Porn in the USA: Conservatives are biggest consumers

[mina.magpie]

Porn in the USA: Conservatives are biggest consumers

Americans may paint themselves in increasingly bright shades of red and blue, but new research finds one thing that varies little across the nation: the liking for online pornography.

A new nationwide study (pdf) of anonymised credit-card receipts from a major online adult entertainment provider finds little variation in consumption between states.

"When it comes to adult entertainment, it seems people are more the same than different," says Benjamin Edelman at Harvard Business School.

However, there are some trends to be seen in the data. Those states that do consume the most porn tend to be more conservative and religious than states with lower levels of consumption, the study finds.

Hmmmm ... fancy that! 

Mina.

[Sephirah]

Imagine if those dollars spent went on international aid...

*giggles* Reading that... I couldn't help thinking about the comedian Bill Bailey and a song he wrote...

[tekla]

The survey is very flawed, and you really can't use the results to say that.

[mina.magpie]

The survey is very flawed, and you really can't use the results to say that.

In what way? It had occurred to me that going by zipcode doesn't really differentiate between various demographics, but I wasn't sure that that would make a difference, because it seemed unlikely to me that there would be an abnormally skewed population of porn consumers in conservative communities that weren't also themselves conservative. But yeah, I don't know much about stats.

Mina.

[Stealthgrrl]

Imagine if those dollars spent went on international aid...

*giggles* Reading that... I couldn't help thinking about the comedian Bill Bailey and a song he wrote...

Too funny. Does this mean I have to cover up my bathroom mirror, then??

[tekla]

It only looks at porn bought over the net, and then only in certain ways.  What it does say is that internet porn consumption is highest in places where there are not many other outlets selling it, and in places with the highest concentration of internet use, as would be easy to imagine.

[Hazumu]

Good point, Tekla.  Though the statistic is still interesting in that it shows a definite market for porn in areas that are supposed to be 'righteous' and 'moral'.

=K

[NicholeW.]

I'm not at all certain that even with people living in conservative districts that a pattern of internet porn purchass would say much of anything about the pur->-bleeped-<-, like how conservative they would likely be, for instance. Add that to tekla's points and I imagine this is a decidedly poor way to make the determination that's made in the article. Same thing in reverse for liberal districts.

Nichole

[mina.magpie]

@ Tekla:

So with presumably fewer traditional outlets like print or DVD/Video, it would make more sense that consumption through other outlets such as the internet would increase?

Good point.

Mina.

[tekla]

Well taking the broadest sweep of porn, pix, movies, DVDs, mags, peep shows, stripper bars, pole dancing and all that it would only make sense that if I could eliminate a lot of that demand in other areas would increase to take up the slack.  According to that survey, Salt Lake City consumes more porn than San Francisco, and I just have to doubt that.  First you all all the above options from the sleaziest video arcades, to the very high class gentleman's clubs (also sleazy as it turns out) there are lots and lots of other outlets from strictly porn stores again from sleazy to Good Vibrations (think of it as a clean well-lighted place with real nice people selling sex toys and porno, because it is) far more 'other' outlets like liquor stores selling mags, a huge used porn (Ewwwwww) store, and all of that. 

Despite that, it still registered pretty high in internet porn (perhaps because a lot of that is made in SF, the gay stuff in particular, natch) and given the open industry, plus the high net sales, that SF is consuming a lot more porn than SLC. 

And any 'survey' that would indicated otherwise has some problem with it.

[NicholeW.]

Ah come on, there are "used" porn stores?!! Goddess, this really is as filthy as it all sounds, isn't it!!

Nikki

[tekla]

SALT LAKE CITY HOTBED OF PORN, sounds filthy for sure. 

[Natalie3174]

I have a present for those downloading porn when they shouldnt be. It's called Force Lightning!

[NicholeW.]

SALT LAKE CITY HOTBED OF PORN, sounds filthy for sure. 

Touche, is there anything that would make me want a four hour tub-soak worse? LOL!!


Nikki

[joannatsf]

I'm shocked, shocked to hear there is hypocracy in the ranks of the radical right!

[tekla]

I have a present for those downloading porn when they shouldnt be.

Just like real sex, you just have to practice safe internet sex porn downloading, and make sure your party hat is on, or the firewall is up, and all virus protections at full.  And when exactly is the wrong time to be downloading porn, other than with mom and the little ones at Thanksgiving or something.  Unless you're in it, in which case its ok as it showing them your new career.

[V M]

I could care less who's downloading porn and think some folks should. Maybe if the got themselves off a little more often they would be more relaxed 

Also I think the human body is a beautiful thing and should be celebrated. Although I do think some folks take it a little too far sometimes 

[NicholeW.]

I'm shocked, shocked to hear there is hypocracy in the ranks of the radical right!

O, Claire, hope ya don't mind but your response sent me into gales of laughter!! Haven't seen you here in months and there ya are popping outta what could be a closet door with this stern look on your face (ya look great, btw.) for a great one line response!! Just too much.

Nichole

[lisagurl]

Many people believe in barrier between public and private space.

[tekla]

Many people believe in barrier between public and private space

And the 18th Century was swell wasn't it? 

Right or wrong, better or worse - this concept has not existed in the Western World since WWII, and every year out from that point sees less and less.  Alas and alack, its tragic I guess, but pretty much, we are all to blame for it.