Once reserved for seedy movie theaters, then behind the curtain of the video store, the digital age has not only brought hi-def DVDs of Jena Jameson into our homes, but also naked pictures of my buddy’s ex-girlfriend into my email inbox.

Grainy and blurry Polaroid pictures have given way to the digital age. Powerful megapixel digital cameras and cell phones with photo capability now make everyone an instant Hugh Heffner; although not every model is one of his girlfriends.  But the ease and convenience of such technology make the heat of passion a tangible memory that will now last a lifetime. And depending on how the relationship ends, those memories could last for a lot of people’s lifetimes once the pictures get posted on the internet.

So why is it in this day and age we are so free to take and have such pictures taken? That depends on your gender. If you’re a guy, that’s easy. What guy doesn’t like naked pictures of women? And if you know the woman, that’s even better! We’ve all undressed our friends’ girlfriends with our eyes; and barring two timing a buddy and cheating with his woman behind his back and winding up on Jerry Springer, with digital technology our buddy will eventually let us see the goods for ourselves.

But what is about an average, everyday girl next door that would bring her to participate in such “an art form” usually starring people with names like Candy Apples, Lolly Pops, and Tom Voyeur?  I imagine, that a woman, when sharing the most intimate aspects of her personal being with a guy, and he suggests taking a picture or two - or even a complete photo and video session - she might view that as a greater extension of her physical expressions of commitment to him. And she believes him when he says he is the only one that will see them. And since she’s so caught up in a wonderful relationship at the moment, she can’t possibly foresee the nasty break up down the road and how that moment could come back to haunt her for the rest of her life.

But if every woman realized that, the internet would be a lot more desperate for content. And run a Google search. The internet is not desperate. These websites have it all, and will gladly take as much as its visitors are willing to upload. And men realize that. Because these websites aren’t about lust, or smut, or pornography – well, ok, for a lot of people they are – but for others they’re about healing and moving on.  For what provides millions of people sexual gratification vis-a-vis digital, naked images of ex -wives and ex-girlfriends doing inexplicably nasty things, also provides ex-husbands and ex-boyfriends the gratification of feeling a little less screwed over. 

Some people write loves songs about breaking up. Other people simply provide visual aids on the world wide web. Whatever helps.