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Views on Pornography

AHindu

New Member
I am a 14 Year old Hindu and I live in overseas. Unfortunately, I started watching pornography. It started by watching Google Images of erotic images, then I started trying to find Female celebrities nude. After that, I've heard about pornography and started looking up for it in the internet and ever since I started watching it, I could not stop watching it. I am a firm believer in God so I tried many times to stop so that I would not damage my relationship with him but I end up going back there. Any wise person here, please advise me if there is anything wrong in watching pornography(hardcore/soft core) and if it is common in my age and please tell me if it is attached with bad Karma. Thank you in advance.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
I don't know that I'm wise but here are some thoughts. First, I too have had issues with porn so I know it's a hard thing to stop watching. I think it is common at your age or indeed for many males no matter what their age.

I am not wise enough to know what Karma is involved, but I suspect that there is that would need to be worked out.

Even the sant/mahapurush have had to deal with temptation so you are dealing with one of the fundamental problems of being human.

I don't know if this would work for you or not, but one possibility is to do anything else even for 5 minutes when the urge comes over you. And even if you can just wait for a minute today, perhaps you can wait 2 minutes next week. Over time the "muscle" of self-control will get stronger.

Others might have better suggestions.
 

Terese

Mangalam Pundarikakshah
Staff member
Premium Member
Hello AHindu! :D I don't believe pornography will damage your relationship with God. Pornography isn't as bad as people say, but if you can't stop watching, you might have an addiction to it, which isn't super good. It is very easy to obtain good and bad karma. If you offer God some mantras, he will be very pleased with your effort, and help you go along your spiritual path. It's quite hard for a 14 year old boy to control his urges, and i suggest not to feel too bad about it. If you don't think about God more than you do pornography, that would be a wonderful step to take :)
 

Valjean

Veteran Member
Premium Member
welcome to RF, Hindu.

I don't think your "relationship to God" has anything to do with pornography. That's not to say pornography, like any obsession, can't be problematic.

Question: Where is "overseas?" -- Google Earth can't find it.
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
Though there is nothing inherently wrong with pron, one must still have some caution. Porn, contrary to the claims of many theists, reduces crime such as rape. It can be habit forming. It might help to realize that what you see is not realistic. The women you see are heavily made up and quite often surgically altered. Not just their breasts, implants in lips and butts are quite popular too. To help you see this here is a video of porn stars in and out of makeup, don't worry, there is no nudity in this video:


You will also not tend to find women that jump at the drop of a hat into bed. Yes, women enjoy sex too, but they tend to have much more sense than the actors in porno movies have.

If you watch it remember that it is a fantasy. It is not real. And too much can give you false expectations.
 

SomeRandom

Still learning to be wise
Staff member
Premium Member
Well I ain't wise.
But as long as you recognise that porn is make believe and relationships don't work like that, then fine. 14 year olds pretty much live off porn lol. It's perfectly normal so long as you don't let it dictate your life. Hindu deities are rather sexually liberated (at least with some interpretations.) porn is a part of life and I doubt you're accumulating bad karma simply for watching/enjoying it.
 

sayak83

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
I am a 14 Year old Hindu and I live in overseas. Unfortunately, I started watching pornography. It started by watching Google Images of erotic images, then I started trying to find Female celebrities nude. After that, I've heard about pornography and started looking up for it in the internet and ever since I started watching it, I could not stop watching it. I am a firm believer in God so I tried many times to stop so that I would not damage my relationship with him but I end up going back there. Any wise person here, please advise me if there is anything wrong in watching pornography(hardcore/soft core) and if it is common in my age and please tell me if it is attached with bad Karma. Thank you in advance.
Nothing wrong if it's a legal source with the actors are consensual adults. Second, realize that it's a form of acting, not reality. Third, keep it in moderation. If that is not happening, i. e. you are watching multiple hours per day on a regular basis, please seek some expert advice, as it will adversely affect your studies, other hobbies, playing time etc. Do you have sex education classes at school?That would be a good resource.

Otherwise, it's fine. You are a teenager. Attraction to sexuality is very very normal. It's bad to feel guilty of it or repress it. Just don't act in ways that hurt yourself or others (like future girlfriends) and it will be fine with God as well. Look up what adolescent Krishna was doing with the village girls and you shall see.

Best.
 

