Filth. Smut. Grot. Blue movies. PORN.

It has been called many things, but it’s all the same. When it comes down to it, it’s all just a dirty reminder of our sexy, sexy sins. But let’s get real. Pornography can be a very useful tool, not only for an individual, but also for many couples. Even society might have something to gain from the making, distribution, and use of pornography.

Once upon a time, porn was produced and distributed as films. We used to be able to walk into a porn theater and sit down with a bowl of popcorn and watch the newest release of whatever blue movie happened to have come out that week.

Since the early eighties and the birth of video porn, the focus has been taken away from the production of films and focused more so into the distribution of single scenes. As such, these scenes cater to the declining attention span of the average American. This is not to say that porn is bad. In fact, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In this fast-paced, fast food world, sometimes a 3 to 10 minute porn clip is exactly what a person may need to decompress after a long, strenuous day. Not to mention the therapeutic element that exists in having a healthy relationship with one’s sexual self; an act of self-love can do wonders for a person’s self-esteem, and stress relief.

In addition, with such inventive selection, in terms of category, style, and fetish, a person can find exactly what they were thinking of with just the click of a mouse. True, there are drawbacks to having such an extensive selection, and it is possible that a voyeur could come to a point when they have viewed so much that their imagination becomes desensitized due to overstimulation, and may need to take a break.

A committed and married couple whose use of porn is not only a source of erotic stimulation, but also for the use of instruction, helps them learn new ways of pleasuring one another. As a matter of fact, a growing number of couples have taken it upon themselves to produce their own videos. Some may call it a cottage industry, and it truly is the seller’s market. There are also a growing number of couples utilizing webcam porn, not only as an outlet for pleasure, but as a means of earning a substantial income.

One might argue that porn exploits women, objectifies sex, and justifies acts of sexual slavery. There is no arguing that these dark elements of the porn industry are a reality. With every good thing comes a harsh reality, however, one may learn much more from watching porn as a teenager than they could have by experimenting with other young people, and saves the risk of accidental pregnancies, exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and embarrassing mishaps that may lead to social ruin.

It is true that porn displays both women and men in unrealistic terms. Many people who work in the porn industry go to great lengths to alter their bodies to fit the expected cookie cutter image of how a porn star should appear. Some go through the expensive processes of plastic surgery, including breast augmentation, liposuction, collagen injections, rhinoplasty, and even labia reduction surgery. Let us not ignore the objectification and unrealistic image pornography creates for men in their sex role. Oftentimes men are portrayed has brutes or goons. A man in a pornographic video is objectified just as much as a woman is, and sometimes with little to no human character. Basically, making them a grunting, thrusting, sweaty piece of meat.

There are definitely a lot of problems with mainstream pornography, but I digress. Albeit a source of dysfunction for those who are susceptible to addictive, destructive behaviors, porn can have great potential for many individuals and couples, and perhaps even bring about a glimpse of what sexual freedom can look like, but one would never know unless they take the time to explore for themselves. Happy searching.