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Why is masturbation often seen as such a negative thing?

Poll - Total Votes: 82
It's horrible and dirty in men
It's acceptable in men but let's keep it vanilla
It's sexy and body confident in men, anything goes
It's horrible and dirty in women
It's acceptable in women but let's keep it vanilla
It's sexy and body confident in women, anything goes
Show Results
You may vote on multiple answers, up to 2.
It's seen as a dirty horrible thing. The jokes about crunchy socks in teenage boys bedrooms and old men knocking one of the wrist, having a sticky stash of porn when it was just magazines that were available, never seem to get old.

The insult that someone is a wanker too. It carries a kind of insinuation that the wanker involved is some how sad, pathetic or lacks intelligence and self control.

But if you're on your own, or you're with a partner who's sex drive doesn't match yours or they lost it completely. What are you supposed to do? Just be horny and frustrated?

What about women who openly admit to doing it? Somehow it doesn't seem women are judged as much. Maybe it's even seen as a bit sexy if you're a woman.

Or maybe it depends on how? Is there a different perception of a woman using her fingers to pleasure herself than there is using toys and properly fucking herself with them?

What about anal masturbation, using nipple clamps, enemas or self spanking?

I mean, it doesn't really matter either way. I'm still going to do it but I was just thinking about the way it's seen. What do you honestly think about masturbation?
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HumanEarth · F
I see it as acceptable for everyone, no matter your gender or kinks. To me it’s a healthy, normal thing to do.
Degbeme · 70-79, M
I do it because it`s the only sex I get now. My wife decided she no longer wanted sex and even told me I should masturbate. So I do.
snowman65 · 70-79, M
@Degbeme same here
I think that it's been tainted by the negative aspects of its use such that it comes (excuse the pun) with social stigma. When it is a natural and largely private part of your life then it rarely gets any airtime, good or bad. When it becomes a mechanism for predation, a device for invading privacy or threatening decency then it takes on a more sinister and seedy element. It has indeed become those things in many cases. Furthermore, for a lot of online men it becomes their whole personality. It's all they are here for and it's so in your face that it loses any kind of legitimacy.

I'm all for people being open about their sexuality and there is no shame in masturbating but I think it's a subject that doesn't really need or benefit from further discussion. It's been done to death and so it best retains legitimacy and dignity by keeping it largely private. The person who discusses it the least has the appearance of being the most justified and dignified. That's what they internet has done for us, it's made the explicit seem like a threat and that's because it usually is.
PatientlyWaiting25 · 46-50, F
@ostfuidctyvm what about those that want to discuss and join in, they just love talking about what they like and are interested in what other people like. I think both have their place. ☺
@PatientlyWaiting25 Again, I agree that they do. I'm just saying that it's rare that a public discussion can be had about it without it being corrupted by those with ulterior motives. That's my point. The reason that it has become stigmatised is because the topic brings out all the weirdos. It's a bit like if every time you had a cup of coffee there were five guys who appeared from nowhere flashing their dicks, you soon might feel a bit uncomfortable about coffee 🤣
PatientlyWaiting25 · 46-50, F
@ostfuidctyvm lol but I still suspect they would sell a lot more of it 😂
I don’t know but I’ve found it’s best when shared with a partner 🙌
@PatientlyWaiting25 Somehow I knew you would 🙌😊
Winston335 · 61-69, M
It’s healthy and enjoyable
AbstractWave · 61-69, M
I can’t imagine anything more natural to do for men and women both.
StygianKohlrabi · 46-50, M
i would rather have sex that's why
PatientlyWaiting25 · 46-50, F
@StygianKohlrabi most people would I think.
nevergiveup · 61-69, M
After my wife went through the menapause its the only sex i have now.
WormMan · 56-60, M
Honestly I think its a natural and healthy thing to do as long as you are not injuring yourself doing it. Fingers, hands, toys, anal, nipple etc. what ever helps brings you the most pleasure doesn't matter. I know there is social stigma related to it, most people wont admit to it but its better to release that sexual tension then keeping it bottled up.
reinholddoppeldecker · 36-40, M
It's not horrible and dirty, it doesn't need to be kept vanilla, but it also isn't sexy (unless someone sexy does it). It's just something normal that people do. Like taking showers, adding spices to your food, dancing, etc. Not something that's necessary for survival, but it's good for you and it feels good.
PatientlyWaiting25 · 46-50, F
@reinholddoppeldecker I love this answer 😊
dancingtongue · 80-89, M
Because society says it is something to hide. It most likely originated in religion -- the nuns told us boys that it was a sin for "wasting God's seed", a concept that probably came in Biblical times when humankind was still struggling to populate and gain a firm foothold on the planet. But once it becomes dogma and incorporated into society's imprint, it is hard to change.

And one can rightly argue that the original teaching itself was incorrect. If it was "wasting God's seed", why does God give men wet dreams to release excess sperm? The logic is not there, just as the dogma teaching on nudity being bad when God allegedly threw Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden for covering up their nudity.
Waveney · M
@dancingtongue I've said it before: Religion takes everything your DNA naturally wants to do, and makes it wrong.
1490wayb · 56-60, M
beats spending hundreds dating and it is a mis-match. also safest form of sexual fulfillment. more fun when chatting with another!!
Religión and patriarchy
SageWanderer · 70-79, M
@greensnacks Sums up my answer. The stigma is created to exert control.
KatyO83 · 41-45, F
It is all steeped in historical prejudices.

For a long time women were definitely not expected to do it and even when doctors offered treatment for hysteria the doctor performed the pelvic massage to bring about the relief. Only when a doctor wanted to give his hand a rest did the first vibrator get invented.

