Why is it that reading p**n gave almost as much gratification to me as looking at pictures? the only reason i came up with was so i could feel like i was the character in the story and since i am  young (15 if you consider that young :-\) i could read stories about kids my age (this will not trigger people right?) is there a deeper reason?   

Dear 15 year old, yes that's young but not too young to learn.
Good question by the way.

Most people are visual learners.  What we read is automatically turned into pictures in our mind so
the effect of reading is the same physically on your body as looking at pictures.

I'm nore sure what you're reading about kids your age that is porn but having true pictures or
stories about minors could border on being illegal, besides halachically assur.  But you knew that already, right?

The deeper meaning is that people get triggered by reading stuff because they feel they need fantasy to fill up
a hole in their soul, something they don't think they have and are wondering about.  Like what is my purpose here
on earth?  How do I make the change from being a child to an adult?  What is the meaning of my life and my future?

You won't find these answers by reading porn.  You will by concentrating on your studies, thinking about these things, talking
them over with your parents and rebbe.  The answer is becoming more spiritual which means growing in your Judaism.  What
you're reading is all fake, fantasy.  Real life is not what you're reading.  It's different and much more fulfilling.    What you might
be reading about are kids who are being forced to do things they don't really want to do and I know you don't want to be a part of
that, right?      Elya

Fascinating topic. I once heard that the difference between reading a book and watching a movie is that when we read a book we need to use our imagination more than when we watch a movie and all the pictures are already supplied to us. Horror movies leave out some scenes on purpose so the audience will imagine the scariest parts, which makes the movie more scary. And our Yetzer Horah is all about distorted imagination. So it would make sense that reading certain stories could have even MORE of an effect on us than seeing pictures.

Does reality ever match up to our imaginations ? It hasn't for me. So many of us experience disappointment when we start having real physical relationships, including newlyweds. I wonder if any guys on this forum with multiple "real" halachically forbidden encounters can tell us if this is true over the long term. I think it would be a chizuk for many of us to hear that a pursuit of our desires is chasing after shadows. (Not that that's the reason to keep the Torah lifestyle, obviously even if it were possible to fulfill our desires it wouldn't be worth pursuing them, but I think you understand what I'm trying to show).

CA - is it okay to discuss this here ? I don't want to "hijack" your thread. I can start a new thread if you want.

Dear Chazak Ameinu -

All I can say is that while I took in plenty of photos, the reading you describe was - by far - the mainstay of my addiction for many years.
So, nothing new there.

As far as understanding it, please consider that such a branch of study is just plain silly. And poisonous. Remember: You are not a scientist - you are a victim. Get to higher ground! Don't sit in your office on the beach and look up "TSUNAMI" on Google for just a few more minutes cuz it's so consumingly interesting! It's coming, for crying out loud!!

After 13 years I still don't understand exactly what lust is, but I also do not really understand exactly how my kidneys extract uring from my blood....doing just fine so far!

There. I'm done. Thanks. Gotta go to the restroom.... ;D

Dov

This is really interesting, actually when i first started to use this type of p**n I used the excuse that i was not looking at pictures so it was fine (even though it was often accompanied by pictures) ridiculous right (shaking head)! is it really illegal to read about minors even if they were made up stories (i think they were  ???)? and to commando612 you can write what ever you would like to on this page!

stories are great!

the best s** begins in the mind.

brainhoney -  food at its best.

only problem is - ever notice what happens during Sukkot when you bring the honey out doors, all the nasty little wasps want to come to your party too.

creating brainhoney might feel good and nice right now - but after awhile, the brain-wasps will own you, and you will become their slave.

one has to be careful and GUARD their honey (including their brain honey)

brain honey...
mmm...
mmm...
mmm...
(licking my lips)

sturggle -

do you know why the bee wore a kippah?

he did not want to be confused for a wasp.


You are not a wasp - put your kippah back on.

Been there, done that.

Run as fast as you can and don't turn back because that stuff is addictive as and doesn't lead to anything positive.

DovInIsrael wrote on 06 Apr 2010 14:15:


true that,
waspy, i am not!

on a serious note,
Chazak Amenu,

Reading it is it, v'zehu.
For me, it is a trap the Y"H
uses on me plenty,
just read a bit,
wet your lips,
it's not really p***.
Well, the reason it gives you (us)
as much gratification as looking at pictures,
is cause, well, it is p***.

May we all have hatzlacha
to be as busy as bees
and keep out the wasps.

KOL TUV!!

I have always enjoyed reading quite a bit (not talking about p**n) so i when i realized just how wrong it was to be looking at the pictures it was the first thing that came into my mind. to make myself feel less guilty i googled/ yahooed if it was concidered p**n i never got my answere but instead p**n websites for reading came up. also a snaring point of the reading was that the stories felt much more personalized and i could read about teens my age which i could not find in pictures even if tried i might add :-[ . anyway there are lots of other much much better to read that is much more healthy to the mind! I just finished reading about The Great Escape form Stalag Luft III it was really interesting (sorry i am going on a tangent). The bottom line is that it is another form of p**n that ruins the soul and thankfully we all realize that. PUT ON BUG SPRAY TO KEEP THE WASPS AWAY! (it rhymes) !

I don't think stories are illegal, pictures ARE, so don't take any chances.
Get a filter for your computer so when you go to the search engines the porn sites will not show up.

Elya

Elya -

ok - I agree filters do help to some point.
but I think they also can do more harm (like in my case)

I've been involved with computers for years.
so when I first read an article about filters - I was cursious (read: I wanted to commit emotional suicide)

so I knew I woudl be able to break through the filter - but again I was just Curious to see how long it woudl take me!

BAMMO!!!

a no brainer ( I cannot believe how easy it is to get around these)

and for those who cannot figure out how to get through the filter there are plenty of social networks sites (and there is yet another one, even worse than the rest, ugh!!! ) eagerly waiting for our lustful minds to wonder around.

ugh!
what a world we live in.

DovInIsrael wrote on 07 Apr 2010 11:27:

The filter isn't fool-proof... it's a two step process if you ask me. First you have to install the filter, then you have to make a real concerted effort never to attempt to test the filter. It's meant as a safety net only.

And if you have a problem with social networking sites you can set the filter to block those as well.