Laika

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I am a 14 Year old Hindu and I live in overseas. Unfortunately, I started watching pornography. It started by watching Google Images of erotic images, then I started trying to find Female celebrities nude. After that, I've heard about pornography and started looking up for it in the internet and ever since I started watching it, I could not stop watching it. I am a firm believer in God so I tried many times to stop so that I would not damage my relationship with him but I end up going back there. Any wise person here, please advise me if there is anything wrong in watching pornography(hardcore/soft core) and if it is common in my age and please tell me if it is attached with bad Karma. Thank you in advance.

Hey AHindu, welcome to RF. :)

Yes. it is common for someone who is 14 to have an interest in sex. (off hand I think I started having sexual fantasies around that age and maybe a bit earlier, possibly age 12). I can't speak for Hindus, but living in a predominantly christian culture there are a large number of taboos round sexuality as a source of guilt, shame and anxiety. This is not conducive to either a person's mental well-being, happiness or sexual fulfilment.

Crudely speaking, sexual attraction is a chemical process in the body and basically those chemicals will be burned off somehow. typically accepting sexual desire is healthier than trying to repress it. So if you're masturbating, that's ok. you will probably be fine until your older and ready to explore having actual relationships.

I'm not really able to give you any advice on the theological side as to how it relates to your relationship with God, but we do have the Hindu DIR to discuss individual religions (hence "DIR") and someone may be able to give you some advice there. :)
 

AHindu

New Member
Thank you all for taking time to address my problem. I will post this problem again in the Hindu DIR and see what they reply.
 

bobhikes

Nondetermined
Premium Member
Porn itself is not a problem but anything that consumes you, that you can not control that is a problem. Try and control it, take a week off if you are fighting with yourself over this break, try to discover why. You do not want to be addicted.
 

Shiranui117

Pronounced Shee-ra-noo-ee
Premium Member
I am a 14 Year old Hindu and I live in overseas. Unfortunately, I started watching pornography. It started by watching Google Images of erotic images, then I started trying to find Female celebrities nude. After that, I've heard about pornography and started looking up for it in the internet and ever since I started watching it, I could not stop watching it. I am a firm believer in God so I tried many times to stop so that I would not damage my relationship with him but I end up going back there. Any wise person here, please advise me if there is anything wrong in watching pornography(hardcore/soft core) and if it is common in my age and please tell me if it is attached with bad Karma. Thank you in advance.
First, you have my respect for posting this on a public forum. Not many are brave like that.

At least in America and other Western countries, watching porn is a very common thing. Since it's so common, many (especially those who have no religion) will say that it is natural and that there's nothing wrong with this. I may tell you from a religiously conservative standpoint what my opinions (and the teachings of my religion) are on the subject, but it's up to you to decide if you have an actual addiction to pornography.
rel
You might want to look at Your Brain On Porn and see the science behind this. If you spend a lot of time looking at porn, you may find yourself having a more difficult time viewing members of the opposite sex in a healthy way. You may start to objectify them and find your thinking more perverted.
Another very helpful video for you to get a handle on what's happening to your brain and how to stop a porn addiction:

If you think you have an addiction, several things may help you:
1: Prayer. This can help renew your motivation to kick the habit, and getting blessings from your God/s (I don't know your exact religious views) is always a plus.
2: Finding someone (a friend, a family member, a religious teacher, etc.) that you can trust to keep you accountable as you get rid of the habit. This person should be able to both encourage you and give you helpful advice.
3: Finding a good group of friends and family to be social with. Many people watch pornography out of a certain sense of loneliness, so if you spend time with friends and family, you can satisfy your human need for social contact and companionship.
4: Find creative outlets for your energy. Paint, draw, work out, write, do woodworking, practice martial arts, something which you can make or improve yourself in.

Finally, welcome to RF!
 

Tmac

Active Member
I am a 14 Year old Hindu and I live in overseas. Unfortunately, I started watching pornography. It started by watching Google Images of erotic images, then I started trying to find Female celebrities nude. After that, I've heard about pornography and started looking up for it in the internet and ever since I started watching it, I could not stop watching it. I am a firm believer in God so I tried many times to stop so that I would not damage my relationship with him but I end up going back there. Any wise person here, please advise me if there is anything wrong in watching pornography(hardcore/soft core) and if it is common in my age and please tell me if it is attached with bad Karma. Thank you in advance.

Why do you think that there is something wrong?
 

BSM1

What? Me worry?
I am a 14 Year old Hindu and I live in overseas. Unfortunately, I started watching pornography. It started by watching Google Images of erotic images, then I started trying to find Female celebrities nude. After that, I've heard about pornography and started looking up for it in the internet and ever since I started watching it, I could not stop watching it. I am a firm believer in God so I tried many times to stop so that I would not damage my relationship with him but I end up going back there. Any wise person here, please advise me if there is anything wrong in watching pornography(hardcore/soft core) and if it is common in my age and please tell me if it is attached with bad Karma. Thank you in advance.


