In response to Miss Keith’s article “Pornography: The Fantasy, Infidelity, and Idiocracy,” an alternate opinion wishes to be expressed. In her article, Miss Keith did not explicitly define what constitutes pornography.
For the sake of clarity in this rebuttal, the definition of pornography is the representation of sexual behavior in books, pictures, statues, motion pictures, and other media that is intended to cause sexual excitement (Encyclopedia Britannica.)
Thus, we will only be writing of those who use pornography for sexual uses, despite how many may watch it for a cheap laugh.
We wish to dissociate the addiction to pornography that we believe Miss Keith is referencing from casual viewing.
The “watching pornography equals infidelity” argument also bears rebuttal, and finally, the actual point of pornography in connection to the business of the media.
Addiction to anything, whether it be caffeine, video games, or Cheetos, is bad. Why?
An addiction places something on such an important level in your life so that it literally interferes with every aspect of your life.
When you are truly addicted to something, your love life, your schoolwork and your career, will certainly suffer.
However, using these things occasionally is not detrimental.
For example, many college students manage to have an interest in video games while not being addicted.
Pornography is no different.
When one (whether male or female) is addicted to porn, the typical signs include: neglecting involvement in work, family matters, or other responsibilities, changes in sleeping habits, loss of interest with sexual partner, and feelings of guilt or shame (Brigham Young University.)
If simple viewership of pornography meant addiction, then 87 percent of males would suffer from these horrible symptoms, and women would be running most of the world.
However, we know that’s not true. When one becomes addicted to porn, and day-to-day life suffers, then a line can be drawn and the harm is obvious.
Women’s Health Magazine supports this in the same article Miss Keith referenced: “Occasional porn isn’t the problem; it only becomes a wrecking-ball when it starts to intrude on your sex life together… If he actively hides his material, and makes excuses to avoid having sex, be concerned.”
Secondly, the argument that pornography equals infidelity can not always be considered true.
In a relationship in which the persons involves communication that is entirely honest and open, one partner’s porn viewing will not be a secret.
Relationships do exist in which one member doesn’t mind that the other person sometimes watches porn.
There are even relationships in which the couple may pop in a X-rated flick into the DVD player and watch it together.
Just because a person watches porn does not mean they are unfulfilled with their own sex life or unhappy with their partner.
Does watching a romance movie mean you are unhappy with the romance in your life? No. It’s completely unrelated.
Finally, it’s important to remember that pornography is just another nasty arm of the octopus we call the media.
Like action movies, romance novels and country music, it is created to sell to a particular audience to make money.
Despite that most porn is geared towards heterosexual men, thus making women the object of desire, the porn industry is not solely directed towards that one demographic.
Porn for gay men also exists, as well as for lesbians and straight women.
And yes, the situations within pornos are often absolutely ridiculous and completely untrue to actual life.
But most movies and TV shows are also ridiculous exaggerations of life, and should not be taken as literal and factual.
The notion that a person should base their perception on life on a form of mass media, pornographic or not, is preposterous.
As a mild disclaimer, it bears to say that the two authors of this rebuttal are not attempting to portray pornography as a shining beacon of entertainment.
For both writers, porn is like modern art: we don’t get it, but we don’t condemn it either.
And as a final note, we’d like to say that any addiction, whether to porn, alcohol, or cookies, is a serious issue.
If you need to discuss a dilemma with someone, contact the Counseling Center at 318-342-5220.
Jesse Lee
ULM Student
Sunny Diaz
ULM Student
