That’s the thing. Porn addiction isn’t real. Sex addiction isn’t real. Compulsive behavior is real, but the moment you call it that, it forces ppl to think of motivations in their life for the behaviors they choose — instead of describing porn as uniquely addictive physiologically (it’s not at all) - ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

acvalens.net • 32 days ago

That’s the thing. Porn addiction isn’t real. Sex addiction isn’t real. Compulsive behavior is real, but the moment you call it that, it forces ppl to think of motivations in their life for the behaviors they choose — instead of describing porn as uniquely addictive physiologically (it’s not at all)

Reposted from Charlotte

the frustrating thing is, the right wing propaganda of porn addiction always had this as a target and a lot of people totally buy into it. you can't even mention that porn addiction is not real without a million replies by people with zero scientific literacy all screaming at you

Comments

jessicastarling.bsky.social•32 days ago

As well, I have seen other studies that show correlation btwn self-described “porn addiction” and extreme guilt/shame, possibly from religious upbringing. People may have normative porn consumption habits but bc of the toxic shame they feel abt it they call it an “addiction”

tsrhg.bsky.social•32 days ago

And they use it as a get out of jail free card for infidelity. "I couldn't help myself. I was in the thrall of a porn addiction."

nerd7132.bsky.social•32 days ago

Porn addiction is a psychological abuse tactic used by religion to create an unhealthy dependent cycle pulling you in because they create a problem in you and tell you they are the only solution to the problem they created

katerinabucket.bsky.social•32 days ago

i am pretty sure those studies indicated most self-described porn addicts look at porn hardly at all and feel no particular compulsion to do so. what they are describing as addiction is the fact that they ever get horny whatsoever

m0thdu5t.bsky.social•32 days ago

This is true, but it can also make addictions worse when shame is involved

threefootpony.bsky.social•32 days ago

if it's an addiciton it's not their fault

it's real simple, basically they'll believe anyhting that absolves them of accountability or responsibility.

you're bang on in the read on it.

thatamerican.bsky.social•32 days ago

Send me some of you that might actually be addictive.

thatamerican.bsky.social•32 days ago

0-0

juliettenecro.neocities.org•32 days ago

Honestly I think a huge reason for porn addiction and nofap rhetoric is that people have such sex-negative attitudes towards their own bodies that they can't jack off without feeling miserable

That used to be me; once I transitioned tjat attitude evaporated for me

juliettenecro.neocities.org•32 days ago

I really appreciate whoever it was who told me when I was a baby tran, "no, babes, that's just orgasm dsyphoria" lol

madscientist212.bsky.social•32 days ago

"Porn addiction" is actually compulsive behavior is a very good way of putting it I think. Sometimes people hear a phrase like "porn addiction isn't real" and struggle with it because the phenomena that people *call* porn addiction is a real thing-

madscientist212.bsky.social•32 days ago

So they respond with stuff like "what, are you saying that no one has ever gotten obsessed with porn to the point where it had a bad effect on their life? I know that happens sometimes!" and miss the larger point being made.

madscientist212.bsky.social•32 days ago

But yeah, as someone who has lived my entire life with my dad, an on again off again sadly now on again smoker, but who also has some compulsive behaviors, the difference between the two is pretty stark.

m0thdu5t.bsky.social•32 days ago

Are you drawing the line between behavioral addiction as not a real addiction, and chemical addiction, such as to drugs or alcohol?

theblossombratt.bsky.social•32 days ago

📌

beelzerog.bsky.social•32 days ago

There can be other factors as well. If you actually have depression, porn can be a serotonin creator, a form of self-medication. There is also perception. Some people claim to be addicted, but strictly looking at the data, they are normal consumers, but come from conservative religious backgrounds.

plungingvbekka.bsky.social•32 days ago

This makes me think about that time I told someone "If porn addiction is real, then every rich person alive is money addicted and needs rehab"

acvalens.net•32 days ago

Well said

kandicritter.bsky.social•32 days ago

the problem with releasing "you can develop OCD-like patterns about litterally anything" into the wild is that social norm enforcement relies on people self-deputizing into norm enforcers via this method, and a handful of powerful people make a lot of money off of that.

m0thdu5t.bsky.social•32 days ago

It's real, just not in the way people think. The terms are often overused or used to shame people. Sexual selfharm, addictive behavior, hypersexuality, are real. Misuse of those terms does NOT mean nobody struggles with those things.

