Updated 07:54 am.EST, Mon November 23, 2009

Society|Fri, Sep. 19 2008 04:37 PM EDT

American Airlines Refuses to Filter Porn on Flights

By Elena Garcia|Christian Post Reporter

American Airlines, the nation's largest carrier, has refused to install an internet filter to block porn sites from being viewed in-flight, ignoring the request by flight attendants and an anti-porn group.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants has urged the airlines to place filters on its in-flight Wi-Fi service to block objectionable material like hardcore pornography. They are concerned passengers could get into arguments about what people are looking at in the sky, NBC's Channel 5 in Dallas reported.

"Our members are telling us they're concerned about it. There are certainly enough pressures in the airplane already. We just don't want one more thing to add to it," said APFA representative Frank Bastion.

American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith said in a statement that the vast majority of passengers use good judgment on what they view while on board the airline's planes.

"Customers viewing inappropriate material on board a flight is not a new scenario for our crews, who have always managed this issue with great success," he stated.

Girls Against Porn, a group associated with obscenity-watchdog Morality in Media, said American Airlines is opening the door for lawsuits with its current policy.

"The airlines are taking a risk, opening themselves up to lawsuits from customers who are exposed to porn or the effects," reads a letter which Girls Against Porn plans to send to AA.

The letter, which will be co-signed by other organizations, also expressed concern for the children passengers who might be exposed to obscene material.

"If passengers who view porn, decide to act upon that, if there is a child flying in that row, airlines have opened the door for traumatic experiences and lawsuits," the letter states.

The group noted that American Airlines has already been sued for $200,000, by a passenger who alleges while sleeping woke up to find a substance in her hair, from another passenger masturbating.

Girls Against Porn is asking the public and parents to contact American Airlines Communications at corp.comm@aa.com, or call AA headquarters to urge that they apply filters to Internet services immediately.

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  • Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:49 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Warning for PAX who watch porn on flights : You can be reported for sexual harassment and the TSA will probably never allow you next to an airline ticket counter for the rest of your life. This is post 9/11. So, please use some intelligence.

  • Thu Sep 25, 2008 2:50 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    They say the vast majority of passengers use good judgement concerning what they view. But we have laws and warning labels on everything in America because people do not use good judgement and they resort to litigation due to their own , to put it politely, poor judgement. (This is why we have warning labels on lighters saying not to ignite in your pocket or on irons saying not iron clothes while wearing them.) It is illegal for anyone to perform the actions portrayed in pornographic material publicly, therefore why should it be legal to display these images publicly? I'm sure the traveller who wants to view porn can find it on the internet or on his motel's TV when they arrive at their destination.

  • Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:29 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    DP, I've come to believe that any type of sexual addiction/problem be it with porn or sex itself is so difficult to overcome because it deals with a natural God-given desire that is present in a large majority of people. The desire for sexual intimacy which if kept in the context of the marriage of one man to one woman is a beautiful clean and wonderful gift from God. But when it is taken out of that context be it physically or mentally it becomes as you so well put it a cancer that eats and destroys individuals, marriages, and families.

  • Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:57 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    "heaven forbid a group should take action against something that is destroying lives and families and making something God meant for good bad"

    Professional counselors will tell you they would rather work with someone who's adiction is drugs or alcohol because the symptoms withdraw and the person can go on. With porn, it involves the whole person like cancer. It's just horrible to rid a person of.

    It does tear down families. If a man promises to forsake all others and then goes for the porn it speaks volumes to his wife about how unsatisfying she is. My wife is my one and only. No one is more beautiful than she is. Anything less is just way below what she's worth as a woman. This is why porn is wrong especially for the married man.

  • Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:54 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    "not the liberty and legality of such a filter. "

    The legality is you cannot expose minor children to it. It is against the law. That is the legality of it. If you would need to have porn and no porn seating in order to protect them. It's no different from bringing a small child to an X-rated movie. It's against the law. That's the legality of putting a filter on it.

  • Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:53 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    yes, heaven forbid a group should take action against something that is destroying lives and families and making something God meant for good bad. Plus, why do people assume that people doing the right thing can only do one thing. Who is to say that the members of this group are not active in other worthwhile ministries and activities.

  • Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:40 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    It seems like Girls Against Porn could be spending their time on far more important matters than this one. For the amount of effort and organization put into this trivial matter they could be performing good within their communities and helping the less fortunate. It seems like often, people become transfixed on silly thing as a matter of principal and lose sight of what's actually important. This is applicable for Christians and non-Christians alike. This world would be a far better place if we stopped being "cause-heads" and just focused on addressing actual problems.

  • Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:48 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    chicago,
    How about this? A first class section, coach section, and pervert section? LOL

  • Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:08 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Maybe American Airlines should offer Adult Only flights where people can freely view porn on board and no kids would be allowed. I'm just kidding of course.

    After all, Hooters has their own airline (which is pretty pathetic).

  • Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:44 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    smbga, my prayer for you is that God will lead you and your family to a good solid Great Commission Church, be blessed in serving Him, believer

  • Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:13 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    This seems to me like an issue that the religious community has blown out of proportions. I'll immediately acknowledge the incident with the inflight masturbator; however, that's the exception rather than the rule. Realistically, the flight crews have managed to control the pornography issue, with respect to magazines, for a long time and have done quite well with it. I am confident that they will manage the same with the internet broadcast one as well. In the end it comes down to economy and feasibility. On the feasibility side, you have to realize that if a person is bent on bringing and watching pornography on a plane they'll manage. If they've already downloaded it prior to boarding then no filter will prevent that. As for economy, in light of my first point, it would be an utter waste of money to implement such a pointless system.

    I will agree with you all that children should be shielded from pornography, but let's use our common sense and realize that this is a job best performed by the flight crew with a simple, "could you please not do that, sir/madam"

  • Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:18 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    believer: You are right. there is no perfect church. what i am saying is this: how can i go and be a part of a church that goes against the Word of God? In the past, when I have spoken out against this, i am pretty much ushered out the door. and that's ok. that doesn't offend me. for the majority of the churches today, i honestly can say that they can be labeled 'religious social clubs'.

  • Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:40 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    smbga, it sounds like you're looking for the perfect church and it's simply not out there. I don't know where you live, but I can't believe there is not one solid Bible church that although not perfect is reaching the lost for Christ and growing Christians in Christ, in other words a Great Commission Church. But if your standard for the right church is perfection my sense is no church you find will ever meet your standard of approval.

  • Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:14 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

    believer: I have friends that you can count on one hand. I am extremely cautious with that too. They do not promote sin. and the sins that these churches promoted are these: cheating, stealing, lieing, fornication, adultery, abusing the body with drugs, etc.....the list goes on and on. and they were called full gospel churches. and the pastor of one of these ocassionally beat his wife. now that's a real good Godly church huh?

  • Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:09 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    Shame on American Airlines! Children and women should no longer fly AA! They are more vulnerable now to perverts viewing porn around them.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 11:09 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    aritonang,
    Does the Islam prayer involve pornographic materials? Yeah, I didn't think so either. Try and stay on subject here. We're talking about porn, not prayer.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:44 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Etihad and Emirates aired Islamic prayer on their flights. Let us ban that too.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:07 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    smbga, I'm curious what kinds of sin did these churches promote? Don't you have any Christian friends who are in a good Bible believing, teaching, living church?

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:56 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    being female, i have a tendency to voice my opinion. whether it's in church or not. i have been called on the carpet for this. but when i know that what I have to say lines up with God's Word, then I am going to say it.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:55 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    and going back to one of my first comments on here: nothing shocks me. I honestly mean that.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:53 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    believer: thank you for your kind words. we (my family and I) have tried several churches in our area. And they promote sin. (in different ways) for the last 10 yrs. this is all that we find. i am praying for God's wisdom.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:05 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    smbga, it sure sounds like you had some really bad church experiences. But I can't believe that in your area there is not a solid Bible believing, teaching, and living church whose leadership although not perfect are striving to be the men and women that God wants them to be. Yes, I know it will take you time to build a trust relationship with them but with time and healing it will come. But I would encourage you to not raise your standard for those in ministry leadership so high that you set them up for failure. Be patient and trust and lean on God and He will give you both the wisdom and discernment to find that church.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 5:13 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    i am just extremely cautious that I don't fall into deception. when you get burned by 'religious' people for years and years,... it tends to make one wiser and more cautious.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 5:11 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    nothing shocks me any more. nothing. this one is coming out of the closet. this one is divorcing so they can have a better relationship with someone else. the list goes on and on. I am not a bitter person by the way.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 5:09 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    and to be very honest, I find it hard to believe that you will find the Spirit of God in churches anymore. I have found that the most spiritual refreshing times that I have, are right here in my home.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 5:08 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    and now years later, the very people that was in that very pulpit where I was raised, were and still are living in sexual sins. God have mercy I walked away from it. I had to. I have separated myself from that.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 5:06 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    prophet and believer: I used to be a 'go to church on sunday' christian. simply because my parents raised me that way. i am thankful that they did the best to raise me in a Godly home. But,....i found out that there is alot more to just goin to church on sunday and acting like you are so spiritual and sin free. It took me down a road in life that before it was too late for me, God had mercy on me and He rescued me.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 4:36 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    smbga, I don't deny what you're saying is true, but do you find that in churches where this is allowed to happen, that they either as a church or denomination have moved away from the inerrancy of the Scriptures and are simply rewriting the Bible to suit their own views on specifically moral issues? What I tend to see is that in those churches that are adhering to the inerrancy of God's Word that when it is found out that a minister or any leader is willfully sinning or living in sin that they are disciplined. It's sad that even in some of those cases that there are some who still continue to follow and to support these leaders.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 4:33 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    I understand that a poll says that upwards of 40% of all pastors have pornography problems. I pray that those who are would seek out counsel and overcome it. Sexual immorality is probably the #1 sin among churches. It's sad really. I've been counseling a few couples on that very issue. It's disheartening to realize how big of a problem it is.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 3:52 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    and yes. sin was being promoted in a church i just recently visited. did i go back? NOT

