Is porn actually bad?

[Incognitus]

this might sound like a stupid question, but:

why do most religions frown on pornography?
wouldn't it be good to have more knowledge of people's bodys before they expected to marry?

thx

[magi13]

i have a few hypothesis regarding that.

the magisterium teaches that we all have sinned, and if you seek physical pleasure with respect to sex before the holy ritual of marriage we are committing sin. it's a smart move actually, because having provided such thing as we, we are naturally inclined to making that sin.

it is in our biological nature to seek partners. so porn in a way is considered smut = sin by the magisterium.

now that most people who watched porn sinned, ex. masturbating - such waste of life which would have been used by us to procreate with a partner.
we are now sinning and must be saved according to their teaching.

same applies to contraceptives in some religion.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by Incognitus

this might sound like a stupid question, but:

why do most religions frown on pornography?
wouldn't it be good to have more knowledge of people's bodys before they expected to marry?

thx

Religion is about control. The easiest way to control others is to give them a set of rules to follow. The stricter the rules, the more control, but eventually people wake up.

Ancient religion is losing it's ground, while new versions of old are more acceptable.

Ultimately you created religion and porn, murder, love, joy, pain, suffering and happiness..........it's up to you to decide why you created them.

If you don't believe you created them, then you need a religion to follow

Judge

[Eric Roosevelt]

Porn can give an unrealistic perception of the sexual act, and teach people that sex is inherently self-oriented and visual, instead of other-oriented and sensual.

On the other hand I don't think it fries your brain or anything.

[liveforsnow2288]

Pornography appeals to the senses, true sex appeals to the spirit. One is infinitesimally short and the other is eternal. Neither are right or wrong... the choice is yours.

[Andrew Brunelle]

I think pornography is just a substitute for what we all really want. I don't see a problem with it unless it becomes an addiction. Once in awhile, it can't hurt. Even if the Bible says, "It is better to spill your seed into the belly of a whore than let it fall on the ground (or into a tissue), I think it's great for stress relief and is a healthy activity if done in moderation. The Catholic doctrine was, "If it feels good, stop."

Our base desires are always going to be there, and sometimes the only option you have is porn.

[magi13]

The issue at hand here is "what do you think?" (thread starter)

When you answer that, compare it to the opinion of the one who you think matters. (your religion, your society/friends/family)

Then decide for yourself what you want to believe in. (limit this -"that you won't be hurting others or that it'd benefit you and others")

XXX

There is nothing wrong with feeling good, but if you're hurting in a bad way (negative to your health or that your breaking laws), you'll need to make a change.

Personal opinion. I don't mind porn, but I don't let it control me. Sex and imagination is more appealing to my mind, rather than porn.

[The David]

Originally Posted by Andrew Brunelle

Even if the Bible says, "It is better to spill your seed into the belly of a whore than let it fall on the ground (or into a tissue)

Is that an actual verse? I'm not familiar with it. I would think the masturbophobes would be all over it.

[Groundless]

Is porn actually bad?

No. Everything just is.

[polyfulcrum]

Wow... you think that porn actually resembles real sex? I've talked with women that act in porn, and it's about as real as velveeta cheese product. Looks good, not likely to teach you much about real people and physical intimacy. You'd have better luck voyeuring at a swing club, if you're looking for instruction without actually doing anything yourself. Reading is good too, and there are many instructional videos on sex and, more importantly, foreplay.

[Lilith785]

Originally Posted by Groundless

Is porn actually bad?

No. Everything just is.

So true...

[dulaney0330]

I believe pornography is wrong because it objectifies the person solely for the purpose of sex. It degrades women and a lot of women who go into that industry have been sexually abused.

It isn't about control, its about what is best for men and women and porn isn't it.

[Eric Roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Groundless

Is porn actually bad?

No. Everything just is.

Sort of. But we also have a need to make certain judgments in life. If we couldn't reason about what is good for us, we wouldn't make very good decisions.

