For more detail on porn and the effect its widespread availability has on children, even if their parents don't consume it, check out the web sites for Frontline's American Porn (you can watch this show on the web site or read a transcript) and The Lost Children of Rockdale County (transcript and other material). It used to be that the public space was child friendly and pornography was something consumed in private. Now parents need to hide their children indoors with the TV and radio off if they want to avoid porn. I'm sorry if I think it's backwards when nice people have to be prisoners of their own home and sleazy people get to run free.
What I'd also really like to know is how many of the porn advocates in these discussions have children and, if you do, how do you keep them away from porn (or do you at all)?
Well, considering my 10 year-old son, once came across the word "porn," asked what it was, and then made it clear he wasn't interested in it, I'm not particularly concerned. No doubt, when he's a teenager, he'll stumble across his parents' stash, just like both his parents did.
My step-daughter turned 18 last year and a similar attitude toward her hasn't turned her into some sort of sex maniac or victim.
My basic parenting style is to explain to my children that there is an essential difference between what is appropriate behavior and interests for children, adolescents, and adults. Anything he is unsure about he is to ask one of his parents about and he knows that he will never get in trouble for asking us.
It's basically how my parents raised me on that topic and, if anything, I was too restrained in my teen and early adult years.
Would you feel better if she did this for free?
What adult channels does your cable system carry?!?! I'd get the heck out of that town, right away!
Mark
Porn is for folks who aren't getting any or need extra stimulation to stoke the fires.
I'm a guy and I don't mind looking at naked women but looking at naked men with them reeks too much of "I love you man".
I think hardcore Porn is a sordid business filled with immoral opportunists and society's rejects (but the women are more attractive now than in the 60s and 70s)who are usually burdened by some early degradation in their lives. The guys may do it just to get laid or paid ....though it's not much.
There is a seamy side to the whole affair and would appear to involve organized crime in the distribution end.
All that said....porn only demonstrates what society tolerates in the open.. just like queerdom. It's gotten more open too.
I'm ambivalent about it. It's a dirty business but I know why some folks need it and why some folks just like it....and why others participate in it.
There is no doubt it defies most religious covenants.
And it is usually rough on women....that is the attraction for many. Soft lovey dovey porn is for couples. Gang bangs are for young somewhat frustrated horndogs.
though it would appear that there are a lot of pretty promiscuous women out there today doing amateur porn.
Porn has sorta eclipsed the mystery of a woman's sexuality boys used to inherently have. Now they know every trick early on and expect all women to be panthers..lol
unreality....i remember the first porn cards I saw as a boy back in 67 or so...I was 10....women....seemed pretty exotic to me then. hell now your average 15 year lad is bound to be jaded by all the visual stuff.....that is a shame and takes away a lot.
oh well...like I said...ambivalent....I sure would not want my girls around it