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 3:50 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    and i couldn't agree more that porn needs to be banned on all airlines. but it won't be.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 3:49 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    believer: sin is never right. that will never change. I have seen way too many ministers(men and women) who carry on in their sinful lifestyle and fool (deceive) millions every day. More and more ministers are accepting all kinds of sinful lifestyles within their churches of those who minister along with them. You couldn't pay me to sit at their table. It's not that they don't know what is going on. They are just numb to it.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 3:12 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    smbga, could you please enlighten us about those sins that are now condoned in the life of ministers? You make all these blanket and rash statements and yet you offer no substantiation for them.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 11:48 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    "The group noted that American Airlines has already been sued for $200,000, by a passenger who alleges while sleeping woke up to find a substance in her hair, from another passenger masturbating."

    Well that certainly puts a nasty image in my head. I'm not sure that the extra "details" needed to be included in this article. That's the responsibility of the editors.

    I would suspect that these things are happening during overnight flights when the lights are turned off in the cabin.

    People, let's have some responsibility here.

  • Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:07 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    the day will come when 'porn' will not be considered 'filth'. Yes, i am making a prediction. Many years ago, you would have never thought that it would be acceptable for different kinds of sin to be allowed in the life of a minister. But look around. It is now.

  • Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:30 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 0

    It is illegal to contribute to the delinquency of a minor. This has been interpreted as providing alcohol to them. It should be illegal to allow porn to be accessed or shown (by video or computers or movies or print) in public places where minors can be adversely affected by it.

  • Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:15 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    smbga, plus filth being around and being exposed to filth are two very different issues. About any 7/11 type store you go to you can buy smut, but you have to go looking for it and the only thing you see is the cover which I'll agree can also be somewhat inappropriate but you have to willfully pick up the product and look at it to see the filth. Granted I would love to see this filth taken away to, but there is no comparison of this and a child or even an adult being exposed to blatant porn on an airplane.

  • Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:09 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    smbga, is that true of the church you attend? Because my responsibility as a Director of Missions is to visit 28 churches and I as of yet have found any with this so-called filth being promoted. But if that is the case in your church then I would highly encourage you to find a new church.

  • Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:03 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    filth is everywhere. whether it be porn, adultery, etc.....it doesn't matter if it is on the plane, or in the church. sad to say, but it has taken over america. if you want to live in peace, then you can at least protect your home. it's a real shame.

  • Sat Sep 20, 2008 6:40 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    blue, then would you support a lawsuit of a person whose underage child was exposed to porn as a result of sitting in a seat that gave the child direct view of the screen a person of legal age was watching porn on? If not, then what other alternatives does the airline have to remedy this problem without infringing on the civil rights of the person who chooses to watch porn?

  • Sat Sep 20, 2008 5:21 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

    People only look at the what ifs.. not the liberty and legality of such a filter. If you filter porn.. what is next? A Christian 'offended' because her daughter or son can see a radical Muslim documentary? A man or woman who are 'enraged' that their children may view a birth video. The list gets almost too ridiculous and too vague. Slippery slope occurs, and necessary lawsuits arise. Bottom line: airlines should not 'block' anything

  • Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:57 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    smbga, what's worse filth on the airplane or filth in the pulpit. So if I ever backslide in this area in my life could you please direct me to the conservative evangelical churches that are showing porn so I can get the best of both worlds, feed my old person and my new person at the same time. Now if you do think that that sounds dumb then guess how dumb what you said sounds. Almost as dumb as telling somebody, especially a curious child, to close their eyes when their on the plane and someone is watching that smut.

  • Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:55 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    "you can always close your eyes on the flight."

    My point was it's against the law to take a child under 17 into some movies. So, if a child is on an airplane and the fellow in the seat in front of you has porn on the screen which can be seen through the space between the seats...what do you do...force the child to wear a blindfold? Not allow him on the plane at all because to the content in "the room" where the child is?

  • Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:16 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    you can always close your eyes on the flight. but which is the worse? filth on the airplane, or filth in the pulpit? Take your pick. It's everywhere.

  • Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:24 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Vote with your feet, and let them know that you're doing so.

  • Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:38 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    Are there not federal laws about exposing minors to such material? If so, having it on the plane where a child in the next see back could see it would be a violation of the law and quite the civil suit.

    Unlike a library, an airplane is private property and therefore not under the same freedom of speech requirements.

  • Fri Sep 19, 2008 7:38 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    It's bad enough to have perverts on the ground we have to have them sitting next to us. I applaud the airline employees who want to this stuff filter out. They do not have to view this filth on the job. It is like sexual harassment on the job. You cannot hang these pictures in an office , a bank etc. . This is a form of sexual harassment and hostile work environment. If these flight attendants don't get any where I suggest they file a complaint their HR or with the labor board. The airline is the employer not the passenger. Any airline that does not protect their passengers or their employees from filth should be boycotted

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