Tim Case writes: Thora Birch is an American-born actress, who had a starring role in the film “Ghost World” and also had a major role in the film “American Beauty”. Her parents were both adult film actors — her mother appears in the xxx classic “Deep Throat”.

A question to the group — Thora Birch was barely 17 when she acted in a topless scene for the movie “American Beauty”. Why is this legal, and not classified as child pornography?

Gene sez: maybe for the same reason the government has already backed off the issue of the Dakota Fanning rape movie. A fight would be way too public, in the mainstream press and positively embarrassing. Whereas the Feds can chip away at the pornographers all day long and never solicit a whelp in the regular media. Porn is not “mainstream” no matter what anyone tells you.

Gram Ponante replies: I will admit that I thought she was hot in that scene, but I think the filmmakers could successfully argue that that topless appearance could be construed to not be sexual. It is very similar to Kelly McGillis’ topless scene in “Witness”. Both say “I am not ashamed.”