On Sun, 4 Mar 2001 02:51:30 +0100 (MET) littles@lycos.co.uk writes:
Shane wrote:
Porn's a fun thing. So are cigarettes. So is chocolate. But all three are addictive, and are best used in small doses.
<Actually there's a big difference, both cigarettes and chocolate contain substances that are physically addictive and thus are addictive in themselves. Porn however is *only* addictive if you respond to it. Unless you respond to it, you are not going to become addicted to it.>
That's only one form of addiction though. Psychological dependency is also a clinically recognised form of addiction, and one which can be just as damaging as the other kind (if not more, because it's easier to deny that psychological addiction exists).
Right, anorexia nervosa is also 'all in the head,' but that doesn't stop it from being one of the most fatal disorders out there.
Compulsive gambling is also an addictive behavior. "Clinical evidence suggests that pathological gamblers engage in destructive behaviors: They commit crimes, they run up large debts, they damage relationships with family and friends, and they kill themselves," to quote a national study.
Can we say similar things about porn?
A check of the data says that, going by over 150 published studies conducted over the past 25 years, it poses a serious health risk. Critics who have called it a grave risk to public health include the former Surgeon General of the United States (sorry, couldn't find data on the British equivilant).
What are these risks?
Regular consumers of porn show a marked tendency to be more callous towards women and to minimize rape as a criminal offense.
It has been shown frequently to have a key role in the break down of inhibitions and restraint in the sexual abuse of juveniles.
It negatively impacts marriage and family life. Consumers of porn are more likely to have distorted views of human sexuality and to view infidelity and multiple partners as acceptable. Addiction can occur causing to an increased need for stimulation to be sexually aroused, ironically damaging _real_ relationships which are no longer satisfying.
Twenty years ago, the acting out of certain sexual behaviors by preadolescents was unheard of in cases where the child had not been sexually abused. Now, it is proof of a television in the home.
The likely time and stages a teenager will go through before becoming sexually active in a relationship has also decreased.
Are there porn addicts willing to spend hours a day viewing the stuff? Absolutely. Have they been willing to sacrifice family and marriage? Yes. Risk or lose jobs? Yes. Risk legal repurcussions including jail time? Yes. Take these same risks again despite the previous costs? Yes.
Ob.B7. I doubt Cally would have approved.
Ellynne
________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
Ellynne G. said:
Regular consumers of porn show a marked tendency to be more callous towards women and to minimize rape as a criminal offense.
Is this cause or effect--i.e., haven't these attitudes been formed before the individual becomes a consumer of pornography?
It has been shown frequently to have a key role in the break down of inhibitions and restraint in the sexual abuse of juveniles.
Or to substitute for contact with actual juveniles, in which case relating to a pornographic image is clearly better than harming a real child (although children may have been abused to create the image)
It negatively impacts marriage and family life. Consumers of porn are more likely to have distorted views of human sexuality and to view infidelity and multiple partners as acceptable.
What, exactly, is a distorted view of human sexuality? And Addiction can occur
causing to an increased need for stimulation to be sexually aroused, ironically damaging _real_ relationships which are no longer satisfying.
There's a lot wrong with anyone who can't tell the difference between fantasy and RL, but merely removing the pornography won't cure the problem.
Twenty years ago, the acting out of certain sexual behaviors by preadolescents was unheard of in cases where the child had not been sexually abused. Now, it is proof of a television in the home.
Don't forget the role of increased reporting, which is not the same as an increase in the reported phenomenon.
The likely time and stages a teenager will go through before becoming sexually active in a relationship has also decreased.
You're right--they'd be better off with pornography than with real partners who can suffer unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases in addition to being hurt emotionally.
Are there porn addicts willing to spend hours a day viewing the stuff? Absolutely.
And are there lots of people who like to view pornographic films/ images/read smut and get nothing out of it except a little fun? Sure.
-(Y)
-
Dana Shilling -
Ellynne G.