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Your anecdote isn't data. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_young_people https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_youn...

Your anecdote isn't data. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_young_people https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_youn... I'm not saying that it's black and white, but I hope we can rise above the level of discourse of "I watched porn when young and turned out just fine". It's about as interesting as e.g., "I started smoking when I was 16 and turned out just fine" or "my parents beat me as a kid and I turned out just fine". First of all, what you might consider "just fine" is perhaps, well, not fine. Second, it's one single data point; well, not even a data point, but rather a hot take.

nerdjon 3y ago
The problem with a lot of these studies is they are also done in a society that highly stigmatizes sexuality and porn. Many of these things can also be mitigated by an ability to have open conversations about feelings about what they see. Same with playing violent video games, watching R rated movies, or whatever.
- yau8edq12i 3y ago
  Maybe I should have added, I also hope we can rise above the level of discourse where a single though is viewed as enough to dismiss a bunch of studies.
  - nerdjon 3y ago
    I am not dismissing the studies, but we have to look at the studies through the society that they were done in. To ask, is the study saying that there is an inherent problem with porn in an isolated bubble or is the problem with porn in the way our society is setup. That is a very important question and drastically changes the conversation and the action items.
stickfigure 3y ago
The tone of your comment implies that the wikipedia article supports the "porn bad" narrative, but the article does not support that at all. I'm not sure why you linked it.
- yau8edq12i 3y ago
  First, I did write "I'm not saying that it's black and white". My main point is that one person's subjective anecdote isn't enough to discuss policy. Second, the article absolutely points out ill effects of pornography on young people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_young_people#Addiction_and_individual_distress https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_youn... > Problematic pornography use (PPU) or pornography addiction, is understood as a pattern of pornography viewing which causes significant distress to the individual personally, relationally, socially, educationally, or occupationally. The prevalence of PPU by adolescents, lies at under 5%. Frequent users of pornography are more likely to show symptoms of PPU. Higher levels of depressive symptomatology in adolescent boys, and sexual interest, predicted increase in compulsive use of pornographic material over time. Baseline levels and subsequent growth in pornography use subsequently predicted higher levels of PPU, independent of religiosity, negative emotions, and impulsivity. Higher frequency of pornography use is associated with higher probability of suffering from CSB. LGBTQ-Adolescents aren’t more likely to develop PPU.[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_young_people#Sexual_behavior https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_youn... > Adolescent pornography consumption predicted greater sexual engagement, greater sexual insecurity, and greater sexual dissatisfaction, and is linked to sexual intercourse (anal sex, oral sex, sexual encounters, sexual desire, earlier sexual initiation, sex with prostitutes/partners/friends),[3] more experience with casual sex, and a higher likelihood of exercise or experiencing especially among female adolescents. However, there isn't any evidence connecting frequent pornography consumption to a wider range of sexual practices. Meaningful evidence linking pornography and sexual risk behaviors is lacking.[14] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_young_people#Women_as_sexual_objects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_youn... > A 2021 review which compiled evidence from other empirical sources such as surveys found that representations of women in pornography may lead adolescent boys to view women as sexual objects, with disregard and disrespect for gender equality.[15] The review, however, does not claim anywhere proving a causal relationship of consuming pornography and changing views of sexual objectification or gender inequality.[15] --- Yes, there are caveats, and yes, the article also has a section called "Positive effects" (that has all the same oratory precautions and caveats as the sections I quoted). My point isn't "porn is bad". My point is, again, that one's person anecdote doesn't mean that we can just deregulate the whole thing without further thought.

nerdjon 3y ago

The problem with a lot of these studies is they are also done in a society that highly stigmatizes sexuality and porn. Many of these things can also be mitigated by an ability to have open conversations about feelings about what they see. Same with playing violent video games, watching R rated movies, or whatever.

yau8edq12i 3y ago
Maybe I should have added, I also hope we can rise above the level of discourse where a single though is viewed as enough to dismiss a bunch of studies.
- nerdjon 3y ago
  I am not dismissing the studies, but we have to look at the studies through the society that they were done in. To ask, is the study saying that there is an inherent problem with porn in an isolated bubble or is the problem with porn in the way our society is setup. That is a very important question and drastically changes the conversation and the action items.

stickfigure 3y ago

The tone of your comment implies that the wikipedia article supports the "porn bad" narrative, but the article does not support that at all. I'm not sure why you linked it.

yau8edq12i 3y ago
First, I did write "I'm not saying that it's black and white". My main point is that one person's subjective anecdote isn't enough to discuss policy. Second, the article absolutely points out ill effects of pornography on young people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_young_people#Addiction_and_individual_distress https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_youn... > Problematic pornography use (PPU) or pornography addiction, is understood as a pattern of pornography viewing which causes significant distress to the individual personally, relationally, socially, educationally, or occupationally. The prevalence of PPU by adolescents, lies at under 5%. Frequent users of pornography are more likely to show symptoms of PPU. Higher levels of depressive symptomatology in adolescent boys, and sexual interest, predicted increase in compulsive use of pornographic material over time. Baseline levels and subsequent growth in pornography use subsequently predicted higher levels of PPU, independent of religiosity, negative emotions, and impulsivity. Higher frequency of pornography use is associated with higher probability of suffering from CSB. LGBTQ-Adolescents aren’t more likely to develop PPU.[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_young_people#Sexual_behavior https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_youn... > Adolescent pornography consumption predicted greater sexual engagement, greater sexual insecurity, and greater sexual dissatisfaction, and is linked to sexual intercourse (anal sex, oral sex, sexual encounters, sexual desire, earlier sexual initiation, sex with prostitutes/partners/friends),[3] more experience with casual sex, and a higher likelihood of exercise or experiencing especially among female adolescents. However, there isn't any evidence connecting frequent pornography consumption to a wider range of sexual practices. Meaningful evidence linking pornography and sexual risk behaviors is lacking.[14] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_young_people#Women_as_sexual_objects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_pornography_on_youn... > A 2021 review which compiled evidence from other empirical sources such as surveys found that representations of women in pornography may lead adolescent boys to view women as sexual objects, with disregard and disrespect for gender equality.[15] The review, however, does not claim anywhere proving a causal relationship of consuming pornography and changing views of sexual objectification or gender inequality.[15] --- Yes, there are caveats, and yes, the article also has a section called "Positive effects" (that has all the same oratory precautions and caveats as the sections I quoted). My point isn't "porn is bad". My point is, again, that one's person anecdote doesn't mean that we can just deregulate the whole thing without further thought.