Wobbles

Agreed.

As for the history of porn, Karma Sutra, cave paintings, carvings on many a temple (not Christian/Islamic ones of course).

As for contemporary porn being 'good' or 'bad' - if you wouldn't want your name and photo on the front page of a tabloid watching your fave porn, it is quite possibly bad. Or another way to tell: your teen children - would you want them thinking that what is shown is 'normal' and 'expected' - rather than being about choice. I wouldn't want boys expecting anal sex on a first date, or that all girls are supposed to enjoy being peed on. There's a lot in porn that requires maturity and respect for people not being lost along the journey. Teens aren't really all that good at impulse control and this is where I am concerned.

As for Gail Dines, all she has achieved is much the same response as M Tankard-Reist and that is a view that any woman who complains about porn is a control-freak, femi-nazi, leaving no room for intelligent discussion.

There are people who relish the very dark side of porn (paedophilia, torture.. etc) and will use the arguments of women like Gail as fodder for this side of the industry.

I think Gails views say far more about her then on the rest of us.

Oh what a vicious cycle;

Women reject men, men turn to porn as a last resort, porn demeans women, etc.

Of course, as said at the start of the thread- what about porn that involves men?
Or Homo-erotic porn to be precise?

CofaB

"all porn exploits and degrades women (ALL women)"

I can't understand that point of view.

Do you think that sex of itself exploits and degrades all women?

If so, why?

And if not, what has all porn got in common but depictions of sex?

Why is depiction of sex exploitative and degrading if sex of itself isn't?

Cofa:"all porn exploits and degrades women (ALL women)"
Peter:”I can't understand that point of view.”

Me either. And I hate people saying I’m being degraded without my permission.

ChrisEven:”if on a psychological level you have some unresolved discomfort with women, then chances are you will find yourself viewing material that is at times disrespectful to women.”

This makes sense, thanks Chris. And here we could add that people with some unresolved discomfort with men also might find themselves viewing material that is at times disrespectful to men. Like television adverts and posters in police stations etc.

Solly:”The only fair point she makes is that some extreme forms of porn should be prohibited.”

Why? I don’t understand, porn is like the movies and all acts (I’m struggling for the right word there) legal or illegal are acceptable in movies. Or is there fictional and non-fictional porn? Can someone tell me and not make me go watch some cause unless there is a good story line it bores me.

Some people just never understood the implications of "my body, my choice".

Great as a slogan for something you agree with but a disaster when it's about choices you don't like.

People choosing to be involved in the making and use of porn are making choices with their bodies which some others are uncomfortable with.

Many of the anti-porn arguments have a very similar ring to the anti-abortion arguments.

R0bert