The Sexual Promiscuity of this Generation

[EnderWiggin]

Someone I know sent me this survey the other day and it got me thinking about the apathetic or at least nonchalant attitude currently held by our culture regarding sexual activity by young kids.

 

Here's the link.

 

So, I have a couple of things to say on this, and I foresee this thread going in a couple of different directions depending on who responds.

 

Anyway, my first point is the obvious inability of parents to successfully assess the actions of their [sometimes pre-]teenagers. If you look at that survey, most of the numbers were off by 20, 30, 40 or sometimes even 50% of those polled. Why is this so, and was it the same when their parents were this age? Has it just received more attention now, or is actually a growing problem?

 

My second qualm is with that of the entertainment industry, which portrays sexual relations with a sort of euphoric aura and causes kids to rush as fast as they can into something they are certainly not ready for. This, coupled with the fact that so many others around them already have had sexual intercourse, certainly puts peer pressure on them to go out and do the same. I mean seriously, turn on the TV at 7 o'clock, family time, and you're bound to find something that you really don't want your youngins to see. But of course the only reason they are broadcasting this is because we all help to fulfill the mantra that they've been chanting for years - 'Sex Sells.' Same thing with music. And no, I'm not one of those idiots that tries to ban rap music because they cuss, but to be honest, if kids are listening to it and watching it and thinking about it, they're bound to want to try it.

 

Third problem is with the fact that by today's standards (and even in the parents that were polled, if you look) teen sex is an allowable and sometimes an encouraged event! Now, I'm not nearly naive enough to think that teens aren't going to have sex, but nowadays it appears that parents are not stressing the fact that sex is for two mature people who feel that the time is right, and shouldn't be just hookup sex for the fun of it, or to tell your friends so you look cooler, or to be able to wear a nice colored bracelet. The parents are now and have always been and always will be responsible to educate their kids on the morals of sex, and what they're doing these days just isn't cutting it.

 

((I read this in Reader's Digest a long time ago and saying something about the bracelets made me go look it up and give it another look. Here's the Link.))

 

Final question... do teens not realize or just not care about the consequences of their actions? There are an estimated 120,000 new cases of syphilis in the US each year. Diseases like Herpes stay with you for the rest of your life. And HIV/AIDS is another topic. Not only that, but I was talking to a local parent the other day that told me that in the high school in this area there have been 3 teen pregnancies in the current senior class. Unfortunately, our school is one of the smallest in the area. There are only 300 total in that class, and that means only 150 girls. So these three girls have effectively lost their ability to go to college and get a higher education and etc etc just because they felt that they should go have sex with their boyfriend. I know at least two of these girls have since broken up with the boy who got them pregnant and are now left to fend for themselves or to beg their parents to help them in order to survive.

 

Please discuss.

 

_EW_

 

PS: Mama Jae cleared this topic as something that's allowed to be discussed, as long as we keep it non-graphic. She said she'd come by and say something about it later, but just remember to keep this moral because of the PG13 nature of this forum.

[Arcesious]

Well it's not as if we can stop the entertainment industry from doing so...

This may be a bad influence for kids but if the parents don't want them seeing it then they should use some of those parental blocking programs. Of course my parent shave a blocking program on my computer called Bsafe, which is incredibly annoying, and it's all because my mother is paranoid that I'll get addicted to porn or soemthing. I agree it's good measure and a wise thing to do with a teenager my age, but I don't and I never have been into crap like that. However, things such as that are important for use with those of less common sense and self-control...

It may be innapropriate for children, but in my opinion, I think it's important that, regardless of their age, the truth is not kept hidden from them. It is important, IMO, for a child to develope a sense of the harsh realities of the world, and be taught and guided to be able to handle it.

[EnderWiggin]

Well it's not as if we can stop the entertainment industry from doing so...

 

I absolutely disagree. 100%. As I said, the only reason the Entertainment Industry is putting those things on prime-time is because people want, and do, watch them. It's all supply and demand, and right now, we're demanding sex and reality tv.

