Russia Bans Pornhub, YouPorn - Tells Citizens To Meet Someone In Real Life (arstechnica.com) 301
Russia has blocked two of the biggest porn websites. The Russian state watchdog Roskomnadzor, which oversees internet in the country, announced that it was blockeing Pornhub and YouPorn. When a Russian citizen asked on Twitter about an alternative, it replied; "as an alternative you can meet someone in real life,". From a report: The regulator dropped the banhammer on Tuesday, applying rules which had previously been imposed by two separate regional courts. Any Russian citizen visiting PornHub or YouPorn is now redirected to a simple message telling them that the sites have been blocked "by decision of public authorities." Sexually explicit material isn't illegal in the country, but according to the BBC's Vitaliy Shevchenko, the law confusingly appears to ban "the illegal production, dissemination, and advertisement of pornographic materials and objects."
But porn is FREE (Score:5, Interesting)
I expect it more complicated. (Score:5, Insightful)
As Pornhub is also used for non-porn videos because no one else is willing to show them. So those dangerous subversive ideas would be blocked.
Bigger companies like YouTube the government and negotiate with and get whatever they feel like blocked. But having a high ranking minister talking to the CEO of a Porn company will not be good politically.
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Re: I expect it more complicated. (Score:2)
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You mean blocking a website for censorship reasons, from a country where people who happen to speak against the government happen to die from unusual circumstances. Like radioactive tea.
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I don't agree with the blocking of the sites in question I do, however, agree with the "meet someone in real live" message.
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Re: But porn is FREE (Score:5, Funny)
Pandora's box can't be closed.
That's it. She is also banned.
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Pandora's box can't be closed.
Slut.
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Pandora's box can't be closed.
Slut.
Now she's charging $5 a month to use her unlimited times and takes specific requests.
Re: But porn is FREE (Score:2, Insightful)
Women are equal now. They can buy their own dinners, drinks, and entertainment. Why should society continue to expect them to get a free ride at men's expense, especially when every male approach now comes with a risk of a life/career destroying abuse accusation if he "makes her feel uncomfortable"? Don't blame porn for men's withdrawal. Blame today's flavor of feminism.
Too bad (Score:5, Funny)
Good thing for those Russian officials that PornHub was the only naughty picture site on the entire internet....
an incentive for Russian hackers (Score:2)
To hack into Bill Clintons porn stash
Were it so easy (Score:4, Insightful)
There are plenty of people in Russia and the rest of the world who are unable to 'meet someone else' regardless of time/money/effort involved. The fat, the ugly, the smelly, the severely anxious, the obviously crazy, the unwittingly creepy, etc. You think if having actual sex was attainable (never mind affordable or remotely worth the effort) that porn would even exist? It's where people go when they can't get any real action. Sure, for some it's just fap fodder because they struck out at the bar or their booty calls were busy. For others, it's all the sex life they have.
I expect violence in Russia to increase shortly.
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Only if you'll do it first.
Obvious questions (Score:4, Insightful)
And the rest of porn sites? Why are these two singled out? What's the sense of banning just two?
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They blocked FurAffinity and DeviantArt earlier this year. No official reason was ever given, but the blocks were applied simultaneously so are probably related.
Tweeting the government (Score:2)
I like that Russian citizens are tweeting their government internet watchdog asking for porn site recommendations. And getting a snarky answer. That's hilarious to me.
If I could meet someone IRL I wouldn't need porn (Score:3)
Porn is the only answer to the question "What do you do if no woman wants to meet YOU?"
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You have two other options.
1) Improve yourself.
2) Lower your standards/expectations.
I strongly recommend a lot of #1, and probably at least a little of #2. The internet discovered #1 about 20 years ago, then refined and weaponized it, so there is plenty of self-help material available.
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Neither is an actual option, merely a distant chance for an option.
Porn, on the other hand, is available.
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Well, you could still meet men, but that's something Russia is also not happy about, there just ain't no pleasing the Russkies.
Back to hand drawn stick figures I guess (Score:2)
article kind of useless (Score:5, Informative)
This article is a little better [meduza.io]. The government keeps a central database of websites that should be blocked (or sometimes just individual pages, from what I understand).
Each ISP (or network operator) is required to download the database of blocked pages, and get updates every day. Many of the ISPs don't have real filtering capability, so they just block the website at the IP level. If they don't block the content (and some don't), then they get a fine.
