Poll: Pornography, good? bad? something in between?

[Wintermoot]

it,s a good thing if people want to get naked,shag and get filmed doing that it,s their own choice

 

[Bestival]

I watch absolute heaps of porn. Sometimes because I'm horny and wish to touch myself, sometimes because it's fucking hilarious. I don't see it as necessarily good or evil, it simply is.

 

[theSteamSupported]

My wife and I watch porn together, picked up quite a few "hey, let's try THAT" tricks and it's been a fun and healthy part of our sex life when we use it.

Same here, except replace wife with boyfriend.

I think that anyone in a serious committed relationship has no need for it either.

Hey, just because you don't like it doesn't mean you have to ruin it for the rest of us!

OP: Porn is good but the industry tends to churn out the same kind of stuff, I've explained my view before but basically there needs to be more variety. I veer towards amateur stuff rather than some guy jackhammering a girl's vaj/mouth/ass and finishing on her face while she pretends to have like 8 orgasms because it's really not fun at all.

I would love to see a woman actually have an orgasm for once but women are more openly watching it now so maybe that will change soon enough.

You heard the lady!

While I don't think porn is bad (in fact I think it has a stimulating effect rather than encouraging effect), I don't like how mainstream porn portrays sex and sexuality. Treating women like dumpsters and men like machines is just sickening in my eyes. How about people genuinely enjoying the stuff, rather? How about some Fornication-Under-Consent-of-the-King-ing realism and honesty?

 

[PsychedelicDiamond]

I never got the point of it. I just don't find sex appealing when someone else is having it. But is it something bad? Nah, i don't think so.

 

[SpectacularWebHead]

I don't know if it's beneficial, though it could be argued that it prevents sexual violence. (Maybe?) since it can be simulated legally and such. (That's totally made up, though I'd imagine it would. Not that I'm qualified to make a statement like that. )

Japans obsession with hentai and extremely low birth rate backs that up.

OP: Umm, I dunno, I pretty much agree with Lucem712. Porn is also something for anyone, theres always something for someone of any gender, race, sexuality etc. Theres more for straight guys, but still...

 

[Infernai]

Yeah, a man can't fix the plumbing that fast.

I watch it for the plot.

Ah yes, who could forget the EMOTIONAL TURMOIL, SUPERB character development and CLASSIC cinema moments that only Pornography can give us. It made me rethink my entire life you know and taught me morals and life lessons that still hold true to me to this day.
And who can forget hentai? Which has given us such MEMORABLE characters and EXCELLENT archtypes to play with: Such as the EVER LOVABLE..."Generic Tentacle Monster #3129" or the INSTANTLY CLASSIC "Psychotic Rapist guy who for some reason the protagonist doesn't just call the cops on" Archtype.
Yes, Clearly Porn is Full to the Brim of THOUGHT PROVOKING and INTELLIGENT plots!

[Infernai was later charged with the sudden destruction of every Sarcasm Detector within the Escapist Forum and is set to face Court next Tuesday]

Ok, more seriously i guess my opinion is more akin to this:

I think it is beneficial when it helps people become comfortable with the idea of sexuality, and also become more comfortable with and aware of their own sexuality, get a better idea of what they might like, what they might not like, etc.

I think pornography is harmful when people base their ideas of sexuality off of it and develop unrealistic ideas about sex, the body, relationships, etc, and when it degrades the importance if intimacy in a relationship. Porno is a form of entertainment, it is not a guidebook that will teach you better ways to have sex, how real people have sex, and it ignores the potential consequences of sex.

So, as with all things, there is a good side and a bad side, and it all depends on your personal perspective. I think this is one of the main reasons that we should have age restrictions on porn, and also why sex ed should be taught in school. If you have the context to view it properly, then it's great and harmless fun, if you don't have that maturity and knowledge then it can be damaging.

 

[kurupt87]

[a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1723811/"]Shame[/a] is a film about a guy who has a porn and sex addiction, who struggles with intimacy because of it. It's a good film, the lead is played by Michael Fassbender.

 

[kurupt87]

Even separating my views from my religion, I'm still very suspicious of activities with actual addictive qualities.

Wait till you hear about this new thing all the kids seem to be trying these days: they're called videogames!

...which don't have addictive qualities beyond that of clubbing, movies or reading a really damn good book.

Besides, I can break away from video games easily. I know this because I've done it for months at a time, and then didn't fall back on gaming for a while after I got home from wherever I was that had no games.

