Poll: Porn.
- Thread starter Eggsnham
- Start date
Yeeeaaaahh.. I figured someone would take that the wrong way. Thank Gods for the edit button.e2density said:
Personally, I regard it as prostitution. However I feel that if porn is legal, prostitution should be. I don't really find it immoral or demoralizing, per se. Most (if not all) women who take part in porn actually like it and want to be part of it. There are exceptions though, but there are always exceptions. Other than that, meh.
It's definitely prostitution, but I'm fine with that anyway, so I answered 'alright with me'.
It's not that I would ever use a prostitute but I am a believer in Freedom, we don't have the right to stop consenting adults doing whatever they like with their bodies.
It's not that I would ever use a prostitute but I am a believer in Freedom, we don't have the right to stop consenting adults doing whatever they like with their bodies.
Like alcohol, it is dangerous because it can color our perceptions, alter our expectations, and provide an avenue for addictive behaviors in its users. Bear in mind, my examples center around porn for men, but it applies just as easily to porn for women. It's just I'm a guy, so that's the perspective I've got.
Porn can give someone unrealistic expectations about the sort of people they should be having sex with, the sort of sex they should be having, the sort of response they'll get during sex, and how often/long it should be happening. Woman A seems to thoroughly enjoy everything done to her, is always willing to go, is open to experimenting, seems to know exactly when to do what, and otherwise presents an ideal situation for the man.
Porn also creates the expectation of on-demand sex with a multitude of independent (and ideal) partners in a completely self-serving and consequence-free environment. Woman A doesn't "care" than tomorrow you're watching Woman B instead, she doesn't care if she "gets hers" or not, and no one catches any diseases or suffers any emotional turmoil in the whole thing.
It can be unhealthy because these expectations can follow them into a relationship. And two people in a relationship watching the SAME porn might not be getting the same influences from it, so even that's not a guarantee it won't have some ill effect.
All of these problems, however, are on the VIEWER end. Other than that, the legalities surrounding the activities of the people BEHIND the porn are a matter on which we're qualified to say very little. Plenty of people make destructive decisions based on trouble childhoods, abuse, or drug use--porn isn't the only place it happens. So, let's keep our focus on the problems for the CONSUMER (because hell, if you eliminate the DEMAND, you'll eliminate the SUPPLY anyway, if that's your goal).
I'll also say that certain elements of romantic books, songs, and movies can (and often do) have seriously detrimental emotional effects on the expectations and behaviors of their consumers. Since they're not as overt as sex, though, they're given a free pass in the eyes of the public.
Porn can give someone unrealistic expectations about the sort of people they should be having sex with, the sort of sex they should be having, the sort of response they'll get during sex, and how often/long it should be happening. Woman A seems to thoroughly enjoy everything done to her, is always willing to go, is open to experimenting, seems to know exactly when to do what, and otherwise presents an ideal situation for the man.
Porn also creates the expectation of on-demand sex with a multitude of independent (and ideal) partners in a completely self-serving and consequence-free environment. Woman A doesn't "care" than tomorrow you're watching Woman B instead, she doesn't care if she "gets hers" or not, and no one catches any diseases or suffers any emotional turmoil in the whole thing.
It can be unhealthy because these expectations can follow them into a relationship. And two people in a relationship watching the SAME porn might not be getting the same influences from it, so even that's not a guarantee it won't have some ill effect.
All of these problems, however, are on the VIEWER end. Other than that, the legalities surrounding the activities of the people BEHIND the porn are a matter on which we're qualified to say very little. Plenty of people make destructive decisions based on trouble childhoods, abuse, or drug use--porn isn't the only place it happens. So, let's keep our focus on the problems for the CONSUMER (because hell, if you eliminate the DEMAND, you'll eliminate the SUPPLY anyway, if that's your goal).
