Reasoning behind sex toy bans?

Contributor: Yojimbo42 Yojimbo42
I have searched around with Google trying to find what the reasoning behind banning sex toys is...but can't really find anything. I'm annoyed with the whole idea of it, but I'd like to at least know why such an annoyance supposedly exists...could it just be that people still think sex is a dirty word?

I can only seem to find articles about bans being reevaluated and such...anyone have any insights?

I'm sure someone is just gonna post exactly the link i was looking for or something...but please know...effort was made to find the answer myself haha...
08/17/2008
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Contributor: Innocently Masturbating Innocently Masturbating
There were some people I admire who upheld the ban on sex toys in Texas. While I admire them, their reasoning was illogical. If fact, I'd say they had no reasoning at all.

Basically, they said sex was for procreation only. While social conservatives may not like obscene things, the mass majority of them will tell you sex is for more than just procreation. So, this isn't a conservative versus liberal issue. It's just very, very stupid.

The stigma against masturbation is astoundingly bizarre. If people are against it for religious reasons, where does it state in their religious texts that it's wrong? I can tell you that there's nothing in the Bible against masturbation, only lusting after one who is not yours. I can't recall any religious texts that are against self pleasure.
More weirdly, if a person is against masturbation, but not because of religious reasons, then why are they against it?

I feel strongly about self pleasure because I had lived so long with erroneously thinking I was doing something wrong. I had no proof of it being wrong. No scientific proof nor religious.

There's more restriction on sex toys than there is on porn. It boggles my mind. Keeping toys out of sight of those who don't want to see them, I can understand, but I can't understand banning them all together. I've seen much worse in Spencer's Gifts.

Personally, I would have rather had the state kill the ban instead of the SCOTUS. I don't think it was a federal issue.

Sorry for the rant. :-|
08/17/2008
Contributor: Essin' Em Essin' Em
Mostly, it goes along with the sodomy laws, etc (similar to what innocently masturbating said). Basically, there were (and still are) many people who believe sex is only for the purpose of procreation, and that anything else (oral sex, anal sex, and even sometimes masturbation in some cases) is immoral, and should be strongly discouraged.

So really, it's a case of one person's morality against another.
08/17/2008
Contributor: Yojimbo42 Yojimbo42
Hmmmmm I guess I see...Though I find it extremely difficult to understand why one person's discomfort of masturbation or anything beyond procreational sex, makes it seem acceptable to some to have laws against all that jazz.

Thinking so...for lack of a good vocabulary...self centeredly...seems nearly impossible to me...Do they believe they are making things better for everyone else somehow? That sex toys and masturbation in general is leading to the degradation of our society...despite being done in private...?

Such things I cannot possibly fathom...
08/17/2008
Contributor: Cock Wrangler Cock Wrangler
Quote:
Originally posted by Yojimbo42
Hmmmmm I guess I see...Though I find it extremely difficult to understand why one person's discomfort of masturbation or anything beyond procreational sex, makes it seem acceptable to some to have laws against all that jazz.Thinking so...for lack ... more
It doesn't make it acceptable, at least not to a lot of us. It also comes down to the basic issue of religion/politics- the former does not belong in the latter, but it's there anyway.

I'm also a big believer in privacy- what I choose to do in my personal life is not something to be regulated, so long as it's consensual to all those directly involved.
08/19/2008
Contributor: AnalArtist AnalArtist
I think they assume if you use sex toys, you are a perv and will ruin socitey or destory something. I cam from a big religious family and masturbation was looked down on. I never understood why? I did it by myself, not involving anyone or hurting anyone. Also, I think it made me a better person. I would take time and take care of a basic human need. I didn't get girls in high school, so by doing that. I wouldn't be horny and well just thinking of sex all the time. Ok, I still do but haha.
However, it's kind of a double standred. My parents taught me masturbating was wrong but then I found theri sex toy collection. Now, as an adult, I see nothing wrong with it. But thought sex was dirty, yeah I thought it was the worst.
I think it's more people just don't want to understand or see, yeah people might like this but doesn't make them bad. I can't imagine life without sex or sex toys.
Well their lost.
09/08/2008
Contributor: Snappy Snappy
What confuses me, and makes me laugh, is that now the toys will have to be disguised as foot massagers or novelties. People will have to go to the hardware and kitchen stores and improvise again. I think that this is a step backward for society. It's scary.
09/30/2008
Contributor: deceased deceased
In Texas you can have guns and rifles but no dildos or vibes.....
06/10/2009
Contributor: Naughty Student Naughty Student
Quote:
Originally posted by deceased
In Texas you can have guns and rifles but no dildos or vibes.....
I wonder which is destroying society more than the other...
06/10/2009
Contributor: onezestygal onezestygal
As you may know, in a lot of states there are bans on "obscene devices" that deter others from having sex for procreation. Now although sex toys often fall into that category of sexual pleasure without producing expected offspring, the original reason for many of these laws were for birth control. In the late 1800's there were laws that even outlawed the discussion of controlling reproduction as well as distributing information about it through the US mail. 24 states criminalized the dissemination of contraceptives devices, calling them obscene and immoral.
In fact, Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in 1916 in Brooklyn, NY. She was arrested a few days later and was convicted and spent 30 days in jail for promoting birth control.

