When I was in college I seriously dated a boy who, I discovered, had a serious problem. We'd been together for awhile when he finally felt like he should come clean with me. He was addicted to pornography. In fact, he'd been sent home early from his mission for it, and he was currently in the church's 12 step program. Then he dropped the big bomb: He wasn't sure that he wanted to continue the program, and he wasn't sure he wanted to give up his beloved porn. When I gave him the ultimatum, either me or the smut, he wanted both. So, I showed him the door.
Curious George saw his first R-rated movie at the age of seven. He was watching it with his parents. When he looked away from the screen, embarrassed by what he was seeing, his dad told him that he was going to be seeing a lot of that in his life and he might as well get used to it. This young-age-exposure, coupled with easy access to more porn and a life lived well outside the standards of the church, bred itself into a full-blown addiction by adulthood. When George "converted" he quit his addiction cold turkey. He is still very careful about what movies he will watch, avoiding all R-rated movies and even some PG-13, and is well aware of what his triggers are.
I didn't realize it until recently, but I had an addiction of another kind. In my quest for what I thought was "real love" I became addicted to Harlequin Romance Novels. It was my own secret little porn addiction. It took me a long time to realize that what was portrayed in these books wasn't real love, eternal love, or even healthy love. So I, like Curious George, quit cold turkey. I still get tempted from time to time, to pick up one of these pieces of filth. I avoid the romance section at the library, and I'm very careful about what I'll allow myself to read.
Pornography is out there. It's not some myth that's been invented to keep us on the straight and narrow. It is a real addiction, with real physical, mental, and emotional triggers. It is readily available to anyone, without even having to look to hard for it.
I hope you will all take the time to visit this site and educate yourselves about the dangers of pornography.
(And thanks for taking the time to read a serious post...)
No longer private
11 years ago
6 comments:
Thank you for sharing. I've had similar experiences, and I agree that it is something we all have to be so careful about in this world.
P.S. We should hang out again sometime soon.
Great post! Pornography so prevalent these days that we can't just pretend it doesn't exist.
Great post. It's so sad that his addiction started because of his parents. But it is SO AWESOME that he's kicked it. and you too! I checked out that page you linked to. I'm glad to know there are people trying to make a difference. Being the mother of five young boys, I am VERY concerned for what they will face. and what they face already just walking through the store.
Thank you for being brave enough to say all that.
There are some great Christian romances out there. Look for the Steeple Hill logo in the romance section of the Library (or get someone else to do it for you!)
Just taking my hubby to the video store makes me nervous! Maybe the romance section would be too tempting for you!
I love romance novels, but I have never read a Harlequin. But janet Evanovich does pretty good on her own. I enjoy a love story that goes a little farther, but you are right, its not real love. And not love as I know it. Its a good escape, but only occationally.
This is a great post. You should submit it to Mormon Mommy Blogs as a guest poster.
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