facts about porn

Thandeka, possibly I should leave this and will no doubt regret pursuing this, as don't want to single you out and hijack the thread.

But I still don't see how this has anything to do with science. Your possible dissertation topics sound like social science, and talking to young people about pornography is advice work.

So I still don't understand what the science is that you are carrying out, and how this science has anything to do with pornography.

Sigh. MillyR that was in reply to Dittany asking what my role was. I work in sexual health and do a lot of work with young people around pornography, I am also about to start some research for my dissertation for my masters in sexual health either on homophobia in schools although maybe I will change it to sexualisation/pornography effects on young people as is also an area that interests me. So it was just to say is more than a passing interest but appreciate I sounded totally wanky by writing it like that -so apologies for that! Not trying to sell washing powder no!

The OP stated she wanted some anti-porn facts/evidence to support her arguments which I was interested in reading as well but don't think I have the time or energy to engage in a big debate on it at minute but shall continue reading with interest and respect our differing opinions on it.

Only if you are selling washing powder on a TV advert.

Thandeka, you wrote, 'speaking as a scientist...'

What has you being a scientist got to do with you speaking about pornography?

Non-mainstream- ie.more extreme porn eg. BDSM etc (bondage, domination, sadomasochism).

The issue I imagine with finding a control group is that porn in some form or other is everywhere so difficult to find someone who hasn't seen something even if it was lads mags/music vids rather than anything else- especially as the group was sexually active 18-25 year olds.

Am interested in this idea now though- will ask some colleagues and try and find out re. controls using such a group.

Am sure you are more than capable of reading it for yourself but particularly the differences between the paraphilic and mainstream pornography on the young men.

Think possible negative effects on behaviour from watching extreme porn can sometimes be concluded to be the same for all porn, and in this study they were separated out which was more helpful.

Oh and I find this study to be quite interesting:
www.springerlink.com/content/c1k7r32gj9q72248/

I'm a scientist, turned social scientist (for masters anyhow- though dayjob is mostly sexual health education) so use terms interchangeably in terms of research- (like it with a large sample size and statistically significant before conclusions are drawn if possible). Apologies for confusion.

Meant we as a society, especially as a society that are consumers of pornography (willingly or unwillingly- eg. music vids/billboards/advertising)

Am on this thread because its an area that interests me and often for provision of one fact to back up an opinion there is an equal and opposite fact for the counter opinion. It is worth knowing the full side of a debate field so you can know exactly where and why you stand there.

The OP wanted facts about pay- I gave them to her- sorry if you think that wasn't helpful- is that because it doesn't agree with facts you know?

I think social sciences is one of the best tools we have to properly explore the issues created by porn- there are massive issues at the minute with the government and the sexualisation review using somewhat biased studies/agnecies to "prove" that sexualisation is a problem. So I'm afraid I don't hold much stock in politicians/governments making decisions about porn for the sake of our human rights without coming from an informed evidence base.

Your statement- "It's like saying we need peer-reviewed studies to prove that racist hate material is wrong." You seem to be coming from this from a blanket "all porn is wrong" perspective and therefore I am assuming you mean "porn is women hating material" (apologies if you didn't mean that) but the thing is what about gay porn? lesbian porn? even so called "ethical porn"- a blanket belief that all porn is basically women hating evil actually hinders possibility for meaningful debate and positive change in the industry (I mean wider than mumsnet though I appreciate- mnetters rule the world ;)) - which is why more research is needed into the effect of porn on the consumer (or likewise effect of racist hate mail on the reader). But yes I do think we need to explore further whether all porn is women hating material (and I agree some is).

oops sorry OP you did say we could discuss/share opinions on it- I apologise! must stop -skim reading--

Dittany now you are being a little bit attacking to posters for the sake of getting your own opinion across when the OP specifically asked for this not to be a debate about it.

I'm on the fence on this one until I am completely convinced one way or the other and someone insinuating I am a woman hater supporting prostitution not caring about females being degraded is not really a way to convince me of the value of what you are trying to say.

If you must- Attack the beliefs not the person ta.

So two options - agree with you .. or I can't possible understand - you sound like a cult leader.