It was the Ashes of the Dead

 People think that being physical with someone else or with oneself is the work of getting "Pleasure", it is true in some sense but the reason your are doing it and the reasons for the existence of such places is for customer to cry for the things he lost.

He lost not because he "really" lost it, he lost because he didn't tried to not to lose it.

He went to such places so that his tears can flow.

All the things which were dead inside found a escape in such place.

And that's why they exists.

They have been existed for as long as the human history goes back and they shall be exists for all long as Human race stays alive. 

You don't seek pleasure because you seek pleasure; you seek it for an "Escape".

All those things that had died inside of you while you watch them died, they are making you seek pleasures.