by Ted Sherman

Created on: October 27, 2009

Question: Isn't just about everything a teen does a kind of addiction? Of course, the medical or criminal drug addictions of people of any age are severe problems. However, a teen's intense interest in current music, sports, relationships, sex and a hundred other obsessions are perfectly natural.

No one can deny, especially worried parents, that a teen's curiosity and eagerness to participate in sex is also part of the normal growth process. In this day of sexually-charged music, explicit movies and instant access to internet sex sites, there's no way to shield teens from exposure to it.

Anyhow, what's all the fuss about? Pornography has been part of the human experience since at least ancient Chinese sex manuals of the 5th Century BCE, pornographic wall paintings in First Century Pompeii and through the illustrated bedroom and boudoir books of 16th Century Imperial Russia, France and Italy.

Whatever the moral and religious constraints that have condemned the blatant elements of sex, the simple fact remains that every human being is the result of, if not love, an act of sex. Therefore, although control over their teens can't possibly be total, at least there are many ways parents can inform and warn their teens about pornography and other aspects of sex.

1. Explain: Pornography is a business, where those who peddle it know their most eager customers are teens. Explain how the lines between sexually-oriented movies, TV and music are not that different than the material the teens see on online porn sites. You can't expect young people to ignore all those exciting influences, but you can inform them of the social mores and possible dangers involved.

2. Teach them early: The traditional birds and bees lecture may be laughably outmoded, but for many families it can be a simple way to introduce the subject of sex to young children. As the teen years approach, the subject matter has to become more explicit, and the questions must be answered truthfully. For teens, it's never too early for parents to emphasize both the good and bad aspects of sex.

Part of the teaching process may include introducing teens to some of the ancient examples of sex in China and Pompeii. They should also be made aware of artists' conceptions of the beauty of the nude body, such as those created by Michelangelo, Reubens, Degas and photographers specializing in nude figures. In attitude and social acceptance, artistic nudity is far removed from pornography, but they share the fascination people

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