Psycho-Babble Social Thread 624556

Shown: posts 1 to 25 of 99. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

A small victory for womankind?

Posted by milly on March 25, 2006, at 16:09:41

I think I have won!!!

My local newsagents keeps putting degrading 'mens' magazines on a stand at kiddies eye level just as you go in the door.
I tried asking nicely -no change
Next day I scooped them all up and took them to the counter where I meant to place them but unfortunatly they slipped (they are saying I threw them) all over the floor, counter and assistant (whoops!) - no change
Next day I removed them and hid them behind the chocolates - no change
Finally I moved them to deep within the chest freezer, either they havent found them yet (or they are frozen solid) but today they have been replaced by childrens comics
Yeah I won, I won
Ok slightly hypomanic possibly but it was fun!
milly

 

Re: A small victory for womankind?

Posted by Gee on March 25, 2006, at 18:19:58

In reply to A small victory for womankind?, posted by milly on March 25, 2006, at 16:09:41

Are you working there, or it just something you're doing for "fun" (sorry I can't think of another word... been working in french). I think it's great that you're doing it

 

Re: A small victory for womankind? » milly

Posted by Glydin on March 25, 2006, at 18:40:33

In reply to A small victory for womankind?, posted by milly on March 25, 2006, at 16:09:41

Good for you!!!

Good work.

 

Re: A small victory for womankind?

Posted by special_k on March 25, 2006, at 19:20:34

In reply to Re: A small victory for womankind? » milly, posted by Glydin on March 25, 2006, at 18:40:33

heh heh

i might worry a little though that the fact that they have frozen might just mean that they are damaged and that they might want to sue for damages...

 

Re: A small victory for womankind?

Posted by Phillipa on March 25, 2006, at 21:04:07

In reply to Re: A small victory for womankind?, posted by special_k on March 25, 2006, at 19:20:34

Was is one of the playboys or Penthouse . Good for you I caught my Son with one when he was around l4. it resulted in a standoff between us. Neither of us will ever forget it as he was bigger than I was and I never could have won. Love Phillipa

 

Re: A small victory for womankind? » Gee

Posted by milly on March 26, 2006, at 7:35:51

In reply to Re: A small victory for womankind?, posted by Gee on March 25, 2006, at 18:19:58

> Are you working there, or it just something you're doing for "fun" (sorry I can't think of another word... been working in french). I think it's great that you're doing it

**Nope not working there, just a bit 'up' at the moment so did it for 'fun' but also to make the point that we don't have to accept these degrading portrayals of womankind
milly

 

Re: A small victory for womankind? » Glydin

Posted by milly on March 26, 2006, at 7:40:00

In reply to Re: A small victory for womankind? » milly, posted by Glydin on March 25, 2006, at 18:40:33

> Good for you!!!
>
> Good work.

** Thanks
milly

 

Re: A small victory for womankind? » special_k

Posted by milly on March 26, 2006, at 7:42:17

In reply to Re: A small victory for womankind?, posted by special_k on March 25, 2006, at 19:20:34

> heh heh
>
> i might worry a little though that the fact that they have frozen might just mean that they are damaged and that they might want to sue for damages...

** Yep I thought of that but they would have to catch me first!! and small english village and 'crazy' ministers wife makes great newspaper story so I doubt very much would happen (I hope!)
milly

 

Re: A small victory for womankind?

Posted by Gee on March 26, 2006, at 10:30:50

In reply to Re: A small victory for womankind? » Gee, posted by milly on March 26, 2006, at 7:35:51

That's awesome!!!!! Keep up the great work :P

 

Porn...what's the big deal?

Posted by jay on March 26, 2006, at 15:31:03

In reply to Re: A small victory for womankind?, posted by Phillipa on March 25, 2006, at 21:04:07

I can understand if these people are stupid enough to put porn mags at a level where kids can get/and/or/read them. Other then that, I really don't see what the big deal is. What consenting adults wish to do or enjoy...hey..that's their right.(Atleast here in Canada it is.) I've had very classy girlfriends in relationships who enjoyed this stuff as well. You don't have to take that away from others.