m0thdu5t.bsky.social•32 days ago

This is something I see said way too often in "sex-positive" circles. Saying it's not real literally ever is not the way to combat misinformation about the topic.

acvalens.net•32 days ago

[guy in an unhappy straight marriage, a dead-end job, credit card debt, and also eggs are too expensive] WHY AM I ADDICTED TO PORN

acvalens.net•32 days ago

Like yeah maybe that 15 mins on PornHub is addicting bc your life FUCKING SUCKS and it’s the only release you have. For a lot of Americans that’s basically why compulsive behavior around any “treat” begins — games, porn, food, alcohol, caffeine, you name it

iulianus.bsky.social•32 days ago

100%

m0thdu5t.bsky.social•32 days ago

All of those can be addictive, including porn, and there's not always a black and white line between a Real Addiction and simply some unhealthy behavior. Having understandable reasons for a compulsive behavior doesn't make it not an addiction...that's like saying "I get why people are alcoholics, +

m0thdu5t.bsky.social•32 days ago

so alcoholism isn't an addiction". The idea that all mental health issues are illogical or niche is a false one. Most behaviors can be traced back to a root cause. It doesn't make them not exist for the people who experience them.

acvalens.net•32 days ago

The difference is that alcohol actually has a physiological effect on your body encouraging a physical addiction, and porn? The only effect it has physiologically is sexual arousal. “Porn addiction” is about everything BUT porn. A lot of bad therapists make it about porn

acvalens.net•32 days ago

“Porn addiction” also does a disservice to things like gambling, which is created in a way to prey on psychological weaknesses in human cognition. Porn just makes you feel good, that’s it, any reason for so-called “addiction” to that is best addressed by fixing your life, not stopping porn

acvalens.net•32 days ago

Yes, of course, you may need to adjust some behaviors with porn (eg viewing it in places where you shouldn’t, like work). But that’s not bc porn is a drug lmao. It’s bc porn is doing heavy lifting in your life bc your life kinda sucks / isn’t providing happiness and fulfillment

acvalens.net•32 days ago

I LOVE porn and view it frequently but also I don’t need to look at it 24/7 cuz you know, other things also provide me with happiness. Like video games or friends

f1ngerless.bsky.social•32 days ago

someone mused that someone who gets "addicted" to porn could also just probably get addicted to cheese or postage stamps

cariadcinfra.bsky.social•32 days ago

Cheese is chemically addictive

lbbdingo.bsky.social•32 days ago

Oh my god. Don't get me fucking started. I used to date this dude who. Oh my god.

So, I used to date this guy. We had a mid sex life (I say okay because the focus was usually about him and his validation. Looking back, it was toxic.) And I was having a dry spell bc It Happens.

lbbdingo.bsky.social•32 days ago

So the dude's sex drive is way higher than mine, that much is clear. He's masturbating a lot and tells me he consumes porn a lot and he does it at least once a day and keeps saying l, "I'm worried I have a porn addiction."

I sit him down. "Well one, it's not a *porn* addiction. You're hypersexual--

lbbdingo.bsky.social•32 days ago

--that's a completely different thing. Hell, it's normal to have a higher drive than others sometimes. Something isn't really addiction status until it's actively interrupting your quality of life.

But if you're really that worried, go to therapy."

Can you guess what happened next?

lbbdingo.bsky.social•32 days ago

No therapy. Everytime he brought it up, I brought up going to therapy and how hypersexuality can be an ADHD response etc etc. Still no. I'm begging him to see the doctor. He keeps saying he'll calm them but he doesn't. Cue a weird, traumatic break where I was like "I'll get back with you if you--

lbbdingo.bsky.social•32 days ago

Get an appointment. Long story short, he lied to me. He lied that he had the appointment to get me back, only to once again complain about how the lack of sex made him feel invalid and how he was so porn addicted. Not realizing that him being obsessed with the IDEA of him being porn addicted

lbbdingo.bsky.social•32 days ago

Was actively driving a wedge between us. I broke up with him, thank God. But seriously, it's so concerning how so many people not only think porn addiction is this pandemic to be worried about, but the amount of people who both don't think addiction is a medical issue and think they're addicted.