X Ox Have an idea for a story? M opinions@theotherpress.ca Is porn ethically bad for you? » Separating facts from fiction and the unrealistic expectations from porn Shivani Jeet Contributor hile there are many personal views on whether or not porn is a bad thing to watch and masturbate to, porn itself isn’t bad—as long as the content is created ethically, legally, consensually, and using only adult actors. Porn has long been used for those seeking to satisfy their sexual needs, may it be for their own personal pleasures or with their partner. And there should be absolutely nothing wrong with that! However, it is important to remember that porn isn’t as realistic as it seems, so don't be too keen on having high expectations for your first time (or other times after that) to be so perfect. The reality of sex and porn is that they are two completely different things: porn is fiction where actors are hired to perform unrealistic versions of sex, while real sex should be based on your own reality and the things you and your partner make it out to be. Porn can influence an individual’s expectations of sex and because of this, they are susceptible to being insecure about their body, pretty privilege, and how enhanced one’s genitals appear—and this isn’t your fault. This has a lot to do with societal expectations itself and how sex is displayed in movies, shows, and sexually explicit music. This should also be a reminder that porn videos aren't somewhere where you should go to learn about sex education. There is a place and time for this *cough* school *cough*). With many porn websites out there, we must also be aware of which porn websites we should and shouldn't support. Recently, there have been sex trafficking allegations made towards one of the top porn websites: Pornhub, and their sister company, Mindgeek. Women who went missing were found on Pornhub and Mindgeek, forced to participate in sexual activities against their will. Plenty of survivors came forward and shared their experiences of being violated and exposed for others on the internet for the viewer's sexual pleasure. Some of the porn The human fetish » Is racial fetishization preference or discrimination? Matthew Fraser Opinions Editor here is much to be said about racial fetishization. Terms like jungle or yellow fever come to mind while statements like “you're so pretty fora (insert racial and gender combo)” have become universally condemned. But at the same time, when in the pursuit of promiscuous experiences or even long-term relationships, it’s generally a good thing when someone has a reason to give you a whirl. Is it possible then for people to be okay with being sexualized based off of their ancestral line? lam very willing to wager that fora large section of the male population the idea of a woman wanting them solely fora quality that’s only skin-deep is acceptable; after all, anything that boosts desirability is a boon in the mating game. So, why not wear a G-Unit t-shirt and feign a Brooklyn accent to attract girls who have an eye for the stereotypical portrayal of black males? Some Asian men might not find it all that hurtful to style their hair and dress like a K-pop idol if it gets them dates and more. Besides, there is an audience of Asian women looking for white men, so even the traditional fetishization is not 6¢ unidirectional. In cases like that, mutual exploitation leads to mutual satisfaction, and as the great Bill Withers once wrote: “If it feels this good getting used, oh you better keep on using me until you use me up.” But then again, if it’s valid to elevate a few just because they are “exotic,” does it not become valid to skip others because they are not the right type? Dating apps content on there can also be sexist and reek of misogyny. Thankfully, Pornhub and Mindgeek are not the only porn websites out there. In fact, there are ethical porn websites that provide consensual videos and are owned by women, rather than submissive vs dominant content, child like Tinder and Grindr have both had to put a stop to users explicitly stating their racial dating preferences in their profiles due to its inherently discriminatory nature. Is it then not fair to say that these “preferences” are no less racist than negative stereotypes even if they have results desirable to those it applies to? In the eyes of potential mates, stating “Asian opinions // no. 18 e It is time we normalize sex and stop comparing ourselves to celebrities e The cough that killed the booty call ¢ Is porn ethically bad for you? ..and more porn, gang rape, and other inappropriate or unethical and illegal videos. These videos should never even be uploaded in the first place. For those who are looking to have access toa list, here is one provided by cosmopolitan.com of safer porn websites. only but not Indians” is clearly offensive even if it secures a handful of men dates. The commonly accepted answer in our woke world is yes, stereotypes are bad even if they lead to one’s desired sexual gratification. As a culture, we have moved more towards the idea of race agnostic dating practices and denying “positive stereotypes.’ But no one can decide for someone else what they should be offended by and it certainly can’t stop those in the dating pool from doing it. It’s more likely that people will hold whatever attractions they hold regardless of the negative effects it will have. Attraction is predominantly illogical, and it’s not yet been figured out how best—if it’s possible at all—to change peoples minds on these preferences. It’s likely then that some people will have an uneasy acceptance of the objectification that benefits them, and the more power to them for reaping the benefits (carnal or matrimonial) of the desires of others. Since these occur between consenting adults, it should not be a concern to others what grounds the relationship was built on. Still, it is a near impossible balance to hold between preference and discrimination or objectification. If it's valid to elevate a few just because they are ‘exotic,’ does it not become valid to skip others because they are not the right type?