This post has nothing to do with internet marketing, but everything to do with the demographic (young males 18-30.) Also, this is one of the more honest posts I’ll ever write.
When I was a young lad many years ago, a new revolution in computing had begun. Computers were affordable for families of almost any means. I think I was in 5th grade when my parents got me and my siblings a computer for Christmas. It was a Compaq Persario 25 or something. Some weird contraption that had the monitor and computer components in one box.
Well, like any self-respecting 11 year old, the first thing I did was try and find some titties. Oh, and titties I did find. Sweet, illustrious pornography.
Porn is what powers in the internet. The demand for naked females is the reason why the internet is what it is today. Back in the early days, “porn” was the #1 searched term for many years running. It’s why broadband exists. Porn paved the way for profiting on the internet. Online pornographers invented affiliate marketing. It’s the reason nginx exploded as a web server recently.
Besides trillions upon trillions of wasted sperm, porn does have its place in technology. Demand for porn sparked a lot of innovation. We’ve all benefited from it in one way or another.
But if there’s so much Porn available, then surely it must be normal behavior?
Wrong
It wasn’t until a few weeks ago when I was writing this wrap up post, that I stumbled upon this article from Asian Efficiency: Sex, Pornography and motivation.
Read that post entirely for my post to make sense. Trust me, it’s good.
After reading that article, I got to thinking – Wait, am I watching too much porn?
Porn has been a part of my life ever since I stopped shooting blanks (someone needs to edit that word a little better to describe having an orgasm before reaching puberty.)
Was I watching porn all day and all night? Was I watching porn for hours at a time? Was I as bad as some of these dudes? No. God, no.
But could I go 72 hours without checking out some naked titties and rubbing one out? Rarely. Not in recent memory. Oh fuck, maybe I am addicted to the dopamine drip caused by looking at porn…
The only time I have no desire to look at porn is when I’m in a relationship. The chemicals your brain releases when you’re with a person are completely different from chemicals you receive while watching porn.
The Great Dopamine Drip
After reading the article by Asian Efficiency, I decided to stop looking at porn with a conscience effort. The primary reason was to see its affect on my productivity. I became aware of any desire to look at porn, and realized it was just my brain yearning for the dopamine drip. Must… resist … fapping…
Then I stumble upon this TEDTalk video which really brought the point home.
Edit: More Good No-Masturbating Stuff
Friend linked me to this blog post, “How to Stop Masturbating”. Great funny read which touches on some benefits not mentioned in the other stuff I linked. And of course, more “How-to” tips then the other links.
Why Did I Stop Watching Porn?
Did I Even Feel Bad About Watching Porn? Most of the time, no. But every guy has that moment (or moments) in their life when they bust a messy nut with 12 downloads going and 32 tabs open. At that point, you just think, “What the fuck am I doing? What the FUCK is wrong with you, you piece of shit?!” and feel the worst shame you possibly can.
Was I getting erectile dysfunction? No, all appears to be in working order. But apparently this is a problem in some people as stated in the video above.
Was I getting into kinkier and kinkier shit? No, I could still get off to softcore porn. Hell, I still can’t watch anal sex and still can’t understand the appeal (Why is it always a top category on porn tube sites?)
Was I lowering my view of women? No, I still love women for the beautiful yet confusing creatures they are. We’re cool, right ladies?
I stopped watching porn because of its affect on the brain and productivity, and especially to shift my desire to seeking out real women for sexual gratification. It was just too easy to get distracted with work and think, “ah fuck it, maybe I’ll look at some internet titties for a few minutes.”
I decided I’d rather be addicted to sex and fucking random and not-so-random slags (safely, of course) then be addicted to porn and self-stimulation. It’s a mental challenge – replacing porn with real women is difficult. You have to like, talk to them and shit. And say stuff so they like you and touch your penis.
I think I just got to the point where trying to bang real women was not a top priority anymore. That is not OK or healthy. As a single, tall, sexy male, this should priority #2, right behind getting filthy money. Even though fucking real girls was always on my mind, I made very little actual effort to make it happen these past few years. I blame this on a number of things, with porn likely having some contribution to my lack of effort.
Why Should You?
Has porn been proven to have a negative affect on our brain? Not exactly, but the preliminary studies aren’t looking good. Modern day porn is just not a part of our history or evolution. I am not trying to start a crusade against porn. I think porn is awesome. It’s just too fucking much.
My main concern is people younger than me. I worry about some of you. At least I can remember a time when there were only like 50 nude pictures on the entire internet, and getting them was a hassle. But now, there are tube sites. Video porn for every kinky niche available. Midgets, ebony, milfs, you name it. So many tube sites… As far as the eye can see!