The line of reasoning that "everything just is" could be applied to absolutely everything, including war and sexual abuse. There's a time for accepting the world as it is, and a time for improving it.

That's not to say I think porn is categorically bad. There's plenty of porn which has nothing to do with degradation, unless your standard for degradation is that you can see naked people.

[Incognitus]

thanks for your insight so far guys. ya i know its important to not let porn control you and it doesn't. Andrew, i liked your comment about catholism, "if it feels good, stop" Hahaa, sad but true.

so the basic reason is because marriage is considered sacred to them? i wonder how these people felt about ancient nudey drawings on papyrus, cuz you know that happened.

[Joyous]

A good article found here..

Why porn addiction is dangerous?

[Lichterschachtel]

Well, if me getting naked and having sex is what floats my boat, I want to be able to do it! If I want to get paid for having sex with someone, why not? I see nothing wrong with it, as long as that's what everyone involved truly wants.

[aggie]

well, your question about if porn is bad really has nothing to do about getting to know someone's body before you marry

if you use porn to get an idea of some different things, maybe even kinky things if that is what you want to explore and experiment with a willing partner...then there is nothing wrong with that at all.

i have viewed much porn in my life with and without my partners...gone to strip clubs, looked at a lot of the magazines.

it can be a turn on at times...but maybe for some women it can get old. if a guy needs porn regularly as his foreplay instead of his and his partner's body. if one can actually not perform sexually without the aid of porn. if comparisons are made or there are unnatural expectation or demands...then, i won't even say the word "bad"....just something is wrong.

i have experienced some of the above, and i am definitely not a prude...i have gone above and beyond in my life...but i moved on to something else to get from sex and porn just doesn't do it anymore. guy or girl who likes to use it on an occasional basis without it interferring with a real sex life, that is their business and privilege.

there is some porn that is more instructional and realistic...some between real partners that can be beneficial.

some porn, if analyzed...you start to realize a lot of the time the girl is masturbating to achieve the orgasm and the guy is constantly stroking to keep it up. if you start to notice things like a lot of anal and the women looking like they are in pain instead of enjoying....well it starts to take a different look.

but everyone is individual....it is up for everyone to decide physically, spiritually, morally, religiously what they need from it or what they feel they should or shouldn't be doing...without any pressure from outside individuals.

[Moxie]

Porn can give an unrealistic perception of the sexual act, and teach people that sex is inherently self-oriented and visual, instead of other-oriented and sensual.

On the other hand I don't think it fries your brain or anything.

+1

I have an odd viewpoint of porn. I think it's natural for it to exist, and fulfills a need. I've never had a problem when the person I'm with watches porn - as long as it doesn't take away from my needs.

On the other hand, I think porn becomes negative when it affects relationshps, and when it dehumanizes people. Which a large portion of it does. What is the message in a porn video when a group of men use a woman (or a man) for their needs? When everything possible is done to degrade the recipient?

Porn's kind of a joke for me, but it wasn't directed with me in mind. I have yet to see porn that appeals to me directly, but most porn really wasn't made for women. Also, I have yet to see a woman actually 'get off' for real in a porn flick. Even in the ones with the man touching the woman trying to encourage her, it actually looks painful, not pleasurable. I can tell the woman is faking, even when men that I've asked can't. It's in the quick flashes of irritation in her eyes, and the avoidance of something and then giving in. Small cues, not big ones. Anyway, it's kind of a mixed bag for me. I think erotica and still pictures are more exciting than video's anyway.

[rabbitfur]

Originally Posted by Incognitus

Is porn actually bad?

I cannot answer that.

Originally Posted by Incognitus

why do most religions frown on pornography?

I don't know that they do but if they do I don't know why.

Originally Posted by Incognitus

wouldn't it be good to have more knowledge of people's bodys before they expected to marry?

I don't know.


I would add, that,

I don't view porn as "good" or "bad". I assess porn from the question: "does it make my life work better according to the values that I say are important to me: being fully self expressed, being free, contributing, love, joy and community and partnership"?

