3 ms·
Well, what's the benefit of porn? To be a glass where you can look but cannot touch? To compensate for some oversexuality that is not freely expressed? To turn
by zerostar07 15y ago
Well, what's the benefit of porn? To be a glass where you can look but cannot touch? To compensate for some oversexuality that is not freely expressed? To turn everyone into proud voyeurs? Most animals see amateur porn among their conspecifics every day and frankly don't give a damn. I bet only masturbating animals would ever buy porn. I know the internet is generally proud of its porn, but general opinion equates porn with masturbation and thus all the negative attitude. What's so positive about porn otherwise?
- Tichy 15y agoI remember reading about a study that showed looking at boobs raised men's self esteem. There is also a study that showed that apes (or monkeys or some animal like that) likes to pay for porn (ape/monkey porn of course). Also the sex drive is quite important for the human species. It's a huge motivator.
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- zerostar07 15y agoSex drive is the way evolution works. Porn usually results in masturbation not evolution.
- CompiledCode 15y agoYes but out in the wild, even with monkeys watching other monkeys, sex is a social activity; watching porn alone makes it a very non-social activity. This discussion reminds me a bit of the "sugar/fructose" discussion the other day. Humans are built to crave sugary, high-calorie food. Modern society allows for an endless supply of sugar. Cue rampant obesity. I think it's beneficial to question everything; to completely detach oneself from the hivemind. Just because everyone watches porn (or it provides short-term positive benefits) does not mean it's innately good, or could/should be consumed in endless quantities, or has no negative implications.
- SkyMarshal 15y ago> I remember reading about a study that showed looking at boobs raised men's self esteem. Real ones or just pictures and videos? Big difference.
- Tichy 15y agoThe study showed that pictures are enough. Although I suppose real ones would be more effective (and have more side effects).
- r0s 15y agoYou can say the same about any art. Is a still life of fruit subject to such complex valuation?
- zerostar07 15y agoGood art is worthy of critical interpretation. There is some porn worthy of awards, but you don't often read critical reviews of doggie scenes.
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- icebraining 15y agoMost animals see amateur porn among their conspecifics every day and frankly don't give a damn. And most animals would see a Miró and pee on it. I don't see how is that helpful in determining whether porn is beneficial or not.
- zerostar07 15y agoStrictly evolutionarily, animals survive and evolve without porn. Porn is a reaction to our cultural practices from the past. If it weren't for porn, maybe our societies would be more open sex-wise.
- hdctambien 15y agoIs that written backwards? If our societies were more open sex-wise, maybe there wouldn't be porn?
- zerostar07 15y agoor maybe it's a feedback loop?
- icebraining 15y agoOther stuff animals survive and evolve without: - Hacker News - Internet - Electricity - Toilets Porn is a reaction to our cultural practices from the past. If it weren't for porn, maybe our societies would be more open sex-wise. Can I ask on what do you base this? Because I see sexually liberated subcultures making and sharing their own (non-commercial) porn. http://www.freedomporn.org/ http://www.freedomporn.org/ is a good example.
- Drbble 15y agoYou were making sense until you abruptly declared that masturbation is a negative. Do you feel the same way about soft clothing and snack foods and puns?
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- jaredsohn 15y agoFor women, porn can be beneficial because it provides information. (from "A Feminist Defense of Pornography"; can be found by Googling it; originally included the link but post became dead immediately after submitting and I think that's why.) " * It gives a panoramic view of the world's sexual possibilities. This is true even of basic sexual information such as masturbation. It is not uncommon for women to reach adulthood without knowing how to give themselves pleasure. * It allows women to "safely" experience sexual alternatives and satisfy a healthy sexual curiosity. The world is a dangerous place. By contrast, pornography can be a source of solitary enlightenment. * It offers the emotional information that comes only from experiencing something either directly or vicariously. It provides us with a sense how it would "feel" to do something. " I'd think the same would also be true for men.
- littletables 15y agoI cannot vote you down in my head hard enough simply because you have completely discounted the entire sexual experience of many women by relegating female sexuality to the emotive realm. Women use and enjoy porn the same as men do - visual to physiological and to release. Period. Porn is beneficial to women in many ways as consumers. Until people wake up to this, revenue streams and culture (of consent and equality, experience and discourse) alike will be hobbled. Your heart is in the right place. But you're missing the rest of reality, as is this entire HN discussion.
- jaredsohn 15y agoI didn't relegate female sexuality to the emotive realm; I just listed some additional benefits of porn that I found posted in an essay targeted toward the woman's perspective. (And I then indicated that I feel the same benefits can be had by men as well.) The post I replied to asked "Well, what's the benefit of porn?" and I felt the physiological aspects were already covered. There was no need for me to correct it to say "women like the physiological aspects, too" since I already know that to be true and didn't see anybody stating otherwise who needed to be corrected.