Why pornography is evil – an (Un)balanced view – part 1
Posted on | April 29, 2009 | 11 Comments |
So it’s back to business as usual at Yuri to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito… I apologise for the short hiatus – Omattaseshimashita! Moushiwake arimasen deshita.
This post is about the ongoing “big” debate. All the points probably can’t be covered in one post, as it’s something that’s been debated for centuries (mostly one-sidedly) and it’s about time the other side fought back. I’m talking about the premise that pornography is evil.
The argument was brought to my attention when I watched an episode of “The Wright Stuff” (Channel 5 early morning public debate program) on the subject. They usually talk about three topics over the course of an hour, but the phone calls were so vehement that they had to cancel the remaining two debates to focus on this one. One of the most striking things that came up over the course of the program is how the majority (if not all) the supporters were men and all the people condemning pornography were women. Funny that.
I understand that most of you as my readers (regardless of gender) are rather a select community of people (a very small select community) and having been carefully chosen by me, you’ll probably be siding with me on the “Porn isn’t evil” side of things but I’ll do my best to try and debate things from both sides of the argument.
Introduction
First we have to define the argument in question.
Pornography as a word comes from two Greek words meaning “prostitute” and “pictures or writing” so literally pornography is “pictures of prostitutes”. So we could define pornography as media depicting naked women (or men) exposing themselves for profit or engaging in sexual acts for reasons other than love. This leaves a rather wide grey area to explore – what about artistic pictures of nudity? Would that be considered pornography? And what about sex scenes in a movie that are explicit but are between a loving couple in the storyline?
Obviously the line between art and pornography is blurred (as is the line between art and garbage or art and tableware). The BBFC would probably lean towards a more simple method of classification – Nudity (for anything up to fully exposed, non-aroused bodies) and Pornography (for any actual depiction of penetration or other more depraved acts such as S&M)
And what do we mean by evil? Obviously we don’t mean flaming pits of sulphur, taking candy from babies and kicking cute kittens kind of evil (though i suppose some of the more radical debaters would have it that way). By evil in this context, I would mean how it impacts on the user and the people around him/her. Therefore, indulging in pornography would be evil if it was detrimental to the user, his close family/friends and society as a whole.
The prosecution
So first let’s hear the arguments against pornography. I’ll start with the more classical arguments and work my way forwards in time:
- Pornography is a sin against God (coveting, sex outside wedlock) If you’ve read your bible, you’ll know that God disapproves of most things that are fun. This includes homosexuality and lesbianism, masturbation and most importantly, sex outside of wedlock. Not to mention that you’re breaking the 10th Commandment for coveting your neighbour’s ass. If we take their view that sex is a sacred act for the sake of unity and procreation, then big black men impregnating little white girls in pigtails – probably not going to go down well…
- Pornography is adultery/like cheating on a partner I guess this is the non-religious version of the above. I think that a lot of (mainly) women who are not interested in pornography see it as an affront to their own assets – that their partner isn’t satisfied with theirs and feels the need to ogle other women’s as well. I mean, you’ve stopped him looking at other girls in real life, so why not in movies as well? Kinda similar to men who feel that their virility is at stake when they find out that their partner uses a vibrator…
- Pornography is similar to using prostitutes I mean – you’re paying for watching sex, so it must be like a peep show, mustn’t it? And you’re watching women who have sex for cash so they’re prostitutes in the broad sense of the word.
- Pornography depicts sex which is a messy and disgusting act that should be conducted in private One of the older arguments – despite all the liberality that is trying to get around at the moment, sex is still seen as a very private act. Some would even say it was crass and disgusting, on par with going to the toilet for example. Obviously, people who think that sex is disgusting would probably not enjoy watching those pornstars rutting doggy-style every night after the cable watershed…
- Pornography is animalistic and uncultured, pandering to our base instincts to think about sex all the time
Humans have got to where they are today by abandoning their animal instincts and thinking about things. We don’t have to eat meat, for example, we can choose not to. It could be argued that it is this freedom from our instincts that allowed us to be innovative and break free of the food chain to form higher society. So why would we condone the spread of media which encourages the spread of these base instincts? Surely if people go back to these then they will become uncultured and therefore less functional individuals?
