Exhibit A: The Porno

I read an article at lunch today explaining how "freedom of speech" is not the same as "freedom of expression", and I started thinking about the idea of pornography. (Give me a moment here.)

In most every state, prostitution is illegal, right? Now, prostitution occurs when one person receives payment for sex with another person. It doesn't matter who pays for the sex, either. If Mary receives money to have sex with John, she commits prostitution regardless of who gave her the money. John doesn't have to be the payer. For example, suppose John's friend Mike pays Mary instead. The involvement of the third party doesn't magically cause the act to no longer be prostitution.

So why aren't "adult film" "actors" arrested for prostitution? The "actor" was payed to have sex with somebody. How does videotaping the crime *eliminate* the crime??? Isn't the videotape merely evidence by which the prosecution should obtain a conviction???