Is Masturbation a Healthy/Good Thing to do?[DEBATE/PROS&CONS DISCUSSION]

[Microcosm]

I've like never posted in here before, so it feels like I might see some people that I would have never seen otherwise responding to this. This will be kind of a debate thread, but I think it is much more welcome and will get much better response in the P101 section rather than ROTW. It could also help some people out who are trying to figure this out for themselves.

That being said, let's get right to it. What are the pros and cons of masturbation?

Pros:
-It can help when dealing with problems. It can help to relieve emotional or sexual tension.
-It is a completely natural thing to do.
-Let's be honest, it feels good, too.

Cons:
-Masturbation can become a serious addiction which can be very difficult to control.
-Once it becomes an addiction, people could masturbate to the point of hurting themselves(skin chaffing and such).
-People may rely too much on masturbation. This can be extremely emotionally detrimental because once masturbation starts to get old to you, it can be the cause of serious depression. This is because once you get bored with it, you will have no emotional outlet or release.

One important thing to remember is that it is easy to over-do masturbation to the point where you lose control of it and become dependent on it. At this point, it becomes a harmful thing to your mental state.

If you have any other suggestions that I add to this pros and cons list, please feel free to leave them below.

Also, since I'd like to keep up with this thread, please quote the following so that it will show up in my notifications box whenever you reply:

QUOTE THIS

Thanks, guys.

[BlackParadePixie]

I've like never posted in here before, so it feels like I might see some people that I would have never seen otherwise responding to this. This will be kind of a debate thread, but I think it is much more welcome and will get much better response in the P101 section rather than ROTW. It could also help some people out who are trying to figure this out for themselves.

That being said, let's get right to it. What are the pros and cons of masturbation?

Pros:
-It can help when dealing with problems. It can help to relieve emotional or sexual tension.
-It is a completely natural thing to do.
-Let's be honest, it feels good, too.

Cons:
-Masturbation can become a serious addiction which can be very difficult to control.
-Once it becomes an addiction, people could masturbate to the point of hurting themselves(skin chaffing and such).
-People may rely too much on masturbation. This can be extremely emotionally detrimental because once masturbation starts to get old to you, it can be the cause of serious depression. This is because once you get bored with it, you will have no emotional outlet or release.

One important thing to remember is that it is easy to over-do masturbation to the point where you lose control of it and become dependent on it. At this point, it becomes a harmful thing to your mental state.

If you have any other suggestions that I add to this pros and cons list, please feel free to leave them below.

Also, since I'd like to keep up with this thread, please quote the following so that it will show up in my notifications box whenever you reply:

QUOTE THIS

Thanks, guys.

My opinion...is that is absolutely a good and healthy thing to do. It feels good, it relieves stress, it helps me focus...I've never thought I had a problem with being "addicted" to it. Sure when I was younger there were times where I did it much more often than I do now...but it didn't control my life, and I never felt like what I was doing was wrong...which I think too many young people are told this very thing. That touching yourself in a sexual way is somehow "dirty" or "wrong" - which I disagree with completely.

[ClaraWho]

Well... That was uh... Completely agree with Fiona on her points but...

Your cons list is an unrealistic, scaremongering, extremely hyperinflated load of nonsense (no offence meant to you personally, you wished for debate). I mean really, to suggest that boredom of masturbation leads to serious depression shows a complete fundamental lack of understanding of what depression actually is.

Yes, a few people with addictive personalities or whom have experienced sexual trauma may become addicted to orgasms, the same as they would narcotics or toxins. But that is extreme, we're referring to a minuscule proportion of the general populous!

Masturbation in itself is entirely healthy, it only becomes an issue as part of an acting out of a precipitating problem. Therefore it itself isn't intrinsically harmful as an act, but rather the intention that leads to doing it is the source.

For example, the act of firing a gun at a target isn't the issue if the mindset is healthy and stable. The REASON for firing the gun, the AIM and TARGET are.

So really, as I'm sure many will agree, I posit that there isn't a debate to be had regarding masturbations pros and cons.

- Clara

[TroyH]

I've like never posted in here before, so it feels like I might see some people that I would have never seen otherwise responding to this. This will be kind of a debate thread, but I think it is much more welcome and will get much better response in the P101 section rather than ROTW. It could also help some people out who are trying to figure this out for themselves.

That being said, let's get right to it. What are the pros and cons of masturbation?

Pros:
-It can help when dealing with problems. It can help to relieve emotional or sexual tension.
-It is a completely natural thing to do.
-Let's be honest, it feels good, too.

Cons:
-Masturbation can become a serious addiction which can be very difficult to control.
-Once it becomes an addiction, people could masturbate to the point of hurting themselves(skin chaffing and such).
-People may rely too much on masturbation. This can be extremely emotionally detrimental because once masturbation starts to get old to you, it can be the cause of serious depression. This is because once you get bored with it, you will have no emotional outlet or release.

