Pornography is taken far too seriously by our society; lust has been demonized into something to feel shameful over. It's been transformed into love's dirty, evil twin.
The fact of the matter is that orgasms and masturbation are fun, not too time consuming, inexpensive sources of fleeting entertainment that, contrary to religious pundits everywhere, do not lead to crushing emotional disorders. Pornography is just a means to an end.
Ask yourself why pornography is worse than any other form of mass media. What about our society makes it so
dirty and
wrong? That's what needs to be 'fixed' about our society -- we don't need crackpot psychologists espousing theories that viewing pornography cripples your capacity for intimacy.
Yes, of course, there are ways that pornography can be taken to extremes -- people can addict themselves to it, just as they can addict themselves to gambling, television, or internet debate forums. People can be objectified and exploited, just like they are on reality television.
As for people cheating on spouses by veiwing porn, I would leave that judgement up to the other spouse. If they feel cheated by their partner using porn, then it is cheating, if they are not bothered by it, and even condone it, then it is not.
I disagree. I think that 'cheating' should be defined by
both partners in an intimate relationship; viewing pornography is certainly not considered cheating in secular society or legal circles. I, for one, would laugh at my partner if he told me looking at porn was like cheating on him. I'd regret it later, but my first reaction would be to chuckle and ask him if he was being serious