# Societal Impact of Internet Porn **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 1, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082 "2011-03-01T18:15:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/1 "2011-03-01T18:15:00Z")
Individual results may vary of course, but I recently saw what I consider an astounding claim in a [CNN blog](http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/20/how-porn-is-changing-our-sex-lives/) about the public at large. > [@](#): > > By my estimate, men are masturbating 50 to 500% more than they would normally without Internet porn. So if a guy normally masturbated once a day, he might now be doing it two or three times a day. If he masturbated three times a week, he might now be getting graphic with his graphics 15 times a week. > > If you’re 17 and single, this might not be a problem. But if you’re 40 and toting a gut, it’s an issue—a real issue. Some guys may still feel mentally like they’re 17 years old, but they can’t have sex that way. Their bodies have changed and so have their refractory periods, the natural interval between erections. > > As a result, today’s woman faces more challenges to her sexual satisfaction than ever before. An increasing number of men are suffering from a syndrome I’ve dubbed Sexual Attention Deficit Disorder. Just as people with real ADD tend to be easily distracted, guys with SADD have become so accustomed to the high levels of visual novelty and stimulation that Internet porn provides that they’re unable to focus on real sex with a real woman. Men with SADD tend to find themselves getting bored or impatient during sex, and suffering from mechanical “male-functions”: They may be physiologically aroused and even have an erection, but they’re not at peak mental arousal. Guys with SADD may also simply lack the mojo for real sex because they’re depleted from masturbation. They’re not running on a full tank, physically, mentally, and certainly not sexually. > > It’s a SADD state of affairs and this new world order of porn doesn’t show any signs of changing. My guess is that we’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg in terms of the myriad ways porn will alter the landscape of our love lives. He seems to be conflating two issues here, but regardless, the questions remain: 1. Are his numbers for real? I have no idea how he came by these estimates, and if they’re based on his own sex counseling practice, he might be using a skewed sample. 2. Are they having the far reaching impact that he suggests? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/2 "2011-03-01T18:31:26Z")
Since you posted this in IMHO and not GQ, I am as qualified as anybody to state My Humble Opinion: This article is full of shit. “By my estimate…”, “a syndrome I’ve dubbed…”, “My guess is…” Translation: I’m pulling this all out of my ass. ---
**Author:** ![uuaschbaer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/76d3ee/32.png) [@uuaschbaer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uuaschbaer)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/3 "2011-03-01T18:54:03Z")
By his _estimate_? If it looks not quite like a scientist, swims not quite like a scientist, and quacks not quite like a scientist, then it probably is not quite a scientist. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/4 "2011-03-01T19:12:23Z")
Why don’t we start our own informal pole, err poll, here and look at the results? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/5 "2011-03-01T19:14:39Z")
Does the guy think that porn was invented along with the Internet? If there’s been any relatively recent change when it comes to porn, it’s the slow de-stigmatization of it and masturbation. It’s typically just considered somewhat silly and embarrassing these days, not “you have sinned against God!” and so on. Which is a benefit to women, not a problem since it means that men aren’t as sexually frustrated and are more able to look at women as people and not merely as the only means of sexual relief allowed to them. ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/6 "2011-03-01T19:16:19Z")
I’m not buying any of it. Internet porn is a good thing. And you can’t convince me otherwise. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/7 "2011-03-01T19:20:16Z")
Well, by _my_ estimates, whoops. . .gotta go, something just came up. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/8 "2011-03-01T22:42:56Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Since you posted this in IMHO and not GQ, I am as qualified as anybody to state My Humble Opinion: This article is full of shit. > > “By my estimate…”, “a syndrome I’ve dubbed…”, “My guess is…” > Translation: I’m pulling this all out of my ass. It’s not his ass he’s pulling! _cymbal crash_ (Thank you! I’ll be here all week!) Actually, that’s a weird really “article.” Shorter version: “OMG I am, like, way sure that men are masturbating more because of internet porn! Civilization will end! Anyway, masturbating is a normal, healthy thing and porn can be good for couples. If you think this split personality baseless fear-mongering/bland reassurance is the kind of thing you want from someone counseling you on an incredibly sensitive subject, come to our website!” I think the thought process was “OK, let’s lead with something ominous and scary to convince people that because of technology beyon their control they really need sex counseling. Then, we’ll say something sex-positive and comforting so the marks, I mean potential customers, won’t feel like they’ll be ridiculed if they come to us. Then we’ll give them our contact information, and wait for the patients, to roll in.” All it did for me was convince me that I wouldn’t come to this guy for advice on what time of day it is, but I suppose I’m not the target for the advertisemen- I mean, blog post. ---
**Author:** ![JFLuvly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@JFLuvly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFLuvly)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/9 "2011-03-02T01:35:16Z")
Actually, I don’t think he’s all that far off, at least for a certain demographic. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/10 "2011-03-02T01:49:26Z")