I'll also say that certain elements of romantic books, songs, and movies can (and often do) have seriously detrimental emotional effects on the expectations and behaviors of their consumers. Since they're not as overt as sex, though, they're given a free pass in the eyes of the public.
trying to ban porn will probably just result in massive, albeit anonymous, public outrage... and if it WAS banned, people would still make/find/use it anyway, and it'd just give more money to the industry, that the government couldn't tax
Telling me I'm wrong isn't what I'm against, arguing your point isn't what has upset me. However wording it so I'm made to feel small and belittled did. You went out and blatantly insulted me because you feel I misinterpreted your point while I feel I didn't.geldonyetich said:
So if it wasn't a kindness (I though it was and I intended it to be so) but born of good intentions... why did you have to insult me?. Why not try and reason rather than verbally attacking. Your an English teacher (well with the sounds of things you are) so you should know a lot better than this. I'm just a young student, probably half your age... I'm going to make mistakes. Maybe I get called out on one, and we try and debate... you (being older and more experienced) should be able to argue without resulting to insulting and belittling. I (being the youngster and the student) should be the one who would resort to that first.geldonyetich said:
I read what you clarified: "I was saying that anybody who does something just because 'the cool kids are doing' is a sheeple. Because it's the epiphany of sheep-like behavior." That's just not how it comes off when read.geldonyetich said:
"But, hey, even having said all this, even having learned its exploiting you even as they exploit themselves, you can go ahead and say you love porn. After all, it's what all the cool kids are doing. Sheeple"
Reads to me (possibly to others)
"But, after making my point about X, after learning about the effects of X, you can say you like X. Because every one else seems to like X, making those that do like X sheeple."
That's how I interpreted it anyway. Though to be honest, I'm going to leave it. I'm going to admit to being wrong, be the bigger man and walk away. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused and it seems so petty an arguement to say it's all over a small paragraph (if it can even be called that) your right enjoy it. Let's stop arguing with each other and let's just put this behind us. Would you accept my apology? (I would like to point out though, if you hadn't spoke to me in such a manner and maybe explained it reasonably... I'd have apologised way before it escalated into this, I don't like arguing or causing trouble.).
Much like how I have little control over how a person will misinterpret me, I have little control of how a person will choose that they've been insulted.Sovvolf said:
I'm not really in the habit if flinging insults at people baselessly. The thing is, there's absolutely no logical reason for me to insult people, so I don't. If I said you are doing this thing, it's because I believe it.
In that case, when you have decided you've been insulted, you're basically choosing missing an opportunity to learn from the honest opinion you are getting, and instead declaring I've overstepped social bounds that really have nothing to do with me.
Granted, I'm not surprised you have this behavior, because there are plenty of people out there who really do fling meaningless insults merely to get a rise out of people. There's no sense trying to learn anything out of a completely baseless insult, to simply say, "I don't see why you're insulting me" makes sense in that case.
See the above. I'm skipping a lot of your message here because your steadfast insistence that I'm insulting you is worthless considering that was your choice.
In that case, hopefully you won't mind that there's no reason to bother going over what you wrote. However, for what it's worth, in doing this you're demonstrating better behavior than most the people I have to deal with on Internet forums.
Sophomoric sentiment runs rampant on this forum, most of the posters are of a kind of age they really want to prove they're right, even if they're not, and misinterpretation is usually their primary mode of operation. A flame war can last forever when both parties aren't really reading what the other one is saying... more often than not, that's the case on an Internet forum.
And what does this have to do with removing porn? Better to have pleasure than none. Your comparison is pointless unless you really think that everybody is either going to be in love with their soulmate or jacking off, with no overlap and no people who have neither.lodo_bear said:
EDIT: As for Geldon, the only thing I can say is that you need to take responsibility for the fact people are getting insulted by your posts. As somebody who talked down to others based on what you thought was their lack of knowledge of the English Language, you should know that diction and syntax have a clear effect on the tone of your message, and, even if you aren't flat out insulting somebody, making a post where the general tone is one of arrogance and superiority is going to be insulting. Even if you actually have a point, it's wrapped up in so much implied vitriol and so much smugness that nobody will listen to you.
