What causes porn addiction???

Can philosophers help resolve the real problems that people have in their lives?

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Richard Baron
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Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by Richard Baron »

RachelAnn wrote:If pornography were no big deal, then it would not have been regulated in the first place.
It might have been. Some people just like to control others. The first principle of social control is "Find out what people like doing, tell them it is forbidden, then tell them that it is allowed in certain circumstances, or to a certain degree, as prescribed by you". If you get this right, the population end up being grateful to you for allowing them to do the forbidden thing, rather than telling you where to stick your control.
RachelAnn wrote:What might happen if pornography were deregulated, given current cultural taboos?
The taboos might be revealed to be unnecessary, when society does not fall apart following the deregulation.
Lusia Mousky
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Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by Lusia Mousky »

Up to a point, Mr. Baron.

The problem is that not everyone likes to do the same things.
Some people may like to walk naked in London.
Other people may feel stressed out by seeing lots of naked bodies in the streets of London, hardly any of them resembling the statues of Adonis or Venus.

Some regulation does seem necessary.
Maybe walking around naked only in the Hyde Park between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. ?
A majority vote seems necessary.
RachelAnn
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Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by RachelAnn »

Richard, you inspire ongoing pornographic thoughts and ideas.

Let's say that pornography means, simply, sexual expression (text, visual imagery) that is meant to, or does, provoke sexual arousal or desire. Maybe the nominal argument could be made that government regulation of pornography would be inimical to women's rights.
Feminists Catherine MacKinnon and Andrea Dworkin. They co-edit the book In Harms Way: Pornography Rights Hearings.
Their demands for strict regulations threaten free speech about abortion, contraception, gender roles, sexism, sexual orientation, and sexually transmitted diseases by contributing to a climate of repression. In fact, such demands could be responsible for 'aiding and abetting' ArtisticSolution's archenemy :evil: : the religious fundamentalists who attack art and women's rights. I specifically refer to an ordinance authored by MacKinnon and Dworkin that would enable an individual to bring an action against a pornographer, under a detailed combination of circumstances, claiming harm. I do not advocate rescinding the means for legal redress, just to be clear.

It is essential to protect the First Amendment for pornography because what is considered pornographic has always rebelled against conventional constraints.
It is the "samizdat of the oppressed" in that it is linked to other forms of political dissent through the arts.
Take a look at Goya's Maja Desnuda, a painting deemed by the Spanish Inquisition in 1814 to be "obscene" because... "Oh look, pubic hair!"
Penn State U. banned a poster of Maja banned from one of its classrooms in 1989.
Maja Desnuda <br />by Francisco de Goya
Maja Desnuda
by Francisco de Goya
maja-desnuda.jpg (25.49 KiB) Viewed 8327 times
Richard Baron
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Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by Richard Baron »

RachelAnn wrote:It is essential to protect the First Amendment for pornography.
I agree, and not just for the reasons that you give. Freedom of expression is fundamental. It is also not a privilege for which we should have to ask, or the boundaries of which we should have to negotiate. And I wish that the UK, and other countries, had something as plain and straightforward as the First Amendment.
RachelAnn wrote:Richard, you inspire ongoing pornographic thoughts and ideas.
I am afraid that the inspiration so far provided will have to keep you going for a few days. I am going to be unplugged from the virtual world until Monday.
Morpheus
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Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by Morpheus »

RachelAnn wrote: "Let's say that pornography means, simply, sexual expression (text, visual imagery) that is meant to, or does, provoke sexual arousal or desire. Maybe the nominal argument could be made that government regulation of pornography would be inimical to women's rights. "

To my mind, this would be erotica rather than porn - that is to say, unless the expression of sexual arousal combined hatred and degradation.

RachelAnn wrote: It is essential to protect the First Amendment for pornography because what is considered pornographic has always rebelled against conventional constraints...Take a look at Goya's Maja Desnuda, a painting deemed by the Spanish Inquisition in 1814 to be "obscene" because... "Oh look, pubic hair!"
Penn State U. banned a poster of Maja banned from one of its classrooms in 1989.


I was trying to work out why the poster was banned in classrooms as late as 1989. I don't think it's really about pubic hair, although that was the excuse ostensibly. No, I sense something potent. What is unusual about this nude is that she is looking directly at the viewer. Most classical paintings depict nudes with their gaze averted. In delightful contrast, Maja's come-hither pose and facial expression are incredibly erotic. For this reason, she must have caused a stir amongst school boys! This is not pornography - rather, it's erotica at its best. Where porn is blatant and often brutal, erotica is highly charged through suggestion and sensuousness. Even though Maja is naked, a great deal is left to the imagination. Above all, she retains her feminine mystique. Mystery is the essence of erotica - which remains true even when erotica is sexually explicit.
RachelAnn
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Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by RachelAnn »

I don't think it's really about pubic hair, although that was the excuse ostensibly. No, I sense something potent.
Hi Morpheus,
I wasn't clear -- it was The Spanish Inquisition that looked upon the Maja's pubic hair and declared it to be pornographic, obscene.
And, I like your comments :) .
Morpheus
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Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by Morpheus »

RA, :lol: Silly me - I wasn't wearing my reading glasses when I first read your post! But I'm glad you liked what I wrote. I've had further thoughts on porn versus erotica, but will leave it until tomorrow when I've more time.
artisticsolution
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Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by artisticsolution »

RachelAnn wrote: What might happen if pornography were deregulated, given current cultural taboos?
Hi Rachel Ann,

I am not so sure that pornography has to be any more deregulated than it already is in the USA (I can't speak about any other countries as I am not familiar with their laws concerning porn.) What I think needs to happen is for there to be more of a tolerance for consenting adults who wish to engage in pornographic acts...sort of like in the 70's when there was an a 'campaign' in favor of tolerance for bi racial marriage. Do you remember when bi racial marriage was a cultural taboo? It is pretty much been 'normalized' and we are no worse for the wear. I believe this is what would happen if sexual preferences were not considered taboo. If we are going to have education and a 'national campaign' against porn, then it is only fair that we have education and a 'national campaign' in favor of porn/sexual preference tolerance.

