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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

husband watching porn behind my back

128 replies

ladycoleman · 06/03/2022 19:58

married 29 yrs and still my husband watches porn ..don't know why ??

OP posts:
bigbloom · 22/05/2022 18:01

@hotandspicy
I was just making a point, it's not my actually opinion. Like how oral can make you gag and be unpleasant, but not many people would say oral sex (on men) is misogyny.

I personally don't care what anyone does as long as they actually want to do it, I don't get why anal is so controversial - though ot may be unpopular (hence the question).

Crikeyalmighty · 22/05/2022 18:11

@hotandspicy - who are you to tell someone to lighten up! I personally think it's a habit g

Quirkyme · 22/05/2022 18:15

bigbloom · 22/05/2022 18:01

@hotandspicy
I was just making a point, it's not my actually opinion. Like how oral can make you gag and be unpleasant, but not many people would say oral sex (on men) is misogyny.

I personally don't care what anyone does as long as they actually want to do it, I don't get why anal is so controversial - though ot may be unpopular (hence the question).

It's funny how you actually said choking, not that you were against oral sex - again there's a difference and they are not the same or comparable, but yet he equates not being into choking to "not wanting to be pleasured orally by your partner"

Side effects of porn eh? One must also be a lack of comprehension in this case.

Crikeyalmighty · 22/05/2022 18:18

Gone mad with some men. Just as plenty of women don't want to be sharing lives with gamblers, alcoholics or drug addicts- plenty of women aren't ok with men who are watching porn virtually every day and usually behind their backs- it makes many of them feel like shit and less trusting. I would suggest all men who do this tell the truth about frequency and what they watch and actually ask their wives and long term partners how they feel about it - some really won't give a shit - plenty will give a shit- and knowing how your partner feels about it , you can then decide if it's something you feel comfortable with in your relationship and your partner the same in a mutually honest way - if it's no big deal, then it's going to be no big deal talking about it to your partner in an upfront way is it??

MoonbeamsGlittering · 22/05/2022 18:29

@hotandspicy If two partners previously agreed that porn was fine, and then one partner decided that actually they hated it, then that would seem like a harsh switch, so I agree with you there. I imagine that the problem is often that people might not talk about this in the early days, and they only find out that they have opposing views when they're already quite invested in the relationship. Did you and your partner actually talk about porn and agree that it's fine? Or did the subject just never come up?

MoonbeamsGlittering · 22/05/2022 18:31

@Crikeyalmighty I very much agree that it would be great for men to ask their partners about this early on in the relationship and have a conversation to agree on how things will be in their particular relationship. I brought up this topic with my wife two months into dating and I think it was helpful for both of us.

hotandspicy · 22/05/2022 18:49

Quirkyme · 22/05/2022 18:15

It's funny how you actually said choking, not that you were against oral sex - again there's a difference and they are not the same or comparable, but yet he equates not being into choking to "not wanting to be pleasured orally by your partner"

Side effects of porn eh? One must also be a lack of comprehension in this case.

picking at straws here I think..
I wasnt even the original poster of the choking comment, oral can be performed without it turning into a sword swallowing event. if your choking on it, your doing it wrong 😂

Quirkyme · 22/05/2022 18:53

@hotandspicy

"picking at straws here I think..
I wasnt even the original poster of the choking comment, oral can be performed without it turning into a sword swallowing event. if your choking on it, your doing it wrong 😂"

No love, you're picking at straws here.

Now you're on here mansplaining how to suck dick... and being obtuse.

