IntroductionPornography is a controversial topic all over the world. Part of its appeal is its taboo nature. Some say pornography is harmful. Porn is a more or less legal underground market, but is it harmful? An article written by Diana EH Russell in “Dangerous Relationships: Pornography, Misogyny and Rape” argues that this is the case. Diana EH Russell is a professor of sociology. She has studied the issue and says pornography is profoundly harmful. Professor Russell believes this makes men want to rape women and encourages them to act out rape fantasies. However, Michael C. Seto disputes Professor Russell's theory that pornography is harmful. Michael Seto's article, written with Alexandra Maric and Howard E. Barbaree, "The Role of Pornography in the Etiology of Sexual Assault," asserts that there is a lack of evidence in the research that would establish a link between pornography use and sexual offenses. This debate has many interesting points. Let's see which researcher presents the strongest arguments. “Yes” Diana Russell’s article makes a valid argument that pornography is harmful. Ms. Russell gathered evidence from many different sources, revealing experiments with male students, testimony from an actual trial, and interviews with men imprisoned for rape crimes. The evidence provided in the article will show that exposure to pornography stimulates violence against women in the form of physical violence, mental violence, rape or ideation of rape. Three main points from the evidence are 1) pornography objectifies and dehumanizes women, 2) maintains the myth that women enjoy rape, and 3) men become desensitized to rape when they witness rape... middle of paper......and probably sexual abuse, so that picture is painted in their heads. I believe that people who search for porn containing violence have been abused themselves. If an experiment were conducted on ordinary people with no history of violence, they would not be aroused by pornography consisting of violence or rape either. It is likely that some people, including some of the men participating in the experiments, were aroused by the sexual act more than by the fact that the women were being sexually abused. . (Sage Publications, 1998.) Seto, Michael C, Maric, Alexandra, Barbaree, Howard E. The role of pornography in the etiology of sexual assault » Slife, Brent. Take sides; Conflicting views on controversial psychological issues. 12th edition. 2002. McGraw-Hill/Dustikin.