Is Porn Inherently Degrading?

[Storm]

OK, first a friendly reminder: this is not the Eros Room, so please keep it PG-13. I didn't post it in the Eros Room because I wanted to get a wider audience.

To be honest, I am not into porn. Frankly, it disgusts me. Not because I'm a prude, but because of its attitude. I've never seen porn that didn't describe its women as b****es, sluts, and/ or whores. I've never seen porn that actually celebrated sexuality.

Which makes me wonder, is porn inherently degrading? Is it possible to make porn that celebrates sexuality as something beautiful and sacred?

What do you think?

Bonus question: does porn degrade men and women equally?

 

[stacey bo bacey]

I think porn is unrealistic. You have all these ugly dudes having sex with (mostly) hot girls....

I can see how it degrades women....but also men. You see that degradation of men more so when you get into fetish stuff, when men WANT to be degraded...

I like porn, though. :bounce

It's hard to find good stuff, though.

 

[Magic Man]

I don't think it's inherently degrading. It can be, but not always. It definitely degrades women more than men, but there is some degrading of men, too. I think the main thing about porn is that it is a way to partake in sex that we probably can't engage in in real life. It is generally going to be a different kind of sex involved. It is fantasies, some of which we might want to act out in real life, some we might not.

 

[Sunstone]

I think it depends on what you mean by "porn". I know that might sound like a cop out, but it's not. To me, genuine porn is a subcategory of erotica distinguished from other erotica by being demeaning or degrading -- so it is demeaning or degrading by definition. But not all erotica is demeaning or degrading.

 

[Storm]

I think it depends on what you mean by "porn". I know that might sound like a cop out, but it's not. To me, genuine porn is a subcategory of erotica distinguished from other erotica by being demeaning or degrading -- so it is demeaning or degrading by definition. But not all erotica is demeaning or degrading.

No, it's not a cop out.

For me, the distinction is artistic merit. Erotica has something to offer besides sexuality, whereas porn is just sex.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

I think erotica has its place and so does porn.

Fascination with porn has to do with the "fantasy" part of it all. People may or may not actually want that stuff to go down in real life, like mball said.

Some people have fetishes they are too afraid or embarrassed to admit. They can get that kind of stimulation and release from porn that caters to their particular fetish.

 

[Storm]

Good point.

 

[Phasmid]

I think it's degrading to those who perform it and to those retched souls who watch it, yet wish they didn't.

 

[3.14]

no porn in not degrading to men only to womans (unless the guy is into anal ofcourse)

 

[Circle_One]

I think it's degrading to those who perform it and to those retched souls who watch it, yet wish they didn't.

What about those of us that aren't ashamed of watching it? Are we still wretched souls and is it still degrading to us?

Personally, I don't think it's inherently degrading at all, if it were, simply because of SOME of the language they use in SOME of the films, then we'd be able to say every movie ever made is degrading.

Besides, just because some people don't like being called a b***ch and a whore while having sex, doesn't mean everyone feels that way. Some women like to have soft, calm, "love-making". Some women like to get slapped around and choked while they're going at it. Are they degraded when it's something they want, something that turns them on?

Also, my own question: If porn IS inherently degrading, are you degraded if you make your own amateur porn flick?

 

[stacey bo bacey]

What about those of us that aren't ashamed of watching it? Are we still wretched souls and is it still degrading to us?

Personally, I don't think it's inherently degrading at all, if it were, simply because of SOME of the language they use in SOME of the films, then we'd be able to say every movie ever made is degrading.

Besides, just because some people don't like being called a b***ch and a whore while having sex, doesn't mean everyone feels that way. Some women like to have soft, calm, "love-making". Some women like to get slapped around and choked while they're going at it. Are they degraded when it's something they want, something that turns them on?

Also, my own question: If porn IS inherently degrading, are you degraded if you make your own amateur porn flick?

Totally agree with all of that. :trampo:

 

[Storm]

Personally, I don't think it's inherently degrading at all, if it were, simply because of SOME of the language they use in SOME of the films, then we'd be able to say every movie ever made is degrading.

It's not just the language that bugs me. The language is just the easiest thing to point out.

Besides, just because some people don't like being called a b***ch and a whore while having sex, doesn't mean everyone feels that way.

I know that.

Some women like to have soft, calm, "love-making". Some women like to get slapped around and choked while they're going at it. Are they degraded when it's something they want, something that turns them on?

