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Why is pornography not illegal like prostitution is, considering everyone involved is doing it for the money?

Dr. Aris Thorne
Dr. Aris Thorne
Senior Science Editor · Mar 4, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

Because…well because. Long answer, I think that the rationale is that, for pornography, you're paying two people to have sex with each other, and no one is exchanging money in return for an orgasm provided by the other party. I think there's also some expectation that the parties involved are o…

168
Words

1 min
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#15
of 500 in Society

+133%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

Because…well because. Long answer, I think that the rationale is that, for pornography, you're paying two people to have sex with each other, and no one is exchanging money in return for an orgasm provided by the other party. I think there's also some expectation that the parties involved are only playing a role (i.e., "They're not actually having sex, he's just putting his penis inside her so it will look realistic on camera."). And maybe everyone just imagines that the plot is what's really important, and they're only having sex on camera to further their on screen chemistry. (OK, I'm stretching it on that last one.) Oh, screw it. There is no reason. It's an arbitrary distinction and it's silly. That's really the answer. EDIT: Need to explain. I'm in no way saying that pornography should be illegal. I'm just not entirely sure why prostitution isn't. In the words of the late George Carlin: "Selling is legal. Fucking is legal. Why isn't selling fucking legal?"

Analysis

Key Concepts: Legal, answer, think

This explanation focuses on legal, answer, think and spans 168 words across 14 sentences. At 133% above the average Society explanation (72 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “Because…well because.” It then elaborates by explaining the root cause, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 14 connected points.

How This Compares in Society

Ranked #15 of 500 Society questions by answer depth (top 4%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why pornography not illegal like prostitution is, considering everyone involved is doing it for the money?

Because…well because. Long answer, I think that the rationale is that, for pornography, you're paying two people to have sex with each other, and no one is exchanging money in return for an orgasm provided by the other party. I think there's also…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Society questions?

This is one of the most thorough answer at 168 words, ranked #15 of 500 Society questions by depth. The key concepts covered are legal, answer, think.

What approach does this answer take to explain pornography not illegal like prostitution is, considering ev?

The explanation uses root cause analysis across 168 words. It is categorized under Society and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.