How dangerous is modern porn?

Porn is destructive for love relationships as well as for the people who become addicted to it. Because we live in a free society I wouldn't ban it, but if asked my opinion I'd tell people not to go near it. It's unhealthy, IMHO.

a reply to: kosmicjack

I feel that you are right and by utilizing porn to dissipate our sexual energy we are probably short changing our life experience in other ways. Yet.....the world is so screwed up right now most people need to medicate with something....and sex is one of the biggest medications out there.

Chris Hedges wrote a compelling argument on the dangers of rampant porn on modern socirty:

m.truthdig.com...

Caution for graphic language.

originally posted by: kosmicjack
a reply to: Mister_Bit

But, as detailed in the OP, studies have shown that porn is more addictive than just about anything else. I think I read a stat that it takes as little as 12 times to be addicted.

I tend to think that porn fulfills, in the most superficial and sad way, a need for human connection. But, ironically and tragically, the unreality of porn actually works to separate a person from authentic human intimacy as the average person doesn't look or act like a porn star and it's that fake porn imagery that is connected to arousal.

Chocolate doesn't do that. Not always even alcohol or drugs.

Is society turning to porn because society is ruined or is society being ruined by porn?

I just have a problem with the whole idea that because something is addictive, which they may have proven it is, why, because it affects a small minority negatively do we have to ban or control it for the vast majority that use self control and enjoy it sensibly?

Why always do the majority have to curb their lifestyle because of a few with no self control?

Now the argument will probably come up of "...but the kids, think of the kids".... Well, where are the parents?

I used to sneak a look at my dad's porn when I was younger, it never did me any harm. Also, I seem to remember an old film from way back called "animal farm"... is that any worse or softer than say a bdsm movie?

Some people will unfortunately be affected negatively but millions enjoy it responsibly.

originally posted by: FlyersFan
Porn is destructive for love relationships as well as for the people who become addicted to it. Because we live in a free society I wouldn't ban it, but if asked my opinion I'd tell people not to go near it. It's unhealthy, IMHO.

Surely that's a huge generalization?!

I was with my partner for almost 30 years, we used porn and we both enjoyed it. It was healthy and fun.

Those who are addicted have no self control.

a reply to: Mister_Bit

We are at a philosophical empass so there isn't much use going back and forth.

I will simply end by saying that - IMHO - modern porn hacks the brain and acts to cut off a person from authentic human intimacy and also perpetuates masochistic, sadistic and misogynistic social structures to the benefit of capitalism in it's basest form.

a reply to: anonentity



You're kidding, right? Porn has been weird forever, and drugs DO hijack the "pleasure centers" of the mind. This is a bit, no, an absolutely quintessential example, of misinformation and fear mongering. And misunderstanding. Erectile disfunction becoming the norm because of porn..
give me a #ing break.

originally posted by: kosmicjack
a reply to: Mister_Bit

We are at a philosophical empass so there isn't much use going back and forth.

I will simply end by saying that - IMHO - modern porn hacks the brain and acts to cut off a person from authentic human intimacy and also perpetuates masochistic, sadistic and misogynistic social structures to the benefit of capitalism in it's basest form.

Respectfully agreed!

That is the beauty of modern society and also part of the problem.

We disagree on an issue and that is great, I can appreciate that but what gets my goat is how those that disagree have this idea that they can inflict their belief on others by making laws to restrict those they disagree with.

Enjoyed the debate, thanks!

a reply to: kosmicjack

porn is like hitting a tennis ball against the wall. it's fun at first and even a little exciting. but there comes a day when playing alone just doesn't cut it.

my opinion on a side note:
it isn't just men who watch porn. many women and many young kids are watching it. many homes have at least one internet viewing device. does anyone really think kids today want the highest resolution big screen smart phone for homework? kids are driving the modern porn age. we won't know what the result of this easy access to adult content for many years. it's a global social experiment.

I think it's pretty simple. If you choose to not do drugs then fine. If you choose to do drugs then you're screwed. Nobody's pointing a gun to your head. It's your choice to ruin your life or not.

Same with porn.

If you choose to not indulge in porn then fine. If you choose to indulge in porn then you're screwed. Err...no pun intented Nobody's pointing a gun to your head. It's your choice to f*ck up or not to f*ck up your pleasure centers.

People need to grow up. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know if something you do affects you positively or negatively.

But then again...Jesus...Ron Jeremy is still at it?!

I think one day we'll look back at it much like smoking or eating junk food. Big Tobacco hid the risks, upped the addiction factors and had deceptive marketing. Same thing with junk food purveyers. Ultimately, it will likely be disclosed that corporations that produce porn specifically structure their content to be as addictive as possible and also use marketing strategies meant to capture underage demographics.

a reply to: marg6043

I have not read through all of this so I'm not sure anyone has addressed this. Psychologically, porn addiction is not the same as relational sex.

Porn addiction causes what is called down regulation of the dopamine receptors. This is where your pleasure center is seeing the levels of pleasure you are obtaining and reacting, in this case, lessening the sensitivity to pleasure, due to overstimulation. This can impact all areas of life, an cause depression because you are no longer feeling pleasure and reward like you used to. This can also be the result of many pleasure and reward like activities. Gambling, drug addiction, etc.

Likewise, studies show that sex with someone you love actually causes you to be healthier. Happier, better immune system, more energy. While something like a one night stand can have the opposite. So, no, sex is not just sex.

originally posted by: CthulhuMythos
Erectile dysfunction due to watching too much porn is a real phenomenon. The more that is watched, the more hard core it needs to become in order to get turned on. I think that this is being utilised in order to reduce population numbers, and that is one of the reasons that our government is doing very little to address the ease of which it can be watched online. Another reason is that if it also is destroying men's ability to form meaningful long lasting and loving relationships, as they grow up with the images of women looking like prostitutes and acting like prostitutes (and sadly women are complying with this conformity in order to get a dudes attention as they too are being brainwashed via music videos, magazine articles, fashion and movie industry, that this is how you should look and act) it then breaks down the strong unity of the family unit, a strong bond that would make people rise up against tyranny in order to protect that unit.

