Sexting for your pleasure

Sexting has become a controversial phenomenon that has of late created national ruckus — so much so that numerous felony cases have been filed in Ohio, Texas and Utah. Sexting has become so influential that a recent anti-sexting bill was filed in the Massachusetts House, which would make it illegal for minors to send and receive explicit photographs via cell phones — declaring it child pornography.

With pedophilic child pornography mentioned in each case, I must say nudity does not constitute pornography, much less child pornography?

Really? I mean to each his own, but child pornography is not easily accessible, period. As a self-acclaimed pornographic connoisseur, I have viewed everything from beastiality to elderly-midget porn, but never have I even seen an advertisement for child pornography. So, is child pornography even a legitimate issue to this world? Get the flunk out of here! But back to sexting.

Taking the definition by Heather Stevens, a senior in film, sexting is the seduction by composed text messages between partners that is followed through all the way [until] climax on individual partner's convenience by mutual masturbation via text.

Sexting has become an advancement in pleasure in a new generation of technology, plain and simple. Regardless of biological age, if you are mature enough to be having sex, sending flirtatious texts or, even more graphically-specific, dick pics (or other), you are mature enough to handle the responsibilities of sex and the repercussions of your actions.

"The risks are that whoever you are sexting may share the messages or pictures with their friends," Eileen Herr, a senior in public relations, said, after admitting sending pictures of herself in a thong and a T-shirt to an ex-boyfriend. "[This] could have a lot of negative repercussions in the real world for obvious reasons."

Perhaps public embarrassment would be an issue for the egomaniacal sharer of images, but perhaps there could be a worse situation? In college, sex and alcohol are often coexistent, so after speaking with William Mitchell, a senior in English, his thrusting thought came about as dignified rape.

"The only risk I can think of is coming in contact with some looney tunes who forcibly take things to the next level, and perhaps texting the wrong person like your parents or anyone else you might not want to view those texts," Mitchell said. "Be careful, we live in a crazy world, and unfortunately in college, a lot of times whenever sex is involved, so is alcohol."

Mistakes happen and can become regrettable, especially if they become a cause for public embarrassment. Sending erotic messages through text messages is one thing because, "it can lead to a sexual release" Phil Ashio, a junior in biochemistry, said.
However, to receive pictures of genitalia often becomes a machismo boost and matter of trust.

"As soon as you send that photo, you have no control over where it is posted or who it is shown to," Kelsey Marie, a sophomore in business administration said. "I don't partake because I know the consequences… sexting is not in the least private."

The issue remains responsibility. If people who receive sexts regardless of extent can keep them personal, sexting can be a beautiful thing. However, when they become public, and require the extent of legal intervention, privacy becomes intruded and proves there is no freedom of expression, as even virtual nudity has become limited. To you all, keep your penis in your pants or in his/hers, and be wary. Make love, not war.