3 ms·

> It's possible to separate reality from fantasy. I didn't realize until I was 17 year old that most people have an ability to "fantasize". That was a long tim

> It's possible to separate reality from fantasy. I didn't realize until I was 17 year old that most people have an ability to "fantasize". That was a long time ago now, and I'm still imaginatively-challenged. I hope to have it figured out soon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphantasia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphantasia If I'd been able to fantasize, I certainly wouldn't have lost countless hours to looking at women on the internet. I've got over the compulsion about 6 months, even though I still don't have an imagination. I suspect that the proper way to inoculate children against internet porn is to tell them mater-of-fact how reproduction works before they hit puberty, and help them develop their inner 'fantasy' world.

EADGBE 9y ago
Coming from someone who lives in their own imagination most of the time, I feel a bit of pity for you; yet at the same time I am extremely jealous of your ability to reason with reality. For an anti-aphantasiac, the obsession was mostly short-lived in the beginning stages of puberty. There's still plenty to do and obsess about as a pubescent child. My run-ins and conversations with teenage boys and girls are still quite normal, considering they have such an immense resource to gather these tidbits from - they conduct themselves quite normally and with poise. Perhaps there's a line drawn at obsessing for hours over something similar to the topic in question, but as far as I know the majority of partakers use it for what it is - and move on, similar to pre-internet sources. Regarding children, you may have a good point, but consider when you think is a good time to start talking; because in my experience the kids already know well enough about the topic through word-of-mouth, even before puberty starts to take hold of hormones.

3 ms·

> It's possible to separate reality from fantasy. I didn't realize until I was 17 year old that most people have an ability to "fantasize". That was a long tim

by aphantasiac 9y ago

EADGBE 9y ago
Coming from someone who lives in their own imagination most of the time, I feel a bit of pity for you; yet at the same time I am extremely jealous of your ability to reason with reality. For an anti-aphantasiac, the obsession was mostly short-lived in the beginning stages of puberty. There's still plenty to do and obsess about as a pubescent child. My run-ins and conversations with teenage boys and girls are still quite normal, considering they have such an immense resource to gather these tidbits from - they conduct themselves quite normally and with poise. Perhaps there's a line drawn at obsessing for hours over something similar to the topic in question, but as far as I know the majority of partakers use it for what it is - and move on, similar to pre-internet sources. Regarding children, you may have a good point, but consider when you think is a good time to start talking; because in my experience the kids already know well enough about the topic through word-of-mouth, even before puberty starts to take hold of hormones.