Join Meat Beaters Anonymous. (Score:2)
Buncha fucking jerkoffs!!! Don't shoot your own wad in your eye.
Thank you for educating the Russian people. (Score:2)
Soon everyone in the country will know how to bypass the blocks.
Baffling (Score:5, Funny)
"Just go out and meet someone"
First of all, I have a strong suspicion that "just going out and meeting someone" would be considered a far worse option by my wife than porn watching, just sayin'.
Second, even if I were single, there's no equivalence there. If I go out and meet someone... and by meet someone I mean find someone attractive and stare at them while publicly masturbating, as one might hypothetically do with porn, that's going to be A) probably unsatisfying for me B) almost certainly more than a little bit awkward for them, and C) illegal in most places.
Meeting people and romance and love and actual sex and all that fun stuff is great, but that's not what porn is about. It's like saying "I'm hungry, and you've taken away all the food." "Well, why don't you go out and buy a jacket?" Sure clothing and food fall in the same general category of "necessities", but that doesn't make them interchangeable.
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Bad analogy. It isn't food vs. clothing. It is food vs. junk food. "I'm hungry, and you've taken away all of the Doritos and Mt. Dew". "Well, why don't you go out and grill a burger?"
If you are married and using porn, challenge yourself. Commit to going without porn for a couple of months, and/or not masturbating, and also not stepping out for an extramarital affair. Most people who try it find that they reconnect with their wife and rejuvenate their love life. The two of you were attracted to each o
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Why do you think we're watching porn and masturbating? Because we're married...
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Generally, I'll stand by my assertion that masturbation and a loving relationship are different not just in degree and quality, but are categorically different. But for the sake of argument, let me make a small modification to your analogy: "I'm hungry, and you've taken away all of the Doritos and Mt. Dew". "Well, why don't you make your wife grill you a burger, even though she's made it very clear that she has no interest in cooking?"
Obligatory Russian Reversal (Score:3)
In Soviet Russia, porn bans you!
Meeting someone doesn't qualify (Score:3)
I'm afraid that "meeting someone" doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get laid. And I say that as someone with tons of experience being in dating situations where I was essentially "friend-zoned" -- I'm not a bad person, I'm not a slob, I don't smell bad, nothing is wrong with me physically.
However, that said, I am self-deprecating. And because I'm not a typical alpha male, women are able to smell the desperation apparently.
Let's face it -- woman have sex to "keep their man", so he won't wander off and find someone else. In my situation, the women are well-aware that I won't wander off, so they have no problem dating me, but never actually doing anything beyond having dinner and going to the movies.
So, Russia can go stick it. Men are still going to need porn and prostitutes, because majority of the female population isn't necessarily into them.
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Really? Because I've only recently come up with this theory. Perhaps you can explain the issues before that. Women, FYI, find me perfectly acceptable company, they just aren't interested in becoming romantic. And I don't try to pressure them into doing anything they aren't interested in, so if they don't bring it up, neither do I.
But I'm sure you know so much more than me; "Coward".
Perhaps because of Russia's fertility rate... (Score:3)
I'm willing to bet Russia is trying to manage it's fertility rate. It was as low as 1.59 children per woman in 2012, closer to 1.75 recently. 1.59 is rather low in terms of maintaining your population.
Oh Noes! (Score:3)
They blocked .001% of the available porn! What shall those poor Russians do!?
With so many lonely Russian wifes (Score:2)
Great idea! (Score:2)
Come on over and blow me!
Hey, it was THEIR idea, not mine!
Apparently Russians are like pandas (Score:3)
They have stopped reproducing, and the government is desperately seeking ways of improving the birth rate.
Re:Porn Watching Indicates A Sad Human. (Score:5, Funny)
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Russian State Watchdog to Citizens: "We invented vodka for a reason. Go outside and get laid!"
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Those aren't the only two choices...
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Being an "Escort Wagon", I can presume what other options you're talking about...
For many years, a very prominent, high-traffic billboard in downtown Houston had a picture of an attractive girl in evening-wear and in large print "Need an Escort?" In smaller print it had "or a Taurus? Come to this Ford dealership!". It was a landmark, in more ways than one.
