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Interesting how the presentation of healthy sexuality and eroticism in US culture increasingly suffers under a joint assault by neo-puritans, radical feminists,
by zerealshadowban 8y ago
Interesting how the presentation of healthy sexuality and eroticism in US culture increasingly suffers under a joint assault by neo-puritans, radical feminists, middle-of-the-road advertisers, and gender-smashing warriors. By the gods, even at the gym the vast majority of Americans feel they must cover their body with towels when walking to/from the showers, and those who don't are eyed with suspicion. Similar trends are present in e.g. Sweden and France where the depiction of beautiful women in ads is now a socio-political problem.
I wish for our cultures to look for inspiration to the Ancient Greeks' fundamental love of the human body and soul; some of which we can observe in the sculptures that have survived (not the beefy Roman copies); and some of the perspectives one may gather from surviving poetry, tales of normal nudity in social activities, and benevolent jokes about sex.
- dingoegret 8y agoYou are confused between the Western myth making history in pop culture and factual history. Greek aesthetics in public art greatly favored modesty and was heavily influenced by adjacent semitic cultures. Real history is very different from the fictional romanticization in media. https://phoenicia.org/greek.html https://phoenicia.org/greek.html
- awakeasleep 8y ago"Presentation of healthy sexuality" is a pretty mixed up way to look at online pornography
- icebraining 8y agoOnline pornography comes in many forms, particularly on Tumblr.
- jplayer01 8y agoThis is literally the viewpoint that is the problem. Just because you don't like the kind of kinks and fetishes that other people have doesn't mean it isn't healthy or valuable. Especially on a place like tumblr, where communities are built around these sexual interests. It isn't some industry imposing artificial expectations on an unwilling populace. It's people who are genuinely into such a crazy variety of things and want to share that interest with other people. What could be more wholesome than that?
- awakeasleep 8y agoI don't believe that. There is research showing that online pornography distorts people's views of sex, making people less satisfied with their real life partners, and pushing their fetishes into more extreme territory. This is sex negative, and harmful. And I believe we can see the results of this with all the headlines talking about how people are having less sex. A larger and larger percent of orgasms are happening online, to unrealistic scenarios.
- crazygringo 8y agoThere are also plenty of people in healthy sexual relationships for whom online pornography of many forms contributes to their fun and enjoyment and deepening relationship together, men and women. Some people are able to bring fantasy into real life in a healthy way -- arguably healthier than those who would prefer to shut out fantasy. I'm not saying there aren't people for whom it can be addictive or negative, but that you can't paint it with a broad brush. There are many reasons why pornography can be viewed as sex positive, and a lot of it comes down to context and personal history.
- Mindwipe 8y agoNo, there isn't. You're a liar.
- dang 8y agoPersonal attacks will get you banned on HN, regardless of how wrong someone is. If you'd please review https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html and follow the rules when posting here, we'd be grateful.
- ux-app 8y ago>There is research showing that online pornography distorts people's views of sex I'd cautiously agree with this wrt commercial porn, where the negative effects, coercion etc are well documented and "sex negative" as you describe. Tumbler is full of OC. How on earth could this be seen as "sex negative"? These are adults, freely sharing their kinks. Not sure there's much room for outrage here.
- icebraining 8y agoSimilar trends are present in e.g. Sweden and France where the depiction of beautiful women in ads is now a socio-political problem. I don't think that's a "similar" trend. One can be encourage the display and appreciation of the nude form without agreeing with its commercial exploitation.
- mmanfrin 8y ago> radical feminists ... and gender-smashing warriors What? Would wager that this group and the groups affected by this policy change at tumblr have a big overlap.