I suspect I'm probably in the unfortunately majority who has viewed pornography on the internet at some point, but alas we all make mistakes.
Pornography is one of those things that is so damaging that it shouldn't be allowed but simply isn't banned because so many people prefer to have it available. Here are the reasons why:
1. Addiction - in terms of wasted time and loss of self control
2. Loss of self-esteem - for the partner-less viewer who feels he or she is missing out on something in life, or doesn't have particular body features that porn starts have or the partner of the viewer who feels he or she is deficient in some way.
3. Wrecked relationships - in relationships including marriages one partner has been unable to be turned on without seeing porn. Can you imagine how his feels for the other partner?
4. Increased difficulty and stimulating the market of regulating illegal sources of pornography - including child porn and human trafficking
5. Lost career opportunities for those in the sex industry
6. STIs and the fact that viewers of pornography have some responsibility for the trauma and in many cases reduced lifespan of the porn stars
7. The mental trauma experienced by porn stars who have to perform degrading acts, many of whom end up becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs to get through the experience
8. Family fallouts caused by people choosing to enter the industry
9. A negative effect on the way the different sexes are viewed within society
I think a couple of things need to be established. The internet did not invent porn, and before the internet there was a wide ranging and multi million pound pornographic industry. Pornography has also existed for as long as photography has existed. I'll address the points you've raised.
1 - addiction in terms of wasted time? How about drinking, gambling and shopping then.
2 - loss of self-esteem. Anything to back that up? I've been in two relationships, and around those and within those relationships pornography has not negatively affected my self-esteem.
3 - I've heard of mention of this before, but can still just as easily as before in life function in this manner.
4 - Child pornography and human trafficking, you may be confusing this with prostitution I fear as mainstream pornography comes from a heavily regulated and legally aware business. Sure you can find unscrupulous stuff, but most people are looking for a quick Google and a quick shufty!
5 - people in the porn industry make a concious decision to do that job, and it can be very well paid.
6 - STIs and lack of sexual health are far more associated with the general population. These people are very careful in preparation, as opposed to a careless drunken one-night stands.
7 - many performers are known for their specialist area, something they do unique to them, or in their own way. I don't think anybody forces them to do it, otherwise everyone would do things like scat, violence and bondage, which is not the case. There are many female performers who will only perform with other women and not even have any sexual intercourse filmed.
8 - tenuous, I know families fall out over jobs in the church. Shall we shut down and regulate them?
9 - The way the sexes are viewed is affected far more by the gaggles of orange slappers coated in Max Factor, drinking to excess and acting with debauchery across the country most nights of the week. I don't think anybody looks down on women because of something they've seen a woman do in a porn film.
