Masturbation is a dirty word

Catholics have historically been all over the anti-masturbation thing, like this wonderful woman (who, I should hasten to add, has actually apologized for her anti-masturbation comments). Of course, anything can be justified by the bible:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:28.

This website, while an obvious parody, actually shows us some very real, and frightening views about masturbation. It has a helpful page on preventing your kids from masturbating.

Catholics are also big on the absence before marriage rule. To have both of those rules seems very silly to me - tell people they can't masturbate, and what are they going to want to do? Oh yeah, have sex, probably unsafely.

Masturbation is a dirty word. I'm a pretty 'forward-thinking' sort of person, and when I see or hear the word masturbation, it still makes me feel a little bit odd. Historically, people who masturbated were seen as disgusting; devices were developed for men and women to prevent masturbation, with things like this and this and this horrifying looking thing.

Female circumcision, particularly prevalent in Africa and Asia, is also a bid to prevent women from enjoying sex - and masturbation.

As far as I can tell, the ban/hate on any form of pre-marital sex stems from 'wasting your seed'. You know, "it is better to spill your seed in the belly of a whore than spill it on the ground." I somehow found myself on a Catholic forum, and found this. It's amazing, talking about which is worse, masturbation or having pre-marital sex with a prostitute.

Both acts are wrong, but masturbation is worse than prostitution IF you don't use artificial contraception with the prostitute AND you don't take into account factors like addiction and all that stuff discussed in the catechism about pastoral care of masturbation. Prostitution is more wrong if you use contraception, because that is basically just masturbating with another person's body.

I've highlighted the part that gave me the most lols for your amusement.

Apparently, the whole 'sex with prostitute is better than having a wank' thing comes from this story, courtsey of faithmyeyes

One of Judah's sons, Er, married a woman named Tamar. Er was wicked and God killed him before Tamar could bear him children. According to the traditions of the time, Er's younger brother, Onan, was supposed to take Tamar as his wife and give her children, but instead ejaculating inside her, he "spilled his seed on the ground."

So, God struck Onan down, as well. Judah was afraid that it was Tamar's fault that his sons were dying, and told her to go back to her father's house instead of giving her his youngest son like he was supposed to.

Tamar, being completely slighted, decided that she would have a child one way or the other. She covered her face and dressed up as a prostitute and waited by one of the roads Judah frequented. Judah saw her and offered to pay her for sex, and Tamar said yes. Tamar was impregnated during the encounter, and Judah admitted that Tamar was more righteous than he was because he should've given his youngest son to her in marriage.

Onan's part in this story has been the biggest lesson learned, though, and the word onanism refers to the sin masturbation (despite the fact that it's not probable that act is what is referred to in this passage.) God struck Onan down for spilling his seed on the ground, and the result of Tamar's prostitution was one of Jesus's ancestors. Therefore, it's better to spill your seed in the belly of a prostitute than on the ground.

So I guess this explains why men aren't supposed to masturbate, cuz God will kill your babies. Obviously. But why is it bad for women to masturbate? Why is a women masturbating such a sex symbol? Lots and lots of guys I know 'spill their seed' over a girl masturbating - is that why it's dirty for women to do it? Are we tempting all the boys out there?

It seems to me that masturbation, particularly women masturbating, is bad because other women say it is. Girls tend to see masturbation as dirty, and judge other women for doing it. Probably, words like 'wank' and 'jack-off' don't help either.

Apparently, orgasms increase your life expectancy. If you ignore the horrible website and flashing crap, the research seems relatively thorough, at least enough for me!

I think it would be awesome to remember the phrase 'it's just skin'. Penis, vagina, both, whatever, it's just skin. If you're doing it to yourself, and you're not doing it with anything funky (like sausages?!), it's unlikely for anything to happen that's worse than a sore wrist and some chaffing. Remember kids, use lube!