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Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

Original post by Anonymous1674

I know at least one person will know who I am, but here goes...

In November, my then boyfriend had to go away on business. I knew he had to leave early and he half woke me up that morning. I fell back to sleep and woke up a little later, worried that I didn't get to say good-bye!

I got out of bed to grab my cell and saw a dim light from the second bedroom. The door was cracked open only about 3 inches. I said 'baby' and opened the door. He slammed the keyboard drawer closed and frantically began clicking at the screen. I didn't have my contacts in, but thought it was p**n.

I didn't freak out and I let him go away on his trip. A friend told me how to check the history, so when I got home from work that day I needed to find out.

The history bar was filled with web sites for p**n. I nearly collapsed. I never in a million years thought my man would be into that. Until that moment, everything was great, or so I thought. First off, I can't completey say it's all his fault, I was so stressed at work we weren't intimate for over a month.

Anyways...I felt so bertayred that he was sneaking out of bed at night to look at this trash, I left him and went back to my parents. When he came home from his trip, I wasn't there.

We talked it through over the phone and he said it's normal for guys to do that, plus we hadn't ---- in over a month. He said he didn't want me to think that all he wanted me for was ---- and that he didn't want to upset me and he would wait till I was in the mood again. So I forgave him and went back.

About two months later, he asked me to marry him. But, ever since that day, I have never trusted him the same. I am even worried about him cheating, but I have to say that he doesn't drink and he's not out at clubs. He's always home with me if we're not travelling. I felt that I hit a wall...here's this man that I love and I was living with him and then realized I didn't know him as well as I thought I did. I feel like I'm paranoid all of the time now by checking his cell and his e-mail...we've gotten into many fights about that...but he maintains he has not looked at it since.

I've made an effort to keep up the intimacy and to try to let the past rest, but it keeps coming up. We're going to pick out wedding locations soon and to speak with the priest.

Please help me here......is it normal for guys to do the p**n thing. Should I be concerned or should I trust that he's telling me truth? I'm always worried 5 years from now I'll find myself in a Lifetime movie like being married to a s*x addict. I thought about trying to watch that stuff with him...if that would help but I just can't see past how this situation changed how I look at him. He doesn't want to do therapy...can I look past this?
Pookiesangel Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!


Posted by nov2004bride

I can only speak for myself but I am very open about that stuff. It doesn't bother me and I think it can be very educational (not joking). I am sorry that you are so upset. Maybe he was sneaking around because he knew what your reaction would be



I second this opinion, looking doesn't bother me at all..but I am pretty open minded, anf FH knows this, so if it's done, it's pretty much out in the open..Men view sex differently than we do, for some it's as vital as brushing your teeth, for other's less.

My advice, figure out what about him doing it bothered you most? the sneaking around, or the actually p**n?
Xelindrya Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

Just personally..

Its normal... most of my guy friends brag about how much megs of ram they have dedicated JUST to porn. It’s really not a big deal.

I have no problem with Porn. I used to get playboy at my apt (by mistake) for years. I used to read all the articles and have them in my house. My guy friends would take them home the next day. It’s just porn to me. I’m not talking wacky kinky stuff. That’s out there too. I look at it as just strange and shocking, but I don’t care as long as the guy isn’t gonna think he can try that crap on me!!

Having s*x or not isn’t going to make want to look at porn less. Forcing yourself to keep the intimacy up isn’t going to change that. You may end up feeling obligated to having s*x with him then it’s not fun anymore and both of you suffer. JMHO

Looking at porn is normal for a guy. Talk to him about it. Find out what makes it such a big deal for him, you may be surprised. Make it a very open discussion you may find out stuff about your FH that you were always afraid to ask. Looking at porn doesn’t a make a guy a sexual deviant or a perv.. just makes him normal.

Again, JMHO
shelly3950 Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

I also agree its totally normal. If he was corresponding with someone, then I woudl be upset. But to pleasure himself while looking at pictures, especially wehn you haven't been intimate, I really don't see the big deal (unless its children or animals or something like that).

To be quite honest, I usually beleive that counseling and therapy are great ideas, but if i were him, I wouldn't go under these cirucumstances. You are clearly appalled by this behavior- otherwise you wouldn't have moved out while he was away. If I were him, I wouldn't want to go because it is coming out fo a place that 'this is wrong and therapy will fix that.' I don't think that mastrubating to porn is wrong. Once you get it out in the open, maybe it is something you can share together.
Bebalina Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!


Posted by PrincessRose

Yeah, it's pretty normal, I hate to say.

I mean, as long as it's normal porn, not like, barnyard animals or kids or something. I'm not 100% comfortable with it, but I trust FH 100%.

I'm sorry you're going through all this - can you think of any other reason not to trust him?



i completely agree with Rose...unfortunately it it is normal....and I think you can totally get past this if you allow yourself.
diamondgrlie Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

I must say it is normal. But the way you feel is normal for you and he has to respect that too especially if you are going to be husband and wife. I personally dont mind at all, I was the one who told him to subscribe to Playboy magazine. I am totally confident in our relationship and what is he going to do? Run away with a Playmate? I think you have to ask yourself why you are so upset... maybe there is a wierd underlying reason... Good luck.

