)
2. Don't get addicted to drugs (John Holmes - Savannah)
3. The law is an ass
Rebecca Lords with Ginger Lynn looked great (magnifiqu?!)

[jj]

Nothing new in US parochialism: there was a recent observation that 55% of Yanks don't own a passport! Like the old one about the 2 old biddies who've never seen the sea and finally go 2000 miles to see the Pacific: one says "you know, Edna, it's not as big as I thought it'd be".
I like the conceit of 'Miss' Sharon Mitchell: or is she being ironic? When Babs Stanwyck did it, she at least had deserved it (tho' why advertising your unmarriedness should be a plus I'm not sure), but then Michael Learned (yes, the mum off the Waltons, never did much else) did it, I just fell about.

[cyc]

Looking up Sharon Mitchell on Google gave a webchat she did for Court TV the day after the US version of the programme went out.

http://www.courttv.com/talk/chat_transc ... chell.html

I have to say, I did a double-take at the statistics she gave for STDs in the US industry. Does anyone know if the figures would be similar in the UK ?

-- quote: --

albert_300: About what percentage of actors and actresses in the industry are infected with various STDs, such as herpes, HIV, etc.?

Sharon Mitchell: A very small percentage. Less than 7% HIV, and 12-28% STDs. Herpes is always about 66%. People are medicated with acyclovir for herpes, which is very effective in preventing the herpes outbreaks. Chlamydia and gonorrhea, however, along with hepatitis, seem to stick to everything from dildos to flat surfaces to hands, so, pardon my expression, but we are usually up to our asses in chlamydia.

Court TV Host: Those are all pretty high percentages, though?

Sharon Mitchell: Not when you consider that 700 people per month in the San Fernando Valley are working with each other. Most of these are co-infections. We are a partner notification facility, and all partners are located, detected and treated within one day of the original infected person coming forward. With partners Our statistics indicate that in this business, with first and second generation contact partner tracings, a disease can potentially reach as many as 198 partners in three days. So we have to move very quickly, medicate heavily, and rely on prevention, education and partner counseling. This is what makes Aim Health Care different and special because we're able to do it, and I'm a proud mother.

...

alpino798: Did you ever get any STDs while doing porno?

Sharon Mitchell: Oh yeah. I have gotten herpes, a bout of chlamydia here and there. I also contracted hepatitis from the drug addiction and a case of trichomoniasis. This is standard when you have sex for a living, by the way.

[richard b]

I always find it difficult to believe the current alleged animosity between Tracey Lords and Ginger Lynn

Their scenes together are hot

[joe king]

Traci lords is seen as a porno pariah
http://www.adultvideonews.com/cover/otc0102_01.html
using her notoriety to gain mainstream success while nearly bring down the industry to its knees.

[jj]

This only reinforces my contention that the section of the US industry using condoms is full of shit: these figures are comparable with other sexually-active categories of American society.

[xxl]

Speak for yourself please.
You will not find a bigger patriot than myself. (Chicago}
I however do not think I represent anyone else's view of life anywhere in the world. Most of the people I know also think the way I do.
If you choose to dislike Americans attitudes towards anyone or their way of life, there is probably a very good reason.