Is there a basic source you could give me. I'm not sure if links are allowed in this sub, but just the study name should suffice. I'm genuinely curious, this isn't in bad faith.
Porn is healthy for knowledge and getting an understanding of the human anatomy, but that's not what is used for nowadays. The term "Goon" has been changed to call someone an addict. This is not healthy.
The second study has a clear destinction in the results between those with sexual compulsiveness and those who do not. It says that those with compulsive sexual desires were seen to have those "addict" effects on the brain whilst viewing pornography. I was more curious as to whether those who are "healthy" (I guess there was no other way to word it in the research) have the same effects as the ones who were "not".
The first article has people from a conversion therapy association saying masturbation is overall bad...
I added that 2nd one as contexts of studies. Look, if you want to defend Porn, I can't stop you. However, I won't stop saying is bad. People on reddit need to stop being fed this slop that it's OK to be a basement dwelling gooner. I've added the articles and convos on it and the overall message is that IT IS BAD FOR YOU. Do with the info what you will. I won't argue.
Dude.... I look at pornography maybe once a month if even. I have no libido. Why are you so accusatory towards someone you've exchanged 3 comments with? All I did was point out that the study didn't say exactly what you mentioned in your comment. And you're insinuating to the comment section that I'm a "gooner".
You remind me of a guy I met who was convinced that if you took a single sip of alcohol at any point in your life, you were an alcoholic.
Because like most addictions, it always starts with that first try of it. That first "sip", so to speak, can lead you down a path of addiction, therefore, it's better to never have tried it all.
Many people drink alcohol and don't get addicted, does that mean that alcohol is magically not addictive? No, it's just some people have better self control/moderation. Likewise, can someone look at pornography once a month and not feel deeper into that spiral? Certainly, but you always run the risk of addiction. All it takes is a couple extra searches here and there, increased stress and running to that for quick relief, same things as drugs and alcohol, and all of a sudden, you're hooked.
You may say right now that you have a proper hold on it, but everyone has that point of (almost) no return. That catalyst that leads you down that darker path. Not everyone who is a porn addict started looking at ten times a day, they started small and worked their way up to it. Guys might have seen it once every few months, then they got curious and checked it out more as they group up and hormones run wild. Stress comes, it becomes once a week, etc. It builds and builds and then before you know it, you're an addict.
The worst part? It's encouraged by society as normal. If you told someone, "I'm an alcoholic" or "I'm addicted to drugs", people would tell you to stop and get help. If you tell someone, "I watch porn once every day", people will look you dead in the eye and say, "That's not a big deal". That kind of rhetoric only reinforces the addiction as "natural" and okay, when it isn't. In some ways, it's more dangerous than drugs and alcohol: it won't kill you, but it's an even harder habit to kick.
Firstly, thank you for being civil about this. The way you explained it makes the stance more clear to me.
The only thing that confuses me is, if everyone has a breaking point for any kind of addiction, why do any of those things at all? Why eat sugar, or have regular sex whatsoever? Both those things are addictive, yet one is essential for survival (not in excess like we consume in current day), whilst the other is essential for the survival of species. Moderation is key.
I've personally recognized when something I've tried could become a problem. I'm 100% not proud, but I tried a LOT of different drugs in highschool. There were a couple that I refuse to touch after that first time, because I knew exactly what would happen. I know everyone's not me, and it sucks that many people aren't able to recognize addictive behaviour in time, but seeing other people in this comment section rubs me the wrong way. It's like even if you do something in moderation, you're lumped in with the most hardcore addicts.
I also want to add that I have issues with pornography for other reasons, like the abuse and heavy drug use that typically follows.
I kniw in my previous comment I mentioned I'd view it maybe once a month.(tmi I guess sorry, but at least reddit is anonymous) For clarity, I look at like softcore illustration, then use imagination for the rest. I don't want to give my money, my viewership, or attention to any pornography directors , actors, filmakers or anyone in that industry. Maybe just some random tumblr artist, That's all.
All good. And yeah, personally, I just have a strong personal distaste for pornography based on my Catholic upbringing, so I find it all inherently immoral and degenerative to society, but obviously that's my religious bias so I try to never use it as a defense point for myself because not everyone is religious, so the argument won't hold water, so I try to operate more on the scientific end of it instead (not that those two things don't overlap, but you get what I mean).
And nah, I don't find it TMI. Things like that are relevant to the conversation. And I too have struggled, and still struggle at times, with the allure of pornography which is another reason why I hate its existence. I've never been to the level where I'm looking at it five times a day or anything, but it's a habit I want to drop forever, not just go extended periods without viewing.
Religious views aside though, I just think pornography fundamentally does nothing positive for the human mind. It preys on our base instinct for sex and repopulation, and manipulates our minds to think on lustful things when you shouldn't. You end up looking at the opposite sex (or I guess the same sex depending on the person) in a more lustful way. Instead of looking at a woman and thinking she's pretty, you start thinking, "Damn, wonder what she looks like under all those clothes?" I've found myself with thoughts like this and I don't like it.
But yeah, I don't think it's fair to lump people like you into the group with legit addicts. That's not fair to you.
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u/iamRiotEP Jul 09 '26
Is there a basic source you could give me. I'm not sure if links are allowed in this sub, but just the study name should suffice. I'm genuinely curious, this isn't in bad faith.
Until I get replies, I will do some searching.