A man in Waukesha County is facing a misdemeanor charge for negligent handling of burning materials after Pewaukee Police reported he continued watching porn while plastic on his stove caught fire.
Steven Flaugher reportedly realized the plastic was burning but did not attempt to extinguish the fire or call for assistance. Neighbors eventually noticed the fire and activated the alarm. Police indicated that Flaugher had been drinking, and the damage from the fire was described as minor.
Pornography Consumption Trends
The incident in Waukesha County occurs within a broader context of significant pornography consumption. Pornhub, identified as one of the world's largest pornography websites, released its 6th annual review at the close of 2018. This report detailed trending categories and compared overall usage trends to previous years.
According to the 2018 Pornhub review, visits to the site totaled 33.5 billion over the course of that year, marking an increase of 5 billion visits compared to 2017. This figure translates to a daily average of 92 million visitors. At the time of the report's writing, Pornhub's daily visits were stated to exceed 100 million. These statistics suggest that pornography use remains prevalent.
In 2019 alone, individuals spent nearly 6 billion hours on Pornhub. The continued high volume of traffic to such platforms indicates that pornography users are a consistent demographic.
Societal Perspectives on Pornography
The consumption of pornography elicits various reactions and discussions. For individuals in relationships, discovering a partner watches porn can lead to feelings of disgust, shock, despair, and betrayal, sometimes likened to infidelity. Other reported emotions include confusion, heartbreak, grief, loneliness, and insecurity regarding attractiveness or sex appeal. Questions may arise about a partner's thoughts during intimacy or what they view when not together, potentially eroding trust.
There are differing views on whether using porn is a safe way to manage sexual energy or enhance sex. Some individuals and therapists hold this belief. However, personal feelings, agreements within a relationship regarding pornography, and research findings are also considered relevant factors.
The distinction between guilt and shame is often discussed in relation to pornography use. Guilt is described as acknowledging that a behavior is wrong, leading to healthy change and personal growth. Shame, conversely, involves feeling that "there's something wrong with me," which can lead to feelings of being broken and unworthy of love. It is suggested that a person's behavior should be separated from their identity.
Societal or religious taboos are not considered to fully explain the shame associated with compulsive pornography use. Studies indicate that shame may exacerbate porn use for the consumer rather than explain its root causes.
Key Facts
- Steven Flaugher faces a misdemeanor charge for negligent handling of burning materials.
- Pewaukee Police reported Flaugher continued watching porn while plastic burned on his stove.
- Neighbors initiated the fire alarm after noticing the fire.
- Flaugher had reportedly been drinking.
- Damage from the fire was minor.
- Pornhub recorded 33.5 billion visits in 2018, an increase of 5 billion from 2017.
- In 2019, people spent nearly 6 billion hours on Pornhub.
