Are You Aware of just how Prolific Porn is?

[musicality]

Results revealed that roughly two thirds (67% ) of young men and one half (49%) of young women agree that viewing pornography is acceptable, whereas nearly 9 out of 10 (87%) young men and nearly one third (31%) of young women reported using pornography.
(Generation XXX: Pornography Acceptance and Use Among Emerging Adults, Journal of Adolescent Research, Vol. 23, No. 1, 6-30 (2008))

lightedcandle.org/pornstats/science.asp

The absolute biggest struggle in my life right now is overcoming personal sexual impurity. Let’s just say that our culture is not helping.

So, I’m curious if adults and young women are aware of how prolific pornography is specifically in young males. (I’m sure that most young guys are aware of just how prolific it is.)

I have no doubt that the figures above are accurate because a few years ago in high school I did a group project on pornography for my morality class. (This was a Catholic high school.) We did an anonymous survey about the subject and asked each person if they had viewed pornography intentionally and whether or not they thought that viewing pornography is morally acceptable (morally acceptable on their own personal terms).
The slight majority of both girls and guys thought that viewing pornography was morally unacceptable. (Indicative of the fact that we were in a Catholic high school.)

The other question revealed that few girls at this age had viewed pornography intentionally, and that virtually every male in the high school had viewed pornography intentionally. Based on the sample size, I would say that out of the approximately 500 male students at my school, between 1 and 10 of them had not viewed pornography intentionally.

Now, there will be some here who say that many of the boys were probably just curious, perhaps viewing it only a few times. * I say that I know how curiosity can turn into a habit, and I know how hard it is to break that habit.* (EDIT: especially with the amount of pornography readily available on the web…)

So, did you know how big of an issue this is? Did you young women realize that it is highly improbable that you will meet a man who has not had pornography affect his view of sexuality in at least a minor way?

 

[dashso40]

I am married and I know my husband had a stripper at his bachelor party many years ago…and I think that’s what every groom to be does b/c our secular society sexualizes everything ad nauseum …I can’t stand it…I was watching The next food network star on the food channel and there was a commercial break during it about a female vibrating sex thing which I could not believe…I mean it was a food show, I could have been watching with my kids!..I don’t understand all this sexual stuff…it is so annoying…I don’t think it has any place during a food show…!!!

 

[whatevergirl]

I am married and I know my husband had a stripper at his bachelor party many years ago…and I think that’s what every groom to be does b/c our secular society sexualizes everything ad nauseum …I can’t stand it…I was watching The next food network star on the food channel and there was a commercial break during it about a female vibrating sex thing which I could not believe…I mean it was a food show, I could have been watching with my kids!..I don’t understand all this sexual stuff…it is so annoying…I don’t think it has any place during a food show…!!!

*I agree…it’s beyond old.

To the OP–yes, I realize how prolific it is…my dh and I viewed it together for a time, when we were first married. It’s not an isolated ‘man’s battle,’ although, more men view it solo I think (?) than women…I’m not sure if the stats you post are based on women viewing it with their significant others/spouses? Either way–it taints the marriage bed! We enjoyed it at first, and then it became something we felt we needed to do as foreplay. Years later, we look back and wonder who those two people were! Christ makes all things (and people) new! I think that it’s safe to say that the devil has found a significant and powerful wedge in marriage…porn and lust. Lust goes back to the beginning of time, but porn is just a manifestation and selling of lust, when you think about it. I pray for all who struggle with this…It twists the beautiful gift that God has blessed us with…*

 

[musicality]

*I agree…it’s beyond old.

To the OP–yes, I realize how prolific it is…my dh and I viewed it together for a time, when we were first married. It’s not an isolated ‘man’s battle,’ although, more men view it solo I think (?) than women…I’m not sure if the stats you post are based on women viewing it with their significant others/spouses? Either way–it taints the marriage bed! We enjoyed it at first, and then it became something we felt we needed to do as foreplay. Years later, we look back and wonder who those two people were! Christ makes all things (and people) new! I think that it’s safe to say that the devil has found a significant and powerful wedge in marriage…porn and lust. Lust goes back to the beginning of time, but porn is just a manifestation and selling of lust, when you think about it. I pray for all who struggle with this…It twists the beautiful gift that God has blessed us with…*

The statistics at the top of my post are for young men (high school/college-aged men–so most likely unmarried).

I do realize that lust has been around longer than anyone can remember (for both men and women), but I am curious if people really realize that pornography is viewed by almost 90% of young men–a ridiculously high number.
What I’m saying is that if you are a parent of an adolescent male, your son is probably has accessed/is accessing pornography.

