The Curious Case of the Penis Pic

Nobody Likes Them, But They’re Still So Plentiful; Something Doesn’t Add Up

There are a lot of articles, posts, clips, memes, gifs, conversations, anecdotes, and interviews decrying the infamous practice of taking a picture of one’s penis and sending it to another person. But still it persists. If we’re taking everyone at their word, it seems to defy all logic.

Let me start by saying that no one should be sending unsolicited “dick pics”. Allow me to also firmly assert that the responsibility for doing that falls firmly, squarely, and solely on the shoulders of the photographer and sender. Period. I, by no means, believe that anyone has an unrequested dick pic “coming to them.”

The question in my mind, though, is how this phenomenon continues. How can a behavior that is supposedly always met with such vehement opposition still be as prevalent as it reportedly is?

There are crimes that we speak out against with great conviction, and yet those crimes still continue. Why would that not also be the case with unsolicited penis pictures? I think the difference lies in the rate of occurrence or the percentage of perpetrators.

I get the impression that the unsolicited penis picture is a very commonplace happening these days. We’re not talking about a select few freaks or deviants out there, I’m told. From the sounds of things, nearly every other guy is hitting the send button to deliver a photograph of his junk to every lady he meets.

The frequency of occurrence I hear associated with this makes it seem impossible that every guy that does it is a sociopathic maniac who completely lacks judgment and reason. The reported numbers just seem too high. This suggests that some otherwise relatively normal guys are sending women penis pictures for which the women never asked.

I don’t doubt that for a minute. I absolutely do not believe that there is a sizable group of women running around out there requesting penis pictures and then complaining when they get them. I also do not believe that the recipient women are…