Give it a rest.

wellhelloitsme · 22/05/2022 18:56

Thanks for mansplaining blow jobs to us silly women @hotandspicy...

hotandspicy · 22/05/2022 18:56

MoonbeamsGlittering · 22/05/2022 18:29

@hotandspicy If two partners previously agreed that porn was fine, and then one partner decided that actually they hated it, then that would seem like a harsh switch, so I agree with you there. I imagine that the problem is often that people might not talk about this in the early days, and they only find out that they have opposing views when they're already quite invested in the relationship. Did you and your partner actually talk about porn and agree that it's fine? Or did the subject just never come up?

its not one of the earlier conversations we had when we were dating, but eventually once intimacy became a thing after a handful of dates I asked various questions about how often she masturbated, she told me she doesn't and never has in her life (was 24 at the time we started dating) and I wasn't sure she was serious but to this day shes never been one to have some self relief. I had asked her about porn and she says shes not bothered about it, watching other people have sex doesnt do anything for her, when she asked did I and i said yeah, i use it occasionally if im horny and on my own that was the end of it, prob tried to put it on once or twice over the years but it just feels weird now stopping what we are doing to fire up porn when we could be cracking on doing our own fun intimate activities but shes never said she doesnt want me watching it. if she told me she watches it when im not around, i wouldnt have a problem with it unless it stopped us from having a active sex life.

hotandspicy · 22/05/2022 19:01

This reply has been deleted

We've removed this post as it isn't in the spirit of civil debate.

hotandspicy · 22/05/2022 19:03

Crikeyalmighty · 22/05/2022 18:18

Gone mad with some men. Just as plenty of women don't want to be sharing lives with gamblers, alcoholics or drug addicts- plenty of women aren't ok with men who are watching porn virtually every day and usually behind their backs- it makes many of them feel like shit and less trusting. I would suggest all men who do this tell the truth about frequency and what they watch and actually ask their wives and long term partners how they feel about it - some really won't give a shit - plenty will give a shit- and knowing how your partner feels about it , you can then decide if it's something you feel comfortable with in your relationship and your partner the same in a mutually honest way - if it's no big deal, then it's going to be no big deal talking about it to your partner in an upfront way is it??

I think this is a fair suggestion and shouldnt be something that cant be talked about. 👌

PlntLady · 22/05/2022 19:09

Maybe try watching it with him occasionally? You might like it and gain an understanding of why he watches it.

MoonbeamsGlittering · 22/05/2022 19:41

@hotandspicy Fair enough - it does sound like she knows you watch some porn and she hasn't objected. I can see why you don't think anyone outside the relationship should be telling you to stop if your partner is OK with it. Having said that, I do think (not that you need to care what I think) that we men should approach this topic with some sensitivity and understanding when we're on this forum, given that we are guests here. I think it's quite easy to understand why a lot of women really don't like their partners being heavy porn users, even if some other women might not mind. (I'm not trying to lure you back into arguing with strangers on the internet; I hope that you enjoy your evening!)

Thesefeetaremadeforwalking · 22/05/2022 19:57

Info here;

fightthenewdrug.org/

Thesefeetaremadeforwalking · 22/05/2022 19:59

Specifically this ; fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-can-hurt-a-consumers-partner/

prohodilka · 22/05/2022 20:27

I like this thread because it's gotten serious and it's turned into an adult discussion. In my opinion, these are the best threads.

Before I add my bit I'd like to commend @Tranquilitybasehotelandcasino whose earlier interventions made it worthwhile for me reading till the end.

What I want to say is two things (and first of all make the disclaimer I'm a man):

The objection that porn is abuse and demeans women only holds if what you're watching is actually porn. If you watch clips from mainstream movies with sexy scenes in it, whether on YouTube! or on Pornhub or whatever, that wasn't originally porn. The viewer might be using it as porn, but it's not porn. They may be movies that were shown the world over and won multiple awards. Or even when they weren't, movies with good production, known good actors (who not only do sexy movies), and good directors. I'm not naming names but you know there are.

