Porn

Let's face it, as much as this topic is taboo, it's definitely an issue that needs to be discussed. I think it is such a big issue because it's so taboo. What if a teenage boy, instead of hearing "it's horrible, awful, gross, don't go near it", he heard, "it's totally natural as a teenage boy to want to look at naked girls, here's why that's not such a good idea". Don't you think the results would be very different? i've asked a number of bishops what percentage of active males struggle with pornography and have heard numbers anywhere from 40-70%. Obviously, there's a problem. Is it a problem because it's made out to be such a problem? Does the depth of the taboo make it so that no one can talk about it and no one can get help? Yes, of course it does. A person couldn't stand up and say, "you know, i struggle sometimes with pornography". Why does our society (in the church) disallow that? Open and honest would help so many people not only feel normal (rather than dirty and gross), but like they can learn to change and avoid it, because they're hearing from others that have done the same. Obviously, it would be extremely difficult to have a husband who couldn't help but look at other women naked... i do know that i want my husband to talk to my son so that he can understand the consequences (especially in relationships) and have an honest conversation about how he's going to live his life (so that his wife doesn't have the husband that can't help but look at other naked women.) We would really help ourselves and each other if we recognized and acknowledged a man's natural tendency toward sex and things related. Some might say that I'm condoning the behavior and actually i'm doing the exact opposite, i'm trying to help people avoid the behavior by having enough understanding and self worth to get help if they need it and avoid it altogether when they can (because it can really damage relationships). I do believe that all of the negative consequences that are discussed about pornography do in fact happen: broken homes, failed marriages, infidelity, etc. However, it may become that extreme because there isn't enough honest conversation...or enough conversation, especially with children to help them understand why things are the way they are. For example, (i digress), wouldn't it make a difference in young women's, when we teach about modesty, to tell the girls that when they dress immodestly they can cause boys to have a natural reaction in their body that they can't control? (maybe erection is strong language for young women's). That would be news to almost every girl i know and they would think twice about what they wore. So, open and honest up front is the ounce of prevention that would be worth so much when compared to the pound of trying to cure a porn addiction.