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by MarthaStewart on November 13th, 2009
On the contrary, the civilizations that have had liberal attitudes toward pornography (Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Pre-20c China, India, Japan, modern France, Belgium, Holland, US...) have been among the most productive and successful in all of history and have the most developed arts. The most repressive countries and groups with respect to pornography, however, including various fundamentalist Islamic states, have backward economies, are generally harsh in their treatment of women, and have little or no production of serious art. In the Western tradition, serious literature, plays, art, and "porn" appeared simultaneously in ancient Greece.
by TK9Claire on October 6th, 2010
I'm a woman who enjoys porn very much. I'm bisexual, and love a woman's body. It's a work of art. A man's body is the opposite, it is a well tuned machine. I think it's perfectly normal for people to get excited by seeing others perform sexual acts. Especially acts that depict things people may fantasize about.
Some women use the argument that it's degrading to women, but never say HOW. It's OK to see men as sex objects. There they are in ads, on TV (especially soap operas), and in movies....not shirt, skin tight pants, sweaty, dirty.....and that's fine. But, have a woman do the same thing, and all hell breaks loose.
As for the ladies out there who hate the fact that their husbands or boyfriends may be watching porn, I have two points to make:
1.) If you were able to have the Mona Lisa hanging in your living room, would you ever go to a museum? Of course, because you like looking at different things. It's human nature. It's not that you don't appreciate what you have at home, it's that you appreciate other things as well. If he wasn't out looking around in museums and art galleries, he never would have found what he brought home (AKA YOU!), but that doesn't mean it's the only thing he ever want to see again.
2.)Women, we all have to admit that we were taught and raised to believe something that is totally unfair to the guys. We were taught that a man has to EARN any kind of sexual attention from us. It's a PRIVILEGE for them to get any physical attention from us. But we were always taught that when we snap our fingers, the man should be happy to please us, then alot of women turn around and complain about this poor sap to their friends. When I was in High School, a friend's Mom commented once to some other women at a picnic that, "Men may think they're going to have sex, but only a woman KNOWS." I think that's the allure of porn to men. Sexual stimulation without having to buy dinner, flowers, movie tickets, jewelry, or whatever. It's not something saved for "special occasions". Everyday is a special occasion. Next time he's in the mood, and maybe you're not, try saying yes. It's give and take. Don't make him EARN it.
My point through all of this is simply: We all need to lighten up and have fun. We only go around on this ride once.
by philosopher-saint on November 13th, 2009
It seems to only bum out those sanctimonious folks who can't resist tellin' others how to live their lives according to their own values/beliefs.
;-)
by HumourMe on November 13th, 2009
It is degrading and harmful to both the viewers and the 'porn stars' involved, both female and male. It's sick and laughable and I'm glad I'm not a guy who 'needs' to watch it. You may think watching porn is innocent but what about all the young girls growing up thinking that's what they should aspire to be? Next time you're 'getting off' think about who it's hurting.
by bolwerk on November 13th, 2009
It's certainly addictive, but then so are a lot of things. I'd say women who appear in it are often degrading themselves, but many pornographic stars claim they're empowering themselves.
The viewers aren't degrading women or themselves, but heavy users are typically scum.
by Galeanda on November 13th, 2009
When they have done studies on the effects it has on people, they've found that it alters the brain, making physical arousal different, like rewiring how people react or what they react to. It can become addictive, so that the user needs and craves it more because the feelings they get from direct arousal don't work like they once did, relying more on remembered arousal from the porn.
It was a fascinating study done about 5-6 years ago, reported on in the LA Times and the NY Times.
by Battle Boars Infantry Wife on November 13th, 2009
The women have a porn star as a job so they knew the reprocussions. So they knew the minute they started making that video it was degrading. Im not one to watch porn. Then again im fairly apathetic to most situations. I do feel porn is degrading to women but they knew that, the veiwer not so much unless it becomes a habit that it interfere in personal life
by Sharona Life is a Tale Told by an Idiot on November 13th, 2009
It's an equal opportunity degrader.
by Debris - the new slimline version. on November 13th, 2009
It isn't something I use but I can see nothing wrong with it as long as you are still able to have a healthy normal sexual relationship.
I am a woman and I don't see it as degrading. They are doing a job.
by AnonymousGirl on November 13th, 2009
In my opinion, it does degrade women very much so. Of course, that may be just my opinion.
by Mastodon on November 13th, 2009
No and no
by the guy behind the bushes on November 13th, 2009
No, no, no
by A shout without knowledge is a protest on November 19th, 2009
I'm sorry but how is it degrading to the woman or the viewer? Harmful, yes, since it can give you unrealistic expectations of sex. But how is it degrading?
Maybe that hardcore rape porn stuff is degrading, but two people having sex, getting paid, and having it video taped is not degrading.
It's not different than me getting paid to play guitar. I'm whoring out a skill that I have worked very hard to perfect. In fact, I even work out pretty intensely to make sure that I look good physically. So, am I degrading myself when I play in my band?
Is a bikini model degrading herself because she poses practically nude?
Would you say that a writer is a whore because he or she spends years learning to write, a year writing a bok, and then gets it published? Aren't they selling their cultivated skills for public pleasure?
Stop propagating taboos.
by Nightwatchdog on November 19th, 2009
One persons pornography is another persons art.....or emergency toilet paper.
What is pornography varies greatly within the community....your question is too vague for A meaningful answer.....please define your definition of "Pornography" for us please...
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Comments
Well reasoned agument Martha +4
by taracute on November 13th, 2009
That's actually incredibly interesting, even though I do believe that pornography degrades women.
by AnonymousGirl on November 13th, 2009
You'll notice both of the figures in the image above are male, and yet you think somehow that it degrades women? Of all possible situations in the world, one could argue, there is no greater equalizer than nudity. There are no power suits/ties, no dress codes, no high heels. In the breadth of pornography there are likely as many males in the images as females, and for every image where a man is "on top," there's an image with the woman on top. The argument that pornography degrades women is silly and terribly outdated. It is a prudish and poorly constructed argument that presumed that nobody was supposed to know what 1950's proper women looked like under their clothes, and that nudie pictures of women let out the secret that they were really naked under their clothes.
by MarthaStewart on November 14th, 2009
My opinion is based on how it has affected me by being with someone who viewed tons of it. I don't believe nakedness is wrong and I don't believe it should be shameful. However, I've been personally affected indirectly by it (by that, I mean pornography, not nakedness) in negative ways.
by AnonymousGirl on November 14th, 2009
Maybe we define the terms differently :D Someone who obsessively views porn may have a multitude of problems, and might be neglectful, abusive, narrow minded, etc. A person like that might well degrade women, but that is not equivalent to saying that the porn he viewed degraded women.
by MarthaStewart on November 14th, 2009
I suppose it's the viewer's attitude towards the porn that may result in degrading women. However, the porn in this case would have been the cause. Also, it could just depend on the person.
by AnonymousGirl on November 14th, 2009
If the person bases their views and perceptions of women on pornography, then the pornography's frequently objectifying view of women will warp their sexuality in negative and harmful ways. However, if they have an educated knowledge and respect of women, it can be an enjoyable fantasy without damaging perceptions of women and sexuality.
by bannanaphoneist on March 17th, 2011