This is just my take, I think your sexual energy is the root of your drive as a man, whether you realize it or not.
I break it down like this, if you’re someone with goals- getting fit, acquiring wealth, dressing nicer, taking better care of yourself, shooting for a promotion, etc., that’s great.
The one outcome that is a common denominator of all those things is that they all make you a ‘better mate’ or more appealing to the opposite sex, once reached.
The issue is that porn and masturbation stunt the drive behind chasing these goals, because your testicles literally think you’re Ghengis Khan, they think you’ve conquered 11 million square miles and you’re just spreading your seed. Your body doesn’t know that you’re just sitting on your parents couch in the basement with some kleenex and a tub of jergens.
You’re essentially signalling to your body that you’re comfortable enough to procreate. Every day or multiple times a day. This is why I see it as a waste of that sexual power and drive.
At face value, porn, masturbation, etc is just ‘something everyone does’, and I think that some (emphasis on some, some people can be functioning crack addicts, but how many do you know?) people can handle it while being successful. From my experience and what I’ve seen (with myself and close friends), I choose to put this activity in the same box as something like smoking weed- it’s one of those things that we do that just keeps us mediocre and content.