Originally Posted By DAR But I'm talking about child material, I want the government busting people for that. The adult material I completely disagree on.
Originally Posted By utahjosh Thanks, DAR. Here is how I think pornography degrades society: I think the backbone of a strong society is the family. A loving husband and father, teamed with a strong and good mom, raising responsible citizens, with faith in God. I also think sex is a gift from God created to show love between Man and Wife, and also to bring children into this world. We may disagree on those two points, but it's the core belief on which my answer to your question would be based. If we disagree on these points, there is no reason for me to answer your question.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA What if a loving couple with a faith in God also like to look at pornographic materials -- together? Please understand that I'm not being glib here -- I'm very interested in understanding the point of view that says across the board: 'pornography degrades society.'
Originally Posted By utahjosh I believe that the VAST majority of Pornography is men watching alone. I think that is where the problem has it's worst effect, and it's where my beef really lies.
Originally Posted By Mr X **I think that is where the problem has it's worst effect** I don't see how some guy doing anything alone has any effect on "society" whatsoever. If you were to make the argument that it is exploitive of the participants or something like that, it would make more sense to me (although I believe firmly in legalizing prostitution, so that probably wouldn't bug me much anyway ).
Originally Posted By DAR Well it's not like I'm going watch in front of my fam..i.ly, too much info there.
Originally Posted By utahjosh I'll ignore jonvn's attempt at humor. Mr X, if you disagree with my post #22, then it's not worth posting why I see it has an effect on soceity.
Originally Posted By Mr X I disagree with the premise of post #22 on several levels, actually. So I guess there's no room for discussion.
Originally Posted By ecdc Porn doesn't degrade society, it degrades women. There's actually some legitimate reasons to be concerned about pornography. Ironically however, most people opposed to pornography end up spending all their time talking about men. The men who look at porn are doing just fine, I think. As a culture, porn creates an unrealistic view for young men of what women are really all about. Porn almost exclusively shows men being pleasured by women. Women are objects or tools that fulfill that pleasure. That's a problem. Further, the industry, while it seems better, isn't exactly known for its high work standards. Drugs, physical abuse, etc., have been a part of it before. Again, it's almost always the women negatively impacted by this. Yet religious groups have made the debate largely about men and addiction. They've managed to morph the shame some men (particularly religious men) into addiction on this topic. Men who look at porn in secret because they fear the social response feel guilty, and that's somehow now turned into "addiction" by people like James Dobson. Yet almost any psychologist will tell you there's little evidence it is addictive. Those that become compulsive about it are just that - obsessive compulsive types that can have their OCD focused on anything. I think it's worth repeating: we as a culture have it backwards. We tolerate, through rampant gun ownership and violence on TV and in movies, that which is unnatural to our species. Murder, violence, etc., could not be less natural. Yet sex, the most basic, fundamental thing to allow a species to propagate and survive, is demonized as unnatural and wrong. It's just beyond bizarre.
Originally Posted By utahjosh "rampant gun ownership." That's a whole new topic. 2nd amendment interpretations are as varied as Bible interpretations.
Originally Posted By utahjosh I still say pornography degrades society. And I'm not going to spell out why unless you agree with my post #22.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Is it not possible to believe that strong families are a good thing, and that loving sex between married people is a good thing, but that porn is not necessarily destructive of that? My folks have been married 51 years, and still love each other like crazy. They raised three kids in a very traditional, suburban family - Dad worked, Mom stayed home... very "Leave it to Beaver." It was and is a strong family, and my folks have been in love for 51 years. But my Dad had a modest porn stash that I discovered as a teenager. At first I was shocked, but now I don't see it as a contradiction. Arguably not 100% admirable I suppose, but it didn't hurt either their marriage or our family.
Originally Posted By jonvn It's a $10 billion industry in this country alone. I have to figure it's not all Dabob's dad buying it. That makes it a pretty normal activity. It's not degrading anyone. People will do what they want to do, and engage in sexual activity that they want to engage in. It's not other people's concern what they do. The same people who seem to be against porn, also seem to be upset about gay people. There is just this constant drone about how other people should do these things. Keep it to yourself. Do what you want, no one cares. Give other people the same freedom. It's not any of your business.