With the question of when someone's using some non-porn material as porn deserving perhaps its own chapter, and I don't claim I know the answer or I can elaborate fully here, but when would that be? Someone going into a mainstream cinema and watching a movie they know may contain scenes that'll turn him or her on? Someone going into said cinema without telling their partner? Someone watching a movie for the second time? Someone buying the DVD or saving it to the computer, or saving the web bookmark? Someone using the bookmark when they're on their own, or, a step further, when they're on their own for their own recreation or leisure, or further, for their own private recreation + physical pleasure? Where do you draw the line? You see there's going to be as many answers to be as there will be readers (posters). But I said I wouldn't answer this question.

And my second point: To those who say watching porn (real or substitute porn) is cheating, I'd ask this: Isn't a central element in the concept of cheating that there's a time order, or arrival order, between the person or object you're cheating with, and the person who's allegedly being cheated on? That the person being cheated on can claim that he or she was first (either because she was known to the would-be cheater first, or because they've made an 'agreement' first), while the person or object you're cheating with is allegedly second, so they came later in time? And that time ordering and claiming to be first is what allows the person being cheated on to assert their privilege, to say "I am the cheated-on one".

But what do you say to this: What if a person is seeking, for instance, solace or arousal in fantasizing about same sex relationships, or else heterosexual sex but of a kind or nature their partner isn't in a position to provide to them, AND the tendencies of this person predate their meeting their partner, AND it wasn't disclosed at the time, or asked for, or if asked for the person preferred to keep that private? So going back to those tendencies or preferences was never in the marital agreement or contract or whatever, because it wasn't explicitly agreed, only implied (and we all know what happens when contracts are ambiguous enough or flexible enough that even those who subscribe to them have a different understanding what they mean).

But isn't in this case the idea of cheating turned upside down? E.g., a person with secret same-sex preferences could assert that his secret fantasies predate their partner, so giving in to their fantasies in private isn't cheating on their partner, it is actually being with a partner that's 'cheating' on their fantasies (who got there first, as in, they came into his or her life first) and it's actually the partner that's second in line and does not align (even though their partner might not know about it). Or use any example of fantasies that's not same-sex but the partner can't provide; it doesn't matter. There is no need to make any given fantasy a central element - which could be different for everyone - only the time ordering, i.e., fantasy predates partner (so please don't linger on any particular example; after all, it is something that everybody else does not know about the person who's watching porn; it is a question mark).

And the person who's allegedly cheating could assure you at some point they had to choose between remaining single while keeping their fantasies, but be alone (suppose that it wasn't actually possible to live their fantasies), or entering into a relationship while not completely letting go of their fantasies, and for them the latter was preferable and even they're happy with the choice of partner they made. Except they were not happy that their partner claiming precedence or the right to know or to do a deep inspection of their mind (into their long-held secrets), or into their private time (including alone time), or into personal conduct (having to give account of what they have or haven't done, or thought of, or will do or commit to do).

You can see the person who's allegedly cheating (by watching porn or substitute porn) in this case has a defense too, and it goes through asserting independence and freedom and the right to one's privacy and the right to be themselves.

So I am not convinced that the answer to this is clear-cut. I think there is only so much one can enquire on with respect of a partner, no matter how close they are or how much they love each other (or not). I think one has to accept there're things that will never be known, or understood, and conducts that one's never going to be able to witness or be able to control. And personally I think that's a good thing. I think partnership is about union, but not fusion, and it's about voluntary disclosure, but not compelled disclosure. Otherwise we'd be abusing the alleged cheater in the same way we do not want women (or the weak one in a relationship) to be abused (understanding for that, controlled, coerced, or worse). I think giving someone the right to be themselves (even for a fleeting moment out of time, out of sight), can't possibly be a bad thing.

