unique perspectives from six people

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Is Pornography Bad?

#1 Unnecessary And Inappropriate

This may sound somewhat strange given my personal and moral beliefs, but I don't believe pornography is bad. I do believe that it is unnecessary and in some cases dangerous in the fact the some people are capable of becoming addicted to pornography. I find it unnecessary and inappropriate simply because it's an act that should be shared between two individuals and only those two individuals. Obviously there are those out there who share more explorative ideas when it comes to sex, and I understand that, however i find no reason to share those views or acts with others.

Although, I can't say that the industry of pornography itself is bad the way it is operated. It's a thriving business, something that many Americans dream of achieving. The porn industry simply uses the methods of a capitalistic system to grow, and I don't see how we can fault them for that simply because some people find the product degrading. A numerous amount of people found a way to make money in a legal way, and through pornography, they have been able to make major amounts of money because their product is attractive.

In most cases, the porn industry is not much different from the sports industry. There are those out there who posses certain skills and are able to display those skills in an appealing way which draws attendance. As long as we pay, we will continue to watch, and they will continue to play.


Submitted by Damian Trudell, Visit his blog - "My Thoughts"

#2 "Whatever Floats Your Boat"

Determing whether something is "good" or "bad" is difficult because I don't really believe anything in the world can be boiled down to such black and white terms. Pornography to me is a vice like any other... As long as one partakes sparingly and it isn't hurting anyone else, my feeling on it is, "whatever floats your boat."

Submitted by Amanda Rogers, Esq. Visit her blog - Seven Eighty One.

#3 Pornography Is Wrong

Bodies are a sacred gift from God that are not to be degraded my performing sexual acts for entertainment. As a Christian this is how I view it but, even if I wasn't I just couldn't see how any justification could be placed upon such immoral acts. Even some non-religious people have the same thoughts. Sadly enough, there are some Christians who view pornography or have at one time or another after becoming a Christian. The whole idea behind pornography is just degrading to the people who display themselves and to the people who are watching it. I know Pornography is very enticing to say the least. Especially to Men whom in general seem to have a stronger urge to view it.

Married couples will even Justify it by saying "It will improve our sex lives and give us Ideas, so what's the big deal ?" I'll tell you the big deal is, it's still pornography. If it looks like a duck,walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then guess what........IT'S a DUCK.

Single men will watch it and think "it's no big deal, I'm not married so I'm not hurting anyone", no maybe not but your taking part of something that is degrading. Young men who view Porn especially Teenage Boy's will have this distorted view as to what a real life woman is and is not. Teenage boy's would probably expect there future wife to be like a porn star and go into marriage with unrealisitc expectations and could cause marital problems. You may not agree with my views and that's fine if you don't but that's my perspective.

Submitted by Stefanie Greene.

#4 Its So Much Sexier When There Is Love Involved

Is Pornography Bad? Pure and simple no, almost never. With few exceptions:

When a child is being victimized (I classify this as anyone not of legal consenting age, which is unfortunately only 14 in some parts of the south still). Or when a woman/man is being exploited.

This is the tricky one. I know... you’ll have to let that sink in...

Here's the twist, just because it involves whips, hand-cuffs, and "punishment" does not make it exploitation, for some it's the rush of their life (or that week), and "can" be a healthy outlet for mild flares for the dramatic, or even sadistic or masochistic tendencies - I'm still talking about the porn "stars" and not the viewers just yet, get your head out of the gutter ;)

However, even the most mundane soft-core lesbian pornography, no penetration involved, can be outrageous exploitation, if it's a woman who is being forced to perform by her pimp, someone who was bought out of the sex-trade industry, or if she's homeless and doing it for her next heroine fix. And this is a fact of the porn industry, because it is a fact of life. Getting rid of porn won’t get rid of young women and homeless boys from being sexually exploited every day.


Now, whether or not it is “wrong” for your husband to watch it behind your back, is another topic entirely! And not one for me to postulate on *LOL* However, I (from a marriage therapist in training point of view) truly can’t see anything wrong with a married couple checking out a bit of amateur married porn together once in a while to get some new ideas and spice up the bedroom. Whaaaat?!? The experts say it’s good for you really! But if you want your woman to enjoy it, I’d stay away from the hard core and outlandish stuff, and stick to watching other amateur married couples and sexual technique videos with real couples in them, after all – it’s so much sexier when there is love involved ;)



Submitted by Summer Cartwrig

#5 Cheapen The Human Body And Intimacy

I have a moral objection to pornography, which is based on my faith and religious beliefs. For those readers who don't give a hoot about my faith and religious beliefs, I will analyze further.

First question: Is pornography good?

Second question: Who does pornography affect and how?

I will use the second question to answer the first.

Pornography most directly affects the actors or models who are viewed, the business persons who finance the production, and the consumers who purchase and/or view the pornographic media produced. The actors or models are paid (i'm not going to go into unpaid, volunteer porn) a small or large sum to display the entirety of their naked bodies, or to have sex on camera (or pretend to) for the benefit of consumers who are most often men who will use the media for masturbation inspiration. No matter what they got paid, that sounds like almost the most degrading thing a woman (I don't know about men) could do to her own psyche and self-esteem. The financiers make lots of money because lots of people are willing to pay quite a bit of money to view porn. I'm sure the financiers and producers think pornography is wonderful. I think they should get a real job. The consumers are trained by pornography to cheapen the human body and intimacy. This must (in my mind) lead to poorer marital relationships, which leads to more broken families, which leads often to more unparented kids.

The brief paragraph I have written seems to me only a small slice of the negative affect of pornography on society. Is pornography good? Not by a long shot. And in this case, the questions answered also lead me to conclude that yes, pornography is definitely bad.

Submitted by Beth Rogers. Visit her blog - Veritable Observations.

#6 What's The Harm?

I don't think pornography is bad. There, I said it. I think when used for the proper purposes, it can enhance a couple's love life. While that can sometimes be the case, excess in anything is bad. Addiction to porn is bad. Then again, so is addiction to caffeine or television. When used in the right way and with the consent of both partners, I don't see anything wrong with it.

My hang up with porn doesn't lie in the viewing of it, but in the people in the industry and their reasons for choosing it. There are actors and actresses in the industry who chose that lifestyle for whatever reason. There are also those women (and possibly men) who have either been forced into it or are looking for some kind of fulfillment that they think a career of this kind will give them. This is where the industry gets its bad name. And then there are those sickos who think it's okay to use children. This, of course, is never okay. I'm not advocating that in any way whatsoever. I'm simply saying that when all parties involved are consenting adults, what's the harm?

Submitted by Lauri Lenox