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Comment by geomark | Hacker News Reader

Brings back memories. I served on the jury when Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys was on trial for including a rude poster in one of their albums[1]. Jury deliberation was a circus. One woman hung the poster up (it was pretty rude [2]), looked at it for a while, and said "Kinda makes you horny".

[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Kennedys#Frankenchrist_an... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis_Landscape

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Ahh yes, the PMRC. I remember those "concerned parents", led by Tipper Gore. The best part of that time was Dee Snider from Twisted Sister testifying before Congress (their song "We're not gonna take it" was squarely in the sights of the PMRC).

When John Denver testifies against you, you're really off track.

Former prosecutor recants: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/285/t...

Haha. And did she vote to convict or aquit?

Of course she voted to acquit. So did the old guy who shouted "Nothing is obscene!" the moment he entered the jury deliberation room, despite the fact that Jello was not charged with obscenity. And the girl who said "The defense attorney is pretty cute."

What was he charged with?

"Distribution of harmful matter to minors." The law requires a warning that says it shouldn't be sold to minors. Instead, they put on a sticker with a snarky remark about how some people might find the contents objectionable, "but life is like that" (something like that). So kids were buying the album and parents were freaking out when they found the poster hanging in their bedrooms.

There was never really any notion about being charged with obscenity. Most people reject that out of hand anyway. The issue was that there is a law that attempts to ensure parents get some warning so they could decide if some materials may not be appropriate for their kids. The matter before the jury was to decide if that poster was that kind of material, and if the snarky sticker was sufficient warning.

Surprising looking at the condom, if the glove fit you can't acquit or something.

Oh god, more stories please, this sounds amazing.

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