how does increased sexual activity among teens barely removed from childhood constitute a good thing to be applauded by the nation's cultural elites?

Dumbshit - obviously, higher quality and more plentiful kiddie porn.

The next headline in this series:

"ORAL SEX AMONG TEENS INCREASES - LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE; AT LEAST THEY'RE NOT TAKING IT UP THE SQUEAKHOLE".

The next headline in this series:

"ORAL SEX AMONG AMERICAN TEENS INCREASES, BUT EXPERTS SEE A POSITIVE"

Hey, at least they're not taking it in the squeakhole, right?

Note to self: comments may appear to be eaten by the interwebthingy, but then pop up like those three barrels on "Bruce" the Shark. Always remember to wait at least 10 minutes before reposting.

Hi, my name's Russ, and I'm an internet retard.

( HI RUSS....)

Ace: (Although I suppose many people with teenaged kids would disagree.)

See-Dubya: Strike out "teenaged".

That's it, my little girl is not allowed to read the WaPo.

Sometimes I think being a liberal is simply about re-living, living down or justifying that particular liberal's life between, say, 1967 and 1972. Let's protest a war (doesn't matter which), impeach a president (any Republican president will do) and relive those heady days of yesteryear! I doubt the kids that join them on the protest marches realize they're standing next to someone philosophically masturbating in the mirror.

As for sex, it's got to stay casual, frequent and devoid of meaning. Otherwise, liberals will have to admit to themselves that they were pretty much sluts and skanks.

Uh, didn't any of you get any in high school? I didn't think I was in the minority when I "engaged in oral sex". As a straight male, I didn't particularly concern myself that "getting" was easier than "giving" in the back seat of a car, except to figure out that camping trips were a great way to get alone in a tent with a girl... Ah Kyla, Cathy, Carol, Denise, and whatshername, where are you today...

I bet the numbers aren't that different from 20 years ago, but the percentage ADMITTING IT might be quite another thing.

The word "teenager" is the first problem. There is a huge physical, emotional, intellectual, and yes, spiritual difference between a 13 and 19 year old.

The second problem is, beyond religious and moral considerations, common sense should tell us that sex with another person is an adult activity, very much like drinking, marriage, enlisting, and all other activities one must be "of age." Why? Because to engage in these activities requires some risk and responsibility. Those younger than 18 or so more often engage in behaviors because they feel pressured to, not because they freely choose to.

I'm not suggesting laws. I'm suggesting that for the GOOD OF OUR CIVILIZATION that our society stops sexualizing children. Self-control takes more effort than self-indulgence, but it reaps far greater rewards.

I've never known anyone who regretted not having sex or getting drunk or getting high, but I know many who do regret these choices. This is something I tell my students because I don't think enough adults are telling them they may be sorry.

"I've never known anyone who regretted not having sex or getting drunk or getting high..."

With all due respect, may I suggest you get out a bit more? I just don't find that statement realistic.

It takes no "confidence" whatsoever to have sex or get a bj. Denying it... that's another story.

"It takes no "confidence" whatsoever to have sex or get a bj. Denying it... that's another story. "

Is that a setup for a Clinton joke, or WHAT.

I think the confidence to ADMIT the sex and bj's is one thing the survey probably shows. And that's possible in part because Weasels' outdated "skanks and sluts" comment is just that, outdated. Teens today don't have the same gender-bound notions of morality that the (girls-only) labels above indicate.

Well, I think we can all agree that tubino should not be involved in raising children. The point isn't whether any of us smoked (cigarettes or pot), drank alcohol, had sex or anything else 20 years ago. The question is whether it is good for any of those activities to become common place. I'll admit to exceeding the speed limit. However, when my kids reach driving age I'll want them to be good safe drivers. Why? Because every month or so we see a dead teenager on the 11 O'clock news. Part of the responsibilities of parents/adults is to guide them to make bette decisions than we did. We shouldn't abdicate our responsibility by saying I wish girls were easy when I was in school.

tubino:

I think the confidence to ADMIT the sex and bj's is one thing the survey probably shows. And that's possible in part because Weasels' outdated "skanks and sluts" comment is just that, outdated. Teens today don't have the same gender-bound notions of morality that the (girls-only) labels above indicate.

tubino

Do you really talk with teenagers? Many have confided in me how much they regret going beyond the limits their parents have set. Many older and wiser former students admit that what they thought was cool at the time only resulted in shame.

I don't need to get out more, but I think lots of peope would benefit by staying in.

