HOT or NOT!? eBay's "Mature" Audiences

"The Right To Choose Is A Human's Greatest Asset!"

Have you already noticed the puns in the headlines? Reports are showing that quite a few people are looking for a "hot asset". According to eBay’s “Hot Categories Report, August 2006” the “Mature Audiences” section of the “Everything Else” category was “very hot”, meaning it was the most popular section under “Everything Else”. eBay Pulse shows a similar result. The keywords “-girlfriend”, “-pics”, “-wife”, “-escort” (not meant to be the car although the double meaning is often used), “-me”, “-photos”, “-pictures”, and other similar keywords are often among the top ten searches in “Everything Else”. This is also consistent with the rest of the internet, in which pornography and dating websites are among the most visited.

I’m a student in college and majoring in Neuroscience. Often, people hear the prefix “neuro” and assume that I’m going to be a brain surgeon. However, Neuroscience is not only the study of the brain, but of all nerves in the body, covering related topics such as Chemistry, Biology, Anatomy, and a couple of my favorites—Human Behavior and Psychology. I only explain my background at this point to assure you that this guide is coming from a viable source. My other interests in Business, Ethics, Philosophy and Religion will also be key influences in what I’m about to explain concerning these reports for “Mature Audiences”. I’ve had some excellent teachers, both science and non-science, that have saved me from damaging and harmful addictions. After seeing these reports on a constant basis I’d like to share with others the same words of wisdom that my teachers have shared with me. Some may think that I’m about to commit professional suicide by writing about a subject that can be personal. Yet, I believe that showing a genuine concern for people is much more professional than exploiting their weaknesses, in order to hook them on something that will continually empty their pockets into mine.

Much of behavior, in humans and other vertebrates, is based on the stimulation of pleasure centers within the brain. Many of these pleasure centers are located in the brain stem, which is where the spinal cord connects with the brain. We don’t know all the “why”s or “how”s, but we do know that when certain behaviors are performed, chemicals are released in the brain that stimulate these pleasure centers, and often cause the animal to perform that behavior more, acting as positive reinforcement. These behaviors include eating, drinking, breathing, sleeping and sex. This is the simple, scientific description that explains why we sometimes do what we do. It is easily observable in animal shows, such as the circus and marine parks. Whenever an animal performs a trick, the trainer rewards them with food. It is also observable with humans. They pay money for “mature” or “adult” material, and they are instantly rewarded with images, sounds and other stimuli that activate those pleasure centers, so they continue to perform that behavior—spending and spending and spending their money. If this were the only information that we had, after observing the popularity of the “mature audiences” section on eBay one could ask whether humans are above the other animals or not?

I submit that we are! Humans are the only entities of life on this planet that we know of who can consciously make a decision that is against their natural instinct. There are many who wonder if it is beneficial for us to have the ability to choose. The ability to choose is, after all, the ability to commit murder, to have war, to have an affair, to cheat others, to pollute our planet, etc. It is what allows us to be a very destructive race. However, I’d like to point out that it is because of our ability to choose, and our ability to reason, that we are able to improve communications, make scientific discoveries, create records for future generations, observe, learn, expand, increase, and progress. It is what allows us to be a very productive race. I like having the ability to choose. In fact, I’d say that the right to choose is the greatest asset that we have as humans. This, our foundation for learning, is what allows us to be able to consider the long term effects of our actions and understand that it is not always best to have immediate pleasure and gratification. Working towards a goal, and accomplishing it over a long period of time can bring much more satisfaction.

There are many that argue that IF the right to choose is the greatest asset that we have as humans, THEN it should be one’s own decision to obtain “adult” materials. If they like having their pleasure centers stimulated then they should be allowed to continue stimulating them. As a supporter of the right to choose, I will never tell anyone what they CAN and CANNOT do. I will explain what they SHOULD and SHOULD NOT do, based on a concern for them and the desire to help them KEEP their ability to choose. The truth is that when the animals allow the pleasure centers in the brain to be over stimulated, they gradually LOOSE their right to choose.

I’ve seen it in experiments with rats. First, a surgery is performed which implants an electrode that ends on one of the rat’s pleasure centers. Then the rat is placed in a compartment with the electrode hooked up to a power source, and a system is programmed to electrically stimulate the rat’s pleasure center every time the rat sticks his nose into a certain hole. There is even a hole available where the rat can stick its nose and not get stimulated (a type of experimental control). Towards the beginning of the experiment, the rat has normal rat behavior. It is particularly explorative when it is first placed in the compartment. It looks everywhere, sniffing and observing. Until finally, it discovers something that literally shocks him. The surprise causes the rat to wait a while before it sticks its nose in the hole again. However, there is a point where the rat realizes that he liked the shock, so it is certain that he will stick his nose in the hole again. After a set period of time, the rat is taken out of the compartment and put in his cage overnight. The next day the rat is placed in the compartment again. He still has a sense of exploration. He sniffs around a little bit, not as much, but he does, and then, when he realizes that it’s the same compartment he was in the day before, he goes back to the hole that produced the electric stimulation and he inserts his nose again. The week continues on, until the rat reaches a point where he no longer sniffs around the compartment when placed in it. He goes straight to the hole and shocks himself repeatedly until he can longer take the stimulation physically. The shock causes his head to jump backwards and his rate of breathing is affected. He shocks himself so many times that he becomes exhausted, so he takes a moment to catch his breadth and then he shocks himself repeatedly again. What happened to rat’s behavior? By the end of the experiment it has lost its sense of exploration entirely. The hole has dominated him. HE CANNOT CHOOSE to do anything else because he has become addicted.

