Politicians are putting pornography issues ahead of gun violence, but it could be a distraction.
Last week, lawmakers in Florida declared porn a public health risk. The decision came in the same session in which Florida House lawmakers declined an open debate on a bill that would ban assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines, in the wake of America’s 18th school shooting of 2018.
Is porn really all it’s cracked up to be?
Here are some stats. According to Bustle.com, Americans are the most avid porn watchers in the world. So, yes, that could raise cause for some concern.
Porn, like guns, forms a somewhat large industry. Like it or not, sales of its products generate around $10-12 billion every year in the U.S.
Related: Whether You Have Child Filters on Your Internet or Not, It Doesn’t Make a Difference, Study Says
In contrast, the gun industry is about 3 times that size. In 2015, it was estimated to generate about $33.5 billion for the country. This is about 0.2% of the entire nation’s economy and, admittedly not that much in the grand scheme of things, but it’s ranking.
So, is porn a public health problem? For those it rubs the wrong way, (no pun intended), yes, it is.
I’m not a fan of porn. I say, just don’t watch it. Raise your kids around people who have better ways to spend their free time than glued to a screen viewing people’s private parts. Help them develop healthy, long term interests that they can take with them and carry into adulthood. Be a decent person.
Addictions
Here’s the problem. Some experts say that watching porn is damaging psychologically, as it rewires the brain and sets up-mostly men-for a false sense of expectations. Real life sex isn’t always as glamorous as the stories told in porn. Not all women like that kind of interaction. And we shouldn’t all be expected to look fantastic on a pole.
But is this something taking over the nation? Perhaps it’s time to talk with teenagers about the effects of excessive porn watching, while they grow in their sexual interests. Sound logical? And leave it at that.
Related: Is Looking at Pornography Good For You?
Experts like Dr. David J Ley Ph.D. of Psychology Today believe that “porn isn’t the problem, you are”. (Sounds somewhat familiar.) He argues that complaining about the dangers of porn distracts from personal responsibility. In essence, as mentioned, everyone has the choice to simply not access it or watch it.
Yes, watching porn may be addictive. But, let’s point out- someone’s bare boob didn’t recently kill 17 teens in a bright, midday Florida government building. If it happened, I missed it. Both the gun and porn industries need restrictions and reforms, if we’re going to really look at these issues.
I’m much less afraid of my kid seeing some lady’s naked hoohaa on a screen, than I am of him being shot at, at school.
Photo credits: Gajus/Shutterstock.com
