Should Wal-Mart display 'Porno?'

My son is only three weeks old, but he’s already impacting how I feel about censorship and marketing in the 21st century.

Kevin Smith’s latest raunch-fest, “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” comes out on DVD Tuesday (Feb. 3). It’s a sweet romance wrapped in Smith’s signature humor – the R-rated variety. Nothing wrong with that, assuming older audiences are the ones gobbling up the movie tickets – or DVDs starting this week.

But Wal-Mart didn’t want to stock the DVD with the word “Porno” in the title. The Weinstein Company, which is distributing the DVD, agreed to meet their request.

The Red Bank, N.J. native is bemused by the brou ha ha.

“I’m just so shocked that the word ‘porno’ meant that much to people in terms of, like, they found it insanely offensive and don’t want to see it on display,” he told CTV, a Canadian media outlet.

Plus, he worries some unsuspecting DVD shoppers might pick it up and be aghast at what the film actually portrays.

Normally, I’d side with Smith. It’s just a word, right?

My son won’t be old enough to watch a DVD for a while, and it’ll be a decade before I even think about letting him get to know either Zack or Miri.

But I can sympathize with parents trying to explain to their children what “porno” means. It’s one reason folks shop at Wal-Mart in the first place.

Censorship hounds might decry the decision. Heck, the retail giant is a favorite target for left-leaners on a good day. But both sides came to an agreement, and the movie in question can be bought at Wal-Mart or any other outlet without any edits to the film itself.

And I’d still rather watch “Zack and Miri” than Barney, Dora the Explorer or any other kiddie treat my son will be clamoring for in the next few years.