The same thing happens with humans when their pleasure centers are over stimulated. Their judgment has been compromised and the ability to choose has almost entirely diminished. This includes the pleasure center that is stimulated with sexual material. It takes away your greatest right, the ability to choose, and places you in a habit which continually steals your cash and gives it to the marketers, as well as your time and your opportunities.

Much of our ability to choose depends on how well informed our decision is. One of the greatest dilemmas for scientists is trying to figure out which behaviors are learned and which are inherited. Many of our preferences are learned. Our basic needs are inherited. For example: people need to eat; that is inherited. A preference for eating chocolate is learned. The same is true for sexual preferences, which is determined largely by those who control what happens in our media, specifically television, movies, music and magazines. And why do they spend so much money to produce those products? Because they are trying to make us learn what to want so that they can control our spending habits. Ask yourself if they really deserve to have so much control over your right to choose!

As an adult human myself, I have as much interest in love and mating as anybody. I’m not saying that sex is a bad thing. It can be a good thing in the proper setting. In fact, there is plenty of evidence to support a need for sex, just like humans have a need for food and water. (From a purely biological view, our race would die off without it.) What I am saying is that the loss of the ability to choose is bad, and that any person that is capable of making conscious decisions should learn to control their passions. Learn to recognize the habits that will steal your choices from you and distinguish them from the ones that will expand your capabilities and increase your ability to choose.

It is not enough to simply say that a certain behavior should not be performed. It is much more effective to offer possible alternatives. The following tips will help you KEEP your right to choose:

1. Learn to distinguish the difference between pleasure and happiness. They are not the same. Habits that expand your capabilities will make you happy and confident. Habits that rob you of your right to choose will give you immediate pleasure, but end up controlling you in the long run.

2. Learn to distinguish the difference between lust and love. Lust is selfish. Lust is evil. Lust is caring more for immediate pleasure. Lust permits the body to be the master over the mind. The hotness of lust grows cold. Lust is the counterfeit of love. Lust is not love. Love is sacrifice. Love is caring for other people to a degree where you would not damage them or abuse them mentally or physically. Love is to give, not to take. Love is to serve, not to exploit. Love is not limited to physical attraction. True love never tires of the desire to do what is right.

3. Learn of the habits that will dominate you (synonymously called addictions) and avoid them. These addictions include, but are not limited to, drugs, alcohol, smoking, overeating and pornography. Another type of addiction could even include someone’s “need” for attention.

4. Avoid places where you will be easily tempted. It would have been much easier for the rat if he were never placed in the compartment.

5. Learn to recognize the initial shock and choose not to “stick your nose in the hole” a second time. Make the decision ahead of time and mentally prepare yourself.

6. Work for a good marriage relationship. Don’t let divorce be an option. Have children and teach them to be intelligent. Studies have shown that this is the healthiest relationship. And while it does take a lot of work and effort, it ultimately brings the most happiness.

7. Read books.

8. Among the books that you read, include ones that will teach you how to communicate with the opposite sex.

9. Learn systems of marketing in order to know when someone is lying to you. Sexual materials are often labeled “mature” or “adult”, when they are not either. It is actually more adult and mature to be able to recognize these dangers and stay away from them.

10. For men, compliment a woman when she is dressed like a lady. Support this type of behavior in women by giving them positive reinforcement in an atmosphere that constantly gives them so many negative messages.

11. For women, dress like a lady, despite what the media tells you to wear or how you should look. Men who have had their pleasure centers over stimulated will interpret revealing attire as positive reinforcement, and they will treat you as selfishly as any form of media that satisfies their immediate desires.

12. For both sexes, don’t think for one moment that the majority of this guide applies only to men. There are plenty of women who are victims of the “adult” industry. Furthermore, there are habits that women should avoid as well. For example, many women claim that their infatuation with male celebrities isn’t sexual, yet your false sense of security with a man you don’t know is just as dangerous. And your expectation for a perfectly groomed, perfectly scripted man who always knows what to say is very unrealistic.

14. As mentioned in #3, a need for attention can be an addiction. This is most common in women, but not exclusive. Remember that no amount of money or attention is worth your right to choose. Don’t contribute to the “adult” industry. If you need the money, start a business on eBay. I have tons of stuff to help you start. You can check out the links at the bottom of my About Me page.

15. Men are biologically made to get hot as quickly as a gas stove; the flame is there almost immediately. Women are more like electric stoves, they do get hot, but it takes a little longer. With this in mind, women, try not to be too hard on men, but don’t allow certain behavior either.

16. Parents, teach your children about sex. Don’t avoid these conversations, and don’t let your children learn about sex from the “adult” industry, because it WILL teach them if you don’t.

I hope this information helped you. And I also hope that it has been clear that I’m trying to protect the right to choose. Don’t let yourself become one of the many victims, whose habit feeds the “adult” industry. Don’t become the rat. You can maintain your right to choose!