Besides, Tubino, everyone takes your comments on this subject with a grain of salt because nobody here believes you have ever had sex of any kind anyway.

Unless, of course, that explains your carpal tunnel syndrome.

And that's possible in part because Weasels' outdated "skanks and sluts" comment is just that, outdated. Teens today don't have the same gender-bound notions of morality that the (girls-only) labels above indicate.

You're kidding yourself. That the term "skank" exists and is recent belies your position. Why would kids invent a word for something they don't think?

Honestly, tubino, you don't have to be on the wrong side of every issue just to prove you haven't gone native hanging out here.

WaPo is trying to make Democrats. And teenage sex is the only way to make Democrats these days.

If a girl has a baby when she is unmarried and under 18, she will be poor the rest of her life and vote for Democrats.

WaPo is trying to make Democrats. And teenage sex is the only way to make Democrats these days.

If a girl has a baby when she is unmarried and under 18, she will be poor the rest of her life and vote for Democrats.

That's a heckuva 'get out the vote' program the Democrats are implementing...

"The word "teenager" is the first problem. There is a huge physical, emotional, intellectual, and yes, spiritual difference between a 13 and 19 year old."

Yeah, the 19 year old is allowed to leave home, to be gainfully employed, to profit from responsible productive activity and to suffer real losses from irresponsible behavior.

The 13 year old is kept in a much different environment, where responsible behavior doesn't shorten his sentence or lead to accumulation of assets and where losses from irresponsible behavior are typically borne by his parents.

"Because to engage in these activities requires some risk and responsibility. Those younger than 18 or so more often engage in behaviors because they feel pressured to, not because they freely choose to. "

That, and because they have little to lose and thus little reason to refrain from taking stupid risks for fun.

"I'm not suggesting laws. I'm suggesting that for the GOOD OF OUR CIVILIZATION that our society stops sexualizing children. "

I'd rather that our society stop trying to pretend that teenagers are children. They behave like children because there's no profit in behaving like adults, and because blatant stalling in their education has left them sadly ignorant, not because they're incapable of being properly instructed and taking their place as productive, free members of society.

Well, I think we can all agree that tubino should not be involved in raising children.

Children? I wouldn't trust'em with a gerbil.

I can assure you, Ken, that when I was a teenager I had no interest in being treated "like an adult" and "taking [my] place as productive, free members of society" because I knew that that was code for "open your legs." Because people between the ages of thirteen and nineteen simply do not have the experience (withrare exception) to handle life on their own in today's society. This isn't the fucking Middle Ages, when all you had to know was how to do one trade, such as farming, to live, and life was short so getting married once you hit puberty was sensible. The reason so many teenagers are sleeping around and getting each other pregnant isn't because evil grownup society is treating them like children, but because it isn't; it's telling them that once they start budding breasts or their balls drop it's time to get fucking, because the only thing that matters in life is sexual pleasure. And because they are teenagers, with no skills or talents, they end up (in the case of the girls, who are the ones who get pregnant -- and as a side note to tubino, that is why the "old-fashioned gender-based standards of morality" fall on girls) poor, jobless, pregnant, and on welfare.

But hey, go ahead and get your blowjobs from high school girls. It's not like some girl taking men's penises in their mouths have any sort of emotional effect on how the girls see themselves, and the guys will get that all important pleasure, which is more important than "gender-based morality" or "being treated like a child."

"The point isn't whether any of us smoked (cigarettes or pot), drank alcohol, had sex or anything else 20 years ago. The question is whether it is good for any of those activities to become common place."

Translated: I did fine with sex, booze, and drugs, but now that I'm an adult I'm going to pretend they're evil.

And Ace, if teens don't get pregnant, do you really care whether or not they have sex? Sure, we can all yap about the importance of waiting, and the psychological damage of sex, and oh, the humanity of a 17 year old giving a grown man a blowjob is horrible when if she'd just wait a year it'd be fine, but from a societal standpoint, maintaining the psychological health of teenagers is far less important than convincing them not to have children because it makes it far less likely that they or their offspring will be productive taxpayers.

All evidence suggests that most sexually active teenage girls in the blogosphere's demographic (educated parents, mid to high income) aren't going to get pregnant whether they have sex ed programs, free contraceptives, or anything else. They have too much to lose.

All evidence suggest that most sexually active teenage girls outside that demographic (uneducated parents, low income) are far more likely to get pregnant and go on welfare, whether or not they have sex ed programs, free contraceptives, or anything else. They have little to lose.