I don’t consider myself a porn addict. I don’t consider myself a social or emotional retard. But some of you are. So maybe give it a shot and see what happens?
My only goal here is to make people aware of the issue. Porn affects productivity. The effects of porn on the brain is still being studied and understood. Then read “How to Stop Masturbating”. Just the facts… You make your own decision. You filthy pervert.
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Sex addiction is worse especially when you can easily get it.
Hey dude thanks for sharing our post! I can encourage everyone to limit their porn habits and redirect it towards more productive time – like you have discovered.
It’s a sensitive topic but it needs to be said. I’m glad you had the courage to share this and to spread the wisdom.
nice life!
“Modern day porn is just not a part of our history or evolution.”
uhm… wtf?
computeres, tvs, majority of the food, cars, bycicles, do I need to go on?
I’m with you here, but… that just doesn’t make sense. If something wasn’t part of our evolution process, all that this means is it’s invented recently. Nothing more, nothing less.
Also hf at wickedfire, lol
That is correct. There is a great book called “The Shallows” that goes into this topic of how are brains are wired from evolution, and the effect of technology on them.
kudos for writing this post… silly that it’s taboo when everyone looks at it.
I made the same decision for the same reasons. I was in college and used to not even try at all when going out because I had just jacked off Friday afternoon… What I’m getting at is that I believe porn use is detrimental to finding and engaging in healthy relationships and otherwise pro-social behavior.
Definitely a dopamine addiction.
I think masturbation is mostly fine, though.
My typical relapse is due random pics on WickedFire… not sure how to deal with that
Your post just made my day… :) Lmao!
Epic post Barman. I came up against the same problem and honestly I find both pornography AND masturbation are addicting and detrimental to mental health (like pringles, once you pop you can’t stop). I’m sure a lot of people will say that’s not true but they are usually in denial and probably addicted to porn themselves. They should try leaving it for just 1 month cold turkey and see how much self-control they really have.
This is the best post I’ve ever read, on any blog. Great work pal.
shooting blanks means zero sperm count
conscience effort should be conscious effort
This is the most disturbing thing I’ve ever read. So at 42 I am 12 years too old to be an Internet marketer?
Also, that thing about affiliate marketing coming out of porn – source that information, rookie. Here’s something you can use: http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/1699440/history-affiliate-marketing
it’s cool Collins im 28 and i feel like the oldest fucker in the room.
I just meant the demographic of men who have grown with internet porn.
I know – you youngbloods have it easy. I didn’t even come across Usenet until after college.
Thank you Shawn for replying to this! I too am disturbed by this post. legit eCommerce companies like Amazon, eBay and a handful of other retail brands were the real pioneers in this industry, not the pornographers who scammed and spammed their way to what some might call success in this industry. Further to the fact that there are tons of successful women who have helped shape this industry without having ever needed to set foot in the world of porn – I am honoured to include myself among them. By the way, I’m female and I’m 33 and I’ve been in this industry since 2003.
I’m back after reading Shawn’s article. I still consider Amazon a pioneer in the industry (Sorry Brad – you know I love ya), because they did manage to popularize affiliate marketing as a legit, viable online marketing solution, and what they did was watched, followed and copied by many ecommerce companies back in the early days – they definitely had significant impact on making affiliate marketing what it is today. Not alone, but definitely had a large hand in it during the early ecommerce boom. Over and out.
Distraction is EXACTLY the reason I can’t do porn affiliate marketing even if I try.
Just a month or two ago I tried a RON campaign on a porn traffic source – That basically flooded me with all the best porn URLs known to fappkind. I seriously had a “hard” time getting anything done because every time I went in to optimize the campaign I’d end up stuck on these porn sites.
I don’t consider myself a porn addict. But desire is humanized, the principal how to control it : )
peace
Kudos on the fascinating read.
Btw, ya gotta get a fb like button. I kinda want to share this but all inadvertently and stealth like, rather than a big huge post on my wall, you know.
Another btw – I am a what most men consider an above average to very goodlooking woman – interested in IM which is why I read this blog, but stumbled upon this particular article bc I had/have/had (it’s complicated) a relationship with a man who recently said “I’m starting to think it’s easier just to be an observer” (meaning porn). That shocked and upset me…But confirms what you say: Yes porn can make you so lazy you give up on the real stuff and stick with what’s “easy”. Please don’t be that guy! It might be more work…but oh so much more fun, let’s be honest!
there are many ways to hide from the world and ourselves. drugs, alcohol, porn, money, etc..
try to stay happy and satisified, bros. peace.