jinx: lies, damn lies, and statistics
Rape is about power and control. Much of porn is, too. With or without official academic backing, I think common sense shows that hardcore porn reinforces a negative view of women, encourages unhealthy impulses in men (the power and control thing), and reduces the act of sex to simply "getting off". If viewing porn reduces the urge to act on sexual impulses, why don't we let pedos have all the kiddie porn they want? We could grandfather in all the porn that's already been produced and use it to rehabilitate molesters.
I realize that most people these days don't see sex as anything major. I also know that kids are becoming sexually active at younger and younger ages, having babies that their own parents must raise, getting abortions and getting diseased. The divorce rate is skyrocketing, with more marriages failing than succeeding. It's become chic to applaud any and all forms of sexuality (there are a few taboos left, but they'll be gone in 20 years) and deride people who cling to the hilarious notion that sex is better between 2 people who are committed to each other for life.
I just don't see that it's making us any happier. We keep searching for something that satisfies us, and it's never enough. We want to see more sex on TV, more sex on the internet, more sex more sex more sex. We have more sex in more places, in more orifices, with as many colors and flavors of partner as we can manage, yet we wonder privately why we never find real love.
Yes, some of you have managed it. Congrats.