[Nuke]

i mostly watch porn to save time. it essentially allows me to half the time it takes me to take care of buisness. so i can get it done and go do something else.

[Mikes]

If it gets to the point where you need porn to get off, or else you'd go find a hooker, then you honestly are at the point where you need to seek some psychiatric help.

I had to get help for my addiction.

And that s worse than - for instance - eating disorders or alcoholism... how?

If you give it some thought, you will find that people get addicted and need help over much more serious matters than mere porn.
If that is the standard to judge anything by, then you would have a huge list of other problems to adress, with several of them being much more severe.

[Nuclear1]

And that s worse than - for instance - eating disorders or alcoholism... how?

If you give it some thought, you will find that people get addicted and need help over much more serious matters than mere porn.
If that is the standard to judge anything by, then you would have a huge list of other problems to adress, with several of them being much more serious.

I never said any of those are less deserving of attention.  They're all problems that can ruin lives and need to be taken equally as seriously.

You can say that addiction to porn and sex isn't a big problem if you haven't been in that situation.  When your mind is focused on nothing but having sex and watching porn, your relationships suffer and job performance drops the same as if you went through a day desperate for a smoke or a drink.

[Mars]

Anything is addictive; but it's only a problem if it's a problem. Smoking is nearly always detrimental to one's body for instance, but I fail to see how porn can begin to be detrimental to one's life.

[Mikes]

I never said any of those are less deserving of attention.  They're all problems that can ruin lives and need to be taken equally as seriously.

You can say that addiction to porn and sex isn't a big problem if you haven't been in that situation.  When your mind is focused on nothing but having sex and watching porn, your relationships suffer and job performance drops the same as if you went through a day desperate for a smoke or a drink.

And yet there are millions of people - the huge huge majority matter of fact - who can enjoy a drink and never become an alcoholic or have other issues...  same with porn - which was kind of the point.

[Nuke]

my whole view on addiction is that its merely a symptom of a much bigger problem. you can get over that addiction, but it wont fix the thing that facilitated its existence in the first place.

[Mars]

my whole view on addiction is that its merely a symptom of a much bigger problem. you can get over that addiction, but it wont fix the thing that facilitated its existence in the first place.

What is your view on the problem? I kind of look at it as a lack of fulfillment in some way; or a whole where nothing is if you will.

[Nuclear1]

Anything is addictive; but it's only a problem if it's a problem. Smoking is nearly always detrimental to one's body for instance, but I fail to see how porn can begin to be detrimental to one's life.

When it's used as a coping mechanism to avoid having to deal with your problems, it becomes a huge problem.

It's not necessarily just porn that leads to problems, it's the need for sexual thrill that leads people to do unhealthy things with their lives; the mind gets used to a certain level of sexual excitement, forcing the person to seek riskier and kinkier sex to satisfy their urges.  Getting hookers, abusing their significant others, becoming unable to connect with others on deeper levels.

And yet there are millions of people - the huge huge majority matter of fact - who can enjoy a drink and never become an alcoholic or have other issues...  same with porn - which was kind of the point.

And my point was that there are people whose lives are ruined by addiction to sex, the same as people who abuse alcohol or have eating disorders.

[Nuke]

my whole view on addiction is that its merely a symptom of a much bigger problem. you can get over that addiction, but it wont fix the thing that facilitated its existence in the first place.

What is your view on the problem? I kind of look at it as a lack of fulfillment in some way; or a whole where nothing is if you will.

i always think its some sort of psychological condition that induces the vulnerability to becoming addicted to something. my concern is that the addiction is being treated as a disease, when it fact its just a symptom of something else. its like getting the flu and taking something for the nausea. you might not feel like vomiting anymore, but you still have the flu. what the condition is likely varies from person to person, perhaps a manifestation of some kind of traumatic event, a mild personality disorder, or something worse.

[Marcov]

Hmmm...how many of regular porn viewers are actually porn addicts?

On another part, I personally think that being a drunkard or smoker is worse than a porn addict. Both can ruin oneself BOTH physically and mentally whereas porn can ruin oneself only mentally.

[Nuke]

i dont know, having one arm heavier than the other could lead to back discomfort.

[Dilmah G]

True, true.

[Nuclear1]

Hmmm...how many of regular porn viewers are actually porn addicts?

If they're a regular viewer, there's a chance they're probably addicted. 

But regular is relative.  A couple of times a week doesn't necessarily make an addict, but regularly as in five times a day, much moreso.

On another part, I personally think that being a drunkard or smoker is worse than a porn addict. Both can ruin oneself BOTH physically and mentally whereas porn can ruin oneself only mentally.

