Chicken or egg

[dlihret]

I recently read an article that said pornography stifled intimacy. The theory was that focusing sexual attention on porn detracted a person from focusing on one’s partner.
My question is, “Did the porn cause the distraction, or was there a lack of intimacy, therefore leading to more focus on porn for sexual satisfaction?”
In my case, I’ve always enjoyed porn and masturbation. However, that never took the place of relations with my wife. Over the past few years (now in our 70s) she has shown little interest in sex with me. (I know she masturbates occasionally when I’m not around). As a result, I find myself spending more and more time checking porn sites and masturbating.
Are there any others out there who have similar situations?

[bugsy579]

I am in the same situation. WE are in our 70's and are not intimate anymore. So I have turned to online porn and masturbation. I have always enjoyed jacking off since I was probably 13 or 14 year old and some older guys introduced me to it. My wife has always enjoyed masturbation also along with our good sex life. But, I still need some relief and she is not interested any longer. So, I will sit in front of the computer with some paper towels and get some relief 2 or 3 times a week and she is aware that I do it. Anybody else have any thoughts?

[steelydon]

Likewise - although we are in our sixties. I've always enjoyed masturbation and pornography as has my wife until she lost all interest in sex. So I enjoy porn even more now (and there's so much more and better since the web) and masturbate nearly every day - sometimes more than once. Wanking at the keyboard now of course.

[zirvania]

My wife has slowly lost interest too so I browse porn with the intention of getting off now, moreso than before. As steelydon says, there is such a choice now. And yes the wife knows I do and just gives a shrug