 

This may be a bad influence for kids but if the parents don't want them seeing it then they should use some of those parental blocking programs.

 

I agree, it's the parents' responsibility to monitor these things and to try to prevent them. The question is, why aren't they?

 

It may be innapropriate for children, but in my opinion, I think it's important that, regardless of their age, the truth is not kept hidden from them. It is important, IMO, for a child to develope a sense of the harsh realities of the world, and be taught and guided to be able to handle it.

 

I hope you don't think that I said we should keep kids in the dark about sex.

 

From Post 1:

Now, I'm not nearly naive enough to think that teens aren't going to have sex, but nowadays it appears that parents are not stressing the fact that sex is for two mature people who feel that the time is right.

 

I think that the parents need to educate their children as to what sex is and when to have it - when they've matured and when they're ready. Also, they need to make it a point that they may think they're ready and they're not.

 

Or, if their kids are having sex, then it's too late to have that discussion, and they should be educating them about safer sex and providing them with the ability to obtain contraceptives.

 

_EW_

[Totenkopf]

I think you can blame parents to an extent, but should never forget that most parents can't monitor their kids 24/7. The overemphasis in our culture on sex has a lot to do this problem. The "whatever makes you feel good" narcisism of the baby boomer generation has wrought a lot of havoc in society by removing the stigma on stupid behaviors and substituting it with bs about self-esteem. Have kids prior to this been active? Yes. To anywhere near the degree we deal with currently? I doubt it. One of the problems parent's face in dealing with this issue is that they are often blindsided. Some of that failure is due to timing (when do you discuss this topic w/your children?) and some to willful blindness on their part ("not my kid!").

[EnderWiggin]

I think you can blame parents to an extent, but should never forget that most parents can't monitor their kids 24/7. The overemphasis in our culture on sex has a lot to do this problem. The "whatever makes you feel good" narcisism of the baby boomer generation has wrought a lot of havoc in society by removing the stigma on stupid behaviors and substituting it with bs about self-esteem. Have kids prior to this been active? Yes. To anywhere near the degree we deal with currently? I doubt it. One of the problems parent's face in dealing with this issue is that they are often blindsided. Some of that failure is due to timing (when do you discuss this topic w/your children?) and some to willful blindness on their part ("not my kid!").

 

So it's half and half?

 

Half the individual set of parents, and half the society that the child lives in?

 

_EW_

[Jvstice]

I'd tend to agree.

 

As for society affecting the change in individual.... I forget the exact figures, but there have been statistics published showing the difference in the percentage of people under 18 who considered oral sex to not really be sex in previous decades as opposed to this one. As i recall, it was a pretty drastic shift in point of view where teens currently regard "technical virginity" highly, but consider acts that many in previous generations often considered as more pleasurable than intercourse not to be sex. True, it cuts actual pregnancy if you really stick with that point of view, but STD's are running more rampant than ever.

[mimartin]

Why is this so, and was it the same when their parents were this age? [/Quote] I can’t speak for everywhere or everyone, but during my high school years, which I am the age of these parents in the survey it was the same as today. Only difference we still believe in the permanent record so we would have lied on the survey about our promiscuity. It was different from the second article you have linked; I do not remember it being that causal. I kept the same girlfriend from my sophomore year in high school until a week before graduation, so it was not that causal for me.

 

Has it just received more attention now, or is actually a growing problem?[/Quote] We heard the same thing when I was in high school about how that generation was killing the virtue of the nation. The same people blasting my generation were the same one preaching free love in the 1960s.

 

I still remember my grandmother getting on me for dating the same girl for so long in high school, I had to remind her that she had gotten married at 15 and was still married to the same man, but of course, that was different. I don’t see it getting more attention and I don’t see it as a growing problem. After WWII when both parents started to work this has been a problem since underage adolescences have more unsupervised time on their hands add to that the number of single parents and there is a problem. Parents not knowing what the children are really up to has been a problem since mankind first started having children.

