Is Pornography Adultery?

In Douthat’s essay, he brings up the Bible definition of adultery: the act of lustfully looking upon a woman is a commitment of the sinful act. Comparing this to the dictionary definition, adultery can be seen as two different situations; it can be extended to one’s mentality or it can be limited to one’s physical actions.
The first definition might seem a little extreme, but should the marriage between a man and a woman remain faithful and pure, pornography should not even be considered. It emerges out of lust, which would not need to exist in a healthy married relationship. “Adultery” does not just have to be cheating on your spouse with someone else, sexually or otherwise, but any other connections involving sex outside of the couple’s would be considered “infidelity”.
Since pornography sexually stimulates a man (or woman), he is betraying the loyalty to his wife by going to some other form of entertainment to let his desires run wild instead of leaving that to his wife (sex is supposed to stay inside the marriage, isn’t it?) and not the everyday internet whore. The relationship between the one watching porn and what is displayed on the computer screen is not even real; it is only a fantasy to achieve the desires of the former. Within a marriage, a spouse theoretically should not strive to find satisfaction elsewhere, because the significant other should be all he/she needs.
If these pleasures remain unsatisfactory, one could advance to taking part in prostitution, which is basically making what is watched on the Internet come to life, involving flesh connections and the whole experience. Should porn and prostitution be weighed at two different levels in terms of adultery? The treachery still exists between husband and wife no matter how the means is reached, whether it is hiring a hooker for a one-night stand or watching someone else do the same thing online. The sexual relations have been broken, resulting in adultery, although it might just seem like an outlet for desires. Yes, porn might be “risk-free” compared to a physical and emotional relationship with someone else, but adultery is not about the dangers of the act. The act is the act, no matter what form it is in. The one committing adultery will know when they are committing adultery; if the fact is not clear to him or her it might need some rethinking. One would have to think, “Would my spouse approve?” It is still an extramarital affair with someone that is either tangible or two-dimensional.
It can be pointed out that everyone has a libido, but that should be kept under control in order to maintain a relationship. Looking at porn is no excuse for a lack of gratification within the liaison. The preservation of self-control is necessary to withdraw from the tendencies to find pleasure elsewhere, and breaking away from a partner is not a reasonable explanation.