I knew this before I even started reading these posts, but yeah. . . this topic is bound to flare tempers. A shame that people are saying this thread is done just as I join in.
Um. . . hi, by the way. I'm the woman that created the Shego pic that was posted on the first page of this little thread here. And yes, I also create works that are erotic and rather explicit, some of which that could easily be perceived as pornographic. Now granted, some people believe there's a difference between artwork and a photograph of something that's real, but what's important here is the concept, the message that it brings across.
I feel it's rather unfortunate that, at least in this country (the US), sexuality is still perceived as dirty, tasteless, sinful, and basically. . . well, evil. But you know what? It's a part of who we are. Not just as indivuals, but as a society. Without sexuality there would be no families, no life, no future. Yet we sweep it under the rug as if it's something to be ashamed of.
Pornography cannot be evil for the simple fact that it cannot act upon its own will. . . "Why did you hurt that girl?" . . . "The porn made me do it!" . . . Um, I don't think so. Makes just as much sense as saying "The knife made me stab him!" or "The gun made me shoot him!"
I often see the argument that porn hurts women. Let's look at a few differents angles, shall we?
Some people might say that it provides an unrealistic look at what the body of a woman should be, giving females (especially young girls) low self-esteem, possibly inducing eating disorders and the like. But the fact of the matter is that mainstream magazines and other forms of media are far more guilty of this and are much more empowered with body image than porn will ever be. Why? Because they aren't selling fantasies of idealized sex, they are selling products that do little more than feed off the insecurities of these girls.
Others might say that porn causes problems in relationships, or more specifically, that a wife will automatcially get hurt when she finds out her husband looks at porn. Well yeah, if she's that insecure about herself and her relationship with him then she's bound to get jealous. So. . . how many people here get jealous of a magazine? I certainly wouldn't mind a show of hands on this one. And yes, I know how ridiculous that sounds. But think about it. . . we all have fantasies that don't compare to real life, and I'm not even talking about sexual fanatasies. As long as the porn is not taking away from the relationship, I see nothing evil about it. No one is being cheated on. Heck, I don't mind whether or not my fiance looks at any because I don't question our monogomous relationship or his love and attraction to me.
Some say that porn stars are victims, but you know what? They're legally adults that knew what they were getting into (I doubt they walked into the audition or whatever thinking that they were gonna be flipping burgers). Either they enjoy what they do, they like the pay, or both (and I'd say it's probably the latter). If they're gonna whine about being victims, they need to find another line of work.
And I can say all this from a woman's point of view because once again, I happen to be one. I know I don't have the perfect body. I don't let any outside images crawl into my mind and dictate who I should I shouldn't be, let alone how I feel about myself; that's for me and my heart to decide.
So in other words, I don't feel that porn is demeaning or degrading, let alone evil, just that saying so is a sad, misguided generalization of something that just might provide a much-needed outlet to some people.
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