 

As to this being the media fault, well parents don’t have to allow their children to watch the offensive program. Parents do not have to own eight televisions; their children do not have to have a television or a computer in their room. The parents do not have to have HBO, Showtime and Cinemax in every room in the house. If you cannot tell, I really do not blame the media. Yes, the media gives an unrealistic version of sex, love and the human body, but we ability to turn it off or filter it, most of us merely choice the easy way but just accepting it coming into our homes.

 

The parents are now and have always been and always will be responsible to educate their kids on the morals of sex, and what they're doing these days just isn't cutting it.[/Quote] Not all parents are doing a bad job. Some talk, teach, listen and do everything else right, but the adolescent still choices self-gratification over good sense. So while I agree with what you are saying in general, I believe you are making a blanket statement about parenting that is unfair to the many good parents out there. I guess we could go back to what my stepfather told me, “if you get that girl pregnant I’m going to kill you” or we could go with what my mother told me “if I find out you are doing it, I’ll cut it off.” I did notice one of the kids in the survey said his mother told him something similar, but he actually believed her.

 

Final question... do teens not realize or just not care about the consequences of their actions?

Same reason teens have always done dangerous things (ex: drinking and driving) because they do not believe it will happen to them. It always happens to the other person, but not to them. The perceived risk to their future is acceptable when compared to the pleasure at the time.

[jonathan7]

One word: enculturation. Its insidious, what do all out teen hollywoond movies teach teenagers, who are already quite randy due to all the hormones running around. I also think culture is nowadays rediculasly sexualised; I see 8 year old girls wearing mini-skirts; what is that about? Children's TV seems to be full of 'romance scenarios' and finally all the soaps in Britain are all about everyone shagging everyone else.

 

Poor sex education would seem to me to be at fault here. I think restrictive parenting may also be at fault; especially today where a teenagers perogative is to rebel against their parents.

 

I had only two real rules as a teenager; 1. Don't get a girl pregnant. 2. Don't wake my parents up when I come back late at night. Many would be appalled at the liberalism of my parents; however I think the facts speak for themselves; I'm now 23; still a virgin and have never done any illicit drugs.

[Totenkopf]

So it's half and half?

 

Half the individual set of parents, and half the society that the child lives in?

 

_EW_

 

 

Not sure where'd you'd put that dividing line. Maybe 33% society, 33% the parents and 33% the "children" themselves. But that's only one possible formula of course.

[mimartin]

33% the "children" themselves.

I'm not sure about the percentage either, but I'm glad someone made that point. After all, we are all responsible for our own action. I’d probably make the percentage a little higher, not that I would be correct.

 

I think restrictive parenting may also be at fault; especially today where a teenagers perogative is to rebel against their parents.

I don't know about Great Britain, but teenagers have be rebelling against their parents in the states since the 1950s. First, it was Rock and Rolls fault, then they added illegal drugs fault, then they added underage drinking’s fault, then they added the movies’ fault, then they added TV’s fault, then they added it was video games’ fault, then they added Rap music to their list and now they are looking for the next thing to add to the list. Truth be known, kids have probably always rebelled against authority figures. We reach a certain age and believe we know more than the old fart setting across the table from us one Christmas dinner. It is just part of growing up and leaving the nest. Oh, but if we only knew then what we know now, our lives would be so much easier. If we would have only listen to some of the thing that old fart was trying to instill in us.

 

At the ages of most of those surveyed, our grandparents or great grandparents were married already starting families. I would say these kids should be at least of an age to take responsibly for their own actions. Therefore, I agree with jonathan7 that sex education and by sex education, I mean real sex education giving those in the class real complete and comprehensive information so that they can make intelligent decisions when it comes to sex. If all we are going to do is tell to say no, then the class is a compete waste of their time and the just problem will continue. Just saying no is a real and intelligent decision, but some are not going to listen and need to know how to have safe sex and what the real consequences of sex can be. Parents should do this, and some are doing a very good job of doing it, but others are not and the kids need to get the information from somewhere other than the person trying to sleep with them or some type of porn.

