These types of issues are always difficult to manage. While I would not do that (of course, it would have to be Playgirl for me!!!), I have a difficult time "forcing" my morals or expectations on another person. Some people disapprove of the bible, but I would never stop someone from reading that. I KNOW... nude pictures are not the bible.... but where do you draw the line?

I probably would have said "Excuse me Sir, could you save that magazine until later? I would prefer my child to not see the pictures. I really appreciate it."

Of course, the person may or may not agree to do anything. Also, that person may been from another country... where his behavior is normal. I can tell you that Europeans are much more open about this than we are.... I am pleasantly shocked everytime I watch television in Europe.... :cool: :cool:

I hate to say this, but for me it would depend on the actual content on the pictures. Playboy pictorials, which generally feature one wholesome-looking woman alone, are in my view relatively inoffensive compared to Penthouse photo sets -- which are extremely explicit and show two or more women (with and without men) doing... everything. Close-up.

I can see a 14-year-old girl having a giggle over the former and a minor trauma over the latter. Traveling with a child, I wouldn't hesitate to ask a man to save his Penthouse pictorial for later.

As the parent of 14 and 13 year old boys as well as a 10 year old daughter, I would definitely NOT be happy about this if it happened near my children. (I wouldn't be too happy if it were MY seat mate, either.) And without a doubt, my husband would politely request that the magazine be put away, and he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Just really goes to show a lack of class, in my opinion, that someone would feel the need to read this in public. Isn't that more for private moments?

For the men who answered here (and there are quite a few) how would you feel if it were a woman eyeing a male magazine in front of your children (Playgirl or worse), or a gay woman/man reading a pictoral magazine geared toward the same sex? And not to get too explicit (though some may like the idea ;) ) what if the pics showed two women together? Then where do you draw the line? I think you can see where I am going with this.

That's exactly what I'm saying. In the case of a young teenager (a 14-year-old girl in the case presented) I draw the line at graphic depictions of sexual contact, or of aroused members of the opposite sex. A normal 14-year-old girl isn't going to come unstrung, I don't think, over cheery cheesecake photos of some fluffy young woman. A body is a body. But explicit erotic photography is really different -- and in my view not appropriate for a public place. There is a world of difference between Playboy and Penthouse.

Please note I am not condoning the use of these magazines inflght, but I think when people are insensitive enough to do it, one case calls for a parental conniption and the other doesn't. Call me arbitrary, but that's where I draw the line. Sexual imagery is everywhere and we all have to cope (and help our kids do so)... but a lot of it is relatively benign. I would save the confrontations for the in-your-face hardcore girl-girl action, etc.

(BTW, this is an interesting new legal field. You know how more and more cars are available with fitted DVD players? Police are starting to ticket their drivers for running porn films that are visible from other cars alongside. What do you do about that? This case is conceptually similar.)

I do think there is a distinct difference (for now) between the magazine on a commercial flight and the in-car video....if I recall correctly from my college days, there would be more of a "reasonable expectation of privacy" in the vehicle that is definitely NOT presumed on the aircraft.

But, as technology continues to advance at a far greater pace than the law in many areas, this is certain to be challenged and ultimately modified.

I think it still gets back to class and consideration for others, especially children.

There is a German youth magazine called Bravo that actually shows intercourse..

If the mother or the child is offended,they can confront this person or ask the FA to do it. Then he either has to put them away or change seats. If they dont, they obviously dont mind. Bad luck, live with it.

I do not agree with the way sex-ed is handled in the US, I have seen it over the last 9 years very intensly, with all the lowdowns. I live right now with an 19 and an 18 year old girl, most of my friends here are college freshman from a very rural, religious area. These kids are not well prepared for life.

To make this long discussion short, no, I do not think this is appropiate. Yes, if I would have a small child with me, I would ask him to put it away. If I would have a teenager with me, I would look at her/his reaction. And I had for years youth groups, I dealt with a similar problem during a trainride. Usually the kids have seen this before, and after a short burst of curiousity (and yes, I even gave my boys once a German Playboy just to show them how boring it actually is - more sex in a victoria secret cataloge) they forget it.

I am way more concerned how children are exposed to violence. Killing is totally normal for them, people look funny at me when I say I dont like to go hunting just for the thrill of killing something.

Do you have a different opinion depending on the media -- whether it's audio, video or visual? If so, why?

Are sexual pictures more offensive or sexual noises? Is there a prohibition against passengers simulating sex sounds in public? :D

Very much a lack of class....I agree. Yet what would do you do if your husband weren't there?

I'd approach the Flight Attendant.

Honestly, my intial thought was "I'd try and make a lighthearted yet pointed comment/request to the individual" (can't seem to use the word 'gentleman' to describe him).....

but in all honesty, if he's reading this type of material in public near children (I have 3, they're hard to miss) then he is most probably NOT going to respond favorably to my polite request to curtail his entertainment at this time. Better in the long run to just ask the FA to handle it, either by making a request herself, or reaccomodating someone to a more comfortable location.

No offense, but doesn't the fact that these magazines are intended for erotic pleasure upset anyone else? As a woman, or even a man, does anyone REALLY want to sit next to this guy???

From my perspective, I pick my battles. I am in no way condoning such reading material yet there are other things on a flight which would bother me more than some guy who gets his kicks from nudity. If he is quiet, lets me be in peace, doesn't have body odor, keeps the window shade up, and doesn't snore, I'm Ok with him. There is so much pornography on the internet and on TV that I would hope that my 14 year old would be smart enough to realize that some people have bad taste and that we are not out there to change them. Heck, if it brings up a discussion about the exploitation of women, I'd welcome a healthy discussion like that. Lastly, I'm not a confrontational person.

FYI: What Georgia law says about this issue.
 

From the Official Code of Georgia Annotated:

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to exhibit,
expose, or display in public at newsstands or any other business or
commercial establishment or at any other public place frequented by
minors or where minors are or may be invited as part of the general
public:

(1) Any picture, photograph, drawing, sculpture, motion picture
film, or similar visual representation or image of a person or
portion of the human body which depicts sexually explicit nudity,
sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse and which is harmful to
minors; or

(2) Any book, pamphlet, magazine, printed matter however
reproduced, or sound recording which contains any matter
enumerated in paragraph (1) of this subsection, or explicit and
detailed verbal descriptions or narrative accounts of sexual
excitement, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse and which,
taken as a whole, is harmful to minors.

http://gnsun1.ganet.state.ga.us/cgi-...de/G/16/12/103

Most states have legislation of this sort.

Wow....didn't know about this state legislation. How does this apply on interstate flights? Or would Georgia state law apply to all Delta flights, for example, since Delta is HQ'd in Atlanta?

A bit off topic, but this could be interpreted to include paintings and sculpture in galleries, museums, and even homes. Some nude portraitures are very explicit. I wonder how the art world handles this.

There are lots of R rated movies out there these days that would be inappropriate viewing for young children. What about someone watching one (with some nudity and sex) on their laptop or portable DVD player?

I generally sit up front when doing this (and usually far away from children) and someone would really have to crane their neck to see my screen, but I'm sure someone could complain anyway.

I met Gisela some months before she 'turned' 17 (at that time 17 was the 'legal age' ...). I was 23 then.

Her parents did send her to a (catholic monestary) school (in Exeter, England), soon afterwards, for a whole year.

Before leaving Gisela did give me a present that consisted of a one year subscription of the Playboy magazine!