Until you can't satisfy your sexual urges through porn, and you go out and get a hooker.  Then you've got the risk of an STD. 

One isn't worse or better than the other.  They're all symptoms of deep-seated emotional and mental issues and need to be treated as life-threatening.  And if you don't care enough about yourself to get treatment, you need to consider all of the other people in your life that you're affecting through it.

[Mikes]

Until you can't satisfy your sexual urges through porn, and you go out and get a hooker.  Then you've got the risk of an STD. 

One isn't worse or better than the other.  They're all symptoms of deep-seated emotional and mental issues and need to be treated as life-threatening.  And if you don't care enough about yourself to get treatment, you need to consider all of the other people in your life that you're affecting through it.

"... until you can t control your drinking anymore...  and beat your children/wife... or drive while under the influence and kill yourself or worse: someone else" - I d say that scenario is much worse than anything related to "watching porn" can do.

So are we reaching the point where can agree that while addiction is always a problem - no matter what you are addicted to - ...  watching porn is potentially much less harmful than booze ?

[Nuclear1]

In some cases, yes I agree with you.

Alcohol can cause more damage from the results of what you do under the influence, but raging hormones and the need for sexual thrill can cause you to get overly-aggressive in bed (can't go into details BECAUSE THIS IS A FAMILY SITE DAMMIT ), and can cause severe emotional distress to not only you but your friends, family, and significant other.

The two are too different to really say one is worse than the other, since the damage done by each is so vastly different.  But yes, I will concede that sex addiction isn't likely to cause you to die in a car accident (well...nevermind, family forum, can't go there ).

[Snail]

With the speakers down.


(sorry)

[Mikes]

Alcohol can cause more damage from the results of what you do under the influence, but raging hormones and the need for sexual thrill can cause you to get overly-aggressive in bed (can't go into details BECAUSE THIS IS A FAMILY SITE DAMMIT ), and can cause severe emotional distress to not only you but your friends, family, and significant other.

So watching porn makes people abuse their spouses in bed? ... right. What I can see, is how an aggressive and abusive person would look for all kinds of things to blame their behavior on - other than themselves.
(So much better to say "Porn did it" and be the victim instead of having to face up to the fact that they are an a**hole who likes to hurt others, right?)

I m afraid to me your argument sounds more like another case of implying causation merely because of correlation. ( - if there even is correlation.)

... unless you got some conclusive studies to back up that wierd claim, I m just gonna call major Bull**** and leave it at that.

[Nuclear1]

Alright, worded that badly.

What I mean is when someone isn't satisfied with their sex life with their partner, they'll turn to porn for something stronger or more potent to help them get off.  Since they know that's what gets them going, next time they get into bed with their partner, they turn to what they see in porn that gets them off.  So all of a sudden that person's partner gets surprised when there's a hand around their neck or they're getting spanked.

'Abuse' was a strong word, but my point stands.  The person watching porn isn't open with their partner and isn't open with them about their changing sexual fantasies, and they end up surprising the partner.

And yes, it can be because that person is just an asshole for not telling their partner, and it's not all porn's fault.  But it still takes an asshole to beat his wife after drinking too much as well.

[Mikes]

Alright, worded that badly.

What I mean is when someone isn't satisfied with their sex life with their partner, they'll turn to porn for something stronger or more potent to help them get off.  Since they know that's what gets them going, next time they get into bed with their partner, they turn to what they see in porn that gets them off.  So all of a sudden that person's partner gets surprised when there's a hand around their neck or they're getting spanked.

'Abuse' was a strong word, but my point stands.  The person watching porn isn't open with their partner and isn't open with them about their changing sexual fantasies, and they end up surprising the partner.

And yes, it can be because that person is just an asshole for not telling their partner, and it's not all porn's fault.  But it still takes an asshole to beat his wife after drinking too much as well.

The problem or "cause" in that case is that they are not satisfied with their sex life and are unable to communicate that fact to their partner.

Turning to porn is "one" of the results... and matter of fact I would say the partner in question may be lucky if that person just turns to porn... because other men with that "problem" often are stupid enough to seek out a prostitute or find a lover to live out their fantasies.

Porn will of course not solve a problem (lol?), but claiming that porn in this case is the "cause" of the ensuing emotional discomfort or awkwardness on the partners part is simply wrong.
The idiot and his inability to communicate what he wants is the cause, compounded by his inability to control what he does to his partner when they make love.

So my point stands as well: Besides the just mentioned sexual dissatisfaction in a relationship,  the inability to communicate with ones partner and the inability to refrain from inconsiderate actions while having intercourse, what else shall we blame on porn to make us feel better ?

[BlackDove]

I reckon all of the votes for "disrespect of the opposite sex" were cast by females.