Comments on: Alternatives to abstinence http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/ I used to be in the middle, but they keep moving the line! Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:54:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Polimom Says » Ted Haggard’s “indiscretions” http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/#comment-44409 Fri, 03 Nov 2006 19:50:16 +0000 http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/#comment-44409 [...] Thank you, LaShawn, for finally clearing Polimom’s fog about that abstinence only funding. The answer is clear now: no matter how old you are, if you’re doing the deed, you’re a pervert. That explains a lot, actually… but I have a residual question: is it still a perversion post-menopause? [...] […] Thank you, LaShawn, for finally clearing Polimom’s fog about that abstinence only funding. The answer is clear now: no matter how old you are, if you’re doing the deed, you’re a pervert. That explains a lot, actually… but I have a residual question: is it still a perversion post-menopause? […]

]]> by: slate http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/#comment-44097 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 18:41:36 +0000 http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/#comment-44097 :::::::::::sputtering::::::::::::::::50 million dollars::::::::::::::::this is just too bizarre :::::::::::sputtering::::::::::::::::50 million dollars::::::::::::::::this is just too bizarre

]]> by: Robert A. http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/#comment-43989 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 04:21:46 +0000 http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/#comment-43989 I wonder how many of the 10% who hadn't had sex were married? I wonder how many of the 10% who hadn’t had sex were married?

]]> by: Ed T. http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/#comment-43953 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:25:07 +0000 http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/#comment-43953 <blockquote>In men, for example, infrequent ejaculation increases the risk of infection.</blockquote> John - can you quote medical sources for that statement? Sounds like something I would have expected to hear from a teenager - and in fact it reminds me of the story of the "machaca" I heard when in Venezuela (where if a man were bitten by this bug, he had to have sex within 24 hours or he would die. Some men actually advanced this as a defense in their rape trial.) ~EdT. ~EdT.

In men, for example, infrequent ejaculation increases the risk of infection.

John - can you quote medical sources for that statement? Sounds like something I would have expected to hear from a teenager - and in fact it reminds me of the story of the “machaca” I heard when in Venezuela (where if a man were bitten by this bug, he had to have sex within 24 hours or he would die. Some men actually advanced this as a defense in their rape trial.)

~EdT.

~EdT.

]]> by: John http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/#comment-43940 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 19:58:27 +0000 http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/#comment-43940 It's funny; for adults, not having sex leads to negative medical consequences. In men, for example, infrequent ejaculation increases the risk of infection. Promoting abstinence to adults, apart from being a ridiculous intrusion of government into one's private life, is downright perverse. It’s funny; for adults, not having sex leads to negative medical consequences. In men, for example, infrequent ejaculation increases the risk of infection. Promoting abstinence to adults, apart from being a ridiculous intrusion of government into one’s private life, is downright perverse.

]]> by: Ed T. http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/#comment-43937 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 19:36:28 +0000 http://www.polimom.com/2006/10/31/alternatives-to-abstinence/#comment-43937 <blockquote><blockquote>The National Center for Health Statistics says well over 90% of adults ages 20-29 have had sexual intercourse.</blockquote> Only 90%???? I’m stunned.</blockquote> With a 12% margin of error, of course ;-) Seriously, I think the reason for this can be found in the reluctance of the government (or at least some folks in it) to implement policies that tend to be seen as 'encouraging' bad behavior. If you hand out info on contraception to teenagers and unmarried adults, it is seen as an official approval for unmarital sex. Likewise, the needle-exchange programs are seen in some circles as 'endorsing' entravenous drug abuse - which is a felony offense in pretty much every state in the Union. Again, on one hand the gummint is prosecuting drug abusers - while on the other hand the gummint is giving them the tools needed for drug abuse. Sure seems wrong, does it not? Maybe some judge & jury would see it as hypocricy, and toss a bunch of drug cases... I don't know. I suspect, though, that ultimately it is a case of "back & white" without shades of gray. Sure, telling kids how to have sex without getting preggers or STDs isn't as 'good' a solution as telling them to keep their pants on until they are married... but it is a heckuva lot better than a bunch of preggo teenagers w/ STDs! This is the dilemna some pols who are inflexibly "values-based" don't (or can't) comprehend - sometimes it is a matter of "the lesser of the evils". This is why slavery wasn't outlawed with the founding of the country - the Founding Fathers (and I suspect the mothers, as well) realized that if they didn't budge from that hill, they would damn sure die on it - and take the whole country with them, as "the people" of the USofA simply weren't ready to give up slavery at that time. ~EdT.
The National Center for Health Statistics says well over 90% of adults ages 20-29 have had sexual intercourse.

Only 90%???? I’m stunned.

With a 12% margin of error, of course ;-)

Seriously, I think the reason for this can be found in the reluctance of the government (or at least some folks in it) to implement policies that tend to be seen as ‘encouraging’ bad behavior. If you hand out info on contraception to teenagers and unmarried adults, it is seen as an official approval for unmarital sex. Likewise, the needle-exchange programs are seen in some circles as ‘endorsing’ entravenous drug abuse - which is a felony offense in pretty much every state in the Union. Again, on one hand the gummint is prosecuting drug abusers - while on the other hand the gummint is giving them the tools needed for drug abuse. Sure seems wrong, does it not? Maybe some judge & jury would see it as hypocricy, and toss a bunch of drug cases… I don’t know.

I suspect, though, that ultimately it is a case of “back & white” without shades of gray. Sure, telling kids how to have sex without getting preggers or STDs isn’t as ‘good’ a solution as telling them to keep their pants on until they are married… but it is a heckuva lot better than a bunch of preggo teenagers w/ STDs! This is the dilemna some pols who are inflexibly “values-based” don’t (or can’t) comprehend - sometimes it is a matter of “the lesser of the evils”. This is why slavery wasn’t outlawed with the founding of the country - the Founding Fathers (and I suspect the mothers, as well) realized that if they didn’t budge from that hill, they would damn sure die on it - and take the whole country with them, as “the people” of the USofA simply weren’t ready to give up slavery at that time.

~EdT.

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