The average age of sexual activity has remained roughly immovable for 40 years--it's still around 16+ for boys and a little over 17 for girls. However, look at the numbers by income and education and it gets ugly. These numbers stay largely unchanged for the high and mid-SES kids, but drop precipitously for poor and minority kids.

No surprises here. And yet year after year, people delude themselves that their silly little programs, whether liberal or conservative, will either stop teens from having sex, or stop them from having babies.

The average age of sexual activity has remained roughly immovable for 40 years--it's still around 16+ for boys and a little over 17 for girls.

Cal, do you have a cite for that? It's an interesting statistic, but it doesn't fit in with other things I hear.

I think Andrea is the winner here. Unlike the experiences of some here, sex is an intensely emotional thing for most young ladies. The fallout is more real and immediate. I find it telling that all of the 'free love' folks here are guys. So thanks for all the crazy 'free love' crap, but honestly not having sex has led to far less suicide and ruined lives. I'll council abstaining thank you.

Well, thank god they're making STD vaccines for children then, eh?

Uh, didn't any of you get any in high school?

To paraphrase Col. Bat Guano: Women, er, women sensed my power, and they sought the life essence. I did not avoid women, Tubino...but I did deny them my essence.

"Translated: I did fine with sex, booze, and drugs, but now that I'm an adult I'm going to pretend they're evil."

I think you translated that incorrectly, Cal. The correct translation is: We looked back on our lives and determined the sex, booze, and drugs were a mistake. Now that I'm an adult I'm going to make sure my children know what the consequences are of those choices. I realize that how big a mistake these things are varies by degree, but I challenge you to prove that any of those three things in a teenagers life had positive impacts.

geoff, I think you're confusing Col. Bat Guano (the soldier who shot the coke machine with his M1 carbine so that Mandrake could have some change to phone the White House) with General Jack D. Ripper (the air wing commander who wet bugshit & sent his B52s out to bomb the Russians in defense of our "precious bodily fluids").

Russ:

You are quite correct - a recurring case of ze loose shite.

geoff, there's loose shit, and there's LOOSE SHIT.

Getting the name of a character in a 40+ year old movie wrong on an internet post is loose shit.

Saying that teenage girls being more willing to chow down on someone's trouser twinkie is a sign that they have moved beyond old tired morality is LOOSE SHIT of the first order.

PS - I'm sure that if any of the young women in question really wanted your "essence", they could have gotten all they wanted from that "special" washcloth underneath the bed. :)

What a coincidence!

I've been running around ALL morning, signing (OUT LOUD) that tune that made Paul Lynde famous in the 1960's hit, "Bye, Bye Birdie".....

"Why can't they be like we were, perfect in every way?
Ohhh, what's the matter with Kids Todayyyyyyy..."

My teenage daughter was soooo annoyed.

"The reason so many teenagers are sleeping around and getting each other pregnant isn't because evil grownup society is treating them like children, but because it isn't; it's telling them that once they start budding breasts or their balls drop it's time to get fucking, because the only thing that matters in life is sexual pleasure."

And how is that treating them like adults? Are you allowed to spend all your time chasing pleasure without having to worry about such things as earning a living or maintaining a household? Do other people clean up after you and bail you out when you do something mind-bogglingly stupid just for fun?

The only people treated like that are teenagers and welfare clients. This sort of treatment doesn't do either group of people much good.

"Because people between the ages of thirteen and nineteen simply do not have the experience (withrare exception) to handle life on their own in today's society. This isn't the fucking Middle Ages, when all you had to know was how to do one trade, such as farming, to live"

Is that why our schools take three months off every year? Is that why the level of knowledge required and demonstrated by a high school diploma has been allowed to deteriorate over time?

It's not like we're going all-out to try and prepare our kids for a more complex existence, and need more time because of the great mass of things they must learn. They're spending enormous amounts of time learning absolutely nothing useful, and enduring longer childhoods as a result.

"and life was short so getting married once you hit puberty was sensible."

So the fact that we get more years at the end of our lives is actually a good reason to take them away from the beginning of our lives? I didn't know that lifespans were supposed to be subjected to progressive taxation.

they could have gotten all they wanted from that "special" washcloth underneath the bed.

Drat - the fatal flaw in my defenses! Plus, I'm not sure I accounted for the succubi . . .

Ah Kyla, Cathy, Carol, Denise, and whatshername, where are you today...

Exactly, tubino. You don't remember her name; but I bet whatshername remembers you.

Women are not men. The act means something to us. Whether we laugh it off and call it mere conquest, that is not what is is to be female. And if a woman acts cheap, it is unreasonable for her to expect a guy to value her highly.

