How should we deal with pornography?

We hear about pornography, and it is everywhere. Pornography is easy to find, unlike two decades ago. It’s all thanks to the Internet that we can search for any porn content with just a simple keyword and a few clicks. It’s never been easier. 無修正 画像 is everywhere and waiting for its audience to satisfy themselves. In short, porn is a lot of fun!

But before the age of 18, we shouldn’t have access to it. We’re tempted to watch it, adults are embarrassed to talk about it, and the parental filters on our computers are set to block it. What mystery lies behind this word, and why so much excitement?

Etymologically, porn means prostitution, and graphic means representation: pornography includes all works of a sexual and obscene nature. These works can be disseminated through the media (cinema, video, television, etc.) but also in the art world (literature, visual arts, painting, sculpture, comics, etc.). By depicting sexual fantasies in images, pornography serves to arouse and give pleasure to those who view it.

Pornography contains many misconceptions. One of them is the belief that by watching it, we learn about anatomy, how the other sex is formed, and whether our sex is normal. This is false because movie actors are chosen based on the size of their penises, which must be made as attractive as possible. This in no way reflects reality. Furthermore, the systematic removal of hair in the genital area suggests that women should not have genital hair. All of this is also false and fuels insecurity… as well as addiction, as an estimated 6 to 9% of people who watch porn are unable to limit their consumption.

In a general sense, sexuality refers to genital activity but can also refer to affection, tenderness, certain emotions, love, etc. Hence, it is a matter of intimacy. Sexuality and sensuality often go hand in hand. Sensuality is an attachment to the enjoyment of the senses (hearing, sight, smell, taste, touch). In sexuality, the whole body is awakened to experience pleasure.

It is generally thought that pornography stimulates sexual desire. However, according to a study, 68% of couples where one partner is addicted to pornography further distances their sexual relationship. They lose interest in their sexual relationship, and some may have no relationship at all for months or even years! The risk sometimes lies in the notion that pornography is a representation of the classic sexuality experienced by couples. It is simply a spectacle that exaggerates everyday sexuality. When watching porn, we think the guy must have been erect for hours, but we don’t realize that the actors were taking sex drive-enhancing drugs that prevented them from blacking out, and scenes were cut, giving the impression that intercourse lasted for hours!

Today, pornography is taken for granted, especially among young people who see it as a way to learn about sexuality. For someone who has never had sexual experience, this information is toxic, not only because it gives a false picture of sexuality, male-female relationships, female desire, and pleasure, but also because pornographic images are extremely violent and unmitigated. The images contribute to fantasy imaginations based on what is seen instead of allowing personal erotic imaginations to be built based on one’s own experiences. 

In this sense, pornography is a poison that is best avoided before the age of 18! The eroticism we just discussed (from the Greek éros: “romantic desire”) refers to all phenomena and various representations that arouse sexual desire. Eroticism characterizes everything that, by virtue of representations related to sexuality, arouses emotional and sensual passion. In this sense, eroticism differs from sexuality in that it does not refer to the sexual act itself, but rather to everything that arouses sexual desire, and to all the ideas it evokes, in particular fantasies.

But is pornography really negative at all?

Excessive consumption of pornography cannot be justified at all but in certain situations, pornography can be beneficial, for example for some depressed patients, pornography can stimulate them to masturbate which according to some studies can reduce their suffering. Pornography is also useful for “turning on” the passion between a couple, stimulating them to get aroused with each other. 

So it depends on the situation whether pornography can be bad or good. If you “consume” it excessively, it can be a source of problems in your life, especially your relationship with your partner. If you use it “sensibly”, you can derive some benefits from it. For your information, pornography is often associated with some health benefits (in the context of stimulants for masturbation). By masturbating, one tends to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, improve heart health, prevent depression, and many more. And what are the greatest stimulants for masturbation besides porn?