Jay

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? » jay

Posted by Glydin on March 26, 2006, at 15:42:47

In reply to Porn...what's the big deal?, posted by jay on March 26, 2006, at 15:31:03

Porn is a BIG deal to many folks. Everyone is entiled to their own opinion but when it comes to ready access and "exposure" to children AND the (what I preceive as) explotive and life ruining nature of the business of porn - well, call me a prude, but I have a problem with that.

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? » jay

Posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 16:51:36

In reply to Porn...what's the big deal?, posted by jay on March 26, 2006, at 15:31:03

> What consenting adults wish to do or enjoy...hey..that's their right.

Maybe... Or maybe not.

Do you know for a fact that the women you are looking at are happy enough with what they are doing? Can you rule out the possibility that they might be doing it to... Provide medication for a sick child, for example. Or that they might be doing it because they have been sexually abused and don't think they are going to find anything better in life.

How would you feel if your 'classy girlfriend' posed for pornographic magazines? Would you still think she was classy?

How would you feel if your mother or your daughter posed for pornographic magazines? Would you be okay with that or would you think they had degraded themselves?

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal?

Posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 16:56:29

In reply to Re: Porn...what's the big deal? » jay, posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 16:51:36

See... What I think is that these thoughts don't occur to people when they are viewing porn.

If they do occur to you then I'd imagine it would be much much harder to get off on it.

And if that is right (and I guess you would have to answer for your own feelings on that)

But if that is right...

Then it means that you are viewing them as ends to your means (you are not considering their desires or their welfare at all you are disregarding it for your own desires)
And... Well... A thought is that other people are not mere ends to our means. They are ends in their own right. They have desires which should be respected.

And I guess you can tell yourself that a lot of people who pose for porn really are happy doing that and are really proud that people toss off to pictures of them... You can tell yourself that...

But do you know for a fact that that is the case in any particular picture you look at?

And now that you have considered that it might not be...

That there is a very real possibility that they are not happy with what they are doing...

Then is it okay to continue?

Up to you... Don't have to answer... But if you wonder why some people don't think pornography is okay... Then that is why...

At least. That is what convinced me.

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal?

Posted by Gabbix2 on March 26, 2006, at 17:34:59

In reply to Re: Porn...what's the big deal?, posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 16:56:29

To be realistic I don't think it's possible to know that anyone is enjoying what they are doing.
There are so many ways that people are degraded
but the sex industry is a headline grabber.

I wonder how many people who are anti porn, anti-sex industry buy things that are made by abused children, and factory workers. I'm sure they'd claim not, but are they scrupulous in making sure, or do they boycott the obvious and hope for the best in everything else?

As for me, I've been shall we say "intimate" with the sex industry, and found it less degrading than many other aspects of being human.

I'm not denying the abuse, or the sadness.
As a friend of mine said "I don't mind porn, it's the industry I hate"
and I would add to that, Porn in a free society is one thing, pornography in North America is, sadly, another.

I applaud Milly for hiding the magazines away from the kids.

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger

Posted by milly on March 27, 2006, at 2:17:54

In reply to Porn...what's the big deal?, posted by jay on March 26, 2006, at 15:31:03

Thanks guys for the support and it IS A BIG DEAL
I know for a fact ,because he was my boss, that the guy who raped me and took my virginity used to read this stuff over his coffee break!
No I have no proof that the 2 are connected but if that is how you see women then it isn't a huge jump to behaving in a degrading fashion yourself.
it probably explains a bit of my strong feelings about this stuff and I DONT want it thrust in my kids faces.
milly

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger » milly

Posted by special_k on March 27, 2006, at 6:26:23

In reply to Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger, posted by milly on March 27, 2006, at 2:17:54

((((Milly))))

I'm sorry that happened to you :-(

> No I have no proof that the 2 are connected but if that is how you see women then it isn't a huge jump to behaving in a degrading fashion yourself.

