Legal Definitions - pander

To pander, as a verb, primarily refers to the act of facilitating or soliciting customers for prostitution, typically for one's own financial benefit. As a noun, a pander is an individual who engages in such activities.

More broadly, and often used metaphorically, to pander can also mean to cater to the desires, prejudices, or specific interests of a group in an unprincipled or opportunistic way, usually to gain popularity, support, or advantage.

• Example 1 (Prostitution Context):

  A landlord who knowingly allows tenants to use their rental units for prostitution and actively helps them find clients, taking a larger share of the rent in exchange for these services, would be engaged in pandering. This illustrates the legal meaning of facilitating prostitution for personal profit.

• Example 2 (Political Context):

  During a town hall meeting, a local politician might tell a group of environmental activists that they fully support a complete ban on all fossil fuels, and then later that day, tell a group of oil industry executives that they are committed to expanding drilling permits. This behavior could be described as pandering, as the politician is saying whatever each group wants to hear to gain their support, without necessarily holding a consistent or principled stance.

• Example 3 (Commercial/Media Context):

  A streaming service, noticing a trend in viewership for low-quality reality television shows that rely on conflict and sensationalism, decides to greenlight several new series with similar themes, despite internal concerns about their artistic merit or positive social impact. The service could be accused of pandering to the audience's baser entertainment desires to maximize subscriber engagement and profit, rather than prioritizing quality or diverse content.