Hello. So there are guys who think porn is bad but they sometimes masturbate without it. Also, there are guys who just watch porn without actually doing anything. You can separate the two. Do you think watching porn is intrinsically bad?
This is actually a great question. I used to think that masturbation was worse but I was wrong. Porn is actually worse. I was one of those people who could watch porn without masturbating at all. I even did that when I was on NoFap and I felt awful. If you watch porn while rebooting, you will not feel the benefits. Having said that, I honestly think they are both bad.
Watching porn without actually doing anything is much worst! Edging is playing with fire.. And you know what they say, keep playing with fire and sooner or later you will get burned.
Masturbation without porn is generally healthy and natural, but porn has ruined our relationship with masturbation. Porn addicts might never be able to have healthy masturbation again. There's nothing even inherently wrong with porn. Some people can use it just once in a while, and not get addicted, or have it interfere with their life. But the potential for abuse is high, especially in people with other mental issues, such as depression, ADHD, anxiety, etc. And obviously anyone with a tendency towards addictive personality traits. In terms of recovery though, porn is WAY worse than masturbation.
You say, "There's nothing even inherently wrong with porn." I cannot agree. It is fake and very harmful to the viewer.
Thanks for your answer (all the answers for that matter). I do agree with you. I also can watch a few minutes of porn without acting on it, but i would still feel bad/not feel the benefits of nofap. I gonna try hardcore from now on until january. I wanna try to go 3 months just to see if there is a difference between going 1 month or more.
I've come to accept that I cannot view porn or masturbation as being an "either or" type of situation. I think both are destructive in their own way. I think both are rationalized by the users for why they are acceptable, e.g., some people will say porn is about "self-expression" and others will likewise say that masturbation is "healthy". I think both are contrary to that ability which distinguishes us from the rest of the animal kingdom and that is the ability to deny ourselves; the ability to have self-control. I think a life without porn and masturbation challenges us exercise this ability to master self-control and to become masters over our passions.