I think it might be more that most people who commit violent crimes tend to fantasise about it whereas it doesn't really follow that most people who fantasise about violent crimes tend to do it.

I think about things I'd like to do to people sometimes (violent kinds of things) - but I don't think I'd really do it...

But I do think that the more you indulge in fantasy the more you are likely to start getting action urges...

And I guess people will say there is a difference between porn where the woman appears willing... And porn where the woman does not appear willing...

But personally it is the woman being willing to do stuff that most women really would not be willing to do that gets to me. I mean do guys really think that girls like that stuff? lol.

sigh.

It is more the objectification that gets to me (viewing a person as an object or a mere means to our end)

I feel pretty strongly about it and nothing like that has happened to me...

I understand your feeling all the more strongly about it given what has happened to you...

And re: child labour etc. IMO that is a good reason to lay off the global type stores that tend to make more use of third world labour.

I mean... I find myself doing a lot of things that I don't think I should do... I think most people do... Or maybe not. I don't know.

But I don't think it works to say 'but there are worse things in the world so I shouldn't worry about this lesser thing'. I mean... Where would that stop? It is okay for me to exploit this one person... Because OTHER PEOPLE exploit more than one.

I dunno. I guess all we can do is try and take responsibility for out own actions and explain our rationalle to others.

I like to think that if people understood the rationalle and took it on board then the world might be a better place.

But I dunno.

Sigh.

I dunno.

> it probably explains a bit of my strong feelings about this stuff and I DONT want it thrust in my kids faces.
> milly

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger » special_k

Posted by Gabbix2 on March 27, 2006, at 7:19:01

In reply to Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger » milly, posted by special_k on March 27, 2006, at 6:26:23

> ((((Milly))))
>
> I'm sorry that happened to you :-(
>
> > No I have no proof that the 2 are connected but if that is how you see women then it isn't a huge jump to behaving in a degrading fashion yourself.
>
> I think it might be more that most people who commit violent crimes tend to fantasise about it whereas it doesn't really follow that most people who fantasise about violent crimes tend to do it.
>
> I think about things I'd like to do to people sometimes (violent kinds of things) - but I don't think I'd really do it...
>
> But I do think that the more you indulge in fantasy the more you are likely to start getting action urges...
>
> I mean... I find myself doing a lot of things that I don't think I should do... I think most people do... Or maybe not. I don't know.
>
> But I don't think it works to say 'but there are worse things in the world so I shouldn't worry about this lesser thing'. I mean... Where would that stop? It is okay for me to exploit this one person... Because OTHER PEOPLE exploit more than one.


If that was in reference to what I said, it wasn't what I meant at all.
I didn't mean it was okay. I meant what I said, which was that there are many ways to exploit and degrade people, but the sex industry seems to be the headline grabber, and those involved in it, judged the most harshly.

It's all wrong, of course. (Not that I think porn is innately degrading to women, but I think the industry is)
But I think it's all equally wrong, and yet, people who object to porn from the ideal that it exploits women, would I think be far more disgusted to see porn in a friends home than a pair of Nike running shoes.
I find it odd, but not in any way "okay."

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger

Posted by verne on March 27, 2006, at 8:14:07

In reply to Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger » special_k, posted by Gabbix2 on March 27, 2006, at 7:19:01

I agree with you that porn is not innately degrading to women. What is wrong with nudity - especially among consenting adults?

That said, I can't watch typical American porn. Seems like there has to be guns and violence mixed in there somewhere. What's that about? Besides, the models or actors look so sad and sickly. I mean, I would pay not to look at them.

Yet I don't have a problem with the soft european-style "simple nude" approach. I don't think the typical model is being "exploited" - although I might feel that way for paying to look at it. But then I feel exploited by a Shania Twain video, the 20-minute workout, or Betsy Russell in "Private School".

And I don't get the degraded, exploited, "sex object" argument. I have a "relationship" with, I'm IN LOVE with, Zuzanna from Brno, Czech Republic. I'm the sad and exploited one. She's smiling all the way to the bank, when not working towards her PhD.

