In some cases it's not that big a deal IMO. The best example of it not being an issue is with the pics of men and women posted on this site for enjoyment purposes. Who cares if some random pic has been photoshopped when it's all about the fantasy anyway? Why take away from people's enjoyment of the fantasy? The pics are meant to be enjoyed, not analyzed.
Most people are aware that those types of pics online and in magazines are typically unrealistic, but that doesn't prevent them from getting pleasure from those images. Whether it's makeup, lighting, touch-ups, push up bra, set, props, whatever...most people don't care as long as they like what they're looking at. Most people don't take the "deception" personally because they know it's not personal.
The only time it's really an issue IMO is when people do try to pass off their altered personal pics as real, or when fashion magazines distort images to the point where it does harm to the girls and women seeing them who think they are real and feel they have to live up to those impossible standards.
No big deal in a small amount of cases perhaps however it IS doing harm collectively.
Example; the online explosion of fake ass pics. Suddenly women have grown (digitized) badonks. You know what that parlays into? Women desperately trying to emulate a FARCE. Read stories of women dying because pesuedo docs inject industrial silicone in their asses. It's not a joke.
The falsifying of women's bodies is a billion $ cottage industry and expressing a non nonchalant condoning of it is damaging to women and our daughters. It''s one thing when a photo has been artistically manipulated to HIGHLIGHT it -- which is where your example of makeup, lighting, touch-ups, bras, props, etc, comes into play, but guess what? - WE SEE IT.
With photoshop there is no 'seeing it"
Same thing with men's abs and muscles and dicks. I really don't want to admire multiples men's assets in the L/LR if it's P/S augmented. Yuck. If his ass isn't juicyphat or dick actually a 10 inch snake, save it.
I want to see actual real-sized dicks.
As for magazines, I don't even look at what they're selling to me as authentic anymore. And I doubt men want to spend $8 to buy a Big Butt Women magazine and all the see are manipulated digitized asses. Men like women to posses natural asses and breasts and lips and hair, I would assume from what men tell me.
This is why I mentioned to you before why I applaud men like BB and C4$U WHO KEEP IT REAL with their pics and are doing men and women a HUGE favor because they are highlighting that THIS is what women look like and it's still sexy, flaws and all.
We have become so desensitized to it and if you feel it barely affects, look how violence in the media has desensitized people. Look at Jordan's Photoshop thread and see how they shave inches of already slim thighs. It's gotten ridiculous, imo.