There are always girls out there who have no respect for themselves and allow themselves to be used and discarded, over and over again, out of some inner deficiency of character or neediness.

It seems that this has gotten worse over the years, to the point where very young girls will throw parties which cater solely to the sexual needs of boys, with nothing in it for the girls but some bizarre new form of social acceptance.

The girls I knew in school who were having sex at ages 13, 14, etc., turned out to be totally screwed up people later on. Always getting in trouble, doing drugs, having abortions in high school, no real plan for life.

And behold the rise in STD's in younger and younger kids. STD's have long lasting health effects, including the ability to bring a baby to term.

We are raising a generation of skanks, and yes, that is gender specific. It is meant to be. It is the girls that are paying the price for boys' sexual freedom, with disgusting venereal diseases and repeated humiliation.

"Mommy, how come so many of my baby pictures are of me in the hospital? Why was I so small?"

Ken, I take it you don't have any daughters. Or if you do, you are sure that you're enlightened, 21st century views on the adulthood of teenagers is keeping them virgins.

Aw crap. That should be "you." I actually carefully spellchecked it too, to make sure I didn't put the apostrophe in the wrong place.

(tears hair out) I mean "YOUR." I blame the president.

People - I've got a 5-year old daughter. That means we've got to get this sorted out in less than 10 years. Git crackin'!!

Andrea Harris

You're so right. Fair or not, girls have far more to lose, and the price is much higher and paid for llonger.

Parents--love your children. Talk to them and LISTEN. If they have your love and acceptance, they're less likely to feel the need for someone else's, and less likely to do whatever it takes to get it.

Students tell me how much they love their parents and how much they want to make them proud. When parents spell out what behavior is okay and what is not, instead of "I want you to make up your own mind," teens are more likely to stay within the limits.

"The girls I knew in school who were having sex at ages 13, 14, etc., turned out to be totally screwed up people later on."

...

[tiptoes out of thread]

All I can say is where were all these loose skanks when I was in school?

Now I feel deprived having grown up in a very rural area. In the 60's there weren't even any drugs in my schools.

Perhaps as these particular teen are so growed up that they gave up smoking and needed something to do with fingers and lips???? It might also be a sign that the girls do not want "proper" sex with no stability and figured out a way to stop the boys demands(occasionaly when a male is spent he loses intrest for a while!) did the survey say if the biys returned the compliment? unlikely as most young males have limited knowlege about 7th base beyond its general location. From over here the Dems seem to be using islamic morality, the enemy of Bush is my best mate. At the rate the dems are imploding I might have to evacuate this once green and plesant land and go to the land of opertunity!

It is kind of odd. 3 years and 1 month ago, this comment of mine would be full of snark and sexual innuendo. But now I've got 2 beautiful daughters, one three, the other 2 months, and news like this disturbs me.

I wasn't a saint in high school. And for me, I regret a lot of the things I did, more so that it will be harder to look my daughters in the eye and tell them to not do what I did.

I realize they will eventually grow up and not be the fragile creatures they are now, but as a father they mean too much to me to just stand by and let them make mistakes and then just chalk it up to"expanding confidence".

Having kids of your own changes everything.

Sharp, something that my daughters told me helped them, telling them "one day a guy is going to tell you 'if you loved me, you'd do this for me', and the best response was 'if you really loved me, you wouldn't ask me to do that'".

They both have developed a pretty healthy self-respect.

Good luck.

Sharp,

I've made joking references to going to strip clubs here and, in fact, used to do that on business trips and such. But when my girls started approaching puberty I couldn't bear to go any longer because where I once saw beautiful women I now saw somebody's daughter.

The ladies have commented that the consequences weigh heavily on the girls, which is true IMO.

The boys aren't off the hook, however. Men need to raise their sons to treat women with respect. They used to, then the feminists got all wiggy about men opening doors for them.

Men with families trend towards the protector role. Men without trend towards the rogue lion role.

Eh, I'd hate to change the topic (really!), but um, next time more people vote for Republicans, can we have a post titled "people are now more politically confident than they used to be"?

Yeah, I don't think it's any different these days, the only difference is that the media is accepting it more readily, which makes it seem more common, because it's more frequently discussed, that or the internet has shown males a lot of new tricks to try in the bedroom that they were too stupid and uncreative to think of before, hell, I dunno, but the fact that there's this discussion on the internet about it troubles me, if you care what other people are doing sexually in their own privacy, you are one stupid ass'd idiot.