What's the Big Deal about Pornography?

Well?

Pornography is a big deal, and a big deal not seen on this scale by a lot of other cultures in history. Whether you love it, or you hate it, most of us would admit that sexually explicit materials are available in our society, and to every segment of our society (including minors) in amounts likely never equaled in history. Yes, we have classical vedic art, yes we have Japanese woodcuts, yes we have erotic long poems from most cultures. And in the last century we've had print and celluloid media since pretty much the start. What Dr. Manning is talking about is the availability of high fidelity film and stills, along with text, available to every member of society, absolutely anonymously and absolutely free - on demand. As you may or may not know, such access is widespread - Dr. Manning quotes studies suggesting from 80-90% of High School students being exposed. And so the question is, what do we do with this information? How is this going to affect us as a culture? What about our values relating to sex and family life and gender and equality and even respect for other individuals? Is this not likely to cause exponentially more upheaval than the advent of a magic little pill did in the 1960's?

So, it is a big deal, and I tend to agree with Dr. Manning. Now, if you're looking for answers to some of the questions above, you'll get a cursory treatment of the sociological implications in Big Deal - other more meaty explications have been done and Manning references them, notably Pamela Paul's seminal Pornified (for which the wikipedia entry is somewhat pathetic given that this book in its time was itself a Big Deal). Manning's audience is teenagers, very few of whom are sociologists - very many of whom, though, are developing dangerous habits surrounding pornography. And so Manning targets her information at three classes of readers: accidental pornography viewers, habitual pornography viewers, and people who would like to support loved ones with destructive pornography habits.

Remembering her intended audience, problems with prose are made up for by Manning's sincerity. The text doesn't skirt the issues: it does drag out in the open something that blindsided and ensnared many of my generation. We didn't know! Our parents had no idea what was going on on the internet. The analogy, for some, would be similar to parents providing vending machines in their home that produced crystal meth, having been told that they only produced "healthy snacks." Again, and again, I hear stories about marriages and peers whose chains and suffering were forged during the 90's when we didn't yet have our wits about us. But someone had their wits about them... The multi-billion dollar industry that now grosses more than the top American tech firms combined (yes, I include Microsoft).

Manning provides strategies for the above mentioned classes of people affected by pornography. These seem helpful - especially useful was the chapter for parents looking to prevent the problem before it takes root. I continue to type "problem," because yes, I agree with Manning: modern pornography is a Big problem - and we understand but poorly how it will affect our homes and society, though she describes a few chilling indicators. A wise man recently spoke:

"Stay away from it! Avoid it like the plague because it is just as deadly, more so. The plague will destroy the body. Pornography will destroy the body and the soul. Stay away from it! It is as a great disease that is sweeping over the country and over the entire world. Avoid it! I repeat, avoid it!” (Gordon B. Hinckley, 1997)

Morality discussions aside, you don't have to agree with me to appreciate Manning's contribution. Even if you think that some pornography in moderation is alright, you must admit that parents should have tools to at least address this more-than-pressing issue in their homes. I liked Dr. Manning's book, and I appreciated her bravery - this will likely continue to be an unpopular subject. But the infernal thing about pornography is that, for those caught in its snare, its chains are forged in the very flesh, and despite the good advice available on the subject, despite the programs and steps, little apart from divine intervention is able to deliver the captives. And, to be honest, if you're not into the divine, a broad road of suffering and loss may well portend. Even AA recognizes reliance on a higher power.

I apologize for the grim review. While there is life, there is hope - this I believe. But I tend to believe that as individuals, men, women and families, we will all wash against this bleak shore at some time in our very modern lives, and we had best come prepared. Maybe with some hope, too, thanks to the rare voices of positive thinking and encouragement like Dr. Manning's.

But my friends, I say this: the dark Emperor has no clothes.

Not that our ultimate victory isn't foretold, of course...