Pornography

[hannahrae]

I keep hearing stories about different types of pornography. I was disappointed in an ex because he used to watch "pregnancy pornography".
Another ex went to counseling for a porn addiction (I chose em' well don't I?)
Recently my coworker told me about a bachelor party she went to which featured a woman performing oral sex on a horse and then engaging in intercourse with it
WTF
What are your viewpoints on porn?
I am becoming increasingly disgusted by the different types of porn the internet offers.

[Aum]

I can't really vote because it depends on what porn piece we're talking about, and two options is not enough because I would select most of the above.

Most straight porn I've seen is highly degrading to women and is a perfect tool for patriarchy. But there is porn produced for women by women that I think is more tactful. Gay porn... it's also a mixed bag. Although it doesn't suffer from the same kinds of disempowerment as straight porn, it is still stereotypical, and it plays a big role in how gays are socialized/sexualized.

I watch porn and find it pleasurable, but unlike a lot of my peer group I still use my critical thinking skills to debunk the fantasy I'm watching.

[Storage and Disposal]

I would choose all but disgusting on any level. I would agree with Aum, it depends on the porn.

[Bork]

I think it's kind of hilarious. Especially when they try to make a plot. But, I don't really think it's degrading to either men or women. If that's what they want to do, that's fine - not like it's affecting me much.

[great girl wonder]

Porn varies greatly and cannot be easily classified. I do find some porn gross and other types exciting.

I personally really dislike erotic literature because it tends to be poorly written and somehow 'acceptable' while pictures and videos are far more often looked down upon.

Whatever you want to enjoy that doesn't hurt or infringe upon other living sentient beings go right ahead.

[edit the sad parts]

The thing that I do not like about most hetero pornography is that, a woman's sexuality is almost always a performance for the man. I also do not like the cliched nature of most hetero porn. Oh, you're going to finish on her face? How original. I didn't see that coming(hah).

The worst part about pornography is that it is the place that most young people learn about sex. Pornographic sex is typically not good sex...especially if you happen to be a woman.


I didn't vote because there are not enough options.

[lykin005]

I chose the first two options merely because I could only choose two and because the other options weren't really that great. Porn has issue's. Lot's of em. But it is not unable to be fixed.

The debates I've watched or listened to on the topic tend to be made up of Pro-porn and Anti-porn. No middle ground. Either it's terrible and kill it with fire, or it's awesome and there's nothing wrong with it. Both are wrong. Porn is often sexist, (To men and women.) racist, unrealistic, male centric, morally disgusting and more. But is it unsalvageable? No, if porn is made realistically, and with regard to how the people in it are portrayed and they are portrayed in a manner which is respectful and sensitive then it's fine in my opinion.

[jaqui87]

I find pornography degrading to women and in most cases inherently violent. I have been able to find some lesbian pornography that is not violent or degrading but it's really hard to find! I don't think viewing pornography that is violent and degrading to women and men is a healthy way to explore sexuality and to learn about sex. Women in pornography appear to be doing everything for the man (doing what he wants) and women don't look like they get any pleasure. I don't like looking at women in submissive/passive positions. I had an ex-boyfriend that would try sex in the ways he viewed in pornphraphy, it was very belittling for me and very violent. He knew I didn't want sex that way, so it was sexual assault. For that reason the pornography I have seen looks like sexual assault to me. Just how I feel about it. I'm lucky to now have a beautiful, handsome partner who does work to pleasure me and doesn't ask me to do anything that is violent/degrading. I now actually enjoy sex and don't feel frightened doing it.

[Rainbow Dolphins]

I don't have strong feelings one way or the other, honestly. I think a lot of porn can be and is degrading, especially to women, but I don't think it's inherently that way.

[cwbyrvr]

Most porn is degrading and disgusting. That said, I partake of rather a lot of porn (the frequency varies but sometimes it's a lot), it just took me a while to find good sources.

[Axiomatic]

Porn is not INHERENTLY degrading, it's just that it in practice usually is anyway.

Let me put it this way: If you live in a society where a schoolteacher can't be fired because someone finds out that a few years before she started on the job, she was in a porno, then pornography is not degrading.

[jaqui87]

Ok I will re-phrase. I find most pornograhpy violent and degrading. It shouldn't be this way, but it is unfortunately.

[flashfact]

Pornography, in my opinion, is very sexist and a horrible way to learn about sexuality and women. Though I have to wonder, could there be porn that is not demeaning towards women? I know comic book writer Alan Moore and his wife created some erotica called "lost girls" which was designed to elavate pornography into having a deep meaningful plot involving sexuality and such (i cannot comment on whether or not it was demeaning to women because I actually never read it)