year before the internet, there was the new delivery system of VCR porn; corrupting people who’d never dare venture into a seedy porn theater. Going further back, the seedy porn theater offered a blazing, moving depiction of what was previously available only via smut mags, and before them French postcards. Everytime anyone pointed out the dangers of the most recent upgrade, his or her conceit always been “I’m so morally and intellectually well-comported that I can handle it: witness my erudite analysis. But the average Joe is going to be distorted, poor sap.” Leading us to believe that writing editorials about porn is its own form of masturbation. Which I can handle; but your average poor blogging sap, on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zany_Zeolite_Zipper)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/11 "2011-03-02T01:49:28Z")
How in the hell does anyone who is not sixteen rub one out three times per day? Frankly, even once per day is pushing it. My, er, friend usually averages about two or three times per week max. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/12 "2011-03-02T01:57:18Z")
> [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](#): > > How in the hell does anyone who is not sixteen rub one out three times per day? Frankly, even once per day is pushing it. My, er, friend usually averages about two or three times per week max. Sex drive is quite variable between people. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/13 "2011-03-02T01:57:34Z")
> [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](#): > > How in the hell does anyone who is not sixteen rub one out three times per day? Frankly, even once per day is pushing it. My, er, friend usually averages about two or three times per week max. You poor thing. Thank Og some of us have natural Viagra. Or better “friends.” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/14 "2011-03-02T02:22:15Z")
Man, you just can’t have a good moral panic these days unless it has something to do with the internet. Back when I was a lad we didn’t need an internet for our moral panics. We had back-masking and D&D and comic books (Ok, that moral panic was a little before my time.) Now no one gets riled up unless there’s an internet angle. “Teenagers are bullying each other.” “Yeah, that’s bad, but they’ve been doing that for time immemorial. Hopefully schools will have policies that mitigate it.” “Teenagers are cyber-bullying each other. On the internet!” “Oh my God! We’re doomed! DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!” “Men look at porn” “Well that’s kind of silly, but they’ve been doing that since time immemorial. Not really something to get that bugged about.” “Men look at porn. On the internet!” “Oh my God! We’re doomed! DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!” ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/15 "2011-03-02T02:25:43Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Why don’t we start our own informal pole, err poll, here and look at the results? EEEWWW!! Keep your results to yourself :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/16 "2011-03-02T11:19:50Z")
Looks like the author came up with the ‘SADD’ acronym which he thought was really witty, then fabricated an article around it. There may be something to be said for the larger scale transmission of pornography skewing expectations of sex ‘IRL’, but he’s tried it in an annoyiing pseudo-scientific tone. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/17 "2011-03-02T11:54:19Z")
“Hey, Dr. Kerner, I was wondering how that article is going - what the hell are you looking at!?” “It’s, uhhh, _research_!” “On donkeys and their use in popular media?” “No, it’s a proper article, with acronyms and everything!” ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/18 "2011-03-02T13:42:38Z")
Boy I’ll say it’s skewed society! I ordered a sausage pizza the other day, and this hot chick delivered it. Although it was raining, she didn’t ask if she could come inside to take her wet clothes off and warm up, she just took her money and left. And left! What the hell! Then there was the time I came across a car stalled out on the side of the road. The lady driving it said it overheated so I gave her some fluids, to which she put in the radiator and closed up the hood said thanks. NO penis ensued! She just up and drove away! ---
**Author:** ![History\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@History\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/History_Geek)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/19 "2011-03-02T14:58:34Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > Boy I’ll say it’s skewed society! I ordered a sausage pizza the other day, and this hot chick delivered it. Although it was raining, she didn’t ask if she could come inside to take her wet clothes off and warm up, she just took her money and left. And left! What the hell! > > Then there was the time I came across a car stalled out on the side of the road. The lady driving it said it overheated so I gave her some fluids, to which she put in the radiator and closed up the hood said thanks. NO penis ensued! She just up and drove away! If I was you, I’d call the head office and file a complaint. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082/20 "2011-03-02T15:05:57Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > Then there was the time I came across a car stalled out on the side of the road. The lady driving it said it overheated > so I gave her some fluids [The Todd from “Scrubs”] I’ll bet you did!! High five! [/The Todd] Of course, that whole bit about being surprised when real life situations didn’t following porn plots was stolen from an episode of “Friends”. Joey and Chandler hadn’t been looking at internet porn, though; they had accidentally gotten a porn cable channel. Which just demonstrates how much the internet changes things… :rolleyes: (I’m pretty sure one of Freud’s contemporaries wrote something about how this new-fangled ‘photography’ was leading to excessive self-gratification among young men, destroying families etc. etc.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-impact-of-internet-porn/573082.md?page=2)