- Pornography takes over people’s lives and is detrimental to both that person’s life and real life relationships I guess this is a real one. It is definitely true that pornography ruins rela real life relationships. From FHM surveys and my own experience, pornography can become a large part of one’s life and can impact on other activities if you let it. With respect to ruining relationships, this is usually through point (1), (2) or maybe even (7) and (12) in some cases. It could be argued that the very fact that liking pornography results in relationship breakdown is detrimental in itself…
- Pornography is a replacement for sexual desire towards a partner I think a lot of women think that watching pornography means that their partner prefer looking at the pornstars than at them. Therefore, they feel belittled or undesired. Also, there’s the wanker’s cramp…
- Pornography leads to rape and paedophilia The media love this one. It’s kind of similar to “violent video games cause violent crime” argument. Do paedophiliac tendencies cause them to seek out child pornography or is it the other way round? Does watching rape make Japanese people go out and gangrape/bukkake women. Well…maybe if they paid them first.
- Pornography exposes underage children to sex and causes problems (STDs, teenage pregnancy) Especially the internet has made this a problem – exposing children with little or no understanding of sex (sex education is, let’s face it, rubbish) to explicit sexual acts with the implication that there are no lasting consequences. They sure have it good these days – I had to survive on tattered copies of Playboy and the odd softcore Channel 5 flick.
- Pornography exploits women/depicts them as sexual objects Feminists love this one. Apparently, an industry where women who are willingly recruited and paid significantly more money than their male counterparts is an affront to femininity and depicts them as sexual objects… I suppose it is a rather male dominated industry in production. But remember – in unstable market, only wise investment is porn.
- Pornography is boring Well, yeah, it is…So?
- Pornography makes my boyfriend want to do weird things when I just want to have normal sex (gives men unrealistic expectations).
I guess that would be a problem. You’d better tell him firmly that that’s where stuff comes out, not where stuff goes in.
I’ve belatedly decided to split this into two posts. How about I let whoever can be bothered debate why all these points are a load of ballsacks and come back with my rebuttals to the above later on this week!
Ja ne!
PS – Formatting came out weird so it should be corrected now!
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11 Responses to “Why pornography is evil – an (Un)balanced view – part 1”
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April 30th, 2009 @ 12:43 am
Alright let’s get this over with…
Point 1: This is actually a point that can’t be debated. Religious beliefs are one of the few areas that debate has little affect on, unless of course you can cause a crisis of faith. This is basically a moot point from any reasonable viewpoint, you can’t press religious standards in a free society.
Point 2: This issue has more to do with poor self-imagine as brought on by unrealistic media standards. People seem to forget that there is a disconnect from the highly staged world of mass media and the rest of society.
Point 3: Frankly this goes deeper than it’s face value, it deals heavily with points 4 and 5. This notion of sexuality as base and disgusting while ignoring it’s important to the survival and health of the individual and society is why there is such a strong reaction to any means of integrating within our consumerist culture.
Point 4: This as I just stated is due to an antiquated notion that sexuality should be demonized and as such be regarded with shame.
Point 5: Personally I believe that man views himself to highly, we are still animals. Though we have risen from the mud, ignoring our baser components that still make us up is folly and will only lead to suffering.
Point 6: This is a matter of addiction and in some cases self-medication. Both are serious problems but really it has more to do with the individual than the material. Personally responsibility is important.
Point 7: This is a compound issue that combines issues of mass media idealization and issues with the couple. I contend that porn doesn’t lead to people having new kinks rather it just awakens the ones people already have. If a partner can’t satisfy this new kink, short of finding a new partner porn is the only option. So see porn promotes love. Also refer back to point 2.
