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[sonerohi]

It may be. However, when you're 14-17, sex should not be a concern. I lump sex and consumerism together because if you look at all the tabloid magazines kids read, and MTV and such that they watch, there are two constants. Brand-name products popping up constantly, and skimpily clad women. I'm glad to say I've alienated myself rather thoroughly from the 'Other', as you phrase it.

[florian]

However, when you're 14-17, sex should not be a concern.

Why? Isn't sex something natural, something wonderful? Why should an arbitrary group of people not allowed to enjoy it?

[Footkerchief]

However, when you're 14-17, sex should not be a concern.

What do you mean by this (because obviously it's a concern in some sense for you too), and why?

[sonerohi]

I mean that at that age, you probably shouldn't be overly concerned about sex. It's more important to focus on, I don't know, doing well at school, keeping up with friends, practicing for sports you're in. I'm really not doing well at getting my point across am I? It's just... Why are people so concerned about "tappin' that" (please forgive me for the slang but it's how they talk for whatever damnable reason)? Kids are so concerned about the superficial act of it than making bonds with the other person involved. That's the important aspect of it! Kids aren't trying to develop intimacy with a partner, they're trying to whip their genitals out at the first given oppurtunity! Look at Erickson's model of Self-Actualization. What is the step for teenagers? Develop intimacy. Not "hit it and quit it". They're supposed to be exploring the concept of sharing a bit of who you are with another person, and growing deeper bonds than one night stands.

[Footkerchief]

Why are people so concerned about "tappin' that"

1. Teenager hormone blitzkrieg, enough said
2. Novelty.  Puberty is when your body becomes fully functional, who wouldn't be curious about the changes?
3. Because they're people.  Adults are sex-crazed too.  Consider the fact that Viagra exists (mostly) because dudes too old to get it up are still obsessed with sex.

Look at Erickson's model of Self-Actualization. What is the step for teenagers? Develop intimacy. Not "hit it and quit it". They're supposed to be exploring the concept of sharing a bit of who you are with another person, and growing deeper bonds than one night stands.

Aren't Erikson's stages more descriptive than prescriptive/normative?  Additionally, the 14-17 group would be Erikson's fifth stage, adolescence (marked by identity struggles), not the young adult stage you're describing.

[Chutney]

I don't think 14-17 year olds should be having sex because I'm not having sex. 

[florian]

I don't think 14-17 year olds should be having sex because I'm not having sex. 

Ah! Finally, a good reason.

[bjlong]

Yeah, my concern isn't that they were having sex--obviously, this is something that will happen, like it or not--but rather that she made such a decision that (IMO) clearly shows that she didn't think through the consequenses. The pictures, once taken, could be spread at her expense, coming back to bite her as she looks for jobs, or even (gasp!) looks for colleges. I'm not sure about the legal response, but this is a problem with this 14-year-old.

[sonerohi]

That's another thing. I saw a very compelling video of a girl who sent an explecit picture of herself to a friend, and the friend put it on the monitor of a computer at school. A kid came by to the computer and grabbed copies of the picture and put it on the other computers. Someone put a copy of it on a notice board. The copies just got all over the place, and the girl was going around trying to take them all back, but wherever someone tacked the picture at, there would always be one more in the stack. She was trying to empty an infinite stack of them. Then, it showed the hallway with the notice board, and some of the lights out, as a janitor cleaned up the floors. It zooms to him as he takes a picture from one of the infinite stacks.

It was spooky.

[Leafsnail]

I wouldn't equate sex with consumerism, but it's certainly been consumerised by some companies.  Sex does sell very easily, and if you can convince people that they need to wear certain clothes/ be a certain weight/ go on a certain diet to have more sex, then, well, that's profit.  Sex is also built up to a sortof fantasy level in the popular media - often real sex isn't like that.

Hmm, looks like this thread has once again derailed.  Sorry for my part in it.

[sonerohi]

Don't worry about it. I do believe I caused it entirely.