True, but it's also unrealistic to expect an abstinence-only approach to work — which is on par with putting your head in the sand. A combined approach of education of abstinence and birth control methods is the only realistic way to combat teen pregnancy and STDs.

 

I don't disagree as long as the birth control aspect is education only and as long as it is stressed that teen pregnancy is 100% preventable with abstinence, that it is not "human nature' to have sex as a teen and that sexual activity by teenagers is in 100% of the cases irresponsible behavior and not something to be accepted or celebrated.

I don't disagree as long as the birth control aspect is education only and as long as it is stressed that teen pregnancy is 100% preventable with abstinence, that it is not "human nature' to have sex as a teen and that sexual activity by teenagers is in 100% of the cases irresponsible behavior and not something to be accepted or celebrated.

 

So its not human nature for teenagers to have sexual urges and its not human nature to succumb to those urges? You do realize that "human nature" doesn't mean everyone reacts the same way, right?

Urges yes but that's not what I said is it. I said that having sex as a teen, not having urges, is not human nature. I believe that part of any sex education program should be to teach that those urges can be controlled and don't have to be acted on. What I do realize is that there are way to many people who are willing to excuse irresponsible behavior based on "human nature". And I do believe that all sexual activity by unmarried teenagres is irresponsible behavior.

Urges yes but that's not what I said is it. I said that having sex as a teen, not having urges, is not human nature. I believe that part of any sex education program should be to teach that those urges can be controlled and don't have to be acted on. What I do realize is that there are way to many people who are willing to excuse irresponsible behavior based on "human nature". And I do believe that all sexual activity by unmarried teenagres is irresponsible behavior.

 

You mean there are classes on how to "control urges?" How in the world do you teach a 16 or 17 year old kid to "control his urges?"

 

Secondly, why is sex as a teenager not "human nature?"

Urges yes but that's not what I said is it. I said that having sex as a teen, not having urges, is not human nature. I believe that part of any sex education program should be to teach that those urges can be controlled and don't have to be acted on. What I do realize is that there are way to many people who are willing to excuse irresponsible behavior based on "human nature". And I do believe that all sexual activity by unmarried teenagres is irresponsible behavior.

 

It would be interesting to do an anthropological study on this. I often wondered if teens and sex are new or really always been here.

 

Give me a moment.

 

What was the age of marrying 50 years ago? 100 years ago?

 

My mother was married when 16. (she eloped with my dad to Indiana)

 

My grandmother was married when 17.

 

If I were to look back and see, what would the norm age of married be in the past? I've known a lot of people who tell me: 16, 17, 18.

 

Those are teen years we become aghast at they could be sexually active or ready for such.

 

Yet in the days of the ancients, a young girl at 13 and just above could be betrothed and soon married in her teens.

 

So is the problem that all of this is new or is it that our culture/society has chosen to educate young people through their early 20's and seemingly ask them to "put off married life" until after their education. Thereby sending them through the hormonal issues that used to be "settled" in our culture by early marriage ages.

 

Just curious.

Note my last line, I said unmarried teenagers. I would also venture to guess that teen sex is not by any stretch of the imagination a new phenomenon but the cultural acceptance of it is IMHO.

 

I realize that in the not to distant past teens regularly married and I am 100% in favor of a robust sex life within marriage. I have heard it explained that as life expectency has risen so has the "normal" age of marriage.

You mean there are classes on how to "control urges?" How in the world do you teach a 16 or 17 year old kid to "control his urges?"

 

Secondly, why is sex as a teenager not "human nature?"

 

By teaching him or her the potential consequences of acting on those urges rather then providing them with tacit approval for their actions by saying it's human nature. I believe that programs that provide birth control to teens do give tacit approval to the behavior.

 

If teenage sex is "human nature" then why don't all teens have sex?

By teaching him or her the potential consequences of acting on those urges rather then providing them with tacit approval for their actions by saying it's human nature. I believe that programs that provide birth control to teens do give tacit approval to the behavior.

 

If teenage sex is "human nature" then why don't all teens have sex?

 

Maybe some aren't interested yet, maybe lack of opportunity, a conscious decision to ignore/turn away from those urges....I could be many things. Going back to your earlier post about teenage sex being more prevelant now. I think it was just hidden more in previous generations. I am quite certain though that there were a lot of fogged up windows at the drive-ins and a a lot of rabbits died for some reason. Society is much more open with it and flaunting it is almost common place, while I agree that a greater percentage is probably sexually active than say in the 50's, but not that much greater IMO. Of course I wasn't alive so it is purely speculation.

Note my last line, I said unmarried teenagers. I would also venture to guess that teen sex is not by any stretch of the imagination a new phenomenon but the cultural acceptance of it is IMHO.

 

I realize that in the not to distant past teens regularly married and I am 100% in favor of a robust sex life within marriage. I have heard it explained that as life expectency has risen so has the "normal" age of marriage.

 

No teenagers need to be married, regardless of whether "it was good enough for grandpappy and grandmammy," as some might say. The medical advances of the past 50 years have eliminated the need for families to be started earlier, as well as the fact that agriculture is not the family-based business it used to be. We don't need to procreate as early and rapidly as possible to survive and ensure our bloodlines continue the way it was needed in the past.

 

By teaching him or her the potential consequences of acting on those urges rather then providing them with tacit approval for their actions by saying it's human nature. I believe that programs that provide birth control to teens do give tacit approval to the behavior.

 

If teenage sex is "human nature" then why don't all teens have sex?

 

Some are more disciplined than others. Or, some have been better educated than others.

There is a lot to talk about in this interview. But I'd like to first say something about the part that first caught my attention.

 

I have never heard of such a thing and honestly would like to know how common they are. I agree with the author that this a very, very disturbing and go back to the time of dowry's and patriarchal ownership. So, can anyone attest that they have witnessed or even heard of a Purity Ball?

 

There was a special on Purity Balls on 20/20 one evening and I watched not knowing what to expect and was surprised I had never heard of it before. It really looked extravagant, I mean these girls go out and buy $500 dresses and the ballroom is as decorated as it is on Prom Night. I was shocked at the amount of areas and people that participate in this.

There was a special on Purity Balls on 20/20 one evening and I watched not knowing what to expect and was surprised I had never heard of it before. It really looked extravagant, I mean these girls go out and buy $500 dresses and the ballroom is as decorated as it is on Prom Night. I was shocked at the amount of areas and people that participate in this.

 

Without looking it up, I bet it was all over the south.

Without looking it up, I bet it was all over the south.

 

You bet right, ran and organized mostly by fathers who were preachers.

You bet right, ran and organized mostly by fathers who were preachers.

 

Making it even more creepy.

Making it even more creepy.

I can't find anything creepy about this. :lol: :lol:

 

Is there a "study ball" that I can take my son to?