[Jae Onasi]

I've noticed a huge increase in sex in the media in the last 20 years. Look at the shows that were on in the 70's/early '80's (things like The Waltons, the A-Team, etc.) and what we have now/recently (Sex in the City, Desperate Housewives, etc.). When I was growing up seeing David Caruso's butt on tv made headlines. Now you can see borderline porn on prime-time tv and no one bats an eyelash, though they should.

 

We have an overabundance of aggressively-sexual media content, easy access to porn on the net (the number one industry on the net iirc), inadequate comprehensive sex ed (either way too much or way too little emphasis on abstinence), inadequate parental knowledge of what's appropriate for child development in terms of media, inadequate supervision of a child's use of media, and bad choices by the child.

 

In spite of all the sex on TV, I think there's still a reluctance of parents to discuss sex with their kids. We talk a lot about other values with our kids, don't steal, don't lie, don't beat up animals, etc., but a lot of parents are just too embarrassed to talk about sex with their kids. We parents need to have more input on the subject with our kids than the Desperate Housewives series or hentai.

[mimartin]

a lot of parents are just too embarrassed to talk about sex with their kids.

Let us also remember that the kids are just as embarrassed with their parents talking to them about sex. The kids would like to believe their parents only had sex the same number of times as there are kids in the household. I still believe my mother only had sex one time (DO NOT TELL ME I"M WRONG). It makes the conversation that much more difficult and the kids are reluctant to ask questions about sex to their parents which hampers learning.

[EnderWiggin]

True, it cuts actual pregnancy if you really stick with that point of view, but STD's are running more rampant than ever.

 

I would most certainly agree.

 

It was different from the second article you have linked; I do not remember it being that causal.

 

But that's the point, I think. It's getting to be that casual these days in some cases.

 

Not all parents are doing a bad job. Some talk, teach, listen and do everything else right, but the adolescent still choices self-gratification over good sense. So while I agree with what you are saying in general, I believe you are making a blanket statement about parenting that is unfair to the many good parents out there. I guess we could go back to what my stepfather told me, “if you get that girl pregnant I’m going to kill you” or we could go with what my mother told me “if I find out you are doing it, I’ll cut it off.” I did notice one of the kids in the survey said his mother told him something similar, but he actually believed her.

 

Ok, so yeah, some parents actually have this discussion and it works. And some of them are just brushed off because their children are the type that are unreachable. But in my opinion, it seems that the percentage of parents that are actually doing this job correctly (like how my parents did) is diminishing. It may be unfair to the good parents, but the rapid growth of the number of bad parents draws this issue to the forefront whether the good parents like it or not.

 

 

 

I see 8 year old girls wearing mini-skirts;

 

Yeah, anyone here ever heard the stories of child beauty pageants? It's actually quite disturbing some of the things that are indoctrinated into the minds of these impressionable young girls.

 

Many would be appalled at the liberalism of my parents; however I think the facts speak for themselves; I'm now 23; still a virgin and have never done any illicit drugs.

 

Wait a second here. Let's be really honest with ourselves, Jonathan. You're obviously not the benchmark. If 100% of parents did things the way yours did, then this problem would increase one-thousandfold. It's on an individual basis that kids are parented and it seems you were one of the more mature outliers.

 

and 33% the "children" themselves.

I would say these kids should be at least of an age to take responsibly for their own actions.

Wait a second. Isn't it the parents responsibility to keep their young in line? Now, I'm not seriously implying that the children should take no blame for what they do, but on the other hand, the children are undeveloped and their minds are as of yet not fully able to process the logic and consequences of some of these actions. (There are studies, look them up, mimartin said something about drinking and driving that's sort of the same.) So yeah, the kids could make better choices. But don't be blaming too much on them, because between raging hormones, misinformation, and peer pressure, it's extremely hard for them to make a good decision.

