Porn? Is it a good thing?

[mh8782]

Hi, this probably isn't the right place for this post, but hey, here goes. Mods, please move it if it isn't.

I'm probably like a lot of you in that I watch porn on a fairly regular basis, but, I've always felt a bit guilty about and wondered whether it's not a good thing. I think there are two arguments that float around in my head

1. It's not good for me, there's a danger that over time, my attitudes to women may become worse. It worries me when I see porn that is quite frankly degrading to women ("bitch slut fucks lucky dude", etc)
2. It's not good for the performers. I have no statistics, but I've anecdotally read of a lot of the girls in porn being maltreated, drug users, vulnerable, etc.

I'm not some mad feminist here who think men who watch porn are bastards, as I'm one of them. Does anyone else think like me and have similar concerns?

 

[mmjr]

To get it out of the personal area, I am old enough to remember when porn was difficult to find. The fact that it is now available 24/7 to people of any age cannot be a good thing for society. Those who are prone to excesses have a ready-made place to let their imaginations run wild. I know there was not as much child porno prior to the net providing the audience and the abilty for those types to find each other and interact. If, somehow, it totally disappeared off the net, I would not miss it and the time I spend looking at it could be better spent.

 

[B_sschlong]

Moderation is the key to everything: alcohol, sex, exercise, work, etc. If you find that you are spending time with porn that could be better spent (i.e. exercising, reading and educating, spending time with REAL people) then you are spending too much time with it. Nobody can tell you how much is too much, but I can tell you if you are spending more than a couple hours a day with anything, it better be something that is life-changing in a positive way (education, volunteering, work in your career).

 

[D_SortMahl]

Porn? Is it a good thing?

Yes

End Topic

 

[Daisy]

Hi, this probably isn't the right place for this post, but hey, here goes. Mods, please move it if it isn't.

I'm probably like a lot of you in that I watch porn on a fairly regular basis, but, I've always felt a bit guilty about and wondered whether it's not a good thing. I think there are two arguments that float around in my head

1. It's not good for me, there's a danger that over time, my attitudes to women may become worse. It worries me when I see porn that is quite frankly degrading to women ("bitch slut fucks lucky dude", etc)
2. It's not good for the performers. I have no statistics, but I've anecdotally read of a lot of the girls in porn being maltreated, drug users, vulnerable, etc.

I'm not some mad feminist here who think men who watch porn are bastards, as I'm one of them. Does anyone else think like me and have similar concerns?

My feeling is that if you actually care whether or not your attitudes towards females may become unrealistic or even negative is a good sign. If you're aware of it, you have more control of it. You can make a conscious decision to treat porn as total fiction and not buy into the terrible stereotypes.
I would consider a man to be fairly enlightened if he actually thought about these things.

That being said, porn has a place just like any other media. You wouldn't want to spend 6 hours in front of the TV, and you should also try to limit the amount of time wasted on porn. As mentioned above moderation is the key.

 

[tmny]

No, it's not a good thing.

It's a great thing.

 

[J7i]

No, it's not a good thing.

It's a great thing.

LMAO! :haha:

 

[lacuna22]

My feeling is that if you actually care whether or not your attitudes towards females may become unrealistic or even negative is a good sign. If you're aware of it, you have more control of it. You can make a conscious decision to treat porn as total fiction and not buy into the terrible stereotypes.
I would consider a man to be fairly enlightened if he actually thought about these things.

appreciate your perspective on this. when i watch porn (or erotica as the europeans like to call it *smile*) i've never really been able to accept it as fantasy. part of it may be that i make my living in film production (not porn) so i know how everything is made. but even if i didn't i don't think i could help but wonder whether the women i'm watching are have any control over how they're being depicted, or how willing they really are to be participating. the nice thing about that kind of awareness is when i see porn where the women seem fully engaged and in control, it's super sexy and arousing. of course the downside is even the slightest sense of exploitation is a huge turnoff. that doesn't help answer the question of whether it's good for society, but as bb king once said, there are two kinds of music - good and bad. same for erotica, i suppose.

 

[bakardi420]

My partner attended the feminist porn awards in Toronto this year. There are good sides to porn as well.

Just continue to be conscious of what you watch

 

[D_MastaBaiter]

I'm probably like a lot of you in that I watch porn on a fairly regular basis, but, I've always felt a bit guilty about and wondered whether it's not a good thing. I think there are two arguments that float around in my head

1. It's not good for me, there's a danger that over time, my attitudes to women may become worse. It worries me when I see porn that is quite frankly degrading to women ("bitch slut fucks lucky dude", etc)
2. It's not good for the performers. I have no statistics, but I've anecdotally read of a lot of the girls in porn being maltreated, drug users, vulnerable, etc.

I'm not some mad feminist here who think men who watch porn are bastards, as I'm one of them. Does anyone else think like me and have similar concerns?

I have similar concerns. In my experience, it ruins the way I see women. I tend to objectify them, focusing in on their breasts, butt, hips, waist, legs, thighs, you name it and I have a hard time not staring, especially breasts. Then the performers, I've read a number of women who are out of the business who've said most actors/actresses are maltreated (deceived, abused, lied to) and drug users and that STDs are rampant. I've seen stats that say a high percentage (70% range) of actors/actresses in porn were either molested and/or raped as children or teenagers. Which gets me wondering at times; what kind of business attracts so many people who were sexually violated. In my estimation, it's not a good thing. I know that sounds dumb because I watch it, but then again, I'm trying to stop, but keep coming back to it.