So can someone just explain to me because really I don't understand

[RosaTransylvania]

In the light of the heated debate on porn currently running on the AIBU board, there is something I need to know.
Do most people really get turned on by watching other people have sex?
Because, don't get me wrong, I love sex. I've had lots of it, with lots of people (though I confine my attentions to DH these days). But I fail to grasp the attraction of sex as a spectator sport. Is it just me?

No. It's not just you!

Thank Christ for that! I was beginning to feel like a proper weirdo.

I don't think it's quite that black-and-white. There's a big grey area, where does tasteful become porn, and where does sexy become grotesque?

What some people will find hugely sexy and arousing, others will find completely bland, and what those others may find sexy the first lot will find pornographic and unappealling.

Yes Prettycandles, but the issue here isn't really the one girl's porn is another girl's erotica side of things, more whether there are people who are not interested in watching people shag at all. In any way, tasteful or otherwise.

Hmmm ... but surely a romantic scene in a movie, ending in a big kiss, can be arousing? It's the same as that, only more (ahem) detailed.

Yes NQC but it isn't the same really, because you are not watching the movie primarily to get aroused by the snog and you probably wouldn't get aroused by the snog if you weren't emotionally involved with the characters.

True, there's a lot more emotional involvement, and it's not about 'phwoar, look at the tits on that'.

But it's still in the same continuum, surely? You're being aroused by watching something sexy happen, and (possibly?) you're imagining yourself in the place of one of the people doing the sexy thing.

(Personally, I'm not a fan of video porn, it inspires thoughts of 'wtf is that?' followed swiftly by 'how did they get the camera there?' rather than arousal.)

I can't imagine watching people bonking without any emotional connection or context, and with lots of graphic grunting and squelching, being remotely arousing for me. OTOH, if there is more to it than just the physicality - a plot, a build-up, a degree of restraint in the camerawork, obvious and realistic shared pleasure for all the participants - then, yes, I can imagine it being arousing.