From what I can tell from people I know who watch porn, they do so compulsively, even if they don't feel a particular urge to do so. Don't tell me I'm wrong, tell my desperate friend that he's wrong.

Anything that is fun and makes you happy is addictive. It's the having fun and being happy that are addictive though, not the activity itself.

What a person may or may not become addicted to depends entirely on what they enjoy doing and, when/if they realise they're addicted, how much willpower to stop that they have.

Edit: The difference between an addiction and normal behaviour is that an addiction comes with a heavy cost whereas normal behaviour does not. Humans are addicted to socialising; it doesn't really come with a cost though so, to the vast majority, it isn't an addiction.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

I use it as a masturbatory aid and outlet for my sexual fantasies: nothing more, nothing less. I don?t use it as a template to base my perceptions of sex on, since I?m not an idiot (most of them don?t even use condoms). However, you really have to look for the good stuff amidst all the fake orgasms and clichéd plots that bog down mainstream porn. I think there should be more female-friendly porn too, since people seem to forget that females are, like, half of the world?s population and, therefore, should be catered for too.

But porn is vast, with a lot of variety and multiple genres, and which one I venture into depends on my mood at the time. That?s why I think it?s naïve to say that all porn is bad. I mean, what is bad? Stuff like shotacon is pretty disgusting to me, but I?m not sure if I?d say it?s immoral or something like that, and you honestly could argue that it keeps paedophiles from actually going out and molesting little boys. But then you have the artistic types of porn, those that focus on features other than the sexual attractiveness of the male/female: engaging story, emotion, juxtaposition, etc.

And people moaning about the objectification of women?yeah, of course. Porn?s designed for you to get off without thinking about this random girl?s background. You?re not in a relationship with this stranger; she?s there to help you reach orgasm and that?s it.

 

[JanatUrlich]

I think porn is fine. I watch it every now and then. I can get off without it and that's where I think the problem lies for some people. It's certainly not beneficial as it gives a very skewed vision of sex and body image etc. There are also the issues of exploitation which I'm certainly not going to get into now.

Basically I think that porn is ok so long as you watch it with the right mindset.

 

[mumakurau]

It really depends on what you do with it. If you're the type that watches it in your private time, that's just fine. If you find yourself addicted to a fault, you'd better find some help.

 

[Sacman]

Only being turned on by porn. Not able to perform in real life without having porn on.

that kind of thing can happen?..huh

No... no it doesn't... not without brain damage... porn addiction is just like sex addiction... it's just crap people made up so they can rationalize their prudishness and irrational hatred of deviant sexual activity... I hate when people bring up porn addiction like it's a real thing... Just Sayin...<.<

OT: Honestly, other than self image problems and unrealistic expectations there's no real problems with porn... and those are easy to get over...<.<

Hell, in most cases it's pretty beneficial for concentration... personal experience taken into account...<.<

 

[Sparrow]

Nothing wrong with porn, in my eyes. Well, I try to aim away from my eyes but you get the point.

I think Lesbian porn should be required viewing in male sex-ed classes. If you're going to teach kids what fucking is you should at least give them an idea of how to do it RIGHT. The female orgasm does exist you misogynistic little shits but you have to WORK for it!

I... what? Is this a joke I'm missing?

Not conclusive by any stretch of the imagination, but still interesting. Maybe if perverts can "get their fill" using internet videos, then they don't feel the need to go outside and prey on real women?

As a woman, I approve of pretty much anything (within reason) that lessens the chance of me getting attacked!

Wait. Are you saying anyone who watches porn is a pervert?

(Also, if you really want to lower the chances of you getting sexually assaulted just travel in packs, don't accept drinks from strangers, say no to drugs... all the classic cliches.)

 

[vrbtny]

To be viewed for enjoyment purposes only its fine. But it is in NO way a realistic portrayal of sex, plus on a whole gender stereotyping viewpoint it is VERY flawed.

Yeah, a man can't fix the plumbing that fast.

I watch it for the plot.

I.... I think you won this thread in the 3rd post.

OT : It's acceptable, all right i guess. It serves a purpose...

 

[A Distant Star]

Porn good, porn industry bad.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I like the sight of a nude woman as much as any heterosexual man, but I will never ever understand the appeal of watching 2 (or more) other people bumping uglies. Esp. oral sex, yuck.