It won't kill you...
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
I am a 14 Year old Hindu and I live in overseas. Unfortunately, I started watching pornography. It started by watching Google Images of erotic images, then I started trying to find Female celebrities nude.
You sound like normal teenaged male. From a health perspective, it would be potentially more concerning if you weren't sexually interested and curious. And there is nothing wrong with porn, provided it's legal and consensual, and as long as you realize it is a fantasy and remember that fantasy is not reality, and also realize that porn is not suitable a source to learn about sex. It's an indulgent fantasy and outlet. Nothing unfortunate or something to be ashamed of.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
I don't think it's unusual or "wrong" for a 14 year old to be somewhat fascinated by pornography, especially if they have been raised in a very 'closed' environment regarding human sexuality. In fact, I would suggest that you may gain from it in terms of educational value.

However, that being said I think you also need to be aware of the dangers involved. And that, mostly, comes from the fact that what you are seeing are images created to be sold, for money. They are not "real" events taking place. They are staged. And "real" people do not behave the way they are depicted behaving in porn movies and live internet feeds. If you do not understand this, you may adopt behaviors that will get you into a lot of difficulty and discord with other people in real life.

Also, keep in mind that there is a reasonable negative stigma attached to the porn industry as it is not far removed from prostitution. And prostitution is a very ugly and damaging form of human commerce as it's a grossly exploitive and humiliating activity for humans to be engaged in.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
And prostitution is a very ugly and damaging form of human commerce as it's a grossly exploitive and humiliating activity for humans to be engaged in.
You have a point if you are referring strictly to "street walkers" working for a pimp. However, I've read the accounts of several self-employed "call girls" and they often disagree with such a statement. One I read even stated she felt more empowered by her experiences, and found it easier to say no and stand firmly behind it.
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
You have a point if you are referring strictly to "street walkers" working for a pimp. However, I've read the accounts of several self-employed "call girls" and they often disagree with such a statement. One I read even stated she felt more empowered by her experiences, and found it easier to say no and stand firmly behind it.

I heard a talk, I think it may have been a TED Talk, by a prostitute that advocated for deregulation and not legalization. The fact that prostitution is illegal creates the need for pimps for many prostitutes. She was obviously against criminalization of prostitution. But she was not for legalization either. She was for deregulation.

Hah! Found the video:

 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
I heard a talk, I think it may have been a TED Talk, by a prostitute that advocated for deregulation and not legalization. The fact that prostitution is illegal creates the need for pimps for many prostitutes. She was obviously against criminalization of prostitution. But she was not for legalization either. She was for deregulation.

Hah! Found the video:

It's definitely not the concrete "black and white" issue people want it to be. Laws banning prostitution essentially take away one's choice to do with themselves as they please. It's not something I'd want, but I see no reason for telling someone that lawfully they cannot make money from selling their bodies for sex if it is what they want. Granted there are also other issues often found (such as a perception of skilllessness or financial desperation), and sometimes it is even slavery. But, at the same time, it can also be viewed as an issue of public health in regards to STIs and creating laws for mandatory screenings (of both worker and client).
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
It's definitely not the concrete "black and white" issue people want it to be. Laws banning prostitution essentially take away one's choice to do with themselves as they please. It's not something I'd want, but I see no reason for telling someone that lawfully they cannot make money from selling their bodies for sex if it is what they want. Granted there are also other issues often found (such as a perception of skilllessness or financial desperation), and sometimes it is even slavery. But, at the same time, it can also be viewed as an issue of public health in regards to STIs and creating laws for mandatory screenings (of both worker and client).


I agree, there is no easy fix for this problem. Decriminalization may be what the prostitutes would want the most, and it would end a good deal of the harmful practices that we see, but then the problem of keeping STI's in check becomes rather serious. Too many men will pay extra for a prostitute to allow them not to use protection. Granted, condoms are not ideal from a male point of view. They limit sensitivity. But they are far better than picking up what could easily be a life threatening disease. The one thing that decriminalization might do is to make it more difficult for people to abuse children by forcing them into the sex trade. There would be more competition from prostitutes of legal age, since informed consent requires a person to be at least old enough so that they can theoretically understand the risks that they are taking, child prostitution will still be illegal. But that is another whole ugly bucket of worms.
 
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