Utah is #1

[shphilby]

This was on ksl.

SALT LAKE CITY -- A new study out of Harvard University seems to give Utah an unflattering distinction: No. 1 in the nation for pornography consumption. But the study has touched off a lively debate about what it really tells us about Utah residents.

Some are touting the study as evidence that pornography is more popular in conservative, religious communities. But even those who question those interpretations welcome the study because it throws light on what they say is a growing problem across the nation.

The Harvard study used credit card subscription data from a top Internet porn company. It ranked states on a per-capita basis, comparing paid subscriptions with the number of high-speed Internet connections.

Utah came out on top, followed by Alaska, Mississippi and several other states that are generally considered conservative and religiously-oriented:

1. Utah -- 5.47
2. Alaska -- 5.03
3. Mississippi -- 4.30
4. Hawaii -- 3.61
5. Oklahoma -- 3.21
6. Arkansas -- 3.12
7. No. Dakota -- 3.05
8. Louisiana -- 3.01
9. Florida -- 3.01
10. West Virginia -- 2.94

Pamela Atkinson chairs the Utah Coalition Against Pornography. "I think this study actually confirms what many of us has known for a number of years, that the addiction use of pornography is growing more and more each year," she said.

Atkinson believes Utah's more repressive culture pushes some people to the Internet. "It's because we don't have the adult movie stores as much as they do in other states. And people have come to realize that you can access this material quite easily," she said.

Therapist-researcher Jill Manning thinks the Harvard study itself suggests a different explanation for higher pornography consumption in Utah.

"Well, I think that's a misleading interpretation," Manning said. "There is more consumption in areas where there's a concentration of 15- to 24-year-olds, and just last spring it was reported that Utah has the youngest population in the nation."

Manning says state-to-state variance is actually rather small, and the paid-subscription data may not be truly representative. "Approximately 80 to 90 percent of pornography use online is free, where people are not paying a subscription to use that. So, I think that just focusing on one provider is very misleading and does not give us a sense of the larger issue," she explained.

She does acknowledge that shame and guilt are a special problem for religious people addicted to pornography. "Those strong feelings of shame and guilt can fuel more compulsion with the pornography use," Manning said.

Both Atkinson and Manning say the study will do some good if it focuses attention on a serious problem.

"We have many broken families in this state because one of the spouses became addicted," Atkinson said. "It has a devastating impact, especially on the marital bond. I know of no other issue, aside from sexual abuse, where the very soul of the marriage and trust is so deeply impacted," Manning said.

Both would like to see more studies done to better define the problem.

[Iceaxe]

Utah an unflattering distinction: No. 1 in the nation for pornography consumption.

We are also the prescription drug abuse capital of the nation....

Which just proves that you can hide your vices, but they still exist....

[DiscGo]

"One of these things, is just like the other" :)


http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16102

[CarpeyBiggs]

i spent half the year in utah last year, and half of it in alaska... can they really track my credit card statements like that?

[Iceaxe]

I have never been a fan of porn.... to me it's like watching someone else eat Thanksgiving dinner.... and then oh and ah about how good the dinner was....

Or maybe my other NOT favorite... watching other people play poker on TV.... what a waste...

[Last Child]

I believe that we are also up there on the teen pregnancy.

I think that it is a well understood "fact" that the more repressed people are the more they act out in an unhealthy stealthy manor. Nothing makes something more fun than for it to be taboo and nothing is harder on the psyche than the unneeded pressure of being "perfect".

Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil. Makes Johnny a closet pill popping, monkey spanking fornicater.

[DiscGo]

I have never been a fan of porn.... to me it's like watching someone else eat Thanksgiving dinner.... and then oh and ah about how good the dinner was...

That is the best description I have ever heard about pornography.

[Deathcricket]

I have never been a fan of porn.... to me it's like watching someone else eat Thanksgiving dinner.... and then oh and ah about how good the dinner was....

Or maybe my other NOT favorite... watching other people play poker on TV.... what a waste...

Come on now, just because I'm never going to drive a Ferrari doesn't mean I don't enjoy looking at one.





Edit: Disc, this could be our first disagreement ever? *shocked* I should have known you'd turn on me eventually!

[Iceaxe]

Come on now, just because I'm never going to drive a Ferrari doesn't mean I don't enjoy looking at one.

Yeah... but this is like just looking at a picture of a Ferrari.... at least head down to the Ferrari dealership (strip club) where you can open the door and sit in the drivers seat....

[rockgremlin]

i spent half the year in utah last year, and half of it in alaska... can they really track my credit card statements like that?

Hey man, I live in Wyoming now...I too must've forgotten to change my billing address on my credit cards.

[Deathcricket]

Yeah... but this is like just looking at a picture of a Ferrari.... at least head down to the Ferrari dealership (strip club) where you can open the door and sit in the drivers seat....

Touche'

My wife blows way too much money when we go to Vegas though, I'd rather not. *cheap bastard at heart*

[Redpb]

...No. 1 in the nation for pornography consumption...

Consumption to me indicates purchases... am I wrong?
If so, then I wasn't counted in. I stick to the free crap on the internet.

[Don]

...No. 1 in the nation for pornography consumption...

Consumption to me indicates purchases... am I wrong?
If so, then I wasn't counted in. I stick to the free crap on the internet.

Seriously, there's so much for free, who pays for porn?

[Last Child]

Seriously, there's so much for free, who pays for porn?

I guess some just get tired of hitting it replay style.

I don't know... I'm just sayin.... maybe two hands is better than one?

[accadacca]

Both would like to see more studies done to better define the problem.

Yeah I bet! Pervs.

[jman]

Here is a follow up, even though this is 3 months old news now.

http://yourbrainonporn.com/utah-1-porn-use

/biased website, but the sources cited are interesting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Iceaxe]

This was on ksl.

The Harvard study used credit card subscription data from a top Internet porn company. It ranked states on a per-capita basis, comparing paid subscriptions with the number of high-speed Internet connections?

I just read this thread again and now I have a big question.... who the hell is actually dumb enough to pay for porn on the Internet?

[tallsteve]

I believe that we are also up there on the teen pregnancy.

I think that it is a well understood "fact" that the more repressed people are the more they act out in an unhealthy stealthy manor. Nothing makes something more fun than for it to be taboo and nothing is harder on the psyche than the unneeded pressure of being "perfect".

Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil. Makes Johnny a closet pill popping, monkey spanking fornicater.

Not true. Look up the stats on the CDC's website. I looked through the data several months ago. Utah actually has one of the lowest teen pregnancy rates in the nation.

[tallsteve]

Doh! Just realized this thread is YEARS old!

[Iceaxe]