Richard
Richard Brodie RBrodie@brodietech.com +1.206.688.8600
CEO, Brodie Technology Group, Inc., Bellevue, WA USA
http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie
Do you know what a "meme" is? http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/meme.htm
>----------
>From: ken sartor[SMTP:sartor@visidyne.com]
>Sent: Saturday, September 7, 1996 10:15 AM
>To: virus@lucifer.com
>Subject: virus: Sexuality
>
>
>As a new thread i am wondering what people think will happen
>in human sexuality in the near future (say 10-25 years, altho
>longer term ideas might also be interesting).
>
>It seems to me that virtually all the restraints on sexuality
>are due to religious admonitions to avoid it except under very
>special circumstances (e.g., no sex if you are unmarried, no
>sex outside of marriage, no sex between same sex partners, etc,
>etc). While these rules probably made good sense 2000 years ago
>(or even 50 years ago) they seem to be quite antiquated to me
>now. With modern birth control we seem to be quite able to
>separate pleasure from reproduction. Altho AIDS is a terrible
>decease we seem to be able to overcome it with various types of
>sexual activities and/or protections (in any case it probably
>does not even begin to compare to syphilis in numbers of people
>killed).
>
>Also, it seems to me odd that religions (at least Christianity)
>have attacked masturbation with such vehemence. In terms of
>safety to the community and the individual, it seems to quite
>effective (i don't think anyone ever died of it...). But the
>prohibition seems to be greatest for this activity (ask any young
>person if they are a virgin - that's potentially embarrassing - ask
>if they masterbate - that's offensive).
>
>So - i guess i am wondering if we are primarily a monogamous
>species by genetic inclination (i doubt it) or if the church
>has been *extremely* effective in the control of our sexuality
>(even those of us who _DO NOT_ believe). If so, will this
>collapse (like it seemed to start to do in the 60's, or will
>it get even stronger (the pendulum effect)?
>
>ken
>
>