this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2025
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Do you prefer visual porn, or written erotica/smutty novels?
I don't ask this both because of the obvious privateness, and because I don't want to put anyone on the spot if their choice doesn't align with what's typical for their gender identity, but I do wonder.
As a child, written. (I remember the best were the write-in sex stories in Cosmos magazine.)
Sometime as a teenager it became a mix (socially adapting to boyhood), but probably 80% visual, 20% written. Erotica was more like a special occasion, like taking a hot bath and having a bottle of wine - more fulfilling and valuable, but more occasional and requiring more time. Visuals were more pragmatic, quick, and frequent.
Now I find the ideas are more important than the visuals, so even when visuals are involved it's more about the scene or idea than just the visuals. I would have said that was true before, but testosterone libido is more nagging and you don't always feel like investing in such an unfulfilling activity.
Libido on testosterone was impulsive, animal-like, and disturbing to me. Like a cigarette addiction. I hated living that way.
On estrogen, it's not that my libido feels lessened (in some ways it feels stronger, I swear it made me more horny, which I was disappointed by), but it feels less impulsive, more connected, and generally deeper.
I like the comparison of estrogen libido being like a hot coal, while testosterone libido is like quick-burning pine.
Interesting! Thank you.
So, what you're definitely definitely definitely saying is men should send unsolicited pictures of a warmly-lit room sprinkled with drinks and candles instead of their naked crotch.
Fuck, the idea of some dude setting up the entire room too for that cozy, yet sensual mood in the room and positioning themselves to not show anything, but just to tease, to nag at your imagination and make you want to see more that is definitely WAY hotter than just a dick pic and now I'm sad that isn't the way they try to get laid because it is so much better!!!
now that you say that, it is funny that men try to woo women by treating them like they're men π
I feel like the need for a quick hurried scared to get caught masterbation experience favors quick and shallow. I think that if you can talk your time there's more artistic latitude to explore the finer details. I feel like there's be more and better porn of artistic merit that way
maybe, but reading erotica is already gives you that space - usually people can't tell what you're reading ....
Unrelated to being trans (well, at least I think it is), but I have aphantasia. Written erotica is basically useless to me, because I can't visualise!
This is really interesting to hear, because I think I also have some level of aphantasia (I never picture anything while reading or normal thinking, but if I really try I can think simple images) but I like written erotica just as much if not more than visual stuff.
Do you mind if I ask what level of aphantasia you have, and/or if you think thatβs related?
I have complete aphantasia. No mental sounds, imagery, etc.
But even so, I think I probably didn't word my reply as well as I could have.
Stuff with genuine interpersonal interactions, with characters that have personality and feelings, that stuff I can read. But that's because it doesn't rely on the visual.
But if the erotica is just a verbal description intended to help picture a scene, then it's not of any interest to me
Oh okay I misunderstood then, thatβs exactly my experience with written smut as well (to the extent I forget it exists outside of stories with established characters lol). Thanks!
I like Hentai manga best, personally. The story does add to the experience
Pre-testosterone was written, post is visual. Can't explain it
I mean, that is what you'd expect if were hormone-based.