One important thing to remember is that it is easy to over-do masturbation to the point where you lose control of it and become dependent on it. At this point, it becomes a harmful thing to your mental state.

If you have any other suggestions that I add to this pros and cons list, please feel free to leave them below.

Also, since I'd like to keep up with this thread, please quote the following so that it will show up in my notifications box whenever you reply:

QUOTE THIS

Thanks, guys.

I know people who masturbate a lot, some girls I know 5+ times a day. It never interferes with their life, it never has with mine. It's a good outlet for sexual feelings, which can be good because then people don't need someone else for that good feeling. If that were the case, some bad things could come from it (i.e. rape, etc). I think it's a normal part of human nature that is helpful in more ways than one, but is mostly pleasurable and for 99.9999999% of cases, harmless. I also think the list of cons is a bit exaggerated or unrealistic even. Yea I've had skin chaffing from masturbating before, but it happens. Such little pains happen in other things too, for example running which is also for the most part beneficial (it can ruin your knees, hips, shins, feet, and such) causes chaffing but as with masturbating, it just happens sometimes when you do it a lot at once lol.

[iTimeLine]

Masturbation is a healthy natural thing that no one should be embarrassed about, it has been proved to help prevent multiple cancers, including prostate cancer and testicular cancer, (I am talking about male masturbation, I am not sure of the benefits of female masturbation, but I am sure there are a lot). It helps relieve stress, it prevents nocturnal emissions, and it feels good.

I do agree, it can be a very addictive activity, and should be done in moderation.

[Uniquemind]

Western medicine says yes.

Eastern medicine says no as do some sports teams in both the UK and USA.

It is widely superstition that orgasm drains energy needed for athletes to be at their best in a sports game.

[benbeny]

Uhh, afaik there's no problem medically. So it's basically your own preference...

[lucaboy]

My opinion...is that is absolutely a good and healthy thing to do. It feels good, it relieves stress, it helps me focus...I've never thought I had a problem with being "addicted" to it. Sure when I was younger there were times where I did it much more often than I do now...but it didn't control my life, and I never felt like what I was doing was wrong...which I think too many young people are told this very thing. That touching yourself in a sexual way is somehow "dirty" or "wrong" - which I disagree with completely.

Masturbation is a normal part of sexual development and many people do it, many girls and women and nearly all boys and men. Apart from the fun it helps you to get acquainted to your own body and get training for later sex life with a partner. Especially in puberty when your own hormones go haywire it helps to lose tension and relax. For boys and men the semen and fluid from sexual glands must be released anyway every now and again, as a physiological necessity. If it´s not done by masturbation or sex, it will happen during wet dreams while you are asleep anyway. I think it is only unhealty, as said above, when masturbation takes over your (social) life and you barely do anything else, neglecting your hobbies, duties and friends, not thinking about anything else than masturbation. Then one should get professional help. On the other hand, there is no too less or too much, as long as it is the nicest additional occupation of the world, even if it takes some time. I often wank 3-5 times a day and feel very well with it :)

[Jaffe]

I think masturbation is actually a healthy thing. I have heard that the more you orgasm, the healthier your heart is. Not sure if that is true, but I want to believe it anyway. I really can't see any downside to masturbation, in any case.

My mom says it can't interfere with homework or chores. I guess if it does, that's a con. Not that I am going to tell her, "Oh, I can't do the dishes yet mom, I have to go jerk off first."

I am not sure what a masturbation addiction is. Or how one would even know if you were addicted. Or maybe we all are.

[Jaffe]

Masturbation is a healthy natural thing that no one should be embarrassed about, it has been proved to help prevent multiple cancers, including prostate cancer and testicular cancer, (I am talking about male masturbation, I am not sure of the benefits of female masturbation, but I am sure there are a lot). It helps relieve stress, it prevents nocturnal emissions, and it feels good.

I do agree, it can be a very addictive activity, and should be done in moderation.

I am not sure I would consider preventing wet dreams a "pro". In fact, in my opinion, that would be a "con". Wet dreams feel awesome, I really don't want to prevent them!

[Hermes]

Looking at Rainbow Dash's list it seems all the cons focus on the possibility of masturbation being adictive.

So, what is addictive behaviour? To me it not just something you find it hard to resist doing but something where the "need" to do it is so strong it causes serious repercussions such as damage to health, failure at school or work, consuming all one's money or causing one to become isolated due to never engaging in social activity.

I would suggest, for the majority of people, masturbation does not of these things. So we're left with:

1. It's a good way to deal with being horny, and thus restore your concentration, without complications.
2. It feels really good.
3. It enables you learn how your body responds to stimulation.
4. For guys it is good for your prostate.