 

If all we are going to do is tell to say no, then the class is a compete waste of their time and the just problem will continue. Just saying no is a real and intelligent decision, but some are not going to listen and need to know how to have safe sex and what the real consequences of sex can be. Parents should do this, and some are doing a very good job of doing it, but others are not and the kids need to get the information from somewhere other than the person trying to sleep with them or some type of porn.

 

Agreed. But on the other hand, how many parents leave the job to the school district? The age for that class at the local high school is 17 - for some, way too late. It is a parent's responsibility until the end, no matter what the policy is of the school.

 

I've noticed a huge increase in sex in the media in the last 20 years. Look at the shows that were on in the 70's/early '80's (things like The Waltons, the A-Team, etc.) and what we have now/recently (Sex in the City, Desperate Housewives, etc.). When I was growing up seeing David Caruso's butt on tv made headlines. Now you can see borderline porn on prime-time tv and no one bats an eyelash, though they should.

 

Amen.

 

We have an overabundance of aggressively-sexual media content, easy access to porn on the net (the number one industry on the net iirc), inadequate comprehensive sex ed (either way too much or way too little emphasis on abstinence), inadequate parental knowledge of what's appropriate for child development in terms of media, inadequate supervision of a child's use of media, and bad choices by the child.

 

Yes, pornography has always been, and always will be, the number one internet industry. I'd wager even the number one industry overall.

 

And all of your points are valid as to why this is a problem.

 

In spite of all the sex on TV, I think there's still a reluctance of parents to discuss sex with their kids. We talk a lot about other values with our kids, don't steal, don't lie, don't beat up animals, etc., but a lot of parents are just too embarrassed to talk about sex with their kids.

 

Yes, I agree with this too. But why? Is it more than it has been in the past? Because previously, no matter whether parents were embarrassed or not, the morals got taught and the right choices were made. (At least with a higher frequency than today.)

 

Let us also remember that the kids are just as embarrassed with their parents talking to them about sex. {snip} It makes the conversation that much more difficult and the kids are reluctant to ask questions about sex to their parents which hampers learning.

 

Not the child's responsibility. If the child ever has any questions of the magnitude that we are talking about here, the parent probably has done something wrong. Now, I know that it's important to allow the kids to ask questions if they are confused or whatnot, but first and foremost the parents should be talking about it (and getting over their... fears... per se) even before it becomes an issue. Kids need to be taught all about what's coming prior to them having to decide about it or even consider it, because therein lies the temptation that is causing these consequences.

 

And a lot of times, it sneaks up on them and it's in the heat of the moment. So they might not even be considering it, and then *bang* it's over and the wrong decision has been made.

 

The kids would like to believe their parents only had sex the same number of times as there are kids in the household. I still believe my mother only had sex one time (DO NOT TELL ME I"M WRONG).

 

I'm not sure what you're talking about... my parents only had sex twice.

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

 

 

_EW_

[JCarter426]

Wait a second. Isn't it the parents responsibility to keep their young in line? Now, I'm not seriously implying that the children should take no blame for what they do, but on the other hand, the children are undeveloped and their minds are as of yet not fully able to process the logic and consequences of some of these actions. (There are studies, look them up, mimartin said something about drinking and driving that's sort of the same.) So yeah, the kids could make better choices. But don't be blaming too much on them, because between raging hormones, misinformation, and peer pressure, it's extremely hard for them to make a good decision.

 

My sister and I received the same parenting, and yet our current situations couldn't be more different. I'd say that it's at least 50% up to the kid.

[mimartin]

Wait a second. Isn't it the parents responsibility to keep their young in line?

The parents job is to instill values, punish when the child does something wrong, provide a good example, to teach the child right and wrong, listen to the child’s problems and answer the child’s questions. In the U.S. we consider a 16 year old responsible enough to allow them the privilege to drive a car, then I say they are also responsible enough to be held accountable for their own actions. Don’t take this as I’m condoning them to be held to the same standards I would an adult, but they are still hold some responsible.