2003fallwedding Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

I would not worry about it. I know DH looks at it sometimes online and he still has a Playboy subscription...

palebride Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

I think it's pretty normal. When I was younger, my mother bought my father a subscription to Playboy, so perhaps that's why I think that way.
I think the thing that bothers me the most about what you said is that this is leading you to think he'll cheat. And you're checking his email and cell ohone because of it. You seem to have a hard time trusting him, which I think may be because of something more than what he's looking at on the computer.
MrsTC Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

normal! unfortunately...

i think as long as it is not consuming his life, his $ etc...you don't have to worry. It's just a fantasy. If it goes beyond fantasy....well thats a diff. story.
september2004 Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

as others have said, totally normal within reason...

FH and i joke as he is not 'allowed' to surf that stuff on my computer, so whenever he goes to his friends' house, he always snags a peek!

he doesn't do it around me out of respect, but at the same time won't lie about not doing it at all - i think that is a healthy compromise...
bxgell2 Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

It's 150% normal... and might I add, not just for men. A few of my friends enjoy watching porn on their own, just as much as their male counterparts! It's all part of being human and having a normal, healthy sex drive... I would be a little concerned about how you are blowing it into something bigger than it really is and making that a justification for invading his privacy - not only will that make him feel even more ashamed and suppressed, but I'm sure he will start to resent you for it...

StepherG Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!


Posted by shelly3950

I also agree its totally normal. If he was corresponding with someone, then I woudl be upset. But to pleasure himself while looking at pictures, especially wehn you haven't been intimate, I really don't see the big deal (unless its children or animals or something like that).

To be quite honest, I usually beleive that counseling and therapy are great ideas, but if i were him, I wouldn't go under these cirucumstances. You are clearly appalled by this behavior- otherwise you wouldn't have moved out while he was away. If I were him, I wouldn't want to go because it is coming out fo a place that 'this is wrong and therapy will fix that.' I don't think that mastrubating to porn is wrong. Once you get it out in the open, maybe it is something you can share together.



I agree...
EvenEdan Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

I don't really see the big deal? Why don't you try looking at it with him.

Sunny Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

I can understand why you are upset, this happened to me once, I found it on my computer accidentally.

I was mad, I got over it. But I trust himn completely, maybe not to never look at that stuff again, but I know he would never cheat on me. I think you should look more deeply in to this, maybe go to counseling. It sounds like there may be some other things going on that you don't trust him.
dm24angel Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

Can I ask how old you guys are? Not that age matters just curious?

I personally see nothing wrong with it, its a fantasy and I cant see ANY guy not liking it, some get carried away but if your open and honest then it is easier to deal with...The worst part is feeling intimidated by it, if you feel that way, you MUST talk about it....your reaction shows how he KNEW you'd feel about it, and Im not quite sure if leaving the house was a mature way of handling it....you are after all planning on getting married....

Everyone has different views, these are just mine, but you need to do a LOT of talking and understanding of each other, him of your views and yours of his if you want this relationship to work out...

IMO it's normal but its more about how you both feel about it and handle it thats the issue....



WeDidIt! Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

I am definitely in there minority on my response to this, But I believe that it is not acceptable. If we are saying that normal means that a lot of men look at pornographic material...I agree. However, I have to say that because a lot of men do it, does not mean that it is acceptable. I would not condone my DH looking at naked pictures of someone we know, and I don't think that it makes any difference if the woman is a stranger. I believe that in some instances that just opens up the door for other problems.

Anonymous1674 Posted:

Re: Is this normal??? Sorry it's long!

Thank you to everyone for your advice/opinions! I'm not as freaked out as I thought I was.

I know there are 'other' issues, I think mainly being that I've gained weight since we've been together and I'm no where near as confident as I used to be. He tells me he loves me no matter what, but I guess when you don't feel good about yourself, how could your FI?

To answer some questions people brought up...I never saw anything 'out of the ordinary' all your typical exotic type women and the whole virgin thing (but never children or animals).

I know I definitely need to stop sneaking into his stuff...it drives him nuts and eventually his patience will run out. I truly appreciate all of your understanding, because it's helping me.

We did talk about it and he told me if it upsets me, he won't look at it again. To my knowledge, he hasn't...but I don't want to be a controlling prude either.

Someone brought up age, that may have something to do with it. I am 23 and he is 30, so I am still 'young', which may be the cause of my overreaction.

About the strip club thing, believe it or not, that really doesn't concern me. He worked as a DJ for years at strip clubs (he doesn't now) but he was always honest when anyone hit on him and stuff. He thinks they're gross...but it was good money for him.

If you have anything else to add after this additional explanation, please do. Thanks for all of your advice, I really appreciate it. I'll definitely try to have a more open converstion with FI.

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