-I major in Political Science, History and Women's Studies so talking about this was fun
11/15/2009
Contributor: onezestygal onezestygal
Quote:
Originally posted by deceased
In Texas you can have guns and rifles but no dildos or vibes.....
Thats similar to a monologue I heard from the Vagina Monologues
11/15/2009
Contributor: deceased deceased
I have friends from Texas. They all own arsenals. You can wear a gun in public, and they are easy to buy, and same thing in GA. I lived there for 8 friggin years. I owned a couple Glocks but no sex toys. I shot a rat in an apartment building and was fined 2K, but no jail time, no arrest. I guess if I took a trip out of state and came back with dildos, I'd be in jail.
11/15/2009
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Quote:
Originally posted by Essin' Em
Mostly, it goes along with the sodomy laws, etc (similar to what innocently masturbating said). Basically, there were (and still are) many people who believe sex is only for the purpose of procreation, and that anything else (oral sex, anal sex, and ... more
YAY! I'm immoral!

I read a story a couple years ago about a pastor who waited outside of a XXX store and took pictures of people going into and out of the store. He then went up to them and asked them what Jesus and/or their family would do if they saw them there.
11/15/2009
Contributor: removedacnt removedacnt
Quote:
Originally posted by deceased
I have friends from Texas. They all own arsenals. You can wear a gun in public, and they are easy to buy, and same thing in GA. I lived there for 8 friggin years. I owned a couple Glocks but no sex toys. I shot a rat in an apartment building and was ... more
Curious, Is it illegal to own or just buy a sex toy in Texas?
11/15/2009
Contributor: removedacnt removedacnt
Quote:
Originally posted by removedacnt
Curious, Is it illegal to own or just buy a sex toy in Texas?
So of course I had to go look this up and apparently Alabama is the only state that it is still illegal in. Here's a link to the NY Times article.

link
11/15/2009
Contributor: Envy Envy
Quote:
Originally posted by removedacnt
So of course I had to go look this up and apparently Alabama is the only state that it is still illegal in. Here's a link to the NY Times article.

link ... more
Figures the one state I want to move to and where my bf lives, they're illegal....

...it still won't stop me, though. *shifty eyes* I mean hell, I'm Wiccan and want to live in the bible belt, I guess I have a few loose screws to begin with!
11/16/2009
Contributor: Gary Gary
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
YAY! I'm immoral!

I read a story a couple years ago about a pastor who waited outside of a XXX store and took pictures of people going into and out of the store. He then went up to them and asked them what Jesus and/or their family would ... more
I wish stuff like that would happen to me!
11/16/2009
Contributor: Gary Gary
Quote:
Originally posted by deceased
I have friends from Texas. They all own arsenals. You can wear a gun in public, and they are easy to buy, and same thing in GA. I lived there for 8 friggin years. I owned a couple Glocks but no sex toys. I shot a rat in an apartment building and was ... more
Yeah, that seems logical
11/16/2009
Contributor: Fearsome Fearsome
churches originally made masturbation, anal, oral and all other non-baby-making forms of sex a sin-- because that meant fewer new church members.

a church's power was often times their congregation, more money, more support, more people. if you said touching yourself was a no-no, then you have to get someone touch you if you wanted to sate those hormones.

toys improve your libido, so you can't say a dildo will steal your wife (or husband)

toys are hygienic and clean, sanitized properly they don't spread anything.

toys can come in all colors and flavors, whimsical and realistic.

toys can be abused and thrown away. toys don't have feelings.
toys won't make you babies or break your heart.