 

Now if we are talking about an 8 year old provocatively dressed then that is the parents’ responsibility. I’m just saying people mature differently, but a 16, 17 or 18 year old should be mature enough to take some responsibility for their own actions.

 

Not the child's responsibility. If the child ever has any questions of the magnitude that we are talking about here, the parent probably has done something wrong.

You are correct, but that was not the point I was trying to make. When the parent is embarrassed about the subject matter they will have a difficult time conveying their message. The child is also embarrassed and instead of listening their mind wanders to things like, “I hope she hurries up” or “I hope none of my friends find out about this.” If the child happens to be listening, but does not understand what the parent is taking about, the embarrassment gets in the way of asking questions and hinders the learning process. Learning is always a two way process and requires feedback to be effective.

 

Agreed. But on the other hand, how many parents leave the job to the school district? The age for that class at the local high school is 17 - for some, way too late. It is a parent's responsibility until the end, no matter what the policy is of the school.

While I believe cohesive sex education should be taught in school, the question is at what age. Kids mature a different levels, teach it to early and kids don’t listen because it would never happen to them because girls/boys are yucky. Teach it too late and they will not listen because they have already had sex and nothing bad happen to them. That is why it would be easier for the parents to do it because the parents have the ability to monitor the child’s behavior and know the correct time to give the talk. Again, as the survey pointed out, there is a problem with that in that the parents do not believe their little angle even knows what sex is, yet in reality has already done things that would make a sailor blush.

 

So I agree 17 sounds way too late, but I have no clue to the correct age. In high school they went over basic sex education my freshman year in health class, although it was not very informative or helpful. My mother and stepfather gave me their little speeches when I was in 8th grade and started going to school dances. Again their speeches consisted mostly of threats and the abstinences message.

[EnderWiggin]

The parents job is to instill values, punish when the child does something wrong, provide a good example, to teach the child right and wrong, listen to the child’s problems and answer the child’s questions. In the U.S. we consider a 16 year old responsible enough to allow them the privilege to drive a car, then I say they are also responsible enough to be held accountable for their own actions. Don’t take this as I’m condoning them to be held to the same standards I would an adult, but they are still hold some responsible.

 

Now if we are talking about an 8 year old provocatively dressed then that is the parents’ responsibility. I’m just saying people mature differently, but a 16, 17 or 18 year old should be mature enough to take some responsibility for their own actions.

 

Ok, that's something I can agree with.

 

You are correct, but that was not the point I was trying to make. When the parent is embarrassed about the subject matter they will have a difficult time conveying their message. The child is also embarrassed and instead of listening their mind wanders to things like, “I hope she hurries up” or “I hope none of my friends find out about this.” If the child happen to be listening, but does not understand what the parent is taking about, the embarrassment gets in the way of asking questions and hinders the learning process. Learning is always a two way process and requires feedback to be effective.

 

Yes, I see what you're saying now. But on the other hand, I think that almost every child is going to be embarrassed due to the nature of the topic. It's not something that any kid can really be casual about with their parents, in my opinion.

 

_EW_

[Ray Jones]

I've noticed a huge increase in sex in the media in the last 20 years. Look at the shows that were on in the 70's/early '80's (things like The Waltons, the A-Team, etc.) and what we have now/recently (Sex in the City, Desperate Housewives, etc.). When I was growing up seeing David Caruso's butt on tv made headlines. Now you can see borderline porn on prime-time tv and no one bats an eyelash, though they should.

 

We have an overabundance of aggressively-sexual media content, easy access to porn on the net (the number one industry on the net iirc), inadequate comprehensive sex ed (either way too much or way too little emphasis on abstinence), inadequate parental knowledge of what's appropriate for child development in terms of media, inadequate supervision of a child's use of media, and bad choices by the child.

