The next time you’re tempted to watch pornography, think about what you’re missing.
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I’m not going to get up on my religious soapbox here. I’ll admit; I’ve been sucked into porn in the past. The temptation still gets me from time to time. So this is as much a self-talk as it is anything else.
They Say Pornography Will Make You Stupid
I’ve never become addicted to porn like a drug. I’ve never watched porn increasingly.
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When I research the negative effects of watching porn, I mostly find articles written by religious-based authors and organizations. Their top argument is that porn acts like a drug; that it changes the structure of your brain and makes you stupid. They claim that the more you watch, the more you need to watch to feel satisfied. They claim that you’ll slowly get sucked into more hardcore pornography.
I don’t know how much validity there is to their arguments. I’m not sure if there are any academic-based, scientific studies to back up their claims. For myself, I haven’t found any of it to be true. I’ve never become addicted to porn like a drug. I’ve never watched porn increasingly. I’ve never liked hardcore porn. It just doesn’t do anything for me. Still, I have my reasons for quitting porn.
I’m Single You Say. Why Not Watch Porn?
I’m a single guy. But does that make watching porn any better? No. Porn is porn, and I have three logical reasons why anyone, whether you’re single, married, gay, straight, male, or female, should stop watching porn.
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Porn is a waste of your time: This is the #1 reason that anybody should stop watching porn. Watching pornography is a waste of time. Whether you watch it for 20 minutes or two hours a day, that’s precious time you could be using for more important things. You could spend time with family and friends and work on your relationship skills. You could start a creative project. You could write a book. Porn is just mindless consumption.
Porn demeans women (and men): Many of the so-called porn stars are porn slaves. They’ve been sucked into the industry through sex-trafficking. Much of the hardcore porn demeans women. (That’s why I don’t like it.) But it’s not just women. Subjecting oneself to committing intimate acts for the entire world to view is demeaning one’s integrity. Why would I want to watch people demeaning themselves?
My goal isn’t to make anyone feel guilty about watching porn.
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Porn is a selfish industry: What does porn give back to society? Not much that I can think of. I’m not a fan of big corporations like Walmart, but at least Walmart makes some effort to give back to the community. Great people and organizations give back. Consider Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. They give back. They are committed to making a positive change in the world. When was the last time you witnessed a porn company giving money to help the needy?
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Think About What You’re Missing
The next time you’re tempted to watch pornography, think about what you’re missing. My goal isn’t to make anyone feel guilty about watching porn. My goal isn’t to convince anyone that watching porn is going to send you to hell. My goal is simply to point out that porn is a major waste of your time, that it’s demeaning to most everyone involved, and that it’s a selfish form of consumer-driven drivel. Stop feeding the engine.
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Photo: Flickr/ Xabi Ezpeleta
There are lots of nonreligious articles and testimonies on benefits of not watching porn. the founder of nofap is an atheist. just go to youtube and type in nofap and several guys are talking about not watching porn and the physical benefits of it. GQ did an article on why it’s good to stop watching porn. Archy, you simply disagree on this topic, but that doesn’t mean critical thinking is not being applied. Go tell all these nofap guys who are feeling physical and emotional benefits from not looking at porn that they are not applying logic or critical thinking.… Read more »
A major waste of time? Masturbation can be quite a positive experience, quite relaxing and help to ease tension. Porn can heighten the experience. This article is pretty ridiculous…the industry has bad elements? That shirt you are wearing could potentially be made by exploited workers, do you then stop wearing shirts or simply find material made ethically? This is simple logic 101, something a teacher should grasp easily. Use some critical thinking!
I think it’s to each their own, Archy. These are my personal reasons.