The impact of pornography, junk food, gambling - An apathetic nation.

Debating morality and ethics has never been my concern, it has never been my intention to dictate or even suggest how another lives their life.On the other hand, the facts of certain matters do interest me. I am here to give my opinion on why I believe things like viewing pornography, using drugs, even consuming junk food the way we do to be not only unhealthy to an individual, but to a community and nation as a whole.

Studying the brain has shown us that dopamine is a major chemical in our brains tied to our limbic system - Motivation, success, achievement are all emotions that this chemical plays a part in - Conversely, apathy, lack of will, impulsive behavior, and addiction are also tied to this chemical.

When a person uses certain drugs, when they gamble, and even when they watch porn, this chemical is an extreme part of these experiences. It triggers our dopamine system, giving us what drug/chemical we really desire. As we continue to partake in these vices, our systems become less sensitive to dopamine - This process is called receptor downregulation. This process is the reason why we need more, why so many people will risk their money, marriage, and health to once again feel this response in their brains, it is because we are less sensitive to this chemical process.

Becoming less sensitive to this chemical process is unfortunately not only tied to the habit which causes this downregulation - It is tied to all activities in which could trigger a dopamine response.

What this means is that the more we gamble, the more we use drugs, the more we give into certain types of addictions, and vices, the less sensitive we become to life in general. We enjoy less, we have less will to alter our circumstances, we lack the motivation and desire to progress, and we just don't feel as alive as we could. This process has actually been studied and proven, and I believe it is having a major impact on people, communities, even entire countries.

Do you, fellow members, believe anything should be done about this? I believe education is a major benefit regardless of topic - I do not believe legislation would be reasonable as I repeat that I am not here to suggest how others live, but rather to observe and give input based on such observations.

What do you think, fellow ATS members?

-TheCentristPhilosopher

I think a healthy discussion of moderation is helpful.
Lets take the porn discussion. Porn addiction is easy to fall into, but its also pretty easy to step out of, making people question the legitimacy of the idea of porn addiction. But what people cant question is that there is a progression within porn to achieve the same states of arousal when there is not enough time in between. What used to be excitment at just the form and suggestions will eventually lead to more involved actions and representations due to a dulling effect.

So, moderation here is of course key. a little now and then is great...if it becomes a daily habit, then you are starting to cheat yourself of the full potency, and if it is a consuming venture done daily for hours..it is going to lose its effectiveness almost completely and become not very enjoyable.

I think a non judgmental discussion about the cracker effect in regards to vices is good.
Eddie Murphys explanation....when you're starving, and someone gives you a cracker, its the best cracker ever..every crumb is devoured and loved...if you have tons of crackers, more crackers than you evern could want..its..just a cracker...nothing special at all about it.
This is an effective way to discuss abuse of vices..

a reply to: LSU0408

Your signature offers a lot more to this conversation than your post. Wanting to feel a sense of greatness is very much related to the topic I am speaking of, as down regulation of the dopamine receptors not only lessens our will to do better, but it also lessens how good it feels to achieve.

a reply to: SaturnFX

Moderation in all things is certainly good advice - too much water, too much oxygen will kill us. Ensuring that what we do is not excessive and unhealthy is a good way to look at things, though defining such statements may not be well received, and may come off as judgemental rather than a genuine topic of psychology and altruistic intent.

The decay of American society is what happens when the majority of the people embrace the "Do What Thou Wilt" mentality.

a reply to: TheCentristPhilosopher
I've often wondered why there is an endless supply of free Porn online.

Maybe it would be better to judge the individual instead of the vices they choose to engage with? Where one of the vices would be detrimental to one person, it could be a positive for another.

Just like not hating the game, but look down upon the player instead. The game is available to every single one of us. There are just a few asshats out there that choose to be immoral and take advantage of others, where the majority of people have honor. Well, maybe not a majority anymore, but that just makes those with honor stand out more in comparison.

a reply to: ClovenSky

It is not a judgment. Addiction can be studied, and the effects of addiction can be studied. I am not feeling addicts as bad, lesser, or anything of the sort.

a reply to: TheCentristPhilosopher

I do apologize for interpreting what was not stated. I mistook your statement "We enjoy less, we have less will to alter our circumstances, we lack the motivation and desire to progress, and we just don't feel as alive as we could" as criticism towards those who partake in certain substances.

Couldn't the freedom from motivation and desire to progress be viewed as a positive? As long as you didn't encroach on another person's freedoms. Maybe that is what this world needs more of, people to stop selling their souls for material objects. To stop coveting what TPTB covet. We could change the world.

a reply to: SaturnFX

you are absolutely correct.

originally posted by: stosh64
The decay of American society is what happens when the majority of the people embrace the "Do What Thou Wilt" mentality.

