FlippED: Is It Ok To Watch Porn? Our Bloggers Argue

FlippED is an ED Original style wherein two bloggers come together to share their opposing or orthogonal perspectives on an interesting subject.

The word pornography has been derived from the Greek porni (prostitute) and graphein (to write) initially meaning any work of art or literature depicting the life of prostitutes. Now it is just magazines or video clips with sexually explicit content. 

Now, a lot of us watch porn. Given that you are reading this article, you must have come across such a film at some point of your life. But even if you haven’t, it will give you an idea of what to expect and what is outrightly whimsical. 

 People are obviously entitled to their opinions, particularly in a country like India and regarding a topic like pornography. However, questions like—‘is it normal to watch porn’ have not stopped marauding innocent teenagers who are anyway confused about this new phase of their lives. 

So we decided to ask our bloggers, let’s see what they think is better—porn or no porn?

Blogger Prerna’s Opinion—

Why Is Porn Not Okay?

With the internet being so easily accessible to all at minimal to no price, its misuse has also increased exponentially. From kids to teens, young adults to adults, everyone has access to sexual content through various mediums like television, books, magazines, and the internet more than it ever has been. 

One of the many reasons which make watching porn not okay is that it creates unrealistic expectations of sexual intercourse. People expect that their partners would perform the same way as the actors in the video. 

Many of the pornographic content focuses on sexual acts rather than emotional connectivity, bond, and trust. Porn videos should not be considered instructional or a way to learn about how to have sex. In a way, these kinds of videos affect the teenagers or young people who are watching them as it does not prepare them to be responsible in relationships. 

Exposure to such kind of content to the younger internet users may leave a harmful impression on them. Many porn sites consist of videos that feature violence and illegal things such as child pornography.

Moreover, in porn, we almost always see idealized images. Actors and models are usually chosen based on their attractiveness. Many of them have undergone surgeries to make their bodies look perfect, and the videos appear flawless by editing. After all, they are but selling this act up there. 

Many pornographic sites have no regulation on the content that is posted on their sites as well. Pornography may include images of forced sex, rape, sexual violence, non-consensual sex, and degrading acts portrayed as enjoyable. All of this is quite disrespectful. Neither should such criminal acts be encouraged nor should they be posted on any site.

Also Read: Why Did Pornhub Delete More Than 10 Million Videos Off Its Site?

Blogger Soumyaseema’s Views—

Why Is Watching Porn Not A Big Deal?

First of all, many of us do watch porn, more than what the stigma related to the very word would make you think. Also, it’s free! And you know us Indians, right? We love things that come without a price. 

But on a serious note, it is a safe space to explore the concept of sexuality without any social commentary or uninvited judgments. You are also allowed to explore kinks and make discoveries that would not have been possible otherwise. 

Second of all, it normalizes sexual encounters for many young adults who have very little knowledge about sexual behaviours. Although it cannot serve as a textbook because it is far from reality, it does have some semblance to the biological act of sexual intercourse.

Third, there are many teenagers and adults, for that matter, who may not have gotten a chance to have sex yet or cannot seem to have a meaningless one-night stand. Believe me or not, porn then becomes your only way to satiate that burning desire for intimacy (sic).

Although there is evidence of porn triggering sexual addiction, it can also help those couples who are a little slow off the mark in their sexual experience. 

Fourth, and the most significant reason—according to me—is its ability to relieve stress—a common benefit of all sexual activities. But, hey, that’s not just a horny teenager speaking! Recent research by Carnegie Mellon University has proven that even looking at pictures of such sort can help to assuage stress. 

A significant reason for porn to exist is the societal and governmental prejudice against relationships beyond the gender binary.

Now, as advocates of their freedom to express and enjoy their sexuality,  we have to accept that porn is their only respite at times.

That is their only niche in most situations, especially in a country like India, where there is an awkward silence from parents in the name of sex education and a stigma towards most such relationships for some reason or the other. 

Having said that, the negative effects of porn should not be underestimated. The detrimental effects on mental and physical health from prolonged and continuous exposure to pornography are nothing new.

With ethical porn still trying hard to find its audience base, most of the free porn available to us can include images from forced sex or sexual violence. 

Therefore, as we bloggers argue what is okay and what is not, it is surely a matter of viewers’ discretion depending on their physical, mental, and emotional needs and desires. 

Image Credits: Google Images

Sources: Blogger’s Own Opinions

Find The Blogger: @soumyaseema

The post is tagged under: pornography, prostitutes, television, books, magazines, the internet, unrealistic expectations, emotional connectivity, bond, and trust, exposure, violence, illegal things, child pornography, idealized images, forced sex, rape, sexual violence, non-consensual sex, and degrading acts, sexual encounters, teenagers and adults, meaningless, one-night stand, porn triggering sexual addiction, little slow off the mark in their sexual experience, stress, Carnegie Mellon University, societal and governmental prejudice against relationships beyond the gender binary, freedom to express and enjoy their sexuality, awkward silence, sex education and stigma, pornography, audience base, most free porn, forced sex, sexual violence, viewers’ discretion, physical, mental, emotional needs

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