The great porn experiment | Gary Wilson | TEDxGlasgow
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN commenters frequently recommend it as an eye-opening case against heavy porn use, though it is contested science.
What it is
Gary Wilson's TEDxGlasgow talk argues that internet pornography hyperstimulates the brain's reward system and can cause symptoms that reverse when people stop. TED notes that several claims are not supported by respected academic studies.
Recommended by 10 HN commenters across 11 different months, 2012 to 2023.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec Theodores · 2013-12 · on “The UK "Porn" Filter Blocks Kids' Access To Tech, Civil Liberties Websites”
Here is the truth - watch too much porn and you get erectile dysfunction: [this video] Why did it take me decades to find someone able to present that reasonably plausible reason as to why I should definitely not want to watch porn under any circumstances whatsoever? The argument (with science) in the above TED talk is that if you do watch a lot of porn then you are not going to aroused by real women as much as you should, leading to unsatisfactory bedroom performances. Yep, porn is actually that dangerous. I might not care for the traditional 'don't watch porn because it is porn'/'think of the children'/'porn exploits women' arguments, however, I do have enlightened self interest and loss of lib
Strong rec cyberpunk · 2016-10 · on “UK Government proposes porn-viewing ID”
[this video] ^^ This really opened my eyes to this problem for me.. It's really rather worrying, and I guess my generation (early 30s) were the last to avoid this so it's kind of invisible to us because of how awkward it is to talk about such things. We need to do something, perhaps better education and getting more comfortable talking about sex and relationships with young people is a better approach than failed-from-the-outset restrictions... Either way, the points in that video are imo, valid, and should worry everyone.
Strong rec sizzle · 2018-11 · on “Ask HN: Resources for introverted devs to learn workplace politics?”
Also, an often overlooked topic of modern times, high speed internet pornography + chronic masturbation and its numbing effects on our neural reward system which makes things like eye contact and social activities unbearable and highly disconcerting. This addiction isn't talked about much because it is almost a universal coping mechanism for guys beginning in adolescence, but you have nothing to lose in trying to abstain and see if your social anxiety melts away. At worst you just determine that it's something else like depression and can go seek out a proper medical diagnosis. The crazy thing about the social anxiety inducing effects of chronic masturbation is that it is not taught in medic
Strong rec PKop · 2022-02 · on “Inside Pornhub”
Midwest US, mid 30's. This sort of view is strongly held by the intellectual and political circles I support and follow. I think it is a very insidious and corrupting addiction, and the modern incarnation of it is orders of magnitude more stimulating than in prior eras. Infinite access to a stimulus that simulates in male brains "mating" with ever varied women, which is hijacking a strong biological imperative. As another comment mentioned a similar problem with "advertising" in general, I think sexualization and over stimulus of the population weakens people, and not to say there is some conspiracy purposefully pushing this (it may just emergent from technology and human instinct) I do thin
Recommends msluyter · 2013-01 · on “Did porn warp me forever?”
On the same topic, "The Great Porn Experiment" TED talk, which provides some empirical grounding for the anecdote in the article: [this video]
Recommends argonz · 2013-03 · on “Ask HN: Maybe not the best place to seek life advice but I trust you guys”
Porn can create/maintain different thinking patterns, underhabituate you for normal real-life cues. By withdrawing and resensitizing your dopamine circuits you might jumpstart your motivation, getting more fun and getting out of the rut. Shouldn't expect a miracle but may worth a try. [this video] good luck!
Recommends diadara · 2014-03 · on “Hexagon 16384”
[this video] Have you seen this TED talk about porn addiction and how it has similar effects like some sort of hard drug addiction on the brain. Everything uses the same pipeline.
Recommends PKop · 2018-05 · on “Pornography and the Butterfly Effect”
Here's an enlightening video on the detrimental effects of porn on the brain. Porn addiction shows similar effects as opiates. [this video] Related: "NoFap" [LINK]