Sex and Love | July 26, 2008 | 18 comments

Condom controversy

source: http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/xxfactor/

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mischabarrett
'Sex without condoms is the new engagement ring'. So argues a US National Public Radio audio essay recently aired.

Slate has deconstructed Moe Tkacik of Jezebel's response to the idea. She pointed out 'Here is the irrefutable. It feels awesome'. Going mano-o-mano is however, she admitted, likely to throw up some awkward conversations with your future partners. Moe's post has generated much controversy, as Slate comments. Some site users find her sentiments 'glib' and even 'flagrantly irresponsible'.

What do you think?
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18 comments // Condom controversy

  • TheWallruss
    • 0
      TheWallruss  

    • Personally I would rather be celibate than wear a condom. I have hated the dang things since the first time I ever had to wear one. I would much rather go fishing than have sex with a condom. It doesnt smell any worse, It doesn't talk back and I can eat it when I am finished. I am not saying play Russian Roulette STD's mind you. Just expressing how much I had the bloody, uncomfortable things.

    • 3 years ago
  • squidteeth
  • oly90808
    • 0
      oly90808  

    • Just becuz you can trust them, doesn't mean they can trust you. Wrap that rascal in the interim. After marriage? Please don't over populate the earth anymore, 1-2 children is enough to replace yourselves. More than that is really unnecessary in my opinion.

      Oly Ander

    • 3 years ago
  • drownthem
    • 0
      drownthem  

    • Squidteeth,

      AIDS actually smells something like you'd expect it to smell like. Of course that wasn't fucking serious either.

      The risk I was talking about is the risk of contracting an STD. I certainly make sure I'm not at risk of impregnating anyone. I dislike children.
      Anyway, I'm not raping anyone. I don't even put on any pressure not to use a condom. I know most people I hang out with don't use them - regardless of gender - and I still haven't met any of these infected people everyone's talking about. So I figure it's worth it. Maybe if I or someone I know catches something I'll be a little more careful but so far the risk seems to be equivalent to that of being outside at night in most parts of London. If I catch something serious it simply means I played the game and lost.

      For the most part though, there's not a lot of rational thought that goes into it. I just don't use them. But you know, I'm a drinker.

      I'm not too concerned about being found unappealing. I don't think I'm going to try to have sex with you anyway.

    • 3 years ago
  • squidteeth
    • 0
      squidteeth  
    • drownthem:

      I wasn't saying you were raping anybody man...

      I'm just saying that you can catch stuff without even knowing it for a long while, and in the mean time, you've spread it to other (maybe lots of other) people which isn't very cool on your part. The "game" you'd be losing isn't just yours, its other people's too and that's not cool.

      And are you fixed or something? How do you know you're not knocking anyone up? ... Maybe that's a bit too personal. Just curious.

      *laughs* iiiii'm not suggesting that we have sex either... i'm just saying...
      :)

    • 3 years ago
  • drownthem
    • 0
      drownthem  
    • drownthem:

      I do take the time to make sure there is some type of contraception. And the people I'd be taking the risk with are old enough to take responsibility for the same risk that I am taking.
      If you're interested in the statistics, have a look here: http://www.avert.org/stdstatisticuk.htm

      I did a (very) rough calculation and estimated that in 2007, based on those statistics and a population of 60 million in the UK, 0.01% of those 60 million contracted one of those STD's. This explains why I've never met anyone who has or has had one. Of course of those 60 million people, there will be an asexual/non-sexual minority that I didn't take into account, but even if the percentage was double that, it doesn't seem like such a high risk.
      Maybe I'm more ignorant than I realize. In fact, that's almost a certainty but regardless of statistics and such, it comes down to a personal preference and I really find sex with condoms boring and unfulfilling. It makes every one's lady bits feel exactly the same. And that takes away a huge part of the reason to be promiscuous in the first place: for the variation.

    • 3 years ago
  • squidteeth
    • 0
      squidteeth  
    • drownthem:

      well i guess i don't know the statistics too well. They just make it seem like anytime you go at it without protection is like playing russian roulette.

      Maybe std rates are higher here in the states but i know that when i was in highschool, and i'm not talking about a huge school, maybe 1000 people in all 4 grades, we had like 10 kids get the clap all at once and it was this big media story. It was pretty embarassing actually because everybody thought that if you went to our school you MUST have it.

