Sex, porn and TV chat shows

The other day, Xarabank had as its theme pornography. I only watched it in parts (in between adverts) out of curiosity as Sanremo song contest took precedence. I managed to hear some of the so- called arguments brought forward for and against pornography.

... pornography... falsifies the nature of relationships between men and women- Herbert Messina Ferrante

In my view, in these modern times of liberalism pornography can be defended on grounds of freedom. Good enough, I would say.

The usual argument is: What right does the state have to dictate to us what we should or should not do in the privacy of our homes once our behaviour does not badly affect the community at large?

Some critics maintain that watching pornography can have negative effects and turn people into rapists and sexual molesters. But, from what I read, statistically these critics must concede that such outcomes are extremely rare. Many of the millions of people who watch pornography seem to be perfectly well-adjusted people.

To deny them their freedom just because of the presumed bad effect on a tiny minority would be very serious.

Pornography can possibly be defended on other grounds too, though here I am no expert. It is claimed that its use can ginger up a relationship when all other encouragements have failed.

Similarly, it is asserted that pornography provides much-needed consolation for those who, for one reason or other, are unable to enjoy the real thing.

There are diverse opinions even among the liberal minded. Liberals themselves are divided, some clinging to the old freedom line, others troubled by the feminist argument that pornography demeans and dehumanises women.

Personally, I am openly against pornography. I think that it is bad for us, not because it turns us into rapists or sex fiends, which it generally doesn’t, but because it falsifies the nature of relationships between men and women. Almost invariably, the man is sexually dominant to the point of brutality; the women compliant and even eager to be humiliated.

Sex is instant... Love, fear, hope, trepidation – all the conditions present in our lives – are miraculously removed and replaced by gratification.

Porn sex is not real sex. The danger it presents is that it holds up a grotesquely distorting mirror to nature and tells us the lie that this is how it is.

About a decade ago, during a visit to London for a dental seminar, while in my hotel room I happened to switch to Channel 5’s offerings by chance. After Newsnight had ended and I was switching channels, as most of us do, I came across a panel of rather half-witted young people reviewing pornographic films.

I can’t really remember – in fact, I don’t want to remember – but the clip could have featured several people and the film was judged by the panel to be extremely cool!

I don’t think it was. I think it was revolting to the point of throwing up. It wasn’t just that there was no love involved, or no simulation of love. These were not human beings; they were animals, treating one another as animals.

At that moment, I thought of the thousands of children who have TV sets in their bedrooms and of how some of them would be watching such scenes of degradation.

These are lies being told to our children. Sex, they are being told, is free and easy and one can have sex with any one at any time and in any way and without any cost. Women will do everything and will be willing to accept anything being done to them, the message goes.

There are thousands of low-life creatures producing this stuff or worse for the internet and the CD market

To me this is pure filth.