You know society is in a weird place when you can be made to feel strange for not doing something.

When I was an adolescent, I didn't smoke. Lots of grief for that, although I've never really understood why. I took a puff, found nothing remotely appealing about it, and had no need to do it again. Turns out I was a trendsetter. The friends I do have that smoke are all trying to quit. Yippee! I own the moral high ground!

Drinking has been far more of an issue. I constantly have to explain that I'm not a Muslim, Mormon, or Quaker and no, I don't think you're going to hell because you are drinking that Heineken. For a while there I found it easier just to tell people I'm a recovering alcoholic. Look, I just don't want to drink alcohol and I'm not a big fan of orange soda either.

Porn at least, isn't something openly discussed in social situation, so I've never had to explain my ambivalence about it, and thanks to David Paterson, maybe I won't have to.

Gov. Paterson recently suggested the so-called iPod tax to help close a $15 billion budget deficit, but few realized the levy would also apply to XXX-rated material.

The skin industry denounced the move as a cheap political stunt.

"The last thing any of us need isan additional tax," said Steven Hirsch, the CEO of Vivid Entertainment Group and self-proclaimed King of Porn. "These are very difficult times and nobody can afford to lose even one customer."

The new tax technically isn't a sin tax, since it applies to all "digitally delivered entertainment services."

It would also apply only to businesses located in New York State, leaving some to wonder if companies would relocate to avoid the tax.

A manager at DVD Video in Times Square said porn lures tourists to New York and helps boost the economy.

Whether you think porn is a good idea, harmless or a sign of the last days, there is little question that taxing it is going to hurt sales. Its not that porn lacks consumers, its that it lacks paying consumers, and increasing the prices is probably going to achieve what all the feminists and Sunday sermons could never do--put a serious dent into the porn industry.