- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Funny how there is so much written about how porn addiction is similar to food addiction .. And then no one talks about the food addiction. Everyone wants to talk about porn and “gateway” games/movies that lead to porn. How about that bag of potato chips that we just cannot put down? I’m not seeing stake-wide conferences on the WoW, gateway foods, and the evils of food. Both addictions are coping mechanisms. Talks and lectures on the topics of healthy coping skills, how to build healthy relationships, healthy sexuality, how to take care of ourselves and how to take care of others, when divorce is an appropriate choice, and how to set boundaries in relationships. Those topics might go further towards developing healthier habits in both areas. The current cultural focus on shaming the addict does a disservice to those who are struggling.
Maybe it is time for the LDS community to focus on something other than porn addiction? I’ve heard more about porn at church than any other place in my life. The constant talk of porn is no more healthy than the constant viewing of it.
Let’s move on.
Let’s not let this thread devolve into a discussion of the evils of porn and porn addiction. We have discussed these things here almost ad nauseum. There is not a question whether real porn, at lest in excess, is bad. For the record I do believe porn is generally bad, can be addictive, and can do serious damage to individuals, couples, and families. The question raised by the article is more of sexualization vs. porn. reading the article one could surmise that the author believes looking at Sofia Vergara on Modern Family is porn because she is a voluptuous woman who dresses in a way that highlights her body. There is no question watching the show that she flaunts her body, and it’s even part of the comedy – a sort of running joke. But that’s
notporn, it’s sexualization. She is not Donna Reed or Doris Day, she’s more Marilyn Monroe. I don’t question that television, movies, music, and other media (the SI swimsuit exponentially outsells any other issue) are more sexualized than they once were and I don’t question whether actual porn is much more accessible than it once was. But we don’t need to be calling things that aren’t porn porn to get the point across. Also, I’m not sure the article proves the point that even those who don’t see porn are affected by it, and it seems to present evidence to the contrary. DarkJedi wrote:The question raised by the article is more of sexualization vs. porn.
Moderators…I don’t know how germane my comments here are, and if they are off base too far, just yank this one. But what I am saying here is respectful.
In my mind, the difference between sexualiazation vs. porn is one of influencing an attitude or desire as opposed to creating something erotic which is generally considered illicit (as in outside of marriage in LDS terms).
I’m not interested in discussing this dilemma here,…but do want to say something about the slide the article mentions and my own observations.
I see a clear pushing of the line for sexualization (as in trying to set trends and social standards of how to be sexy) , particularly directed toward younger generations. When I was young, I remember the Barbi dolls and wondered why their bodies didn’t look like other women; now I see women actors touted as “good girls” who dress in provacative ways, encouraging fans to do the same. When I was young, adds in the fashion magazines for underclothing used mannequins; now they have living women, younger and younger, wearing the clothing. I didn’t understand as a child why underclothing needed to be provocative–I mean, who was going to look at it?…It was “under clothing” after all. It wasn’t until later I realized many of those ads were being looked at by men, and not because they wanted to make a purchase.
The general idea I get is that ‘sexy” is being taught as cool, as the way to be popular, as the way to become powerful or glamorous, or even one of the crowd.
Its everywhere in the media. Absolutely everywhere. I’ve seen sexy baby like plastic dolls who are wearing close to g-strings. On a baby doll? Common folks…whats up with that?
I know this is probably controversial, but what is alarming (and in my opinion obvious) is a LOT of Disney actors do this,…a LOT of them. The old bastion of modesty and decency has crossed virtually all lines.
Princess dolls like Katy Perry, Selina Gomez and others are followed by massive fan basses, many of them being children. The girls want to be like their stars, their very sexy and very cool roll models.
Is this wholesome? Is this good?
I think there are sinister forces behind a lot of this. I don’t think it is accidental. I have reasons to believe this, some I consider VERY credible, but that is not for this thread.
Sex does sell, but the idea is to change culture, as in to “sexualize” things beyond what is good. Children and sex do not belong together. I have never heard nor seen any credible evidence that sex and children are good for each other. Those young ones are not ready emotionally, often not ready physically, and it causes damage. So why portray teen idols and even baby dolls in very sexual ways?
The article makes some good points IMHO.
I don’t disagree with you Rob, and I think the real point of the article is a warning about sexualization as opposed to a warning about porn – while calling sexualization porn. But this also isn’t new – was Ginger on Gilligan’s Island really all that different from Gloria on Modern Family? What about Jeannie? My issue is not that we shouldn’t try to protect our children from sexualization too early, my issue is that we shouldn’t lump it in with porn – they are different. And I fear far too many conversations about healthy sexuality vs unhealthy sexuality lump all unhealthy sexuality with porn and thus sometimes stymies discussions about healthy sexuality for fear it is discussion of porn. DJ – I am going to add one more to your list – Marilyn Monroe. My favorite Marilyn movie is Some Like it Hot. Early in our marriage we purchased movie posters had them framed and hung them in our home. Among them was the promo poster of Some Like It Hot. When we moved into our house the ward EQ helped. Very nice. When the poster came off the truck there were plenty of raised eyebrows and one vocal remark about the photo. By church the next day the word about our “art” had gotten around. I spent weeks defending a classic black and white movie to ward members I barely knew.
I agree Porn is a problem. I agree that it destroys reality. But not everything that has exposed shoulders is porn.
DarkJedi wrote:And I fear far too many conversations about healthy sexuality vs unhealthy sexuality lump all unhealthy sexuality with porn and thus sometimes stymies discussions about healthy sexuality for fear it is discussion of porn.
YES! You said this well, and I agree absolutely with you on this point.
There can and needs to be discussions about the goodness and appropriateness of sexuality. When everyone gets so jittery over the topic nothing is discussed, people suffer.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.