I too have been watching Gail Dines' media tour of Australia, and can't help but come to the same conclusion as Alan. Something must have happened in her past to have made her hate men so much. The vitriol she directed at males on QandA was strange.

She is clearly blinded by what her idea of pornography is. I am an ordinary woman in my 30s, I watch porn occasionally, and I have never seen this horrendous porn that she speaks of. I have only seen consenting porn which looked like it was being enjoyed by all involved. I have seen amateur porn made be people who love each other.

Why is anal sex so wrong for women who enjoy it? Who do these people think they are telling me what I am and am not allowed to enjoy or do in my own bedroom. I am responsible for my own sexuality and sexual life, and not men; as Gail Dines seems to believe. I lead the action in the bedroom with my sexual partners, and I enjoy it.

Gail Dines and her ilk need to stay out of my bedroom - I'm having fun in there, and she's trying to ruin it.

Welcome to our new members;0)

While I can understand the thrust, oooh oooh, of her argument, Gail lost credability big time in attacking abby winters.

As a long time supporter of this site, I have to say it isn't even close to the same ball park as some of the sites she lumps it in with.

Sure certain types of porn if viewed too young, and in the absense of any other influence of parents and relationships with girls, could create too narrow a view of human sexuality. But I find it incedible that women are painted as slaves to men's sexual desires in the bedroom.

Why do we, in a society that promotes good communication in relationships, place responsibility on men to not ask for... say anal sex, as it is deemed impossible for women to assertively reject the activity if it doesn't interest them? Who defines 'natural' sex? If porn didn't exist, would men never experiment in the bedroom at all?

I believe in these less restrictive times, people are able to explore their sexual tastes and boundaries more fully and potentially can have much more rewarding sex lives. Except for one catch, this assumption from people like Gail, that women are simply unable to negotiate sex in a relationship, unable to be assertive.

The problem is deemed thus; Men see a sexual activity in porn. They find it exciting (How dare they seek sexual fulfillment or engage in fantasy, without a partner and without some woman's permission! How exploitative!). They suggest this activity to their partners and their partner, against her instincts 'degrades' herself by pleasing him. Well, I'm sure before Cosmo and Cleo there was less cunnilingus going on. Are men these days victims, exploited by women and their 'unnnatural' expectations from reading cosmo?

In the end these sorts of arguments are really a thinky veiled assertion that men's natural excitement for the naked female is somehow perverted, corrupt and abusive and exploitative by it's very essence, and that women (the pure gender) really only have sex because of the corrupting influence of men.

I too watched Gail last night on Q&A and enjoyed watching her difficulty debating this topic. I noticed when a male questioner claimed to enjoy pornography, she stated 'I have seen this sort of male before..' before attacking all men for their attitudes towards women. She even went so far as to state that all men think women deserve to be raped.

She was strangely silent however when a gay man discussed his porn habits, or when a women in the audience spoke of her experiences. This lead me to the conclusion that she has a pre-disposed opinion regarding porn, always viewing women as the victim of men, and actively seeking evidence to support her own opinion.

The entire panel on Q&A were very knowledgeable, wise, and were able to discuss these difficult issues in a constructive and educational manner. And Gail was also there.

I have heard of some really bizarre porn, and some that would definitely be degrading to women. With this I would say that Gail has a point.

Not being an expert on the subject and going on what I see locally available, I would define most of it as titillating rather than demeaning. Considering the number of couples that use pornography to spice up their intimate moments has increased dramatically over the years, and much of it is bought by women, I would struggle with the Black and white / fire and brimstone crusade that Gail is heading.

Like all fanatics reason is not a valued attribute.

I did a brief search to find her religious affiliation, but could not find even a jot. However, her co authoring with Jensen (a self avowed radical Christian) would indicate that she is probably not atheist or agnostic, and that her religious beliefs have been carefully guarded to avoid the "religious nut" tag.

The vast majority of men can distinguish fantasy from reality.

The vast majority of men can appreciate a beautiful woman without objectifying her.

The vast majority of women can assertively reject sexual activities they don't feel they would enjoy.

Men (and women) who would like to experiment sexually should be encouraged to communicate their desires to their partner.

Women (and men) should be expected to assertively reject activities they don't wish to partake in. It's part of being an adult.

Men's imagination is resourceful enough to come up with anal sex even in the absence of porn.

There are sexual activities called voyeurism and exhibitionism that many couples mutually enjoy, creating pornography themselves. Ditto domination and submission.

There is no possible intellectual justification for the statement 'all porn exploits and degrades women (ALL women)'. Particularly with Gay porn and amatuer porn made and consumed by consneting adults.

Nudity is the natural state we are born in. Those believe in god must accept god made us this way.

A picture of someone is an object. You cant objectify an object. There is a difference between a picture and reality.

Women are sexual beings. You cant sexualise a sexual being.

Some women genuinley like it rough.

Many women fantasise about rape so as to enjoy guilt free desire.

Read Nancy Friday's Women on Top.

Romantic movies give women unrealistic expectations of men in relationships. Men are happy to correct these expectations and be assertive in a relationship. Except if sex is about to be withdrawn, then sometimes a $20 flower doesn't seem like such a rip-off. Do men have rape fantasies; Being raped by florists on valentines day?

'I have heard of some really bizarre porn, and some that would definitely be degrading to women. With this I would say that Gail has a point.'
There is porn where men have their penis trampled by women and are kicked in the groin, spat at and humiliated. Is this degrading to men? Should this be used to represent all porn?

BTW: The difference between erotic art and porn is all in the lighting.

I thought Howard Jacobsen was masterful on Q and A last night and really shredded Gail Dines (in a nice way). Early on when Dines started talking she made some interesting points. But when her ideas were tested she got dogmatic and unreasonable. Her bit about how porn makers could get sued for harm was so deeply flawed it wasn't funny. Well it was a bit funny. Anybody who uses porn as a how to manual is an idiot. At the end when Dines suggested that there be a 'Perp Walk' and Canold responded that the suggestion didn't even make sense as an idea - that was gold. A surprisingly good Q and A.