One, my point about anecdote and hearsay and the like wasn't just in response to what you said, which is of course relevant as your personal experience; but really more in regards to the linked piece. Anecdote and hearsay on a discussion board, sure- but when they are continually presented in authoriative-sounding public pieces as quasi-scientific justifications for positions; that's when I say, okay, but where's the real-world data.
Like I said; people are sure porn is screwing with the brains of billions of people, and in fact people have been sure it would screw with the brains of people who looked at it when it was primarily on VHS tape instead of the internet, or in magazines instead of VHS tape. This goes back at least as far as when people were sure there would be an outbreak of hairy palms if Dr. Kellogg's corn flakes didn't keep people from masturbation. Nevertheless, the large scale sociological impact we have been warned about, has not shown up- not, at least, in non-anecdotal form.
I'd also say that I'm not interested in criticizing anyone for watching porn, not watching porn, whatever. If your life is better without it, Jeff, I salute you. My life is better now that I use a soniccare toothbrush. It's all good.
I don't even find the topic that interesting, although I seem to get sucked into the debate
every time it comes up
...If everyone's a consenting adult, your business, not mine. Is something a net positive? A net negative? To men? To women? Single People? Married People? To that nebulous ill-defined beast, "society"? I'm not sure, probably some of both, but since we're doing anecdote and personal experience, here, let me share one of mine- and this is not directed back at you, Jeff, more in general:
Once upon a time, back in the day, I had a gig in an indie video store. And like many of those now-extinct anti-blockbuster animals, we had a porn section. So I saw who rented porn, who bought porn. (No, concerned DU citizens, this does not mean I am 'associated with the porn industry', as someone tried to assert when I told this story on DU2. It was a job, and believe me, we rented Navy Seals, too. That guy in Clerks in the Video Store? That was me.) Some of our friendly visitors may not believe it, but lots of married people watch porn. Together. Lots of women like porn, even, as difficult as some apparently find that assertion to believe. (Okay, this was more than a couple decades ago, but anything that happened then can be extrapolated to now, I think, safely) And yes, lots of single dudes like porn.
And there were people- disabled people, for instance, living alone- for whom this was clearly their ONLY sexual outlet. Why the fuck- seriously, why. the. fuck- should anyone presume to tell these people they shouldn't enjoy something that was made by and for consenting adults? Oh, the industry is so shameful- it's shameful only to the people who attach shame to it. Yes, people should be paid a livable wage for ANY job and all workers should get workplace protection.
But to tell someone who makes a good living taking their clothes off in front of a camera, they're doing something wrong? THAT is wrong, I think.
To tell the guy in the wheelchair whose one glimmer of enjoyment in his day is watching "Bubble Butt Vixens", that HE is wrong? THAT is wrong.
People need to live their own lives, and let others live theirs.
off.
Edit history
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
= new reply since forum marked as read