I’d like some porn to go with my glass of red wine
The following is a public health posting from danieldrezner.com: The Australian reports that a dash of pornography can be good for you (link via Joe Gandelman — he’s the one who originally linked to this, blame him!!): Pornography is good for people, the academic leading a taxpayer-funded study of the subject said yesterday, as the ...
The following is a public health posting from danieldrezner.com: The Australian reports that a dash of pornography can be good for you (link via Joe Gandelman -- he's the one who originally linked to this, blame him!!):
The following is a public health posting from danieldrezner.com: The Australian reports that a dash of pornography can be good for you (link via Joe Gandelman — he’s the one who originally linked to this, blame him!!):
Pornography is good for people, the academic leading a taxpayer-funded study of the subject said yesterday, as the Coalition and Labor traded jibes about an Opposition push to stop online porn reaching home computers. Alan McKee, who with academics Catharine Lumby and Kath Albury is conducting the Understanding Pornography in Australia study, said that a survey of more than 1000 porn-users must be taken into account as Labor considers forcing all internet service providers to automatically filter hardcore porn to protect children. “The surprising finding was that pornography is actually good for you in many ways,” Dr McKee said. “When you look at people who are using it in everyday life, over 90 per cent report it has had a very positive effect.” Dr McKee said porn users reported it had taught them “to be more relaxed about their sexuality” and marriages were healthier, while porn made people think about another person’s pleasure and made them less judgmental about body shapes. “The more we try and turn porn into something that’s seen to be bad and has to be kept away from families, the more problems we might be causing for ourselves.”
Much as I would like to say that it’s scientifically sound to use porn, the social scientist in me has to observe two whopping caveats to this report:
1) This conclusion appears to be based on self-reporting and reaction by porn users — which is like asking people in a bar whether they’re more sociable after a drink or two; 2) “Appears” is italicized is the last point because it’s possible that other metrics were used — but damned if I know. The Understanding Pornography in Australia web site does not have any research results posted. For a .info website, in fact, there’s precious little information. That’s not a good sign.
[That analysis was so robust, so powerful!!–ed. Oh, shut up.]
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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