Why is There Such a Fascination with Porn?

[horizon_mj1]

In psychology courses you are taught about the Id (http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html) which explains how a human (or any animal for that matter) will do what it takes to assure the survival or not only the self, but the entire species as well. Sigmund Freud’s concept was introduced over a century ago, but is still widely accepted today, why? A century is a very long time for psychological concepts to evolve, but this is one of the most prevalent excuses for people to participate in such activities as pornography. Our society complains of our children having sex at much younger ages and raising the population in which in turn is killing the very planet in which we depend to live (if you even try to argue this point, please don’t with me, you will not change my mind; it is what it is and facts are facts), yet we choose to assure that innocence is annihilated with a simple introduction to media. I would like to know why it is people find it ok to sit and watch something like that, yet they wouldn’t stand in front of their parents or more than likely anyone else for that matter and watch in person. IMO this fascination is rooted more in the aspect of an analogy a child finding burping and farting fascinating, after all these are bodily functions as well. I agree that parents need to take a dominate role in assuring their children are properly informed, but there is no way that a parent can control their child’s thoughts or actions throughout their entire life, nor are they responsible for that child when the legal age of adulthood is reached. It does not take a trained psychologist to see the logic behind how excessive visual and vocal ideologies will impact a person’s thought process, but this is ignored. Is it that people like to have something to complain about, that people like being uneducated and would rather choose to indulge in something that you really do not have to use the brain too much, keeping society far away from their full potential (laziness), or is it that people really aren’t as “dominate” in that region of life? I am placing this in general religious debates due to many people’s morality basis being rooted in religion.

 

[Zoe Doidge]

I don't see that it matters what age people are having sex with regard to overpopulation. If it's a problem then you need a solution which reduces reproduction across the board.

But regardless, the reason people watch porn is fairly simple. It provides something we desire. Usually mental stimulation for sexual fantasies, but could also just be for ideas or if you're young maybe even just to learn about what happens during sex.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Everything taken as taboo is put on a pedestal.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Why is There Such a Fascination with Porn?

As far as we can tell people have always found sex "Interesting".
We know that the Romans thought it perfectly normal and respectable to have Pictures of people copulating in both their public and private rooms.

The Idea that sex is "Private" is a modern concept. As is the idea that it is something that should be kept from the gaze of the young.

Who today would have their favourite porn photographs enlarged framed and hung on their reception room wall, in the same way they might put an action picture of a favourite film star or sportsman.

 

[horizon_mj1]

I don't see that it matters what age people are having sex with regard to overpopulation. If it's a problem then you need a solution which reduces reproduction across the board.

But regardless, the reason people watch porn is fairly simple. It provides something we desire. Usually mental stimulation for sexual fantasies, but could also just be for ideas or if you're young maybe even just to learn about what happens during sex.

RightI completely understand that. When I use pornography in respect to over-population, we are just showing our children that sex is ok and anything goes instead of being truthful and showing the possible implications as well. I am not young, I am middle aged with 4 children (two biological, the oldest being 18) and am quite happy to say that two of them are disgusted as well with how sex is portrayed in the media (examples, Lady Gaga, advertisements in which people are extremely under-dressed). Being a person who is quite aware of these ideas and actions, I also am aware that some problems need more than one solution.

 

[horizon_mj1]

Why is There Such a Fascination with Porn?

As far as we can tell people have always found sex "Interesting".
We know that the Romans thought it perfectly normal and respectable to have Pictures of people copulating in both their public and private rooms.

The Idea that sex is "Private" is a modern concept. As is the idea that it is something that should be kept from the gaze of the young.

Who today would have their favorite porn photographs enlarged framed and hung on their reception room wall, in the same way they might put an action picture of a favorite film star or sportsman.

I agree in part. Just because one culture chose to make sex publicly acceptable, does not make it norm throughout all cultures. Where I live, you would be nuts to think you could keep the concept of sex from children (in farm and wooded regions animals choose to copulate wherever they feel like it; this being something IMO we should separate ourselves from and show some pride in being the dominate species). I think it depends on the person and the industry in which they work to determine what type of picture they might hang in their reception hall, what some people do surprises us all at times

 

[Zoe Doidge]

RightI completely understand that. When I use pornography in respect to over-population, we are just showing our children that sex is ok and anything goes instead of being truthful and showing the possible implications as well. I am not young, I am middle aged with 4 children (two biological, the oldest being 18) and am quite happy to say that two of them are disgusted as well with how sex is portrayed in the media (examples, Lady Gaga, advertisements in which people are extremely under-dressed). Being a person who is quite aware of these ideas and actions, I also am aware that some problems need more than one solution.

Sex "is" ok, as long as people are informed about the potential risks of it. But it is not for advertisers to show the problems with sex, that's for parents and teachers to deal with.

Whenever something is taboo there's always going to be a certain amount of rebellion, especially from the younger generation.

 

[Riverwolf]

Why is There Such a Fascination with Porn?

