Is Porn Bad for You?

[Simulist]

What is this thread about?

I mean, is there anybody in here really defending the porn industry, which everybody appears to admit is corrupt and exploitive and offers a product of marginal benefit at best?

Or is this a referendum on masturbation? I can't tell, sorry.

The "porn industry" or "porn"?

The "book publishing industry" is corrupt too, but I like "books."

[slomo]

What is this thread about?

I mean, is there anybody in here really defending the porn industry, which everybody appears to admit is corrupt and exploitive and offers a product of marginal benefit at best?

Or is this a referendum on masturbation? I can't tell, sorry.

The "porn industry" or "porn"?

The "book publishing industry" is corrupt too, but I like "books."

That's kind of my point, and why I mentioned earlier my concern about the conflation of "pornography" with sexuality in general.

Food production is mostly now corrupt and exploitive, but we all still need to eat.

[Simulist]

I'd agree with that. Conflating "pornography" with "sexuality in general" is false; conflating "pornography" with "the porn industry" in particular is false too.

Pornography is many things, but one of those things is a form of self-expression. And I do think that's worth defending.

The industry itself though? Not so much.

[slomo]

I'd agree with that. Conflating "pornography" with "sexuality in general" is false; conflating "pornography" with "the porn industry" in particular is false too.

Pornography is many things, but one of those things is a form of self-expression. And I do think that's worth defending.

The industry itself though? Not so much.

The porn industry is a great bogeyman, though. Difficult to defend from any perspective, it's a great place to stuff all our general discomfort with sexuality.

[barracuda]

The subtext of any discussion like this, about the evils of porn, is naturally the castigation of the sexuality of people's fantasies and how they ought to be constrained in some way. As this thread has shown, explicit depictions of provocative nudity and sexual acts have been a part of human existence for as long as there has been such a thing as human existence. As well, at least for as long as I've been alive, and in any era one might choose to investigate, there have been warnings from various corners as to the harmfulness of those images to humans who might wish to preserve a "normal" relationship with their sex, i.e. an acceptably anxious and repressed relationship. Those warnings came with the advent of French postcards and they will come again when, at some future date, interactive holo-porn materialises in all it's filthy dimensionality before your eyes. (Porn seems to be one subject in which the medium is definitely not the message.)

"Don't look at dirty pictures" is the same as "Don't touch yourself while looking at dirty pictures" is the same as "Don't touch yourself while thinking dirty thoughts" is the same as "Don't touch yourself".

You'll go blind.



I wonder if porn would exist in a truely self-actualised, enlightened society. I suspect it would.

[Simulist]

I wonder if porn would exist in a truely self-actualised, enlightened society. I suspect it would.

Sure it would. Just without all the heaping helpings of shame that fuel the truly vicious cycle of alleged "morality" and raw desire.

[Harvey]

I wonder if porn would exist in a truely self-actualised, enlightened society. I suspect it would.

Sure it would. Just without all the heaping helpings of shame that fuel the truly vicious cycle of alleged "morality" and raw desire.

It probably wouldn't because we'd all be wireheads.

[Stephen Morgan]

And Stephen, how is the guy's apparent ability to "connect emotionally" in any way "disturbing"?

Well, I don't mind people whoring their bodies but that's different. Commercial sex is one thing, commerical emotion is another. Having emotions in public is shameful in itself, allowing people to film it for money is one of the most despicable acts a human can commit.

There's a reason prostitutes don't kiss. Or so I hear.

But paying a woman to have sex, recording it so everyone can see, and then selling the images to the world, for a profit, is protected free speech?

The Thespian art has been legal for centuries. Although it was once illegal for women to act as a legacy of the Classical period was that actress was thought to be a synonym for prostitute. No longer seems to be the case.

[Simulist]

And Stephen, how is the guy's apparent ability to "connect emotionally" in any way "disturbing"?

Well, I don't mind people whoring their bodies but that's different. Commercial sex is one thing, commerical emotion is another. Having emotions in public is shameful in itself, allowing people to film it for money is one of the most despicable acts a human can commit.

Yeah. I supposed you meant something like that. You and I disagree of course, but that is not unusual.

It wouldn't surprise me if Mr. Deen "connects emotionally" with the bank teller too during routine transactions, because that's just how some of us are — we see people as people, not merely objects, and we tend to connect on an emotional level as a matter of course. So, naturally, when such a person has sex with someone, even in the context of a performance, it isn't difficult to imagine that he connects emotionally with them there, too. Personally, I find that beautiful.

On the other hand, it could be the non-connection — especially during such an intimate act — that I might find ugly.

[Wombaticus Rex]

Well, I stand corrected. Huh.

[JackRiddler]

Well, I don't mind people whoring their bodies but that's different. Commercial sex is one thing, commerical emotion is another. Having emotions in public is shameful in itself, allowing people to film it for money is one of the most despicable acts a human can commit.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

.

[wintler2]

.. Conflating "pornography" with "sexuality in general" is false; conflating "pornography" with "the porn industry" in particular is false too. Pornography is many things, but one of those things is a form of self-expression. And I do think that's worth defending.
The industry itself though? Not so much.

I agree, as does i think every other poster on this thread - nobody is conflating them all together, and thats something to be celebrated rather than forgotten.

If you can see the problems with porn industry, can you admit that consuming the products of that industry might have problems?

I'll bet you can admit that for e.g. paedophilic porn; why not also for relentlessly sexist and degrading power-over fantasies?

[Simulist]

.. Conflating "pornography" with "sexuality in general" is false; conflating "pornography" with "the porn industry" in particular is false too. Pornography is many things, but one of those things is a form of self-expression. And I do think that's worth defending.
The industry itself though? Not so much.

I agree, as does i think every other poster on this thread - nobody is conflating them all together, and thats something to be celebrated rather than forgotten.

If you can see the problems with porn industry, can you admit that consuming the products of that industry might have problems?

I'll bet you can admit that for e.g. paedophilic porn; why not also for relentlessly sexist and degrading power-over fantasies?

I take issue with your use of the word, "admit," Wintler2. I see no compelling need or reason to "admit" anything to you, or to anyone.

[wintler2]

I take issue with your use of the word, "admit," Wintler2. I see no compelling need or reason to "admit" anything to you, or to anyone.

Thankyou for your admission.

[Simulist]

I take issue with your use of the word, "admit," Wintler2. I see no compelling need or reason to "admit" anything to you, or to anyone.

Thankyou for your admission.

You can take your snark, and stuff it.