Let's start with a biggie - Pornography

[FussBudget]

Not often does one find Fuss in any debate thread, but this is an issue which perplexes me, so here goes.

Pornography. Is it the social evil it is made out to be ?

We hear that pornography leads to violence, wife abuse, child abuse, etc...

As a guy, I don't have any trouble (here at least) to admitting to looking at it/watching it/reading it. I don't consider myself to be any of the above, nor would I ever condone any of them in any way shape or form.

Yet there are elements in society who would brand me as a bad person simply for the above admission. I don't feel bad.

I realise there are women out there who would also partake, but it may be harder for them to be open about that because at least for guys, it is sort of 'expected' behaviour.

The dictionary describes it so : "Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal".

Yet in my country - and I suspect everywhere else - the word is used by groups - mainly by female pressure groups (*) - to indicate that this is something bad, something to be avoided, an 'ill' of society, and so on. Some of those groups argue that it causes men to become violent, and to then spread that violence amongst unsuspecting victims.

Is this really the case, do you think ? Do you link one with the other ? Or do you tend to side more with the train of thought that individuals are pre-disposed towards aberrant behaviours, and will one day do something wrong regardless ? Do you think the mere watching/reading of sexually descriptive material can blur the line between right and wrong to tip someone over the edge ?

(*) I only say this because I don't hear guys complaining !

If pornography "tips someone over the edge", to use your phrase, I'm betting that person was pretty damned close to the edge to begin with.

I've watched it. I'll watch it again. And then again. And then again. And then I'll get sick of watching the same people doing the same thing and get more. But do I watch it and then go beat my family and rape strangers? Nope. (In my own defense, I don't watch it with a bucket of KFC nearby.)

I'd hardly call it a social evil. I wouldn't accept any radical group's definition of it either as there are people out there that would deem Michelangelo and Botticelli "pornographic" because they used nudity in their art.

If you want to be angry at pornography for anything, be angry because it makes poor dumb schlubs like me think I could get three hot chicks at once if I just went to fix their cable.

"You can imagine where it goes from there."
"He fixes the cable?"
"Don't be fatuous, Jeffrey."

[FussBudget]

Originally Posted by NewRomantic

If you want to be angry at pornography for anything, be angry because it makes poor dumb schlubs like me think I could get three hot chicks at once if I just went to fix their cable.

NOW I know where I've seen your face before And trust me, I never looked any lower

Originally Posted by FussBudget

NOW I know where I've seen your face before And trust me, I never looked any lower

Oh, how I wish I could tell you that you were right.

No...its not the evil people think. It only leads to "evil" if the watcher LETS it.

And, for that fact, and this may just be my opinion, but I really don't see it as the degradation of women like so many people think either.

Like NewRo, and Fuss, I own it, I watch it on occasion, and I have a subscription to Playboy. Big deal.

Personally, I laugh at it. Sure, sometimes its good for the relationship...and sometimes not. Its when one person in the relationship starts to put all those "Why cant you do that? Why don't you get your boobs to look like hers?" pressures on the other party, that it becomes a problem. And granted, not alot of people DO do that, but there are some.

IMO, its not the porn thats bad, its the people who cant separate the porn illusion from reality that makes it iffy.

[Jessica]

Originally Posted by NewRomantic

(In my own defense, I don't watch it with a bucket of KFC nearby.)

*snicker*

[dagwood]

Let me start out by saying I don't like porn, therefore I don't watch or view.

I don't think it is the social evil people are making it out to be. It doesn't cause people to do bad things. I think that rumor is being spread by people looking for a scapegoat, rather than looking for ways to solve the problems.

[mooster]

Not often will you find me in a debate thread either, but I felt I needed to offer my opinion here.

You pose the question, is pornography the social evil it is made out to be ?

I don't believe so, and furthermore, I think there is a need for it. Couples use it for ideas and/or to enhance their sex life, many use it for self satisfaction and heaven forbid, a lot of individuals simply find it entertaining and even relaxing after a long hard day at work.

Just as you do Fussy, I like to look at it, watch and read it and I certainly don't get the urge to go out and commit atrocious acts after the fact. I will state here too, that the men I know personally who subscribe to it, are the most gentle and respectful of all. Yourself included.

Therefore, I side with the "individuals are pre-disposed towards aberrant behaviours, and will one day do something wrong regardless" theory. One that can also lend itself to the watching of violent films, but that's another thread...

So no, I don't think pornography is the social evil it is made out to be and I honestly thought that type of thinking went out donkeys years ago !

Could these women just be insecure and uptight....one has to wonder...

[Jonman]

I agree. It's not the evil it is made out to be. Like a lot of you I own some. I watch it. It cranks me up but I either satisfy myself or have great sex with my partner. I'd never even consider going out and doing anything evil just because I've watched porn. I have no desire to rape someone or beat someone or even kill someone.

Truth be told, most of it is so bad that it makes me laugh my ass off!!

[girly girl]

Like most of the others on here, I have some, I watch it occasionally, and I have no problem with it except when hubby watches/views it excessively and then expects ME to "finish".

[Midas]

I don't think that pornography is a social evil. In fact, it seems to be more mainstream than it was 20 years ago. Hell, even prime time TV has become pornographic tIt sure is a lot more accessible. I don't think it causes people to be violent. I've watched it. I haven't raped or killed anyone nor have the desire to. People need to own up to their actions and not blame it on something like pornography.

[Rice_Cube]

Originally Posted by Midas

tIt

looks like it causes subconscious naughtiness

[Bobby]

Like a lot of people here, I admit to watching pornography when it serves a purpose ( ) and I think this may be the issue. Quite often the idea of watching pornography in itself is not the problem but it's what people are doing when they watch it which seems to be the bigger taboo, lol.

I also agree that it is not a 'social evil' and far more 'acceptable' now (if that is the right word) than it was even 10/20 years ago. I don't believe it contributes to rape or any other sexual crimes and people are more able to admit to watching it these days without fear of being branded a pervert.

Of course, watching pornography will always remain something you wouldn't to do in front of anybody, lol.