... to ask if you have ever watched porn?

To be fair @init4thecats anyone would surely expect a film called Nymphomaniac to feature some sex…?

but it’s an interesting question. Scenes from films with simulated/implied sex have stayed in my mind much longer than porn I’ve seen.

I wonder where people start to consider it 'porn'. Many movies these days have 'obscene' sex scenes (supposedly, 'Nymphomaniac' with Shia LaBeouf is one, although I have only heard anecdotally), or even Game of Thrones.

It's still an actor getting paid for on-screen sex acts. How many people here are dodging the 'label' of never having watched it, but watched things that are practically the same.

I've seen it, but it doesn't do much for me.

@RubberDuckyURtheone
I feel pretty strongly about it, i just don't think I feel it can be ethical because I've no real way of knowing the performers are not being exploited.

How is that different from any other industry? Fashion or food production, for example?

And if there were a way of knowing this - say for example if there were a robust system of government licensing of producers based on ethical standards, with requirements of full transparency about performers etc - would that solve the ethical question?

only a little in the past.

i became paranoid about seeing something illegal / very distasteful/ exploitative and supporting an industry with very dodgy ethics. I work in an area where safeguarding is very i portant and I have my work email on my phone - I doubt it could actually happen but I don’t want to trigger my organisations alerts somehow.

Unfortunately yes. I had a bit of a problem with it, nothing too heavy though. But I haven't in a long time now and the thought of it repulses me thankfully.

That reminds me of another old joke:

Erotic is using a feather.

Kinky is using the whole chicken.

I have huge issues with the sex industry and vulnerable women being exploited, trafficked etc. So no, I have never bought, watched or otherwise engaged with porn. Personally I wouldn't be able to fund it arousing as I'd just be thinking about whether the people involved are being exploited or abused. Nothing sexy about that.

I frequently watch porn. It’s something I really enjoy & have since I was 18. It’s where I learnt how to give my husband a BJ.

My husband has no interest in it though. We have a very healthy sex life.

I’m 35 by the way.

No, never. No inclination to do so.

A friend put on 3 seconds of it when I was a teenager I asked then what wat that tripe and we switched it off

Never seen it since the noise of normal sex scenes in tv and film is enough to turn me off let alone fake sex in porn so no interest in it

Yes, 65, in the past

I've seen my share and it was fine at first but the more you watch, the more ugly it gets. You soon realise just how degrading the majority is. You're often left feeling that men enjoy it most when women are in pain, suffering g or reluctant. A lot of the american stuff, in particular, looks like hate shagging. Haven't gone near it in years. I think it's become a lot more extreme in recent years with everybody competing for clicks. I heard somewhere or other that the law in the UK won't allow to show smiling in porn. I don’t know if it's actually true. I've got no desire to research it. I've got no interest in it now.

I agree with this.

Ive never watched it and the whole industry concerns me, how normalised it has become and from reading on here, some of the extreme things people discuss which have become mainstream really worry me.

I wish it was something honestly more regulated and less available, I worry what the industry is doing to influence young people especially.

I’ve watched it but found that I don’t actually really enjoy anything involving genitalia in any combination. I do t find sexual parts of any person that appealing. What I actually like is the build up, the kissing and caressing which is hard to find in porn but readily available in bridgerton! On the odd occasion when I do watch porn it’s always same sex, either m/m or f/f as I find males in heterosexual content to be too aggressive somehow, even when it’s meant to be soft content, it gives a predatory feel that puts me off. I only accessed this in my 30’s, never considered it previously.

Blimey 😳

Of course

No I've never watched it and have no intention of watching it.
I think its sad, when porn has so many negative effects and the porn industry is so exploitative , that so many people try to normalise watching it.

I like watching M/M also. Has to be amateur though (ie. real sex), no paid fake stuff/acting. They have to be enjoying it for me to enjoy watching them, and with all the participants being men there is an obvious visual they are enjoying it! A recent one I watched was five men, and one of them was alot younger (30s) than the others, and he was in ecstasy. It's a turn on to see this while being so detached from it.

I’m 30, and have watched it- and do watch it a few times a month. I don’t see the issue, I’m an adult and make informed choices about my own sexual preferences.

The first time I saw porn I was 12 and a male friend had it on his phone and was showing everyone

Yes. Over 70. Find M/F porn boring but enjoy M/M - same as blokes like "lesbian" porn, I suppose. And most porn is pwp, so even the M/M gets dull...

Male here, and I think it's revolting. I don't see the attraction of cameras zooming in on the ahem... assets. I'm not religious either, so not being a prude.

Normally though on AIBU, the men (the "D"H's) get jumped on due to porn being exploitive of women (which is sadly often true), but several people in this thread don't seem to have a problem with porn.

Yep in my mid 50s and it is a part of our relationship. Both me and my husband enjoy it together.

No, never. Was a conservative teen and by the time I was less conservative was having very satisfactory sex so felt no need.