DrGrov's Wallpaper Collection

[tomh38]

Here's the thing with porn (or pr0n if you prefer): there's stuff that obviously is, and there's stuff that clearly is not, and then there's a whole bunch of stuff in between which people disagree about.

I guess since it's hard to find two people who agree on what's porn and what isn't, it's probably best to leave out anything that could be.

You bunch of perverts. 

[SuSE-Refugee]

Oh, but there IS a good definition of pornography:
It's a contraction of the greek words "porne" for prostitute and "graphus" for description/depiction.
From this follows the definition: The depiction/description of a prostitute's life.
Ergo: if it's single nudes, it can't be porn, however lewd the picture itself may be(there are other names for that); There need to be at least two parties in a prostitution-relationship. No maximum required, btw.
If I really want to be anal about it, I could state that an exchange of money,goods or services between the participating parties is also a requirement.

[tomh38]

SuSE-Refugee,

I didn't say there wasn't a good definition of pornography, just that you can't get people to agree on what's pornographic and what's not.  For every one person who accepts your etymologically-derived definition, there would probably be at least one who would insist on a dictionary definition such as "the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement" (Merriam-Webster).  Then you get a whole bunch of people disagreeing about what constitutes erotic behavior, followed by disagreements about whether a particular item is intended to cause sexual excitement.

I've even had people tell me that superhero comic books with their characters clad in form-fitting costumes are "pornographic."

I like your definition, and could easily accept it.  I just don't think a lot of other people would.

Just my two cents on this subject.

Tom

[BlueMage]

I'd normally argue it's porn if her legs are spread, otherwise it's a tasteful nude

[rbistolfi]

I like Suse definition as well.

No maximum required, btw.

Not in theory, in the practice to many people can be a problem. 

If I really want to be anal about it, I could state that an exchange of money,goods or services between the participating parties is also a requirement.

That seems to match the regular use in moderns languages. In the romantic literature, an ambiguous feeling of love between the client and the provider is frequent. Like a joke of fate or something like that.
Too many people can complicate the things even more, and lets live the job of the Book Keeper at a side.

[SuSE-Refugee]

...(Merriam-Webster)...

Well, there's another point we're bound to disagree upon: For english, I only recognise Oxford's....