"Do what thou wilt" is one of the sayings of the Church of Satan, but is it followed by many rules, even there.

"Do what thou wilt, if thou don't harm another", Is from my religion, Wicca.

They are both very, very similar. I don't see this as a 'decay of American Society'. You would have to prove what 'American Society' is and why this causes it to 'decay'.

You can't just blurt that out without knowing the origins of the terms and what it is in fact doing, with proof.

I can't stand gambling, it is such a huge waste of money. Someone brought me to a casino once, I couldn't stay more than 5 minutes between the smoking, and the downright depressing atmosphere.

Porn is leaving nothing to the imagination

I feel bad for kids today, growing up too fast, knowing too much too soon, without really connecting to anyone.

I see it

I've always said too much is no good!

When did the decay start? what is the nature of the decay?

I'd go even further than just pornography and junk food; our culture suffers from massive bodily overstimulation. Throughout the day to day life of an average Westerner, we're immersed in pleasant feelings-- long, hot showers, excessively sweet drinks, excessively comfortable chairs and furniture, cars with fast heat and air conditioning and leather seats, linen sheets on our beds, those super-comfortable "space pillows" or whatever they're called, perfectly synchronic digitalized music, and even the indoor air we breath is diffused with sterile, sweet smells. Not even our public restrooms smell like sh*t anymore.

This is a problem. People are massively overstimulated by modern habits and trappings, to the point where they're becoming desensitized and can no longer appreciate them. This, I think, is actually a huge factor in depression. People can't appreciate simple pleasures because they're constantly surrounded by them, day by day. People are so comfortable, they're miserable.

Porn is just the ultimate crux of an obsession with constant physical pleasure; it's essentially dehumanizing, artificial, and just overall sick, but hey who gives a sh*t, it feels good right?

Humans need hardship, ardor, and injury; bodies need it to maintain their structural integrity. It's like earthworks, packed dirt walls--- when you pack the dirt thoroughly and heavily, the earthworks are strong and sturdy. When you leave the dirt loose and unconsolidated, it easily falls apart in the wind and rain.

Wake up, people. You think the people in charge don't know how to stroke you just right to get what they want?

originally posted by: jellyrev
When did the decay start? what is the nature of the decay?

It started with the birth of civilization and has been steadily progressing to its zenith-- modern social and physical mass dysphoria.

originally posted by: reldra

originally posted by: stosh64
The decay of American society is what happens when the majority of the people embrace the "Do What Thou Wilt" mentality.

"Do what thou wilt" is one of the sayings of the Church of Satan, but is it followed by many rules, even there.

"Do what thou wilt, if thou don't harm another", Is from my religion, Wicca.

They are both very, very similar. I don't see this as a 'decay of American Society'. You would have to prove what 'American Society' is and why this causes it to 'decay'.

You can't just blurt that out without knowing the origins of the terms and what it is in fact doing, with proof.

'Do what thou wilt' only works if human beings are smart enough to know what's best for themselves; they clearly aren't.

Moderation is always key.

I remember doing a research project in college about sexual overstimulation. Say you are a woman and you purchase a vibrator. No harm, right? However the more you use it the longer/stronger setting it needs to be. Soon that will not only not satisfy you but also program your body into thinking it needs that in order to orgasm and also derive some pleasure. The simplicity of the study makes sense but does lead to larger issues psychologically over time

originally posted by: stosh64
The decay of American society is what happens when the majority of the people embrace the "Do What Thou Wilt" mentality.

give me decayed freedom than strengthened totalitarianism.

originally posted by: Talorc
I'd go even further than just pornography and junk food; our culture suffers from massive bodily overstimulation. Throughout the day to day life of an average Westerner, we're immersed in pleasant feelings-- long, hot showers, excessively sweet drinks, excessively comfortable chairs and furniture, cars with fast heat and air conditioning and leather seats, linen sheets on our beds, those super-comfortable "space pillows" or whatever they're called, perfectly synchronic digitalized music, and even the indoor air we breath is diffused with sterile, sweet smells. Not even our public restrooms smell like sh*t anymore.

This is a problem. People are massively overstimulated by modern habits and trappings, to the point where they're becoming desensitized and can no longer appreciate them. This, I think, is actually a huge factor in depression. People can't appreciate simple pleasures because they're constantly surrounded by them, day by day. People are so comfortable, they're miserable.

I totally agree with you on this. This can be extended from physical comfort to mental and emotional comfort as well...this is the root of politically correct speech. And the 'every kid gets a trophy' syndrome. Not only are people requiring complete physical comfort at all times, but God forbid they become mentally or emotionally uncomfortable either. And if you're the one causing that discomfort...oh boy...

I think you've touched on something very important here, well said.