Sadly, most of society views porn as degrading. This causes society to demonize those who are in favor of it. Since those in favor of porn are labeled in a negative way, i.e. as people who use porn to degrade and hate women, it is all but impossible break free of that stereotype. We are immediately dismissed on the basis of being immoral, inhumane, in denial, abused themselves, unintelligent, etc.

There is an air of superiority by those who are against porn which causes much of the problems we see today.There is no logical reason any type of sex between consenting adults should be viewed as wrong. If we tell society porn is degrading and wrong, it is only natural society will want to punish those who enjoy porn...it is human nature. This is the conflict you see going on today (and in the past) People are sexual in nature, when we tell them porn is wrong a conflict arises inside of themselves.

Here is how the conflict goes in a nutshell:

I like sex.
Porn is sex.
I like porn.
Society says porn is degrading, inhumane, etc.
Therefore porn is wrong.
Therefore all people who are connected to porn are wrong.
People who do wrong must be punished.
I must punish people who are connected to porn.
I am good.
I am not wrong.
Therefore the person who seduces me is wrong/bad and I am right/good.
Good must punish evil.
I am good, I must punish evil.
When I get seduced by porn it is not my fault.
Therefore it must be the porn actresses fault.
I must punish the porn actress.
Degrading someone is punishment.
I must degrade the porn actress.
Society sees me degrade the porn actress and labels all porn as degrading.

...and so it continues.

However, if porn was not considered degrading it would be treated like any other legitimate industry. It would not be considered wrong and therefore would not be prescribed any punishment. Porn actresses and actors would be seen as entertainers/employees instead of people who were in need of punishment. Laws are already in place that prohibit the physical abuse of people. What we may need are stricter guidelines prohibiting the emotional abuse by society toward adult sexual preferences. End the cultural taboos and you would begin to see a healthier view of human sexuality. There is no rational reason to view porn between consenting adults as wrong.
RachelAnn
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Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by RachelAnn »

This links to ten videos about the EVILS of PORNOGRAPHY. Your immortal souls are in imminent danger! Save yourselves!
dont.jpg
dont.jpg (35.24 KiB) Viewed 8217 times
artisticsolution
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Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by artisticsolution »

Too funny RA! Guilt...ya gotta love it...sex wouldn't be as good without it...lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Ljphc-CuQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
chaz wyman
Posts: 5304
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 7:31 pm

Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by chaz wyman »

janetjay wrote:I don't have that addiction myself, but have seen it before.

Is it the act of seeing others genitals go in and out of eachother that is so addicting, or is it that they pretend that person they are seeing is their partner?

Both?

None of them...please explain!
It is probably all to do with the link between the orgasm and whatever you happen to be doing, seeing, hearing, smelling etc at the time.
The addiction is physiological. Any pleasure response is coded to repeat by the brain.
It has very little to do (necessarily) with your partner. You can get addicted with or without a partner.
It is wise to self-censor your porn choices, as inappropriate links can fixate particular practices.
I.e. No animals or children, or practices that might be difficult to replicate in life. Fixation is a significant danger.
DonnieDarko81
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Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 2:34 am

Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by DonnieDarko81 »

Can I say that this topic really is better looked at from a macro perspective? It's how web 2.0 has made porn instantly available to anyone and the effects it's having on society that really and truly shows the hallmarks of addiction and collective-brain rewiring in an unhealthy way.

Am I just talking about the pornification of society?

Anyhoo sex is the prime motivator...it's also an easy route to the satisfaction gained from debasement...and debasement is all the more desirable when alternatives are harder to come by as in a recession.So porn addiction in my is caused by the fact that people are essentially perverted, and that perversion is the best fun you can have in a society in permanent decline.

Porn=decadence.
chaz wyman
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Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 7:31 pm

Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by chaz wyman »

janetjay wrote:I don't have that addiction myself, but have seen it before.

Is it the act of seeing others genitals go in and out of eachother that is so addicting, or is it that they pretend that person they are seeing is their partner?

Both?

None of them...please explain!
Addiction is related to pleasure. Whatever it is you are doing when you have an orgasm is likely to be associated with pleasure by the body. and the body will seek it out repeatedly.
The moral of this tale is be careful what you jack off to!
chaz wyman
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Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by chaz wyman »

DonnieDarko81 wrote:Can I say that this topic really is better looked at from a macro perspective? It's how web 2.0 has made porn instantly available to anyone and the effects it's having on society that really and truly shows the hallmarks of addiction and collective-brain rewiring in an unhealthy way.

Am I just talking about the pornification of society?

Anyhoo sex is the prime motivator...it's also an easy route to the satisfaction gained from debasement...and debasement is all the more desirable when alternatives are harder to come by as in a recession.So porn addiction in my is caused by the fact that people are essentially perverted, and that perversion is the best fun you can have in a society in permanent decline.

Porn=decadence.
Porn = freedom
Religion = repression
DonnieDarko81
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Re: What causes porn addiction???

Post by DonnieDarko81 »

Porn = freedom
Religion = repression
Not sure if this was saying that that's what I meant or whether it's a distinct post...anyway porn=result of lack of freedom to do anything else except seek cheap stimulation (they'd prefer it if we had to work an extra shift and spend money to do so)....religion=management of peasants and people with something to hide or repress.
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