# Cognitive effects of masturbatory fantasizing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 19, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072 "2017-11-19T14:57:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/21 "2017-11-20T16:05:49Z")
If I were forced to make a choice between _ **never** _ having sex with a woman again and _ **never** _ masturbating again I’d call bullshit on whoever was forcing me to make that choice. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/22 "2017-11-20T18:33:23Z")
Doctor: What seems to be the problem? Patient: I’m an avid masturbator. In fact, I do it all the time. Doctor: You’re going to have to stop. Patient: What? You mean quit forever? Doctor: No! For a few minutes so I can examine you!!! OP: Lost me at “luscious.” Ewww. ---
**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/23 "2017-11-21T01:43:47Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > You’ll know it’s gone too far when at work, you start sexually harassing yourself. #whynotmetoo ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/24 "2017-11-21T03:29:46Z")
I think masturbation is about 5% of the problem you’re dealing with. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/25 "2017-11-21T22:01:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > If I were forced to make a choice between _ **never** _ having sex with a woman again and _ **never** _ masturbating again I’d call bullshit on whoever was forcing me to make that choice. Yeah, but it’d be a tough call, I think. Quality vs. Quantity… As Stalin said, Quantity has a Quality all its own… But then, 25 years of marriage might be clouding my view… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/26 "2017-11-21T23:14:46Z")
There are essentially two varieties, what I don’t want and what I can’t have. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/27 "2017-11-22T06:20:25Z")
Sex is overrated. Of course a man’s sexual function should be treated adequately, but there are biological aspects that require more attention in my opinion such as sleep or excretion. I’m not an expert and I know my own experience does not entitle me to issue general rules, but from what I’ve observed there are people who enjoy or can’t do without companionship and others for whom someone else’s company is mainly a burden. I belong to the former category and I consider it a blessing that I was able to find the right partner with whom to spend the rest of my days. Social norms are constructs and a man ought to lead his life the way he wants as long as he doesn’t break the law, hurt the people around him or affect his own mental balance. He should freely decide on the amount and type of sex he wants to enjoy depending on his own needs and lifestyle. ([here’s an example I’ve just found on the news](https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/voices/my-husband-and-i-no-longer-have-sex%e2%80%94but-our-bond-is-stronger-than-ever-heres-why/ar-BBF8goW?ocid=spartandhp)) ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/28 "2017-11-22T13:30:11Z")
> [@PlaceboTarget](#): > > Social norms are constructs and a man ought to lead his life the way he wants as long as he doesn’t break the law, hurt the people around him or affect his own mental balance. He should freely decide on the amount and type of sex he wants to enjoy depending on his own needs and lifestyle. ([here’s an example I’ve just found on the news](https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/voices/my-husband-and-i-no-longer-have-sex%e2%80%94but-our-bond-is-stronger-than-ever-heres-why/ar-BBF8goW?ocid=spartandhp)) True that. People’s libidos (libidoes? They both look funny.) can vary all over the map. The tragedy is when a couple has a widely different need for sex. I would not be happy in a marriage like the one described in the article, but if it works for them, more power to 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Lickety\_Split\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/67e7ee/32.png) [@Lickety\_Split\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lickety_Split_1)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/29 "2017-11-23T02:57:00Z")
"_Hey…don’t knock masturbation; it’s sex with somebody I love."_ –Woody Allen ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/30 "2017-11-23T06:14:46Z")
You just need to get ahold of yourself is all. ---
**Author:** ![BuckChongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@BuckChongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckChongo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/31 "2017-11-24T03:08:02Z")
if you’re masturbating as much as you want to you have too much time on your hands. I read in The Guardian (really) that the main problem is if one uses too strong a grip one won’t be satisfied with a woman. Not sure what the article was trying to say… ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/32 "2017-11-24T11:30:15Z")
What frame of reference does an adult virgin use to masturbate to for decades? Eventually he may have sex and find a vagina does not smell/taste/feel anywhere near as good as he’s been imagining, or that it’s a zillion times better than he’s imagined and he’s wasted a lot of time not having it. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/33 "2017-11-24T15:51:37Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > You’ll know it’s gone too far when at work, you start sexually harassing yourself. I always buy myself flowers… at the very least I take myself to dinner. I do draw the line at shaking hands with myself however. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/34 "2017-11-24T19:51:56Z")
There are two types of men - those that masturbate and those that lie about it. It is perfectly normal. What do you think all of that internet porn is being used for? Porn literally helped build the web and was the earliest, most profitable business model and still going stronger than ever. Relationships are a whole different thing. I agree that you just need practice for that. Try [Match.com](http://Match.com) for a few months. I can give you some tips if you PM me. You probably won’t be very confident or successful for the first few dates but just look at it like a casual warmup because that is easy to fix. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/35 "2017-11-26T07:29:12Z")
> [@BuckChongo](#): > > if you’re masturbating as much as you want to you have too much time on your hands. And too much of some other stuff on your hands too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SarahWitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@SarahWitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SarahWitch)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/36 "2017-11-26T08:41:02Z")
> [@Scott\_H](#): > > While masturbation was once frowned upon and considered to cause a variety of illnesses Of course, because society wants people to breed like rabbits, work like dogs and live like pigs; and it can’t do that without whoring women like pimps, which frowns on competition-- even from a man’s own foreskin, so it’s CUT OFF AT BIRTH! (And no, that does not “sound worse than it is,” we’re just _used_ to it). Thus the “Seven Deadly Sins” pertain to normal healthy needs, and the castigation to suppress them in self-sacrificing servitude to those in power. Sex is sex, no matter _who_ does it. ---
**Author:** ![SarahWitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@SarahWitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SarahWitch)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/37 "2017-11-26T08:45:14Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > There are two types of men - those that masturbate and those that lie about it. No, there are also men who waste their lives chasing women out of peer-pressure, so they can avoid the shame that peer-pressure imparts… along with women who supply them, and are equally devoid of life. It’s good people are catching on, but it’s too slow. ---
**Author:** ![SarahWitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@SarahWitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SarahWitch)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/38 "2017-11-26T08:46:56Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > And too much of some other stuff on your hands too. 😉 TOTALLY worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/39 "2017-11-26T09:27:16Z")
WTF, was that all about? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cognitive-effects-of-masturbatory-fantasizing/802072/40 "2017-11-26T15:11:57Z")
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