 

[HouseArrest]

Thanks for the info - our oldest son is now 12 and it’s sad that since it is so readily available we have to “warn” our kids about such dangers earlier than we feel they are ready.

I am guessing that a lot of kids do follow what society deems moral since parents won’t/don’t/can’t tell them any different. I know that some will do it anyway, but what chance do they have if they are never educated?

 

[whatevergirl]

The statistics at the top of my post are for young men (high school/college-aged men–so most likely unmarried).

I do realize that lust has been around longer than anyone can remember (for both men and women), but I am curious if people really realize that pornography is viewed by almost 90% of young men–a ridiculously high number.
What I’m saying is that if you are a parent of an adolescent male, your son is probably has accessed/is accessing pornography.

I don’t doubt it. I will say though, that we purposely keep the computer (we have two, but our son doesn’t use the laptop) in a central, highly visible location, in our family room. I don’t believe he is viewing porn. He has mentioned that a friend of his brought a playboy or something to school last year, and showed it to him, and he told me about it. He said that he knows it’s wrong, and that he told his friend it was wrong. My kids aren’t saints, but we try to teach them the consequences to their actions, and that there is all kinds of filth out there for them to see…I “think” they get it. I am happy he told me about it, it opened up a good discussion without it being forced or artificial. The sad reality of the internet is that a kid can be innocently researching something for school, and on the page he lands on, there could be in the corner, a scantilly dressed chick, selling something, or with a link leading the person to another website, who knows where. I find that to be so wrong…and sad…that we can’t just surf the net anymore without some type of intrusion into our minds. Anyways, we must keep up the good fight, and pray that our youth and others will stay pure, despite the various temptations that are out there.

 

[Maria65]

So, I’m curious if adults and young women are aware of how prolific pornography is specifically in young males.

I’ve decided I really don’t want to know what men do.

 

[GratefulDad]

It is interesting the survey finds this stat:

“People who reported being happily married were 61 percent less likely to report using Internet pornography.”

This looks like it shows the strength of a unified and truly loving marriage. Check this from Corinthians.

“1 Corinthians Chapter 7
1
Now in regard to the matters about which you wrote: “It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman,”
2
but because of cases of immorality every man should have his own wife, and every woman her own husband.
3
The husband should fulfill his duty toward his wife, and likewise the wife toward her husband.
4
A wife does not have authority over her own body, but rather her husband, and similarly a husband does not have authority over his own body, but rather his wife.
5
Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, to be free for prayer, but then return to one another, so that Satan may not tempt you through your lack of self-control.
6
This I say by way of concession, however, not as a command.
7
Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am, but each has a particular gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.”

Also, I did not see any stats on prayerfulness in this environment combating Satan and his minions.

 

[musicality]

I don’t doubt it. I will say though, that we purposely keep the computer (we have two, but our son doesn’t use the laptop) in a central, highly visible location, in our family room. I don’t believe he is viewing porn. He has mentioned that a friend of his brought a playboy or something to school last year, and showed it to him, and he told me about it. He said that he knows it’s wrong, and that he told his friend it was wrong. My kids aren’t saints, but we try to teach them the consequences to their actions, and that there is all kinds of filth out there for them to see…I “think” they get it. I am happy he told me about it, it opened up a good discussion without it being forced or artificial. The sad reality of the internet is that a kid can be innocently researching something for school, and on the page he lands on, there could be in the corner, a scantilly dressed chick, selling something, or with a link leading the person to another website, who knows where. I find that to be so wrong…and sad…that we can’t just surf the net anymore without some type of intrusion into our minds. Anyways, we must keep up the good fight, and pray that our youth and others will stay pure, despite the various temptations that are out there.

Sounds like you’re doing a good job with your son, glad to hear it! I hope he continues to resist any temptation to cave in to society’s morals. (Unfortunately, knowing that it was wrong was not enough for me. )

HouseArrest:

Thanks for the info - our oldest son is now 12 and it’s sad that since it is so readily available we have to “warn” our kids about such dangers earlier than we feel they are ready.

I am guessing that a lot of kids do follow what society deems moral since parents won’t/don’t/can’t tell them any different. I know that some will do it anyway, but what chance do they have if they are never educated?

I’d definitely have to agree with you. It really is scary that your son is at the average age where children are first exposed (usually accidentally) to pornography.
Even though I know women are statistically less likely to become users of porn, it crosses my mind every time my little sister, who is about your son’s age, is on Google that she may come across a malicious link.