And let me end by saying, for those who may say I'm making it too complicated, and this is only about watching big arses and boobs on Pornhub so it's really very simple: I say I'm not talking about those. Since the matter is simple (allegedly) I''m happy to take a step back and not cover that. I'm only talking about 'complex' (deep-mind, ingrained?) cases. Because really I can't pass judgement about 'simple' cases. If I refuse to call cheating that of a complex case, who am I to say it is clear and to pass judgement in a case seemingly simple. It seems to me that'd be discriminatory and I've not the right to do that. So I'm not condemning those other ones either. I simply do not pronounce myself about them one way or the other.

alwaysontheloo · 22/05/2022 21:17

@prohodilka Bravo! I love the way when you wrote out your above thesis on why you think porn is the best thing since sliced bread, you totally skipped over with the absolute abuse, violence, people trafficking, under-aged sex and child rape and just plain old rape and misogyny involved in making a good percentage of what is freely available on your porn sites. Because it's all about your right to tug away at whatever potential rape you decided to click on. All the way to eventual ED.

Had you even once gone back to the point where you stated:

'The objection that porn is abuse and demeans women only holds if what you're watching is actually porn.'

as if it wasn't a total irrelevance to you anyway, then I might have been more likely to take onboard the rest of your essay. But you didn't. Probs because you didn't care about that bit. It's just some women.

Just so you know, some porn is 100% abuse and demeaning to women.

But well done on the mansplain. 4/10.

alwaysontheloo · 22/05/2022 21:21

@prohodilka

Otherwise we'd be abusing the alleged cheater in the same way we do not want women (or the weak one in a relationship) to be abused

Did you actually just describe women as the weak one in the relationship?

FML incel.

prohodilka · 22/05/2022 21:33

@alwaysontheloo You can attack me or what I wrote all you want. That's your prerogative while the moderator doesn't make you an observation, or others in the threat let you know your intervention is less welcoming or welcome than mine is.
As for me, I only have so much patience, in general I tend to exercise it, but you should know I know where the ignore and block controls are, and know how to use them, you should be left in no doubt about that.

prohodilka · 22/05/2022 21:35

*threat -> thread

Carlycat · 22/05/2022 21:45

It's a deal breaker for me. Any bloke endorsing the abuse of trafficked, invariably underage, abused women and the normalisation of rough sex is IMO a POS

Quirkyme · 23/05/2022 01:10

Carlycat · 22/05/2022 21:45

It's a deal breaker for me. Any bloke endorsing the abuse of trafficked, invariably underage, abused women and the normalisation of rough sex is IMO a POS

^ agree. Dealbreaker for me also.

MoonbeamsGlittering · 23/05/2022 06:25

@prohodilka If privacy and independence are very important to you in a relationship then that's fair enough, but I hope you're not saying that this would justify lying about whether you use porn. If your partner asks and you say "I see this issue as private to me, so there are just some things that will remain a mystery between us" and your partner accepts that, then fine. But if you say "no, of course I don't watch loads of porn" thinking that lying is fine because it's none of their business, then I don't think that's OK. I'm not sure which of these options you're advocating for.

If you know that your partner hates porn, but they never actually ask you about it, but you're watching loads of porn thinking that it's fine because it's none of their business... that sounds problematic too.

I think everyone has the right to set red lines in a relationship, and to ask their partner whether they are crossing those lines, and not to be lied to. Their partner might choose to say "I'm not comfortable talking about that" and then the person will have to decide whether they're OK to stay in the relationship with that ambiguity, or not.

Lurqa · 23/05/2022 13:38

wingscrow · 06/03/2022 20:36

It is sad that so many women seem to accept the narrative that it is 'normal' and something that all men do and that we should just accept it...

Porn is doing so much harm to relationships not because there is anything wrong per se with wanting to look at sexual images but because the type of visuals that porn shows is almost always degrading and violent towards women.

It normalises rough sex and gives a completely distorted image of what having sex looks like.

So it is completely normal too for the OP to have issues with porn and to discuss that with her partner if she wants to.

Spot on, speaking as a man! I suspect that men with fulfilling sex lives watch less porn. Talk to him about it if you can - or watch it with him and talk about it. If it is graphic and/or abusive, he needs to hear your views and respect them.

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