Journal Mr.Intel's Journal: Pornography: What's the big deal? 15
As a guy, I have been exposed to porn. I can remember seeing it as far back as five years old. Most of my friends growing up think of porn as normal and even essential. I grew up in the 80's when cable TV was just taking off and my dad had the Playboy channel. It didn't take long for me to find it and spend many hours watching unbenownst to my parents.
Many people think that looking at porn is normal and natural, but it was not always so. Before Playboy came out in the 1950's, it was very hard to get access to and was looked on as 'dirty'. So what? Sex in our society is ubiquitous, especially outside of America where topless news shows are common. The problem is that it is destroying society bit by bit.
Although there are exceptions to every generalization, I find that pornography and excessive sexuality are some of the largest contributors to the breakup of the family and therefore, society. Dr. Harold Voth said, "By permitting the ever-expanding display of pornography, or sexually explicit material on the printed page, in theaters, on television (regular TV, cable and satellite), our social structure is being bombarded continuously by powerful erosive stimuli. Sexuality in its mature form is a necessary aspect of the heterosexual bond and the stability of the family. The massive unleashing of sexuality which is occurring in Western civilization is a reflection of cultural decline. It is well-known that an inverse relationship exists between indiscriminate sexual expression and cultural excellence." (Emphasis added)
WOW. That's pretty strong language and I don't claim to know this guy or his credentials, but want to know: Does anyone think that there is a causal relationship between "cultural excellence" and "indiscriminant sexual expression"? It makes sense to me and it does explain a great many things that have been questions in my mind for a while. For example, why is it that "popular" movies released today are so underwhelming in their intellectual engagement? Even those with some promise tend to include sexuality just for heck of it.
In conversations with friends and random web surfers, I have seen a general disillusionment with this understanding. Most people feel that there is nothing wrong with pornography or overt sexuality, they are quick to point out that I am a prude for thinking anything else. The fact is that I view sex as vital to a healthy relationship. However, as with anything, too much of something good can be bad. Pornography can be addicting and divisive, which like drugs or alcohol can destroy familial relationships.
So now the question is what do we do with it as a society? I am personally opposed to most governmental meddling in personal freedom issues. Therefore, I don't advocate any regulation above that which we already have. I also discourage censorship and place the burden of filtering appropriate material for children in the hands of the parents. The only viable solution that will effect change is for people to choose to refrain from consuming pornography. As a multi-billion dollar industry, clearly there is room to decrease its use. The only way to effect this change in societal choice is to teach children that while sexuality is good, it belongs in the bedroom between consenting adults and not in the movie theater, magazines or television. Therefore, the sanctity of freedom is maintained while the seeds of change are sown.
Correlation != causality (Score:2)
The passage you quote claims there is a correlation, not a causal relationship. The most likely explanation for a strong correlation is that both factors have a common cause -- not that one causes the other.
Re:Correlation != causality (Score:1)
I guess in the absence of a true scientific study, you are correct. However, if such a study was performed and it was determined that cultural excellence does indeed decline when indiscriminant sexual expression is prevalant, then would it be causual? I guess I have a different idea of what it means to be causual. To me, if one causes the other, in this case, if "indiscriminant sexual expression" causes a decline in "cultural
Re:Correlation != causality (Score:2)
No. You would have to control for other variables. It is very possible that there is a single factor (Or, more likely, many) that causes both of these.
An example of a seemingly causal relationship: studies have shown that people who live together prior to marriage have higher divorce rates. This piece of research is typically pres
Re:Correlation != causality (Score:1)
Sure it does. Especially if the couple has sex before marriage / has had sex with others, which strains the "special bond" that marriage is supposed to be--or if the couple grew up thinking that living together before marriage was a bad thing. Or if they read that study.
Re:Correlation != causality (Score:2)
Even if there is a clear 100% correlation between the two factors (i.e. they always increases/decrease at the same time and to the same degree), this would not mean there is a causal relationship between the two factors.
e.g. Every morning the sun comes up just after the rooster starts crowing. This has happened without fail for all of recorded history. This does not mean that the rooster crowing causes the sun to come up.
Even if there was causality here, there is n
Re:Correlation != causality (Score:1)
So we need some qualifications on the relationship before we can assess whether it is causual or not. Thanks for the clarity.
Re:Correlation != causality (Score:2)
How do you define porn? (Score:2)
Re:How do you define porn? (Score:1)
Short answer: in the eye of the beholder.
My definition of pornography: Anything that is sexually stimulating outside of a physical relationship. IOW, pictures, movies, art, stories, etc. can all be considered porn, it just depends on the feelings evoked in the person exposed to it. Furthermore, not all "porn" is erotic to all people all the time. It is this precise condition on the definition of porn that makes it so hard to categorize by the cen
From female point of view (Score:2)
Girls tend towards emotional relations. They (generally speaking of course) are more interested in relationships. This means that what is more attractive to a female than visual appearance is thoughts regarding intimacy, dating, romance, and relationship
Re:From female point of view (Score:2)
If you think all or most porn is just crack ho's, you are drinking the establishment koolaid. Are women exploited to create porn? Undoubtedly. Are they all? Very doubtful. Unless you want to argue that someone can be exploited "willingly", or exploited "by society" (which leads you down paths about other groups, such as minorities, also being exploited in such ways and why aren't
Re:From female point of view (Score:2)
The presentation I attended was put on by a man, former pastor, convicted of attempted rape at the culmination of a life consuming addiction of 10 years and a stripper / ameture video maker. He related the slow decline and consuming nature of his addiction until he was w
Re:From female point of view (Score:2)
I'm somewhat reminded of a completely unrelated story I heard on radio about the movie "The Gods Must Be Crazy", which described african bushman society as being without laws and also without violence (between bushmen). You t
Re:From female point of view (Score:2)
I would suggest that you read or listen to any interviews with the more popular and well known stars. Jenna Jameson, Brianna Brinx (From PTown), Leanna Lei, etc. They all really enjoy their jobs, and they're life style.
It's just like the rest of the entertainment industry, the
Re:From female point of view (Score:1)
First thought that pops up is that I had romance novels in mind when I wrote thie JE. Under my definition of porn (anything outside of a physical relationship that is arousing), they most definately qualify as pornographic.