"I can't define pornography" Topic

But I can finish that quote. And I know, generally, the context under which it was made and the general position of the speaker.

At work, someone used this quote to make an analogy. And another person was shocked and appalled. After a certain amount of ranting, raving, and the birthing of bovines, it became apparent that the second person was not familiar with the quote, which was a driving force in the reaction.

I would like to ask the erudite gentlefolk present if they know the quote (not to finish it) and its general context. I (a gen-x'er) learned it it high school, as did SWMBO and so did my (millenial) kids. The person who didn't recognize was a couple years older than me (gen-xer or maybe boomer), but no other colleague (from gen-z to boomer) in the room didn't recognize it (or at least react adversely to or ask about it). The small number of others I have asked just completed the quote when I started it.

I pointed out generations above, but I believe asking here also gives me the option to identify if/which non-Americans recognize the quote.

Whether or not it is an appropriate quote for an analogy at work (IME, it is often used for such purposes, rather than in a dicussion of the orginal contect), is a different topic.

Supreme Court justice, right? That we can know what pornography is (gut reaction? conscience?) but have a hard time putting that into a legal rule (rules don't work for everything, or language is insufficient).

I learned the quote and the context in High School 1980 or so.

I remember the quote when it was first made and all the discussion throughout thr 70s. I'm surprised someone wasn't aware of it. Oh well.

I'm past 70 and am aware of the quote and follow up.

Yes, understand it and the controversy that spawned it.
But an old guy.

Know it, can complete it, heard it discussed in college and used by professors, understand the context, and while I can't recall the justice who said it, I know that it was said as part of a legal matter.

Of what good that all is, I don't know.

But I see all the time today where ignorant and emotional people get all riled up over a quote whose existence, meaning, context and intent they don't know and can't be bothered to consider when you offer these to them. They've just decided to be offended by what they don't understand, and will NOT be corrected, educated, or calmed down, because thay would require them to admit that they are WRONG, and they've been coddled never to do that and that it's not even possible for them.

It was even in a Tom Lehrer song.

Learned it in high school. Reminds me of when I was working on my doctorate, 7 people in class all tried to give birth to baby bovines all at once. They were offended by a discussion about replacing or removing the N-Word from Huckleberry Finn; they assumed someone wanted to ADD those words to make it seem more authentic (none had read the book). Tom Lehrer! Excellent side note. Does anyone after Gen X know who he is?

Learned it in high school in the 80s.

Tom Lehrer! Excellent side note. Does anyone after Gen X know who he is?

DOM (millenial) celebrates National lBrotherhood Week with me every year. SOM (millenial) is fond of Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. And everyone in the family is up for the challenge of how far they can sing into the periodic table of the elements without screwing up.