This post is rated PG-13 and is not recommended for children under the age of thirteen.
PMS and porn, what could one possibly have to do with the other? Until last night I would have said nothing. However, last night is when I had what could only be considered a revelation. These two things have two common denominators. One, women don't understand a mans inert desire for sexual gratification in the same way that men don't understand why some women act like, well you know, when they are PMSing. And two, looking at porn for men and acting like a witch for women are both natural reactions to sex hormones.
According to wikipedia, the three most prominent symptoms of PMS are irritability, tension, and dysphoria (unhappiness). I'm not women, but that sounds like a deadly combination and from what I've seen, it can be. Some women are quick to belittle, demean, and turn into what could be considered an altogether unpleasant person when PMSing. Apparently though, acting like a jerk is a natural reaction to their varying levels of sex hormones.
Men's sexual urges come and go. It would be nice if we were on some sort of cycle but that's just not the case. Most men will tell you that the desire for sexual gratification can, at times, be almost overwhelming with no real rhyme or reason. Its an inert compulsion that can't easily be described. Many men turn to pornography to appease these urges. This is, according to many, a natural reaction to their sex hormones.
Both of these are reactions to something natural, something physical. After all, what could be more natural than sex hormones? The debate then comes down to, not is it natural, but are these proper reactions. Does a natural reaction equate to an acceptable reaction? Is it a proper reaction for a man to look at pornography? Is it a proper reaction for a women to act like a jerk? Is it a mans responsibility to understand what a women is going through any more than it is a woman's responsibility to understand what a man is going through? You tell me. What do you think?
Just because they are natural does not make these reactions right. My question is-do theese reactions honor God? I would have to say no. Being a woman, and knowing how insane PMS can be, I can still control my reactions. I can still do my best to honor God, even when I feel like punching someone in the face, by not reacting on what my feelings are telling me. It is not easy, but it can be accomplished. If my goal is to do my best to honor God in everything I do, He will help me in this area-that is my prayer anyway!
ReplyDeleteactually, in my psych class, we were learning about illusory correlations and PMSing was one!
ReplyDeletemost women are feeling angry and restless because of their emotions, not because of PMS... they only make the assumption that because of PMS, that is why they are being "like a witch" after that day or two has already passed.
aslso, when thinking back to the PMS days, women incorrectly connect "witchyness" with their precycleness...
not sure if that made sense
nonetheless, im in agreement with kelly, you have to control your reactions and impulses in order to honor god
I agree that its all about control. Anger also has "natural" reactions but often times those reactions will land you in jail or worse. There are "natural" reactions to many different emotions, but that doesn't make them all right. Its all about control.
ReplyDeleteI should ad that I agree with Kelly in that I believe that the reactions that I am speaking of are wrong because they do not honor God.
ReplyDeleteOne of my pastors will say fairly often that the natural person is the fallen person...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kelly also, we are called to be different and given a way out, though training our minds to look for/ respond to God's answer is not natural at all.
I differ with you in equating PMS with Porn. Being irritable and bitchy is wrong, but porn is degenerative and works like a drug in a man's brain. Over time women become a "fix" and a toy. There are many, many women who don't want to be with their husbands because they've sadly learned that it isn't "our" fun at all. Check with Dr. Dobson on this stuff - he's done a lot of research.
There's no doubt that women should be more understanding too. It took quite a bit of reading and listening for me to have any idea... it really is a different paradigm.
I agree with MaLady. both may be hormonal and both may be sin, yet there is something intrinsically different about porn and the effect it has upon people (and those they love) Porn by its very nature destroys healthy relationships and demeans everyone. Even so, men and women are both being self centered and self indulgent when they let their hormones take control. I used to be far more critical of men, until I realized I could be just as self centered.
ReplyDeleteHi, thank you for sharing this great info. Was just browsing through the net in my office and happened upon your blog. It is really very well written and quit comprehensive in explaining with a very simple language.
ReplyDelete