Verne

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger

Posted by special_k on March 27, 2006, at 19:30:46

In reply to Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger, posted by verne on March 27, 2006, at 8:14:07

i don't have a problem with nudity and appreciation of form...

i do have a problem with stuff that is made with the intention (and viewed with the intention) of j*cking off to it.

i think that viewing pictures that way...
makes it more likely that one appraises people irl that way...

would you feel just a little bit embarrased for your mother or your sister or your daughter if they were in teh industry?

regardless of whether they are pleased with it or not...

wouldn't you not feel so good with the thought that guys are viewing them as... an object whose whole purpose is to please them?

i would...

but maybe thats just me.

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger

Posted by Phillipa on March 27, 2006, at 19:47:24

In reply to Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger, posted by special_k on March 27, 2006, at 19:30:46

I just thought of something how come prostitution is legal in Holland? Love Phillipa

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger

Posted by verne on March 27, 2006, at 20:56:32

In reply to Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger, posted by special_k on March 27, 2006, at 19:30:46

I don't think there's anything wrong with erotic images and self gratification. As long as no one else is harmed, another person's viewing material and how they use it, or their body, should be a private matter.

I, myself, think smut is good clean fun.

Verne

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger

Posted by Dinah on March 28, 2006, at 9:57:53

In reply to Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger, posted by verne on March 27, 2006, at 20:56:32

i never thought of it as objectifying women any more than men. Maybe girlie magazines, but there is always Playgirl. It certainly promotes expectations that are impossible for real people to measure up to, but that's as true, if not even more so, for men than women. Good grief, I remember things going on for so long that I got bored even watching it. Talk about inducing performance anxiety.

And if you think of those men as your brother or father, it would pretty much take the pleasure out of enjoying it.

I'm sad to say that my husband totally took the joy out of videos for me by reminding me of the likely realities of the porn movie industry. The health risks, etc. Once it was brought to my attention, it was kind of like trying to eat chicken soup after my ethics report on animal husbandry.

I'm not sure that Playgirl and Playboy have the same issues? For those who find static anatomical depictions stimulating. Thank heavens for the written word. No one was harmed in the creation of that fantasy. (Of course, I can see where written depictions of violent fantasies could be harmful just as other violent games, literature, songs, etc. could be harmful in that they desensitize people to violence or inspire desires in people that might result in violence. Even while in other people they may be a relatively harmless way to discharge those urges.)

I rather suspect this may belong on Politics though.

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger » Dinah

Posted by Glydin on March 28, 2006, at 10:06:56

In reply to Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger, posted by Dinah on March 28, 2006, at 9:57:53

> For those who find static anatomical depictions stimulating.

~~~ Tends to be a XY chromosomes thing


> Thank heavens for the written word.

~~~ Tends to be an XX chromosomes thing

But, I do have to add the essential "everybody's and everymind's different" as I don't what to be an all or nothing thinker.

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger » Glydin

Posted by Dinah on March 28, 2006, at 10:14:50

In reply to Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger » Dinah, posted by Glydin on March 28, 2006, at 10:06:56

:)

I have to admit finding Playgirl very educational in my youth. I remember my mother even offered to buy it since we were underage. And I still enjoy it as a novelty from time to time. You know, if there's an interesting article in it. ;)

 

Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger » verne

Posted by special_k on March 28, 2006, at 11:04:06

In reply to Re: Porn...what's the big deal? posible trigger, posted by verne on March 27, 2006, at 20:56:32

> I don't think there's anything wrong with erotic images and self gratification. As long as no one else is harmed, another person's viewing material and how they use it, or their body, should be a private matter.

but how do you know whether anyone is harmed or not and really do you care when you are viewing those images?

if your daughter didn't feel harmed...
how would you feel is she was a pornstar?

proud... or concerned for her?


Go forward in thread:


Show another thread

URL of post in thread:


Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ


[dr. bob] Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org

Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.