As far as we can tell people have always found sex "Interesting".
We know that the Romans thought it perfectly normal and respectable to have Pictures of people copulating in both their public and private rooms.

The Idea that sex is "Private" is a modern concept. As is the idea that it is something that should be kept from the gaze of the young.

Who today would have their favourite porn photographs enlarged framed and hung on their reception room wall, in the same way they might put an action picture of a favourite film star or sportsman.

Got one better!

There's at least one (likely more) Temple in India which has a picture (not graffiti) on the outside wall of Shiva... "pleasuring" one of his consorts. :yes:

 

[Twig pentagram]

S-e-x.

 

[Random]

Everything taken as taboo is put on a pedestal.

This, exactly. As above So below, the lowest and least is made the highest and greatest; and vice versa.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I think it's a fact that there are people out there who are so culturally and socially programmed, that sex and sexual related activities have in essense been artificially made out to be overly terrible, contaminating, and harmful of which, as some view as, irrevocably damaging and destructive concerning ones "innocence and purity" and/or "the social moral fabric of society"* and therefore prompts and drives some people to tightly control and consequently hold back their own normal urges to such a point** that the natural "release" becomes unaturally squelched. One has to wonder at people who later get puzzled and wonder why all the resulting problems and issues concerning sex and related activities surface without realizing that actually they have been the actual cause of much of the problems all along by instituting the catalyst for it.

Bottom line is that people for the most part are sexual and as such, naturally like to feel good, admire, watch, and to be admired and watched for the most part, so Its no real suprise that porn fills a very natural and normal need, and allows a reasonably safe channel of release that for some folks may otherwise not be so easy to come by for one reason or another.

Yet like anything else that affects our impulses, there are of course un-healthy extremes*** to which Education through frank honesty and forewardness can properly address such matters. Especially when informing young people who may not as privy to this as in comparism to those who are more experienced, and can point out the benefits and pitfalls of such things.

*Just what is that supposed to be any way?
** Try holding back your natural urge to go to the toilet. I Dare ya! :O)
***Addiction, jealousy , disease, forced acts without consent, immaturity, proper caution exercised around strangers, unmindfulness. Just to name a few.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Why is there such a fascination with people pretending that natural human drives and behaviors don't apply to them?

 

[Vinayaka]

Just to point out that this is just a generalisation. I (and many others) am not fascinated with porn. Looks pretty boring to me.

 

[Riverwolf]

Just to point out that this is just a generalisation. I (and many others) am not fascinated with porn. Looks pretty boring to me.

Straight porn is quite boring.

 

[horizon_mj1]

Several good takes here (TY). I agree that sex is (and this being a fact, inarguable) is a natural part of life. What I find to be unnatural is the obsession with it. Nowhere man made a few really good points, one in which I would like to elaborate, and that is the brutal honesty that is needed to properly educate children so they can understand this natural process a little better and maybe give them more to go on when making a decision when placed in certain circumstances. I in no way believe that porn should be outlawed (everyone has right to do what they wish IMO), but I do feel that through media advertisements, the portrayal of sex is so wrong. I find it sad that there are people in this world who cannot find happiness without doing whatever it takes to grab people's attention; this being the attitude IMO that needs to be changed. What ever happened to grabbing attention by just being a decent person (I know, I know, that doesn't mean anything anymore, it money or sex, but it is a shame it does not).

 

[horizon_mj1]

S-e-x.

Right a natural process such as scratching your but if it is itchy

 

[Me Myself]

RightI completely understand that. When I use pornography in respect to over-population, we are just showing our children that sex is ok and anything goes instead of being truthful and showing the possible implications as well. I am not young, I am middle aged with 4 children (two biological, the oldest being 18) and am quite happy to say that two of them are disgusted as well with how sex is portrayed in the media (examples, Lady Gaga, advertisements in which people are extremely under-dressed). Being a person who is quite aware of these ideas and actions, I also am aware that some problems need more than one solution.

The problem is not the amount of media display of sex, but the scarcity of media display on how to do it responsably and of parental education on such issue.

I would completely disagree that it is bad for sex to have wide media coverage. It is a part of life, and a part of life that has naturaly intrested humanity for as long as we reproduce ( ) if we treated it any differently, people would emotionally feel the cheating and unwanted pregnancies would rise I asure you.

 

[Skwim]

horizon_mj1,

I probably haven't seen more than one or two of people excusing their interest in pornography, either making or viewing it. So I have to ask what your source is for claiming "this [the id] is one of the most prevalent excuses for people to participate in such activities as pornography"?

 

[horizon_mj1]

horizon_mj1,

I probably haven't seen more than one or two of people excusing their interest in pornography, either making or viewing it. So I have to ask what your source is for claiming "this [the id] is one of the most prevalent excuses for people to participate in such activities as pornography"?

You have never heard the old saying "we're nothing but a bunch of animals anyway"? Unfortunately I have heard this way too many times and several of those times were in reference to the why of the porn question.

 

[JacobEzra.]

I always thought it was so fascinating, because it is [usually] hot