 

[whatevergirl]

*musicality–I know, it is a tough thing when it comes into a person’s life. My dh takes a diffrent spin on these subjects with our son, and I have a different approach, too. I also told him without details, that his dad and me used to view it, before we realized how offensive it was to God and our marriage. He listened, wide eyed. It is a strange thing to share such things with your teenager…but, sometimes, it helps. Again, minimizing details, and just allowing it to serve as a teaching tool. I told him that no one ever told me it was wrong…on some level, I think we all instinctively know it’s wrong, it doesn’t feel right looking at it, but sin if often like that, when you first start something…then, after a while…it seems like no big deal. He said that he didn’t understand how it could hurt anyone, if women are ‘willing’ to do that…but I explained to him how these women are often brought up, etc. And he got it. Plus, it hurts spouses, and marriages, because it’s not sex in its authenticity. It’s interesting where a conversation leads with a teenager…

I always have told our kids–come to your father or me for your answers to human sexuality, and they do. It’s sad that we have to address porn with our son, but because it’s so prevalent, it would be a disservice to him, if we didn’t. God bless, and prayers to all who struggle with this. *

 

[dakotagirl]

I’ve decided I really don’t want to know what men do.

Haha, I could have written that. I was just about to ask the OP why he thinks women have to know? I’m being serious. When I was knocked out of my safety shell as a young thing, (being in the company of good, holy Catholics!) realizing that other people thought about sex all the time made me think about it too At first I wasn’t being lascivious, just nervous. Then I had to struggle with temptation. How could those thoughts NOT occur to me after realizing that most young men and a lot of young women think about them all the time? I resented having the thought of what men think about in their private thoughts rubbed in my face.

 

[dakotagirl]

Modesty in conversation is hugely underrated, I think.

 

[Tosk]

I am blissfully unaware of how prolific porn is and I intend on staying that way

 

[musicality]

Just as a general thought:
Part of my motivation for starting this thread stemmed from the fact that there seem to be quite a few posters who start threads about how their husband, boyfriend, son, etc. is viewing pornography. I get the sense that they’re surprised. Unfortunately, I’m not.

I guess I just want people to realize that in today’s culture, you will be hard pressed to find a man who has not had some sort of experience with porn. It really is unfortunate, and I wish as a society, we were doing more to prevent hyper-sexuality from becoming so pervasive–especially among the newest generations. Honestly, I’m concerned for my future children, and I’m not even close to being in a relationship at this point…

 

[johngh]

The male sexual drive was not built to withstand the overhwelming existence of internet pornography. Sure you can do it, but it is very hard and something I think a lot of men struggle with. Just one more way in which our society is destroying itself.

 

[sseason]

Just as a general thought:
Part of my motivation for starting this thread stemmed from the fact that there seem to be quite a few posters who start threads about how their husband, boyfriend, son, etc. is viewing pornography. I get the sense that they’re surprised. Unfortunately, I’m not.

I guess I just want people to realize that in today’s culture, you will be hard pressed to find a man who has not had some sort of experience with porn. It really is unfortunate, and I wish as a society, we were doing more to prevent hyper-sexuality from becoming so pervasive–especially among the newest generations. Honestly, I’m concerned for my future children, and I’m not even close to being in a relationship at this point…

Maybe they’re surprized or maybe they’re not…I see it as expressing and making note of the incredible hurt and pain that this does to individuals, relationships and families. I see these threads as a way of getting the info out there that it’s NOT ok just because it’s normal (I’m using the definition of “normal” meaning what the majority of society does).
…no wonder so many relationships fail…people are being cheated on constantly and the person that’s doing the cheating doesn’t see anything wrong with it just because it isn’t physical touch. Like a previous poster quoted from the Bible “if you so much as look at a woman with lust, you have already committied adultery with her in your heart.”

It’s just sad. All the pain that pornography causes. I don’t think people that view immoral material (whatever it is) realize the pain that it causes the other person. …and the world.

~Mary most chaste, pray for us!~

 

[Luke_K]

Considering that all someone has to do to view porn is type a word into Google, how can anyone NOT be aware of how prolific porn is?

And even if that is avoided, you’ll see the sex in any popular movie that teens go to, hear it glamorized in pop songs, and of course all over TV. And then those images and words latch on to your mind and fester there, and you know that more of it is available with just a few keystrokes and a click of the mouse. It’s ridiculous.