I would assume most religions do condemn porn but mainstream US society is not religious.
Mainstream US society is fairly accepting of porn. The fact that it's joked about is basically evidence of this. Nobody jokes about e.g. getting caught fucking children, which IS condemned by mainstream US society.
The point is anytime somebody talks about having a problem with porn, there is some kneejerk reaction about how he is just confused by an unenlightened puritanical society, as if he is incapable of deciding for himself whether or not porn is negatively affecting his own life.
Only 17% of Americans are non-religious.
And only 19% of Americans say religion is not very important to them (including the 17% who are non-religious).
A majority, 55%, of Americans say religion can solve "all or most of today's problems."
Perhaps more pertinent, a minority of Americans consider pornography "morally acceptable." Even among Americans ages 18-34.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/1690/religion.aspx
http://www.gallup.com/poll/162881/older-americans-moral-atti...
Yes, as would getting walked in on having sex with a partner. But in which of those three cases would the joke be on the person getting caught?
> mainstream US society is not religious.
You might be filter bubbled. Most polls I have seen show at least 70% of Americans consider themselves religious.
> Nobody jokes about e.g. getting caught fucking children
Except for lots of comedians, and in fact, the humor comes directly from the fact that society shames the practice (rightfully so).
Caps are not my emphasis. Glorious Waco, TX. Two miles away was a billboard of a mother discarding a baby into a garbage can for some anti-abortion campaign.
The one I mentioned was near 18th and I35 on the way towards the Planned Parenthood clinic. Haha.
As for the concept of porn itself, it's relegated to other bedroom topics and just doesn't come up in "polite" conversation.
Only in liberal, upper middle class, circles. Which of course includes most of the wannabe upper-middle-class talking heads and journalists.
Middle class society don't share the "empowered, sexy" view for porn on women at all.
I haven't personally observed this, but our society certainly shames the women who perform in pornography.
But society shames that outlet, attaching emotions such as guilt and repression, and drawing a tenuous connection to an eventual loss of self-control. It does not directly address what should be considered a healthy libido, only that by refraining from any sexual activities at all the brain will somehow eventually reset to a "natural" state, which seems to be defined only by a lowered interest in sex.
The part where the author describes his experience sharing his porn with his partner I found especially disturbing. His partner expressed outright disgust, and then described what followed as mere "fucking". This does not properly address the facet of the libido that demands fulfillment without the pressure of a performance. Men are under tremendous pressure to perform with almost every sexual act, even with long-time partners, and sometimes it's easier, simpler, and more appropriate to fill those needs alone with non-judgmental and even wholly private materials.