They say that porn is a bad influence on one's (especially men, but women too) expectations of sex. In some ways i agree, except that i have very little interest in the porn experience in actual sex. All that they do is so generic and scripted and predictable (i'm talking about the more vanilla B/G porn; i have even less interest in the more freaky stuff). If that is the bee's knees of sex, count me out. It's still quite entertaining. And definitely TITillating. Ummm...tits...
Anyway, i feel that strip clubs also tend to mess up a man's brain as well, particularly the more you go. All it takes is a little game and a lot of money (but not unaffordable amounts) to swing all kinds of sexy interactions and experiences with a naked 9 or 10 ITC or even OTC. So let's say this becomes your usual strip club experience. You get all the associated euphoria, pleasure and flooding of brain chemicals that such experiences usually entail. You then go out in the real world and flirt with a fully clothed 6 or 7 with mixed results. Maybe you strike gold and they're more than interested. But are you interested? Just yesterday you had 9+ stripper pussy coming out of your ears and now you're entertaining the thought of wooing a 6 or 7 (before the clothes come off). Is it worth it to you? Along with all the hassle and drama and uncertainty and time and expense that modern "dating" involves. You know you're going to be thinking of that stripper when you fuck her anyway, or at least comparing her. I compare different strippers all the time, like second nature, at least after the fact. Of course it is unavoidable.
Don't get me wrong. I understand a real true loving relationship is more than just superficial looks. And there is such a thing as inner beauty. Heck, i could have some in spades, but no very good looking women ever cared to try to find it in me if i didn't offer something of immediate and apparent value to them. Like in a strip club. But let's be real. People that are truly beautiful inside are just as rare if not more so than the other type and no, "ugly" people are not more likely to be beautiful inside. You just never know. But physical beauty is like a bird in the hand. It gives you something very nice, tangible and visible to work with. And it is quite easy to attain in the strip club. And people can become better people over time. Your looks not so much. The fact that i can attain this at some level makes it harder for me to settle for less IRL, like i can definitely leave it rather than take it. I just wondered if anyone noticed any dynamic similar to this in their life although it probably applies more to single guys.
I think this is similar to the topic of women getting unreal expectations due to media, magazines, airbrushed ads, etc. My observation is that at some point, most people decide that they want a relationship enough to prioritize it over other concerns. And that means, more or less, settling.