      Anyway, so maybe to me it seems like its fairly common.

      Do girls REALLY feel all that different from one another? i mean... in THAT ...area?

      I guess i never really thought about it, thought it was pretty much ... the same... thing.
      hahaha!

    • 3 years ago
  • drownthem
    • 0
      drownthem  
    • drownthem:

      Actually, I didn't know the stats until I just looked it up. But I'm relieved to find out that it's about as common as I thought.

      People come in different shapes and sizes. I don't want to sound like a connoisseur of copulation or anything but from my point of view condoms really do remove most of the good sensation. I really don't know exactly how much of a difference it makes for girls but I've heard tell it's pretty much the same. I'd like to know more though because it's mostly girls who initiate the argument for condoms.

      I think media hype has a lot of power to make people believe that danger is all around them. It's certainly like that with drugs. Where I come from at least. Of course these things exist, and it's up to you whether you think the risk is worth taking.

    • 3 years ago
  • squidteeth
    • 0
      squidteeth  
    • drownthem:

      Well, from my point of view, as a girl, i've never really noticed a difference. SOME condoms just SUCK ass. I don't mess around with those crap condoms, trojan all the way man.

      ...yeah, its a pain in the ass to have to, you know.. stop... and deal with it, and then be like, ok, party's back on now. But if you ask me, it's a small price to pay, making sure you don't get some disgusting, embarassing std, or knocked up, or worse, aids.

      But I didn't know that each girl has a different... feel. ThAts news to mE.

    • 3 years ago
  • PhonyFilms
  • nessabing
  • SketchArwen
    • 0
      SketchArwen  

    • condoms are a necessity! Its just horrible that when you go to get one at your local drug store there like sixteen bucks for a pack. Or they only have the warm sensations or some crap that most people are allergic too.

    • 3 years ago
  • squidteeth
    • 0
      squidteeth  

    • "I think I'd rather take the consensual risk..."

      You'd rather take the risk? You mean getting an std or getting somebody pregnant unintentionally is worth it? That doesn't seem to make any sense..

      "Just give it a sniff before putting it down there..."

      ...that doesn't really make any sense either. You can't tell if somebody has an std just by the smell.
      Somebody's vag could reek even if they don't have an std... she could just be dirty or have a yeast infection.

      And what does AIDS smell like, you mind telling me?

      I don't know man... If condoms are really that bad, i feel for you... i mean i really do, and I'm all about hearing all sides of the story because most people i know haven't ever had sex without them and so I have nobody to ask what's better.

      But just not wearing them? Ever? Thats... really really irresponsible. *squint* its kind of sickening actually. As a girl, i find that really unappealing.

    • 3 years ago
  • drownthem
    • 0
      drownthem  

    • Condoms are shit. Has anyone tried those NHS ones? It's like throwing a sausage down a wind tunnel. Personally, unless they're the super unsafe celluloid sheets, it's almost not worth it. I don't think condoms are the way forward but I'm not sure what is.
      What about regular checkups where you can get a little stamp in a book? That was a light hearted suggestion but I don't think it would be any less sexy than having to pause everything to find and carefully administer the rubbers.
      I have a passionate disdain for condoms. However, I have a passionate lust for promiscuity. And I really think in most cases wearing a condom ruins the sensation. I think I'd rather take the consensual risk. Just give it a sniff before putting it down there.

    • 3 years ago
  • squidteeth
    • 0
      squidteeth  

    • I haven't met any person who's told me that they took their relationship to a new level by not wearing condoms unless they were trying to have a baby.

      I HAVE however talked to a few guys, who stopped wearing them when they got married or what have you, and the one that's married says he'll never go back because it feels so much better.

      I didn't think it would make that big of a difference, because it's so thin... but... *shrug* apparently the rumors are true.

    • 3 years ago
  • 24French
    • 0
      24French  

    • Is that really Ken in the picture?..he's really changed. Barbie, on the other hand, still has that net hairline and the same eye shadow.

      Condoms are here to stay. I'd like to see science crack down and get creative with them, some kind of super resilience combined with an amazing sensitivity? Flubber rubbers? We should all just get used to it...

    • 3 years ago
  • Byshguy
  • Byshguy
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