I started to say I don't know, but that's not true. Yes, it's degradation, even if they want it. Which raises the question of whether or not degradation is necessarily bad. That, I don't know.

I try to avoid passing judgement on people who get off on degradation. I'm certainly not going to try to force my views on someone else. It's alien to me, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. Still, I can't help but wonder if the fact they get off on it is symptomatic of something unhealthy.

Also, my own question: If porn IS inherently degrading, are you degraded if you make your own amateur porn flick?

IF it is - and that's a big 'if' - then the answer would inescapably be yes.

I'm not arguing either position, though, C1. I don't have an answer. Just wanted to be clear on that.

 

[Darkness]

Besides, just because some people don't like being called a b***ch and a whore while having sex, doesn't mean everyone feels that way. Some women like to have soft, calm, "love-making". Some women like to get slapped around and choked while they're going at it. Are they degraded when it's something they want, something that turns them on?

I enjoy being hit.

You could equally make the case that men are objectified in porn. You only see penises, never the man's face, like you do with the girls. Naturally, there are many poor girls who were drawn into this sex industry, who do not belong there, but there is corruption in everything.

 

[Storm]

You could equally make the case that men are objectified in porn. You only see penises, never the man's face, like you do with the girls.

You're right.

Naturally, there are many poor girls who were drawn into this sex industry, who do not belong there, but there is corruption in everything.

Yeah, same for prostitution. I don't really want to get into that here, though.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

I started to say I don't know, but that's not true. Yes, it's degradation, even if they want it. Which raises the question of whether or not degradation is necessarily bad. That, I don't know.

I try to avoid passing judgement on people who get off on degradation. I'm certainly not going to try to force my views on someone else. It's alien to me, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. Still, I can't help but wonder if the fact they get off on it is symptomatic of something unhealthy.

Hmm, I'm trying to think if it's bad, too.

I don't think so because this stuff happening is usually within the confines of a trusting relationship. A woman may ask her partner to choke her, pull her hair forcefully or call her names, yea...but why? Is it because we as humans have a morbid side that we like to indulge sexually? For some, I think that's definitely the case. People can do that because they trust their partner.

I don't think we should be afraid or ashamed of what turns us on. Obviously that does have some limits like killing or molesting someone in order to get off.

 

[Father Heathen]

OK, first a friendly reminder: this is not the Eros Room, so please keep it PG-13. I didn't post it in the Eros Room because I wanted to get a wider audience.

To be honest, I am not into porn. Frankly, it disgusts me. Not because I'm a prude, but because of its attitude. I've never seen porn that didn't describe its women as b****es, sluts, and/ or whores. I've never seen porn that actually celebrated sexuality.

Which makes me wonder, is porn inherently degrading? Is it possible to make porn that celebrates sexuality as something beautiful and sacred?

What do you think?

Bonus question: does porn degrade men and women equally?

While a lot of it is degrading (which is probably exactly why some find it appealing), not all of it is. It depends on the particular works in question.

 

[Father Heathen]

Also, my own question: If porn IS inherently degrading, are you degraded if you make your own amateur porn flick?

We'll have to watch in order to make that assessment. :sarcastic

 

[stacey bo bacey]

We'll have to watch in order to make that assessment. :sarcastic

Hahahahah hehehhe.

 

[Worshipper]

Erotica has something to offer besides sexuality, whereas porn is just sex.

What does erotica offer besides sexuality?

But assuming that an artwork that offers nothing beyond sex is pornography, can you not think of any such artwork that wouldn't be degrading?

Part of me wants to issue a challenge to you to create some artwork (textual, visual, whatever) that is just about sex but that is not degrading. You can post it in the Eros Room. If you succeed, then it proves that porn is not inherently degrading.

 

[Storm]

What does erotica offer besides sexuality?

Depends on the erotica.

But assuming that an artwork that offers nothing beyond sex is pornography, can you not think of any such artwork that wouldn't be degrading?

I can imagine it. I've never seen any, though.

Part of me wants to issue a challenge to you to create some artwork (textual, visual, whatever) that is just about sex but that is not degrading. You can post it in the Eros Room. If you succeed, then it proves that porn is not inherently degrading.

You're awfully hung up on a side issue of semantics. Is there a reason you're harping on my definitions rather than actually addressing the question?