Why using ‘porn’ to describe the wonderful isn’t okay

You’ve probably used or seen the hashtag #foodporn.

Have you ever thought about how ridiculous it is to use porn in regards to something that is wonderful?

I get it – it’s funny. The food is being claimed so good it’s sensual. I can hear the kid in my seventh grade class saying it even now: “You take everything so serious.”

I am a critic. Yes. But I’d rather be an overthinking criticizer than somebody who, in trying to be cool, minimizes something extremely harmful.

There’s more of these senseless attributions to “porn”:

These three sights display photography, poems and quotes that are absolutely beautiful. But their name is totally stupid and an oxymoron in itself.

Porn is not beautiful. Porn is harmful and research is proving it.

Research shows that pornography alters the way the brain works, much like drugs do. Other studies reveal that one of the largest harms of pornography is what it does to relationships and human interaction. Research shows that those who view pornography have a higher desire to objectify those around them and to be more critical of their partner’s body, looks and sexual performance.

Additionally, pornography is inseparably tied to prostitution and sex trafficking.

Pornography is best exploitative and at worst downright destructive.

Porn is not cool and porn is not beautiful and only deserves to be spoken about as the serious terror it is, ruining the lives of many people.

I will not enjoy sites like this because though their content is beautiful, there identification of their page speaks to the cultural desensitizing to pornography that I will not be a part of – I invite you to consider making the same choice.