Love Letters to Social Mores

"What Should We Do About Revenge Porn Sites Like Texxxan?"

"This points the way to the long-term solution to the revenge porn problem: we as a society will necessarily have to adjust our social norms about the dissemination of nude or sexual depictions to reflect their ubiquity. In fact, we're likely to develop a type of blindness to such content....If we can wait until our social mores about online nude/sexual depictions adjust, we won't need any new laws to facilitate that adjustment." –  Eric Goldman, Forbes Magazine

November 2010

Dear Social Mores,

I am so happy that Eric Goldman introduced us. You are so hot. And thank God that you are here to help me. I have felt like slitting my wrists ever since I saw my degrading nude photos on 50 websites, but I know that when you change just a little, you will be my knight in shining armor.

February 2011

Dear Social Mores,

Just lost my job because of my photos, I'm getting random phone calls from perverts, and my mom is losing all of her friends now that her daughter is a porn star. But when you change, this stuff will all go away! Cool.  Sounds easy enough.  By the way, did your mom ever call you “S’mores”?

May 2011

Dear Social Mores,

Still don’t have a job.  Won’t find one with real last name, so last name has changed. You have not. (But that’s okay. Really.)

August 2011

Dear Social Mores,

I’m not trying to pressure you into changing, but while I’m waiting for you to change, can I move into your house? I can’t pay for my rent because I still don’t have a job.

November 2011

Dear Social Mores,

Tested that whole “blindness” to photos thing on my mom.  Shit.  Mom was not blind to photos.

February 2012

Dear Social Mores,

You are really pissing me off. It’s been almost one and a half years. How “long term” is this relationship, anyway? I mean, are you going to change or not? Because I’m about to do something really stupid like petition lawmakers for amendment of cyberstalking laws.

May 2012

Dear Social Mores,

Sorry I lost my temper in my last entry. I know that if I just have a little more patience that you will come around. It’s been almost 2 years and you haven’t changed, but I am a very positive person, and even though I get stalked daily, can’t find a job, and am generally ostracized by my community, I know that someday, in the next 10 years, that I’ll be okay.

August 2012

Dear Social Mores,

I feel so guilty. I just signed 2 petitions to make Revenge Porn a crime. I am really sorry. I am just kind of freaking out and I’m beginning to wonder if you’ll ever change. Leopards don’t change their spots. Maybe Social Mores don’t change their Mores either. At the very least, you could be More Social. You’d be a hell of a lot more fun and you’d actually be doing something.

November 2012

Dear Social Mores,

Whatever.  Just die.  Die slow.

January 2013

Dear Social Mores,

Your shit is out on the sidewalk. I gave you a chance. Really, I did. I even gave you the chance to be More Social.  I don’t want a long-term relationship with you anymore.

Anyway, that Eric Goldman guy down the road talks about you an awful lot. If you want to check out his house, just go to Zillow.com.  His preferences include not being a victim, not changing laws, and writing long paragraphs about distasteful stuff.  But remember, those are just his preferences. Preferences change, so if you happen to get into his house and steal shit because he left his door unlocked, it’s okay, because that’s his preference for tonight.  

Well, S’Mores, someday maybe you will change, but this girl ain’t waitin’ around no mores. She's gonna go hang out with Professor Mary Anne Franks.

Love, (or actually, please don’t)

WomenAgainstRevengePorn.com