Does porn = adultery?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Regardless of where one stands on the question (yea, even irregardless) this is a fascinating discussion:

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/print.../adultery-porn

Sample quote:

This point of view—that looking at pornography is a “perfectly normal” activity, one that the more-judgmental third of women need to just stop whining about—has been strengthened by the erosion of the second-order arguments against the use of porn, especially the argument that it feeds misogyny and encourages rape. In the great porn debates of the 1980s, arguments linking porn to violence against women were advanced across the ideological spectrum. Feminist crusaders like Andrea Dworkin and Catharine MacKinnon denounced smut as a weapon of the patriarchy; the Christian radio psychologist (and future religious-right fixture) James Dobson induced the serial killer Ted Bundy to confess on death row to a pornography addiction; the Meese Commission on Pornography declared, “In both clinical and experimental settings, exposure to sexually violent materials has indicated an increase in the likelihood of aggression.” It all sounded plausible—but between 1980 and 2004, an era in which porn became more available, and in more varieties, the rate of reported sexual violence dropped, and by 85 percent. Correlation isn’t necessarily causation, but the sharpness of the decline at least suggests that porn may reduce sexual violence, by providing an outlet for some potential sex offenders. (Indeed, the best way to deter a rapist might be to hook him up with a high-speed Internet connection: in a 2006 study, the Clemson economist Todd Kendall found that a 10 percent increase in Internet access is associated with a 7 percent decline in reported rapes.)

85% decrease in sexual violence? That's amazing.

[SeattleUte]

Your quote IS fascinating (though it lacks some credibilty coming from the Atlantic, which seems to me to specialize in high brow sensationalism). But I don't see anything in there on adultery.

[Mormon Red Death]

In the words of an esteemed poster here: "This thread is worthless without pictures"

[Jeff Lebowski]

But I don't see anything in there on adultery.

You have to read the article for that. I think the author does a decent job of balancing both viewpoints on that particular question. There is not really a single quote that would fairly summarize the discussion.

[Sleeping in EQ]

Porn and adultery are definitely not the same.

[RobinFinderson]

I have developed from being an anti-porn feminist, marching with the girls of Voice at Take Back the Night rallies to being a pro-porn feminist who sees porn as one of the most important expressions and disseminators of sexual culture and diversity.

But I'm on a school computer between classes, so I will save my thoughts for some other place and time.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Porn and adultery are definitely not the same.

I would be interested to read more detailed comments from you on the article. Given your background, I think you would be the expert on the topic (speaking from an academic viewpoint of course).

[landpoke]

I remember going to the library repeatedly to pour over the findings of the Meese commission. Heady stuff for an early to mid teen boy.

[DNA]

Porn and adultery are definitely not the same.

I totally agree with you but there are sure a lot of people running around that I know.....especially wives..... that think it is. Interesting balance article though.

[SeattleUte]

It's more than a little sickening to read the facts detailed in the opening paragraph of the linked article. Too bad the guy couldn't find better things to do with his time, and I can see why the expense would cause marital distress.

But I see only one considerable moral argument against pornography: The industry involves rampant exploitation by men of a more vulnerable element of society--a segment of attractive women who have (maybe because of outsized emphasis on looks in our soiciety and their backgrounds) little else going for them than their looks. But you could argue something similar in varying degrees about many industries, including farming.

I don't think pornography is adultery. I think you could argue it is as likely to prevent adultery as cause it. But I think mostly it's irrelevant.

Adultery occurs where there is dissatisfaction with the intimate relationship in marriage, and opportunity. In the case of men at least (who seem to be sexually hard wired somewhat differently than women), pornography seems more likely to occur where the dissatisfaction exists but opportunity is lacking. I don't think men who are happy with their real sex lives are too interested in pornography.

The notion of women being "objectified" is not without merits, but I think it's a little quaint and overly simplistic. Some women know how to combine their physical allure with real intelligence and drive to create spectacular success, as we've seen. I think it's the wrong track to say beauty is a bad thing. But I wish RHG or Babs were here to set me straight because I'm pretty confused about this part of it as I think most men are.

I quick thought in response to Finderson. I think to paint all pornography as a form of art and beautiful expression is too broad. Aritistically most pornography is horrible, I'm sure. Still, I probably agree it should be a form of protected speech, as it is.

[cougjunkie]

Your quote IS fascinating (though it lacks some credibilty coming from the Atlantic, which seems to me to specialize in high brow sensationalism). .

Then pretend it came from the New Yorker.

[creekster]

I remember going to the library repeatedly to pour over the findings of the Meese commission. Heady stuff for an early to mid teen boy.

It took from your early to mid teens to read the report?

[Donuthole]

Adultery occurs where there is dissatisfaction with the intimate relationship in marriage, and opportunity. In the case of men at least (who seem to be sexually hard wired somewhat differently than women), pornography seems more likely to occur where the dissatisfaction exists but opportunity is lacking.

What do you mean by opportunity? Opportunity as in availability? Or opportunity as in "fear of consequences?"

[landpoke]

It took from your early to mid teens to read the report?

I read it several times, often lingering over passages and images for hours on end.

[SeattleUte]

What do you mean by opportunity? Opportunity as in availability? Or opportunity as in "fear of consequences?"

I mean a lot of guys don't commit adultery simply because they don't have the spare money (it's far from free), or the freedom, or an interested woman. Fear of consequence is a somewhat different albeit not unrelated factor. The more of their own time and money someone has the less they are concerned about consequences and the more they feel (perhaps unrealistically) assured they can evade consequences. For some men it never goes this far because they don't interest any women who want to fool around with a married man.