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In our 5th-Sunday combined RS/PH meeting yesterday, we were treated to a guest instructor who shared some staggering statistics and facts on "punography." I would type "pornography," but that's not what she said. No, our lesson was on punography. I spent the first 5 minutes of the class wondering how someone whose profession it is to deal with punograhpy hasn't taken the time to learn how to properly pronounce the word (she is a counselor/social worker for LDS Family Services, or something to that effect), but then she started throwing out "facts", and she had my attention:
1) Punograhpy is a 15-billion-year industry, which is larger than pro sports and movies combined.
2) In the last 12 months, punography revenues have dipped by 80% (12 billion dollars? Really?). Why? Because of the economy. Wrong--the economy has had nothing to do with it. It's because people are filming/photographing their own punography on their smart phones, and sending it via text message.
3) The research and implementation of the technology for smart phones, high-definition televisions and programming, internet message boards, internet chat rooms, and web cams was all subsidized primarily by the punograhpy industry.
4) People aren't using facebook to reconnect with old friends. They are pretending to reconnect with old friends so they can seek out sexual partners.
5) Marriage-age kids don't date anymore, because they are getting their sexual needs filled via punograhpy. Most RMs aren't getting married because they would rather watch pornography.
There was more, but those were all the notes I could take on my punography-subsidized smartphone before I completely tuned the lady out.
While I in no way doubt the negative effects pornography can and does have on individuals who view it, I was pretty amazed at how many blanket statements this "expert" threw out there. I was even more amazed that our entire stake presidency was present, and none of them even batted an eye. Am I really supposed to believe that a 15-billion dollar a year industry took a 12-billion dollar dip in the last year because people are texting nudie pics to each other? 12 billion dollars worth? Really?
In short, I was not so put off that we were having a lesson on the evils of pornography, but that so many anecdotal examples were shared, and offered as, not only the normal result, but the only result. Also, I feel like a loOser, because I have used facebook for 18 months, and have yet to be solicited for extramarital relations (except by HFN, but i'm not gay, so I don't really count that one).
1) Punograhpy is a 15-billion-year industry, which is larger than pro sports and movies combined.
2) In the last 12 months, punography revenues have dipped by 80% (12 billion dollars? Really?). Why? Because of the economy. Wrong--the economy has had nothing to do with it. It's because people are filming/photographing their own punography on their smart phones, and sending it via text message.
3) The research and implementation of the technology for smart phones, high-definition televisions and programming, internet message boards, internet chat rooms, and web cams was all subsidized primarily by the punograhpy industry.
4) People aren't using facebook to reconnect with old friends. They are pretending to reconnect with old friends so they can seek out sexual partners.
5) Marriage-age kids don't date anymore, because they are getting their sexual needs filled via punograhpy. Most RMs aren't getting married because they would rather watch pornography.
There was more, but those were all the notes I could take on my punography-subsidized smartphone before I completely tuned the lady out.
While I in no way doubt the negative effects pornography can and does have on individuals who view it, I was pretty amazed at how many blanket statements this "expert" threw out there. I was even more amazed that our entire stake presidency was present, and none of them even batted an eye. Am I really supposed to believe that a 15-billion dollar a year industry took a 12-billion dollar dip in the last year because people are texting nudie pics to each other? 12 billion dollars worth? Really?
In short, I was not so put off that we were having a lesson on the evils of pornography, but that so many anecdotal examples were shared, and offered as, not only the normal result, but the only result. Also, I feel like a loOser, because I have used facebook for 18 months, and have yet to be solicited for extramarital relations (except by HFN, but i'm not gay, so I don't really count that one).
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