I think it's healthy for either sex to masturbate and to use hands,toys,etc as they want to.
PatientlyWaiting25 · 46-50, F
@KatyO83 well they got paid for every treatment too and I'm guessing those treatments were popular!
KatyO83 · 41-45, F
@PatientlyWaiting25 I vote they come back 🤭
PatientlyWaiting25 · 46-50, F
@KatyO83 below is a link to a historical medical fetish story I wrote. There's elements of hysteria treatment in part two. I don't know if you will enjoy. It is quite extreme fetish xx

https://similarworlds.com/fetish/5457808-Victorian-mentoring-for-wayward-girls-Part-one
Waveney · M
I would say every single adult has done it at some point in their lives.

Every Single Adult.

So what's the problem?
AdmiralPrune · 46-50, M
Just wash your hands please.
WasEP · 51-55, M
It is a natural instinct in men and women, some more that others and absolutely nothing wrong with doing it for one’s pleasure
MrAverage1965 · 61-69, M
We all deserve a little pleasure and by it's very nature it's not harming anyone else. Whatever works for you.
pdockal · 56-60, M
Society is too blame for the stigma (religion also but not going to go down that rabbit hole)
BDSM is a whole other topic as you also touched on that

You just be you and I'll be me & hopefully our fun & kinks will align and who cares what others think
RodneyTrotter1 · 100+, M
Nothing wrong with it, those who complain are obviously w*nkers.
Northwest · M
You think this is the case in 2026?

You also may want to do add masturbation as part of sex for a couple, not because one of them could not get the job done?

I get that some people may not want to talk about it, but things have changed.
PatientlyWaiting25 · 46-50, F
@Northwest I think it's getting more acceptable but people still hold a lot of uncomfortable feelings surrounding it.

I didn't include it as a couple because I think that's just part of sex and wasn't relevant, for me I was always more comfortable doing that as part of a couple than I am by myself.
Northwest · M
@PatientlyWaiting25

I think that's just part of sex and wasn't relevant, for me I was always more comfortable doing that as part of a couple than I am by myself.

Of course. If you think of two types of sex: solo or with one, or more, people.

Foreplay and and any kind of "play," is part of sex, and I include masturbation as part of sexual play, for a couple, and I am less inclined to go solo.
GinPanda · 26-30, F
It is a healthy normal practice stigmatized still in my circles.
Rabbit420 · 70-79, M
My parents were very conservative and religious. I was taught that it was immoral, perverted and a mortal sin. They were completely against masturbation and it was even a punishable offense. Needless to say, I got punished a lot!!!!✊🏼✊🏼😩💦💦💦I grew up thinking I was weird and perverted because I enjoyed playing with myself. I thought I was absolutely alone. Thank heaven for the internet. Once the internet came to fruition I found that there were literally multi millions of people of both sexes that masturbated. So now all my guilt and shame of my love for playing with my cock is gone.

Children should NEVER be taught that masturbation is wrong, bad, harmful, perverted. They should be taught that it's normal and natural and completely acceptable under the right circumstances!!!!
Rabbit420 · 70-79, M
@Waveney Religion takes everything fun and enjoyable and makes it wrong!!!
Waveney · M
@Rabbit420 That too lol
PatientlyWaiting25 · 46-50, F
@Waveney @Rabbit420 "religion" and peoples interpretation, yes but Jesus no. Although that would be a whole other conversation.
wonkywinky · 56-60, M
Its always a thorny subject.If you have no partner then its probably necessary anyway.
It enables you to have a kind of virtual sex with anyone in the world.Theres a girl on this site who posts fairly regularly,content of a "fetish" nature,who i have often blown my load looking at,yet we will never meet,but i can tell her the effect she has on me and i hope she likes that.
PatientlyWaiting25 · 46-50, F
@wonkywinky what kind of fetish?
wonkywinky · 56-60, M
@PatientlyWaiting25 Oh id really rather not say thank you,such is the nature of fetishes i guess!
Wireman · 31-35, M
As a youngster everybody joked about it, but never did anybody admit it. Today it depends on where you are, some people are still very conservative.
NewWorldToronto · 51-55, M
I think it is an evolutionary taboo - our DNA has a lust for reproduction... Hmm...but then I guess it could be effective in limiting aggression.
PatientlyWaiting25 · 46-50, F
@NewWorldToronto interesting thoughts, you think we are hard wired to feel shame in masturbation so that we do
not waste an opportunity to reproduce?
NewWorldToronto · 51-55, M
@PatientlyWaiting25 I think to some extent. This shame is also in many religions and I think for the same reason. I had a thought a while back that our only reason for existence is to serve our DNA replication (like it is an alien using our bodies) - everything else we do is useless noise. Going back to that idea that all we are is the continuous movement forward of the first "DNA" 4 billion years ago. We are hard wired with the need to kill threats/protect, fuck and expand our resources via whatever means necessary.
Lackwittyname · 51-55, M
I think masturbation is completely normal and healthy. I guess the stigma maybe comes from religion, or maybe being seen as someone that cannot get another partner, not sure where it comes from.
ironborn · M
If it feels good, if it's not harming anyone else, why not. I don't think it's negative, disgusting or otherwise. I mean I wouldn't be down the pub telling my mates about it, I do think it's a private thing for yourself or partner only.
Teslin · M
Personally, to each their own. But I agree with you comments on how people are raised to think it is bad, evil, wrong.
AngelaR80 · 46-50, F
As others say. Religion and patriarchy are why it's got the stigma it has.

Women shouldn't as they should be happy with what their man gives them. Men shouldn't because they should be good enough lovers to not need any more.
Waveney · M
@AngelaR80 religion takes everything your DNA naturally wants to do, and makes it wrong
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