Gentleman porn

My Tim is a porn addict.  It took awhile for me to come to grips with this despite the fact that he labeled himself as such early on in our friendship.  I honestly didn't think men could become addicted to porn.  I'd always felt as if porn use was something that could be stopped outright at any particular point in time.

So what defines an addict, whether they're addicted to pornography or alcohol or some other particular "medication"?

I'm no psychologist, but for me, an addict is definitely someone who feels no guilt or remorse for using.  They're completely numb to their conscience relative to their addiction.  That's why they use as often and in such quantities as they do.  Secondly, they're addiction impedes them on some level.  Even if it's to the tiniest degree, it hampers their progress as ________ (fill in the blank).  For Tim, (in general terms) it's his vocation and his faith that it hampers dramatically.

At this point in time, my Tim has given me access to all of his internet capable devices via a program called Covenant Eyes and he's seeing a therapist weekly.  Covenant Eyes monitors his browsing on his laptop / desktop / smartphone and sends me a scheduled report.  The report grades all of the websites that have been visited, thereby giving me an overview of whether or not he's stayed on the narrow road versus the more typical path taken by the average mid-thirties white male.

For close to 2.5 months, he was essentially porn free until this past weekend.

On Super Bowl Sunday, a few hours before the big game, he visited this site for around 10 minutes. 

Spartacus Vengeance (A Starz Original Series), ladies and gentlemen is what I like to call gentleman porn, and this is what he allowed himself to escape within.  The entire program is close to an hour long.  I'll be interested to find out which parts caught his fancy.

Let's dissect it together so we can better understand my definition.

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1.  Gentleman porn has a specific appeal.

-   It's target audience is male.  They're educated.  They're white.  They're IT savvy, and they're under the age of 40.

The level of abject violence within this genre serves to ward off most females.  Since it's historical fiction, an educated mind helps the viewer to follow along / justify viewing.  The pilot (and I suppose future episodes) can be / will be available to view via streaming from STARZ's website.  Note the exclusive token black character and the fact that there are no elderly or children in sight.

2.  Gentleman porn contains well choreographed, though always simulated, violence and sex. 

-  Computer generated imagery (CGI) is utilized to achieve comic book levels of kills and erotica.  The use of slow-motion exemplifies this.  It's a cheap device which manipulates the viewer that much further by screaming "LOOK HERE!  LOOK HERE!"

Notice the photorealistic kills where the camera lingers as men's throat's are cut or punctured through entirely.  S-l-o-w down the sex.  In particular, watch how it captures the lovers' (fake) facial expressions as they're dowsed with drink.  Did that concubine really insert that strap-on dong inside that dude's arse?  Nahhhh. 

3.  Gentleman porn is almost exclusively filmed overseas.

-  An overabundance of extras as well as filming on location give these films a look of credible authenticity.

I'm assuming the pay scale is less overseas.  Certainly, overseas actors are less cautious relative to what they're willing to invest themselves into.  Unfortunately, US production companies are well respected, hence drawing unsuspecting victims to it like a moth to a flame.  Unfortunately, this work will be an albatross on every actors' resume, despite the fact that Sam Raimi produced.  Remember that extras get paid little if anything for their involvement in filmed productions.  Most of the fight / sex scenes are filled with them.  

4.  Gentleman porn is television based.

-  If it's on television, it's okay to watch, right?

"What's on TV tonight Mom?  Can we watch another episode of Spartacus?"


"Sure honey.  Just help me put away the dishes first."

5.  Gentleman porn has high production standards.

-  Current US television standards relative to production quality continue to rival film standards due to inexpensive special effects tech.

6.  Gentleman porn has both straight and gay appeal.

-  It strives to be non-offensive to its audience and universally accessible no matter your sexual orientation.

Spartacus Vengeance is a particularly apt example of this.  And this descriptor, I would argue, is one of the most important because the wider the net the producer can cast, the better his chances of catching as many viewers (see item 1) as possible.

Note the homoerotic costuming, simulated gay sex scenes, and Joel Schumacher levels of simulated perspiration throughout.  


Man, those guys must really stink!

7.  Gentleman porn is / can be streamed online.

-  No commercials / ads.  Plenty of opportunity to revisit specific scenes.

Related to item 1.  Hit.  Re-hit, and re-hit.  Come back whenever you'd like 24/7!  Perfect for laptops, tablets, and phones.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

8.  Gentleman porn uses actors who look like real people.

-  The girl / boy next door look is what you'll find within these ranks.

These actors have flaws.  None of them rank as perfect 10s.  So much homogeneity is here, that you're bound to find a character that's easy to relate to.  When you see yourself or your peers in the faces of these, it gives one that much more incentive to invest oneself in the images / story.  Note that there no black / asian people overall.


"That girl / guy looks just like ________."

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This is re-packaged porn for the gentleman in your life.  It started decades ago with Playboy magazine.  Now, we have this.  The basic descriptors are the same as they were decades ago.  It's only in the finer details relative to technology that we see some evolution of the species.

Streaming video - the technology - is the key to making this iteration of gentleman porn possible.  Ah, the beauty of high speed internet access and superfast (and super inexpensive) graphics processors.  Where would society be without you?


On a final note, gentleman porn will never show an erect penis on screen.  Erect penises are the holy grail of true pornography.  But, the inclusion of the strap-on dildo (prominently displayed on camera) was a clever bait & switch technique. 


Please pray for my Tim and his very personal battle against his addiction to pornography.  Please pray for me as I continue to serve him as an accountability partner.  Please pray for his therapist.  And finally, please pray for all those involved in the production of Spartacus Vengeance.  Pray that someday, they'll be convicted of the huge waste of their time, energy, and talent on such a destructive and self-serving endeavor.


Don't be deceived.  Steer clear of gentleman porn.  If you're interested in learning about Spartacus, pick up a history book after shutting down your browser.  Better still would be for you to pick up God's word and read 1 and 2 Samuel.  It's just as entertaining AND completely authentic.