And what I have observed (and I don't know why it is this way, but it is) is that my ability to be those values are reduced when I watch porn. It is simple as that. So I rarely if ever watch it and it has nothing to do with me liking it or not or thinking it is bad or good.

I am committed to my life working.

[secrets0stolen]

Originally Posted by rabbitfur

i don't view porn as "good" or "bad". I assess porn from the question: "does it make my life work better according to the values that i say are important to me: Being fully self expressed, being free, contributing, love, joy and community and partnership"?

+1

[ChrisG]

Originally Posted by Eric Roosevelt

Porn can give an unrealistic perception of the sexual act, and teach people that sex is inherently self-oriented and visual, instead of other-oriented and sensual.

I think I can relate to this. It may just be part of the male sex instinct, but sometimes when I think about sex I think about it in terms of something done for my benefit only, and not for my partner's or for us both.


I think it is possible to get "in too deep" with regard to porn. Porn can give you really weird perceptions of what sex is and should be like.
If anyone has read "The Porn Trap" by Wendy Maltz, there's a list of beliefs about sex that are influenced by porn, vs. more "healthy" attitudes. I have a copy of the book somewhere- if I can find it I'll post what it says

My perception is that most religions frown upon anything sexual which is not for procreative purposes. By saying that sex = sinful, it keeps people frightened (since we are inherently sexual beings), and people are easiest to control and manipulate when they are in a state of fear.


Finally- porn is a pale substitute for sex. There's no true intimacy involved, even though it is physically stimulating.

[Andrew Gubb]

Religions?

Religions don't like sex because it's not controllable enough for them. Sexual frustration can be diverted into blind devoutness.

There's something a little low vibration about most porn but I think it's mostly the attitude the actors bring to it?

[rosemary0507]

Originally Posted by dulaney0330

I believe pornography is wrong because it objectifies the person solely for the purpose of sex. It degrades women and a lot of women who go into that industry have been sexually abused.

It isn't about control, its about what is best for men and women and porn isn't it.

Whilst I don't necessarily agree that all porn is acceptable, I do get a bit annoyed with the old "porn degrades women" argument. Apart from the hardcore stuff, depicting abuse, rape, etc. (which I totally disagree with) let's not forget that most mainstream pornography includes men as well as women. Are the men degraded as well, or is degradation purely the realm of women? Mainstream porn depicts sexual activity between men and women and does not degrade one gender more than the other.

There is, of course, no substitute for sex in a loving relationship but, most of the arguments against it are based on religion or in repressed societies.

[Elrond]

Originally Posted by dulaney0330

I believe pornography is wrong because it objectifies the person solely for the purpose of sex.

Gee I wonder what guys have on their mind when they approach a woman that they're attracted to...

As long as there are men women will always be objectified.

[Manomanman]

Originally Posted by Incognitus

this might sound like a stupid question, but:

why do most religions frown on pornography?
wouldn't it be good to have more knowledge of people's bodys before they expected to marry?

thx

I've concluded that it interferes with our ability to experience intimacy.

Intimacy vs. Isolation - look that up on Google.

[Cado]

Originally Posted by Andrew Gubb

Religions?

Religions don't like sex because it's not controllable enough for them. Sexual frustration can be diverted into blind devoutness.

There's something a little low vibration about most porn but I think it's mostly the attitude the actors bring to it?

Half the human element is gone. There's no drama, no love, just ****ing. S'why I don't get into most of it.

[Zach M]

Does porn lead to lack of good relationships, or does lack of good relationships lead to porn?

[Cado]

Originally Posted by Zach Matley

Does porn lead to lack of good relationships, or does lack of good relationships lead to porn?

Either or and neither.

[Michael Chui]

I love it when some troll necros a year-long thread and all the veteran forum posters completely ignore the date on the OP. The schadenfreude is so vast you can fill an Olympic sized pool with it.

[Elrond]

^ Maybe people wanna discuss the topic among themselves even though the OP has already gotten a satisfactory answer. That's not so hard to imagine...