Everywhere I look, I see porn images. More and more celebrities and famous singers are shooting and distributing porn style pics of themselves. How many web sites just carrying news articles also have semi naked women in ads or other articles down the side of the page? It is desensitising us all, and regular porn watchers even more so. Just have to look at how sex ed is being pushed on younger and younger kids at school, TV programmes called the joy of teenage sex, where they discuss and show images of more extreme sex and fetish sex. It is the same with all the hype and advertising for the film fifty shades of grey ( which was seriously pushed by our very own BBC radio stations for days on end before it's release), a film I see as being designed to normalise fetish, to sew the seed into relationships and individuals who had not thought of fetish before or perhaps thought of it as weird kinky stuff. If this can be normalised and accepted by society in general, then no longer will we need secret private fetish clubs, clubs that our very kinky elite/MPs/judiciary/Lords attend and can be blackmailed because of it. But on this slippery slope, there is another possible reason for over saturation of porn and fetish, and that is to decriminalise and have accepted paedophilia, another thing our kinky elites seem to have a passion for on an industrial scale. A rather scary scenario when you have kids that you are trying desperately to shield and protect.

Now before you brand me as some holier than thou anti sex prude, I am not, I have checked out the fetish scene and been to dungeons, but I do see an agenda at work here, especially as the government could just stipulate that all porn should have an '.xxx' domain where parents could easily filter out that domain and protect their kids, instead of the ridiculous proposal where porn watchers have to go pleading to their ISP to let them watch porn online. Sorry if I got a bit off topic, but I do see it all connected this way in the bigger picture.

Your right their is a steady desensitisation to porn type images, to the point where they are getting mainstream, acceptance. The role models of the youth, seem to be striking poses that would be found in a porn film, in fact its going mainstream as an art form . The media is composed of pretty liberal thinking types, especially the BBC. Sex in the brain is wired close to the aggression centres . HIV sexually transmitted diseases are still rampant, but again can be controlled by drugs, if you follow the money only one sector benefits. Certain types of intercourse, are now the accepted norm, even the preferred form. But hey I guess it takes two to tango.

a reply to: kosmicjack

Yep, capitalism isn't bad until the people involved in it are bad.

We live in a society where we have empty people trying desperately to fill that empty void. Gross consumerism thrives in that environment as does love of money, love of sex and love of sheer experience of one kind or another. Too bad none of it can satisfy in the end without a cycle of bigger and bigger thrills.

It all creates a great environment for consumerism.

originally posted by: subfab
a reply to: kosmicjack

porn is like hitting a tennis ball against the wall. it's fun at first and even a little exciting. but there comes a day when playing alone just doesn't cut it.

my opinion on a side note:
it isn't just men who watch porn. many women and many young kids are watching it. many homes have at least one internet viewing device. does anyone really think kids today want the highest resolution big screen smart phone for homework? kids are driving the modern porn age. we won't know what the result of this easy access to adult content for many years. it's a global social experiment.

No we might have an idea. See Japan where many can't even be bothered to have sex anymore.

a reply to: ketsuko

That's what would happen, "cant be bothered to have sex anymore". I guess its like any drug, if the usage is controlled and limited, to moderation, I cant see much of a problem. Quality verses quantity comes to mind. Humans are amazing creatures to gather addictions . Plus theirs always the commercial aspect of trying to push things. like occasional use of coc aine , becomes a problem when its Crack. Opium gets pushed to heroin .The list could go on . In the natural form it seems to be no real problem. But when synthesised , to the pure active ingredient it becomes dicey. Like foods like everything else in the modern society, it becomes so efficient its unbalanced. People need recreational escapism , But a young forming mind has little sense of discretion, and is wired for risk taking, it has to be learnt , but the collateral damage seems to be very high. Especially for this form of recreation, if all the pleasure centres become hijacked, it could become a nightmare.

a reply to: ketsuko

It's one thing to add spice with experimenting; it's another when the only way to get off is because you have to experiment with a three way with a farm animal or other so-called transgressive acts in order to feel titillated and sexually aroused.

What the hell lol

What.

How.

You people in this thread are being really really extreme with your notions of what porn is doing to people.

I find this all very amusing.

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

This entire argument is predicated on a slippery slope fallacy......

Very slippery.

originally posted by: FlyersFan
Porn is destructive for love relationships as well as for the people who become addicted to it. Because we live in a free society I wouldn't ban it, but if asked my opinion I'd tell people not to go near it. It's unhealthy, IMHO.

I might have disagreed with you a year ago, but after taking my time, doing research, and being completely honest with myself; I have come the conclusion that porn is a massive disconnect tool for men and women.

We have enough disconnect in our society, but when we condition ourselves in this unnatural manner, then it is almost impossible to ever connect with a person during making love, or sex.

Porn is about narcissism, self-pleasure, and me me me, but truly making love is connecting with, and to the other person, on a higher level.

a reply to: Realtruth

What about the happy healthy couples that enjoy watching porn together? Is it still all narcissistic me me me?

Or do you/all think that doesn't even exist?

originally posted by: Lucid Lunacy
a reply to: Realtruth

What about the happy healthy couples that enjoy watching porn together? Is it still all narcissistic me me me?

Or do you/all think that doesn't even exist?

I can attest that it does.