There is no earthly reason to ban them. if you don't like them, you don't have to buy them.
08/20/2010
Contributor: Chocolate Hot Girl Chocolate Hot Girl
I don't get this one,I read that you can buy a gun,ammo,and beer all at the same time in a Walmart in Alabama,yet the government is all up tight about sex toys.Somebody give me a bat please!
12/05/2010
Contributor: KnK KnK
There's a lot of comments on here that I have to agree with. This discussion made me think of The Vagina Monologues. There's this bit where they say, "As far as we know there has never been a major crime spree committed with a vibrator," or something of that nature. Very cheeky. Lol
12/05/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Quote:
Originally posted by Chocolate Hot Girl
I don't get this one,I read that you can buy a gun,ammo,and beer all at the same time in a Walmart in Alabama,yet the government is all up tight about sex toys.Somebody give me a bat please!
Well, guns kill people, beer causes traffic accidents, and sex toys make people happy. So clearly it's the sex toys that are dangerous, as a happy person might be a productive member of society. Can't have that!
12/05/2010
Contributor: Lady Neshamah Lady Neshamah
i have been hearing about this too.... happening in some states. even a few are trying to ban the sale of condoms (cities to be exact)
12/10/2010
Contributor: Woman China Woman China
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
YAY! I'm immoral!

I read a story a couple years ago about a pastor who waited outside of a XXX store and took pictures of people going into and out of the store. He then went up to them and asked them what Jesus and/or their family would ... more
I think Jesus would pat me on the back and say... "Go my child, masturbate for peace!" I kind of get the feeling he had the ability to look on the bright side of life and had a wicked sense of humour. I mean he was partially human afterall. And driven by the same desires as us all. And if god really did create us? Think about it. The faces we all make having sex, orgasming or masturbating... they are pretty gosh darn silly!!!

I think my family would turn red, then say, "It's none of our business what you do in your own home!!" And then my sisters would ask about sex toys and which one would be right for them.
02/27/2011
Contributor: Woman China Woman China
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
YAY! I'm immoral!

I read a story a couple years ago about a pastor who waited outside of a XXX store and took pictures of people going into and out of the store. He then went up to them and asked them what Jesus and/or their family would ... more
Ok quick question... what would you say to the Priest perving outside the store?
02/27/2011
Contributor: Moein Moein
I am from outside USA, so we also have such laws but for different reasons.

In our society Masturbation is not only unethical but unrelegious. A masturbator girl may -or sure- will not get married. But the most important thing is the issue of Virginity. Dildos and other similar toys may get a girl to lost her virginity, that may leads to kill her by her parent or tribe. For that laws here is based on "Life keeping" rather than the ethics.

But recently there is a wide range of sex toys available in the market and sold in public, for example "vibrating rings" used by mae to satisfy "his wife". The only problem is with Girl toys that may lead to lost verginity.
02/27/2011
Contributor: K101 K101
I think a lot of people have more of a problem with the porn and very obscene images that come with the sex toy shops. My area does not have sex shops and I don't know anyone who isn't ok with traveling a few extra min. to get them or get them online. We don't believe sex is only for procreating we just choose to keep the risks of children getting ahold of porn and (the majority of us here voted not to have it because of that issue) I don't think it's worth it. I mean we've seen a lot of damage come from the way people ran those shops in our close area that does sell them. A lot of gangs meet there, children get ahold of the porn and the people that came over to run the shop have caused serious turmoil within the area my mother works right close by and was held at gun point as well as several of my other family members. The people who were doing this crazy fang-violence are the ones who run the shop. I mostly have the problem with the people and the porn and just I think that it shouldn't be soo extreme. If a shop had a section where the toys and items did not contain porn or nudity, I'd shop at that section and that section only. But, I just stay away since it doesn't go well with me. I don't mind at all. I prefer shopping online anyways. But, I know my area is more worried about our children getting ahold of porn and a lot of us here choose to keep that stuff totally out of out view and lives so we're shy about those things. It's just a really conservative town, but we still like toys and I and my partner are Christian and no, that does not mean we will go to hell for using toys.
05/20/2011