First - Gnutella (the network that LimeWire is a client for) is not like napster. It has been deliberately designed so that there aren't any central servers through which the content is filtered. This means that it isn't possible to remove child porn from the network.

2. There is a freedom of information issue here. Today child pornography is the worst thing most people can imagine. In other times and places religious, political, sexual, social and personal freedom of expression has been curtailed. The price for freedom of information is that other people get to have freedom of their information. If you want the right to say (or distribute) your favourite/important things - then you must accept that other people also have this right. And yes; sometimes what they say will annoy/anger/frighten/tittilate or otherwise affect you.

c. Why get steamed up about child pornography? Surely we should get steamed up about child abuse? Pictures of people being murdered aren't illegal, but murder is illegal. Pictures of the act might help to prosecute the offenders. [Getting hysterical over CP and Paedophilia is a way of avoiding the unpleasant fact that the vast (overwhelming) majority of child abuse happens within the family].

iv. There is no evidence that pornography of any kind leads to criminal activity or child abuse. It may even reduce such things. E.g. A trial in a prison showed violent films to the inmates. The incidence of actual violence within the prison reduced. E.g. 2 - the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in europe is in the country with the strictest sexual censorship rules. The lowest rate if teenage pregnancies in europe is in the country with least sexual censorship.

Epsilon. As far as I am aware, the vast majority of what claims to be child porn is not. Quite a lot appears to be adverts for (above age of consent) sex sites.

Mark

Must have been horrible ...