Point 8: Alright I have seen horrible stuff, and maybe yes I have maybe enjoyed a lolicon ero-manga once or twice but that does mean I want to go after children. People who commit acts such as rape and pedophilia (can it be used as a verb?) have other issues than just liking porn.
Point 9: People hate to admit that children are interested in sex and without society provide avenues to learn about it then will find and make due with what they can. And if it such a big deal how about actually watching your kids?
Point 10: I think that is more of a issue of the mass media affecting it’s product than the other way around. If anything men come off as more the sex objects, all that matters is the penis.
Point 11: They just need to look around more, just because it makes you sleepy afterward doesn’t mean you have to be lazy about it.
Point 12: That is what butt plugs were meant for, right?
Sorry if those came off as too short, I may expand a few later on.
May 1st, 2009 @ 1:42 am
I concure with Jadens views. >_>
May 1st, 2009 @ 5:50 am
On number 8.
Unless it can be reliably proven that the absence of pornography will result in the absence or, at the very least, reduction in the occurance of said crimes then this argument is utter rubbish.
Personally, Im betting on the reverse effect. That the absence of pornography will result in an increase in occurance of said crimes, perhaps violently so.
Alan Moore said it best I believe:
“Sexually progressive cultures gave us mathematics, literature, philosophy, civilization and the rest, while sexually restrictive cultures gave us the Dark Ages and the Holocaust. Not that I’m trying to load my argument, of course.”
May 1st, 2009 @ 6:23 am
There is a spelling error in the second sentence of point 6. ” It is definitely true that pornography ruins rela life relationships.”
And while I tend to agree, the grammar Nazi in me can’t ignore it. I must speak out!
Also, the feminist in me wants to say something about point 10. And i can’t really. Girls are hot. Here is a video of them fucking.
Even the feminist in me can’t say no. Thank you, and good night.
[Long time creeper, first time poster. And over a spelling mistake too! qq]
May 1st, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
It is always good to argue the opposite viewpoint. Helps make a more civil discussion.
I’d have to say that I do agree with some of these points. Pornography can consume lives in an unhealthy manner, as can drugs and alcohol. This can then result in broken relationships. Then again, this is not a very common occurrence, if you think of all the people who use pornography at some point in their lives. Furthermore, because something can have a negative effect on some people’s lives doesn’t make it evil.
Still, its an important debate. I’m looking forward to your take on the rebuttal
May 1st, 2009 @ 6:26 pm
Thanks for the comments all! Corrected the spelling mistake…
Rebuttal will have to wait as I am being taken to Wales for an anniversary present till Monday!
May 2nd, 2009 @ 5:48 pm
Now that does sound nice! Happy anniversary and all that ;)
May 5th, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
Point 5: Personally I believe that man views himself to highly, we are still animals. Though we have risen from the mud, ignoring our baser components that still make us up is folly and will only lead to suffering.
Were the cat’s pajamas! I for one am proud to be human. :D
Sex shouldnt be thought of as dirty. If anything, eating is dirty. Some people are real slobs when they eat but they are allowed to do so in public at restaurants anyway. :P
May 6th, 2009 @ 6:04 am
@Alexon
Quite right. We are literally eating burnt corpses and things growing out of feces and decayed corpses after all.
May 6th, 2009 @ 8:22 am
Yeah! Well, I dont like mushrooms, but yeah, youre right. I dont like to think too much about what I eat.
December 17th, 2009 @ 3:43 am
Point 8: I abhor such things as rape, pedo, and scat – and I never try to blend in with the [4chan] crowd by saying I don’t. I just hate the fact that there are people out there who like it, but I feel that there’s nothing I can do but let them wallow in their own filth. As for whether it can make people rapists or lolicons… it varies person-to-person. It seems Japan has far too many sexual deviants to count(but that’s my prejudice).