Poll: What makes something "porn" as opposed to "erotica" for you?
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LIVINRFANTASIES
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Dollie
Poll: What makes something "porn" as opposed to "erotica" for you?
What does it matter? I have no answer but maybe my husband will later. We are old school and just do what we want when the right times come up. Life is much simpler when people don't complicate it.
When growing up in the Minnesota farm country I didn't know what an exhibitionist was, what flashing was, what masturbating was called, or that my mom and sister were nymphomanics. I knew they were whores but they didn't do it for money. I was taught to do those other things and mom tried to turn me into a prostitute.
We swam naked but I didn't know we were skinny dipping.
Was all of that porn or erotica?
I think the name of this porn site is Literotica. Maybe it should be changed to Litpornerotica.
Poll: What makes something "porn" as opposed to "erotica" for you?
What does it matter? I have no answer but maybe my husband will later. We are old school and just do what we want when the right times come up. Life is much simpler when people don't complicate it.
When growing up in the Minnesota farm country I didn't know what an exhibitionist was, what flashing was, what masturbating was called, or that my mom and sister were nymphomanics. I knew they were whores but they didn't do it for money. I was taught to do those other things and mom tried to turn me into a prostitute.
We swam naked but I didn't know we were skinny dipping.
Was all of that porn or erotica?
I think the name of this porn site is Literotica. Maybe it should be changed to Litpornerotica.
CyranoJ
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I think that's an excellent question (hence my own vote on the poll). But then, we see often here that there are many people for whom it does matter, and arguably society in general does still seem to want a distinction. So I'm curious about what the cutoff points are for various people.
sr71plt
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fit_sexual_male50
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Porn is base, erotica is elevated
CyranoJ
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I asked that question on the other poll and Hands bit mine.
Heh. I noticed that.
CyranoJ
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So what does that mean in more specific terms?
CyranoJ
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Similar to the "I know it when I see it" definition. And yet this reaction varies.
lickitandstickit
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Porn is a workout video you and your S/O try to keep up too, erotica is the stuff you send him/her in your emails and texts trying to entice your S/O to workout...
LIVINRFANTASIES
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Dollie
I've seen and heard how old men act around a half dressed barely legal girl in places like those and more.
My husband loved going and we both loved the attention I got.
Back then I remember it was mostly called porn. I'd say erotica is one of those later fancy words for porn.
No matter how you see it or say it porn and erotica are the same.
Of course these comments are from a woman. We are too dumb to think. Of course if it wasn't for us women there wouldn't be any real porn unless you are gay.
God my husband will crap when he sees what I've written today.
Comments from an old woman who has seen early black and white silent adult movies once called stag films, early sex magazines, and was treated like a trashy sex toy by my own family. I grew up going with my husband where other women feared to go. I was often the only or among the few at adult movie houses and small neighborhood strip clubs.
I've seen and heard how old men act around a half dressed barely legal girl in places like those and more.
My husband loved going and we both loved the attention I got.
Back then I remember it was mostly called porn. I'd say erotica is one of those later fancy words for porn.
No matter how you see it or say it porn and erotica are the same.
Of course these comments are from a woman. We are too dumb to think. Of course if it wasn't for us women there wouldn't be any real porn unless you are gay.
God my husband will crap when he sees what I've written today.
SimonDoom
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There is no workable distinction, IMO. Poll 100 people and they'll have wildly varying definitions of porn. Some people see "porn" as a debased or lesser form of "erotica", but I don't see it that way. I have no problem with either, so I see no need to distinguish them. I suppose I'd say that I see porn as a subset of erotica, but I don't know how to define the boundaries between the two and I see no need to do so.
LoquiSordidaAdMe
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It matters, because in order to have a meaningful discussion, you have to have a shared vocabulary. You can't effectively discuss apples until you have agreed on a definition that differentiates apples from oranges.
Agreeing to a definition that draws a line between apples and oranges is easy - practically instinctive. A definition that does the same for porn and erotica is not. It may not be possible. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in 1964 could not define pornography, but famously wrote "I know it when I see it."
But I believe we are all here in the Literotica Forum to discuss pornography, erotica, sexuality and other such concepts. Having a shared definition would facilitate such discussions. It is in all of best interest to know what we mean when we choose one word over the other.
Now, that said, I don't believe for a second that we will ever settle the question. But the question is still worth asking occasionally if only to broaden our own perspective, expose us to the perspectives of others, and gain a better understanding of the complexity of the issue.
SimonDoom
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I agree about the need to have a shared vocabulary before having a meaningful discussion, but I don't think defining "porn" is necessary to have a meaningful discussion. There's too much conflict in how people see it. You can dodge the problem by just using the term "erotica" and adding a sub-category name to it. Then everyone will understand one another. Porn is a loaded term, that is viewed very negatively by some, neutrally by others (me), and positively by some. People's need to put the label of "porn" on this or that form of erotica stems, to a big degree, from their like or dislike of different things. You'll never get a stable definition of porn because people's emotional reactions to the term vary so much.
LoquiSordidaAdMe
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I absolutely agree with this. I still find it worthwhile to ask the question in order to understand the reactions.
sr71plt
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This discussion board pretty much shows why that's not going to happen on Literotica. The opinions are too many and too diverse.
Even if consensus was achieved on the difference the "So what?" question would still be there, as strong as it ever was.