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Re: Porn Watching Indicates A Sad Human. (Score:2)
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Maybe. I think, rather, he's merely worried about one of his home-videos appearing there and him not looking as "manly" as the fellows in the other videos. He's worried he's too short.
Re:Porn Watching Indicates A Sad Human. (Score:5, Insightful)
But what about other entertainment? Watching people kill each other is sad too. Go meet someone real and kill them.
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But what about other entertainment? Watching people kill each other is sad too. Go meet someone real and kill them.
Been there, done that, got the bloody gloves to prove it. Too damn bad they don't fit no more.
- OJ Simson.
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I met one, and she's fun, but every once in a while, about once a month, she needs a break for a few days. I find that's a good time to get to know the wonderful world of internet again.
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I met one, and she's fun, but every once in a while, about once a month, she needs a break for a few days.
You should meet her sister during those few days.
Re:Porn Watching Indicates A Sad Human. (Score:5, Insightful)
Do you think the people watching porn wouldn't prefer a real woman if they had the OPTION? Some of us would love to meet a real woman, have sex, fall in love, etc. The problem is that no real woman wants to meet, have sex, or fall in love with *US*.
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I think it's unlikely that no woman in the entire world would want you. Some people really are insufferable, but it's a very small minority.
The real problem is that finding someone who wants you is hard. Dating sites are terrible for most guys, because the male/female ratio is extremely high and thus women have the pick of the most physically attractive and wealthy guys.
It's also about having realistic expectations. We would all love to date an insanely hot engineer who can hold a great conversation, but wa
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Dating sites are terrible for most guys, because the male/female ratio is extremely high and thus women have the pick of the most physically attractive and wealthy guys.
Fortunately, I've not had to use a dating site ever because I married the right woman early in my adulthood! However, I have 2 stats for you. 1 is disheartening, the other may be encouraging.
First, disheartening for all those guys not have sex. 20% of all guys have 80% of all the sex.
Now the encouraging statistic. Men might out-number women in your age bracket; however, I read an article not too long ago that said that once you hit late-thirties, men get more success than women from dating apps. The re
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By the time you're in your 40's the girls will be fighting over you!
As someone in his 40's, I can assure you that that is NOT the case.
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I agree. It is simply not true (as someone turning 40)
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The problem is that no real woman wants to meet, have sex, or fall in love with *US*.
I call lazy BS. Porn usage is a complex subject, but the bottom line is usually the following, IMO: Porn is easy (and mostly free). Relationships are hard (and usually expensive).
Take a chance, bro. Going through the growing pains of a relationship is more than worth it to have a mate you can love in every way.
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Or get a dog. One that doesn't have a temper or sharp teeth.
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Paying some glorified prostitute to come over and let me fuck her and buy her jewelry until she can get her green card and leave me isn't exactly my idea of a relationship. And anyway, I'm poor so even that's not an option.
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You first.
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I can assure you that I'm looking for a real relationship, not some porn slut to "cater to my every sexual craving." But being poor and unattractive, I can't find either. Apparently, I'm to women what garlic is to vampires. Again, not a problem George Clooney has to deal with, I'm sure.
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"Fapping to someone else having sex is the ultimate sadness."
I can well imagine that there are worse things. At least in this situation you know your sex drive works.
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A lack of sex drive would actually be better for many: You can stop caring about it, and get on with productive things.
The worst is the single person: You have a deep instinct lodged in your brain, always whispering to go seek a mate, sometimes screaming "GO GET LAID NOW!" It distracts you, it frustrates you, it makes focusing on anything else a challenge, and you can never escape it. You can at least quiet it for a while with porn and masturbation, but it will always return.
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Is that what your wife says to you when you want to watch?
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Fapping to someone else having sex is the ultimate sadness. Russia is right. Go meet a real human.
Somehow, Russia is a more religious and moral country than the West these days
Re:Porn Watching Indicates A Sad Human. (Score:4, Funny)
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I'm married, happy, and watch porn with my SO. As for what the fuck I'm doing here, I'm here laughing at your specific type while I'm waiting on my next VoIP consultation to happen.
What the fuck are YOU doing here? Probably being lonely and mad at others who have a life.
If you're an ugly nerd, RTFA and follow directions (Score:5, Insightful)
> What the ugly and/or poor men should do?
Obviously you're joking, but your comment reminded me of something. If you're ugly, broke, and can write quicksort in at least two languages, you can get laid all the time. I'm ugly, I was broke. I couldn't get girls.