 

In spite of all the sex on TV, I think there's still a reluctance of parents to discuss sex with their kids. We talk a lot about other values with our kids, don't steal, don't lie, don't beat up animals, etc., but a lot of parents are just too embarrassed to talk about sex with their kids. We parents need to have more input on the subject with our kids than the Desperate Housewives series or hentai.

I second that.

[DarthAve]

This doesn't suprise me that much. With the sexification of pop culture, sex isn't protrayed as life binding as it was back in the 50's or so... It doesn't help with the whole "sex sells" attitude the media has. Personally, whenever I'm at the mall and walk past Abercrombie, with there dark store that smells like sweat and an what I'd imagine an old nightclub, and I see that black and white picture hanging right by the entrance with the guy's pant's unzipped and you can almost see his dick, that disgust me. But I'm sure crap like that gets other teens who wern't raised with, idk, morals to think that being a slut or manslut is ok. I hate being catagorized with this oversexed generation, because some of us, like me, are absolutly appualed and are actually trying to do something to get people to stop.

 

inadequate comprehensive sex ed (either way too much or way too little emphasis on abstinence)

I compleatly agree. This year, in health when we touched on sex, it was basically like "Ok, if you have sex now, guys will get an STD, girls will get an STD and get pregnent, than you will die." Everyone knows that's an exaggeration, so I presume the people who learned something similar to that are wondering what sex is really like. Schools should definatly get wise. Enforsing PDA rules more at school, putting in more abstinance-pro projects. My school enforces that every freshman has to do the "Baby-Think-It-Over" project. You take home a robot baby for the weekend, and take care of it yourself. Mine was a little schutta, I'm never ever ever having kids, or sex w/o birth control....at least until I get my tubes tied.

 

Also, holy sheep 96% of teens surveyed have been kissed.... I'm the biggest nerd ever. Lol.

[Hawkstrong16]

I've noticed a huge increase in sex in the media in the last 20 years. Look at the shows that were on in the 70's/early '80's (things like The Waltons, the A-Team, etc.) and what we have now/recently (Sex in the City, Desperate Housewives, etc.). When I was growing up seeing David Caruso's butt on tv made headlines. Now you can see borderline porn on prime-time tv and no one bats an eyelash, though they should.

 

We have an overabundance of aggressively-sexual media content, easy access to porn on the net (the number one industry on the net iirc), inadequate comprehensive sex ed (either way too much or way too little emphasis on abstinence), inadequate parental knowledge of what's appropriate for child development in terms of media, inadequate supervision of a child's use of media, and bad choices by the child.

 

In spite of all the sex on TV, I think there's still a reluctance of parents to discuss sex with their kids. We talk a lot about other values with our kids, don't steal, don't lie, don't beat up animals, etc., but a lot of parents are just too embarrassed to talk about sex with their kids. We parents need to have more input on the subject with our kids than the Desperate Housewives series or hentai.

 

 

 

I agree 100% Mama Jae.

 

And I'd like to add something from my point of view.

 

My girlfriend and I have talked about sex(we mostly joke around but it dose get serious now and then)

And we have decided that neither one of us is ready for sex, now, shes two years older then I am.

But I think that if you are going to have sex as a teen at least wait till the younger person in the relationship is 16 or(preferably) 17 years old, and practice safe sex, weather its the pill for her or a condom for him(or both, better safe then sorry mates)

 

EDIT: I just have one more thing to add.

One of my friends "says" he has had sex, and he thinks he can hold that over everyone else's head and make himself seem cooler. But seriously folks, It dose not matter!

 

When I do have sex, I'm not going to run around with a big sign that say "I HAD SEX"

and I'm not going to tell everyone I see about it. SO guys, don't pay attention to peer pressure, it will only get you in trouble.

[Jae Onasi]

Camo, the pill has a very high effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, but it does absolutely nothing on its own to protect against STDs.

[Hawkstrong16]

This is vary true(granted I didn't really think about STDs when I posted, and I should have)

 

But there is only so much you can do to prevent these things, and I wish there was more we could do.