Don't Read This Item. We Mean It.

Recently, a mini-conference was held in Brussels by the European Parliament to discuss the global sex industry (subscription required if you're not in South Africa). The gathering grieved about the proliferation of sex on the Internet and via technology, lamenting over everything from porno movies in hotel rooms to mobile phones with sexy images to privacy-invading built-in cameras. The general complaint was that sex is becoming too mainstream.

One lawmaker called for a crackdown on the sex industry, including de-listing adult companies from stock exchanges, a prostitution ban, and tougher measures against obscene email, singling out international porn production company Private Media Group and German chain Beate Uhse. The lawmaker claimed 70 percent of Europe's estimated 450 million Internet users went to adult sites.

"Only a few years ago, if you wanted pornography and prostitution you really had to look for it; today we have to make an effort to avoid it," said Sweden's Marianne Eriksson, declaring the Net an outlet for pictures of rape, child molestation, bestiality and other such violent imagery. "We come across sex for sale in our emails, in our mobile phones and on television on a daily basis."

Private spokesman Alex Moore told the press that the fact that they are listed on stock exchanges means they're more accountable, and that regulators have more control over the company than in previous years. "Banning or trying to build barriers won't necessarily enable a greater control over the industry," Moore said. "There is an enhanced risk of pushing it underground."

And therein lies the conundrum. With porn more prevalent, it's exposed to people that might have previously had no idea this stuff was out there. The risk often raised is that kids will end up getting into entertainment meant strictly for adults and that it will affect their realtionships and proper development into responsible adults. Last thing we need is 13-year-olds wanting to be just like Jenna Jameson, right?

On the other hand, by forcing it underground and demonizing it, this can make it even more attractive to kids. C'mon, is there anything a kid wants more than whatever their parents tell them they can't have? Remember the PMRC hearings of 1985, when Tipper Gore and her brigade of Washington wives worked to get ratings stickers placed on rock records, going head to head with Frank Zappa (loud site), Jello Biafra, John Denver and Twisted Sister's Dee Snider? Well, no one had heard of obscure shock rock bands like The Mentors or W.A.S.P. until the PMRC told the nation their albums were the most vile, disgusting things on the marketplace. Suddenly, sales of these previously low-selling records soared as every teen in the U.S. NEEDED to hear what everyone was so up in arms about.

Sometimes sweeping things under the rug just means they're now in the center of the room...