Then I learned *how* to meet women. I RTFM about what really attracts most women, not just in the first 10 seconds but in conversation. I was amazed to find that I could *learn* how to get dates, that my face and my bank weren't the crucial factors. If you can learn how to write quicksort, you can learn how to get dates. I dated a *lot* of women, until I found my one-in-a-million.
One day I may finish writing my book "Dating for Nerds" or whatever I call it.
Re:If you're an ugly nerd, RTFA and follow directi (Score:5, Funny)
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Wait, What?
There's a manual?
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All the women seem to be fighting over a handful of rich good-looking guys. I don't think there are any left for us fat poor guys.
The worst part about being fat and poor is that wonderful moment when you think a woman is actually interested (finally! horray!) and you ask her out, only to find out she was just being friendly. I bet that never happens to George Clooney.
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The trick is to be friendly and supportive first, so she gets to know you. Dating someone you know is not an asshat is quite attractive, for a start, but there's even more to it than that.
You know how when you see a character in a TV show week after week and start to find them attractive, but then years later catch a rerun and can't seem to recall what you liked about them? Familiarity and getting to know them and their story is attractive, even if they are not stunningly good looking or your normal "type".
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You offer good advice if the goal is to be friendzoned.
Totally agree. Friendly is for friends (Score:2)
I totally agree. I did what Amijojo suggested for years, and I had a lot of girl-friends (friends who were girls).
Later, I started spending about 25 seconds on friendly before switching to flirty, than curious, then busy but curious. That worked. *I* am nothing special, but I eventually found an *approach* which really works.
The basic pattern is:
Friendly: make a joke or two.
Curious: Ask about her, some special jewelry she's wearing or whatever. Note *be* curious, don't *pretend* to be curious. Ask how her d
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I don't think there are any left for us fat poor guys.
Reading between the lines, it sounds like you're not entirely happy with yourself here. It's very difficult to get someone to like you if you don't like yourself. Possibly the first step is to temporarily put dating on the back burner and concentrate on improving things for you and only you, not for potentially someone else.
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Re:Porn Watching Indicates A Sad Human. (Score:5, Interesting)
If you think about it, it's the same reason (some) women talk badly about other women that they think give out sex too easily. i.e.: without a sufficient commitment (financial, sentimental, etc.) from the man they're having sex with.
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
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Actually, nevermind that, after watching a few minutes it's not the video I was thinking of.
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Recall how the movie industry is trying to blame people not seeing movies in theaters as solely due to piracy but the more likely reality is that there are tons of things for people to spend their free time on now? Perhaps that has something to do with it. There are some many hobbies and the like out there that people just aren't interested in settling down.
Sure, divorce laws definitely have not favored men historically (though I see it as changing). And children are definitely a bad investment. But popular
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Sounds like a "honey badger". They are women who buy into the red-pill philosophy that women have a sexual market value, and prostitution devalues their vaginas. Since a women's only value is her sexual market value (everything else, like child barring ability and cooking skill stems from that) they often oppose anything that makes them less desirable as sexual servants for red-pill men.
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OK, I don't claim to understand any MRA terminology, but the red pill was the one that allowed you to escape the matrix, right? So those playing the normal dating game are the blue pills, and those who say "fuck that, it's not worth the drama" are the red pills, no?
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If you see a movie scene that shows a guy's head being hacked off, do you believe it really happened?
If you see a movie scene that shows a guy sucking a woman't breast, do you believe it really happened?
I agree that Americans are prudes, but don't pretend the two situations are the same.
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The male Russian life expectancy is actually around 64 [theguardian.com]. It dipped mid 90s [worldbank.org] but has rebounded up to 64.7 [cia.gov].
Re:many ways to interpret this to a foreinger (Score:5, Insightful)
Watching explicit acts online makes me want to perform explicit acts with the Mrs MORE not LESS.
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I'd think quite the opposite. If these people actually go outside and try to meet people, they'll be buying new clothes to look nice and buying things like food, clothes, flowers, and gifts for their new boyfriends and girlfriends.
Think of the long term possibilities as well! Once they get someone preggers, now you're going to be spending even bigger money on baby food, clothes, and toys. They might even buy bigger houses and minivans as well.
It's almost like Putin and Co. just invented the "stop playing wi