We won’t have sex. No, really, we promise.At the risk of sounding too political, the U.S. government’s new ads promoting abstinence from sex probably won’t work. Part of the problem is that the Web site, 4parents.gov, is built around “scientific” evidence about the benefits of abstinence that is largely anecdotal or just made up. But the main issue is (and always will be) that trying to convince teenagers not to be horny is a colossal waste of money, and no amount of photogenic child actors telling America’s parents otherwise will change that. However, there is hope for people determined to hide their kids from sex in the face of common sense. 4parents lists a few safer, less dangerous alternatives. Like extreme sports. —Posted by David Kiefaber |
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
"At the risk of sounding too political"
---You're actually afraid of that now? I'm surprised.
"trying to convince teenagers not to be horny is a colossal waste of money,"
---No, the government is trying to convince them to control themselves. That's what separates humans from animals. Humans don't take a shit wherever they feel like it. They hold it. While I don't believe in abstinence-only sex education, I also don't believe in this culture that pressures you to have sex all the time.
Frankly David, sex education has always sucked, with or without abstinence education. It's not like they tell you about sexual positions or how to have sex, they tell you about diseases, pregnancy, and a bunch of boring stuff.
Frankly, the government shouldn't be in the business of teaching sex ed. That's the role of the parents.
Posted by: Bobby | Oct 11, 2007 10:32:57 AM
It never ceases to amaze me that people give teens so little credit.
While abstinence-only education is totally unrealistic, teenagers are capable of rational thought and risk analysis. What in the world is wrong with educating and even encouraging teens to avoid the potential "hassles" of an unplanned pregnancy, minor-STDs and biggies like HIV/AIDS?
Teenagers aren't stupid. They may be horny and they may not always think things through all the way, but legions of them are capable of thinking for themselves and making decisions about sex.
I not only survived my teen years as a virgin, my husband did too. Neither of us had sex until we were married. I can think of dozens of friends and family members who also waited, or at least waited until they were an adult in a committed relationship.
Did a larger portion of the folks I know opt to spend their high school weekends in the back seat of a car? Sure! But that doesn't mean they were there because they were too stupid or out of control to make their own choices.
Guess we should drop the "don't smoke," "don't drink" and "don't do drugs" promotions too...cause some kids are going to do it anyway.
/rant
Posted by: Jennifer | Oct 11, 2007 10:56:47 AM
This effort, like so much of this administrations policies, are totally fabricated and plainly wrong. On January 20, 2009, we will finally once again become a reality based society. Where science and rational thought will rule.
Posted by: Flippant | Oct 11, 2007 12:09:38 PM
Actually it's easier to keep dogs in abstinence.
Buy one at a pet shop. Take him home and keep the dog in the house. Take the dog out once a day for a stroll. Let him out on a leash to do his busines about four times a day. Obey the leash laws the city and insurance companies demand. All dogs must remain on a leash at all times.
After 12 years, 80 or an eternity to your dog, he/she, too, can die a virgin.
Posted by: | Oct 11, 2007 2:04:49 PM
Yeah... George Bush sucks... not having sex can't possibly prevent pregnancy.
Posted by: JP | Oct 11, 2007 2:27:02 PM
Remember this is the same society who put genarlow wilson in prison for a decade because a girl gave him a blowjob instead of putting out...nuff said...hey there's a better ad for our fearless leaders..."dont do it, or you'll do a decade in the slammer!" :rolleyes: its days like this that make me wish i was canadian
Posted by: glenn | Oct 11, 2007 3:06:09 PM
A Canadian?
It's days like these I wish I was a mermaid who didn't have to abide by the rules of the land.
Geographic borders, government borders, blubb.... blubb....blubb
Posted by: nancy | Oct 11, 2007 3:58:52 PM
ads promoting abstinence from sex. yeah that's how life works. you see something thirty seconds of BS on TV and you ignore a primal human drive.
they should do an ad targetting gay republican senators. now there's a bunch who need to control themselves.
Posted by: El gran senor | Oct 12, 2007 1:05:17 PM
Useless government spending.
Posted by: yikes | Oct 12, 2007 3:14:34 PM
Jennifer, I have to challenge your logic. I actually am glad that you and your husband are happy and waited for each other. I think that is a good thing. However "don't smoke," "don't drink" and "don't do drugs" ads are not the same as this. You can't have safe smoking or safe drugs. You can drink in moderation, but not legally until you're 21. You can have safe sex. There are all sorts of things you can do that don't resort in a baby or an STD. And to another of your points, teenagers do tend to lack common sense. Most people don't have their first drink or first drug or first car accident in their 20s. Most of those firsts happen in their teens. But besides all that, lets leave this issue to parents and not the federal government. The inside of a teenagers pants is a bit out of their purview.
Posted by: thatguy | Oct 17, 2007 2:02:07 PM
