Is Sexual Promiscuity a Human Right?

submitted by StillLessons from (self.whatever)

It's one of the hallmarks of the past century. When Christianity was dominant, promiscuity was taboo. That doesn't mean it didn't happen, but when it did, the social consequences were severe. In the current context, examining the messaging being pumped out by our entertainment and "news" media, promiscuity is the primary purpose and meaning in life. People are encouraged to fight to uphold their ability to have whatever kind of sexual relationships they choose, now including BDSM and transgender-related.

I'm not arguing for the Spanish Inquisition here. Sexuality was unnaturally repressed before the modern era. At the same time, the pendulum has now - equally far in the other direction - overshot a sustainable and healthy approach to human sexual relationships.

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[–]jet199Instigatrix 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

I'm pretty sure research shows people are having less sex than ever before.

Freedom of choice has made people too fuss make a choice.

Also promiscuity can't be a right because you can't (or at least shouldn't) force anyone else to have sex with you. So maybe for sexy people it could be a right but not the the rest of us trogs.

Of course it's is also still restricted in some ways. If you have HIV it's criminal to screw around without telling every partner in many places. Partner infidelity is an instant get out of marriage reason everywhere, no matter how liberal.

[–]StillLessons[S] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

I've been intrigued by your first point for a while now, because I have heard the same thing. The more the population in the west is fed this "more sex!" line in the corporate liturgy, the more see through it. I find that encouraging.

[–]Jesus-Christ 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

The thing with sexual freedom is that people will often associate their passions with their identity without knowing that those passions are easily malleable from outside sources. Sexual liberation is essentially used as a means to politically control people into thinking that they're excercising their "freedom" by jacking off to porn. The fatal flaw with this is that the appeal to liberty (sexual freedom) led to the suppression of religion and morals, causing social chaos. Basically the proclamation of "freedom" comes with the erosion of morality with any revolution, and once a society no longer finds the religious foundation of morals plausible it's necessary for there to be social control in order to prevent chaos.

For a homogoneous society to exist there needs to be integrity, and without a moral compass for everybody to follow you get what we have now. Hedonists that persue sexual pleasure and are only interested in their own personal gain. I think it's important for people to realize what our compulsions are and why we should control them in order to realize why the media tries so hard to influence us into prostitution, porn, etc. It sells. It's no secret that porn desensitizes us and numbs our brain and yet so many people will defend it because they see it as a sign of liberation.

There needs to be a balance and people have to recognize when they are being told how to be. Keep your fetishes to yourself and in the bedroom. I know women that wear their body count like a badge, those types are simply cheaters and whores and are just being socially controlled.

I think you're right. It just went from one extreme to the other, unfortunately for a reason most people don't care to know.

[–]StillLessons[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

I think you and I are thinking along the same lines.

I particularly like "Sexual liberation is essentially used as a means to politically control people into thinking that they're excercising their "freedom" by jacking off to porn."

This is also true of legalization of weed in my mind. I have no problem with legalizing weed; if alcohol is legal, weed appears no more harmful than alcohol. But motivation matters. Why are they offering this freedom? I would argue it's the same reason. People feel they are "free" because they can smoke weed, when actually TPTB see it as a wonderful distraction so people will lose themselves in unproductive freedoms like this instead of asking why the world surrounding their weed-induced bubble is closing in on them daily.

[–]Jesus-Christ 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

"A man has as many masters as he has vices."

[–]discountmeat 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Our culture is one of promoting passion and sexual frustration, but certainly not sexuality. If that were the case, we would see loving partners on the tv, even being sexual, rather than cheating couples and general violence. It's odd that we allow violence on broadcast television, but not loving sexuality.

The word Promiscuity comes with moral baggage, "sin" even. Sin is something we were taught to keep us feeling guilty and fearful of a vengeful god. It's ingrained in us through the entire unconscious stream of connected humanity. Did you know the medieval church held that a woman who was rapped was responsible for provoking it, and for the loss of the rapist soul, for which she would have to make reparations on judgement day? Fear. Hell. Tities bad.

That is an old system that doesn't work. We know in hindsight that these religious leaders cause wars fighting over which god is best. Even atheist kingdoms have a very strong stance on "sin". Ask yourself, do you believe the politicians or priests have your best interest? Do these people represent compassion? They are the ones saying sexual freedom is wrong.

Sexuality is part of you, yet we are supposed to believe it's wrong. Promiscuity, in the sense of cheating on your partner, that's a contract that you broke with them, and will have consequences. However, you can have a relationship without sexual monogamy. Plenty of people do. Search polyamory of non-monogamy to see.

So how is it that sexuality is wrong, though it's built in just like being thirsty? It's that way because we have let others into our life and given them our authority. In the same way people wear masks, even though there is no pandemic, we are afraid of freedom in our sexuality, even though there is nothing wrong with it.

If sexuality is sinful, then your body is sinful for wanting. If that's the case, you better go find a savior to believe in to calm your nerves and help you suppress your natural desires. You will have a hard time explaining why women have a clitoris, but you can deny reality all you like. You have free will.

If your body isn't sinful, then how can sex be wrong? If promiscuity is against our nature, then why do priests and politicians have free reign with it while teaching us it is wrong?

I could go on and on, but to your question. Sexuality is a human reality. Promiscuity is your choice. I think a more ideal way to handle sexuality is with openness of heart rather than banging everything that is fleshy.

A good book needs to be written on this subject.

[–]StillLessons[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I agree that promiscuity is natural. But so is anger, and I don't support domestic violence. There are parts of our nature we wish to emphasize and others we prefer to keep in check.

The hypocrisy of "moral leaders" doesn't mean that the opposite is true. That's a false choice. Should people who don't have control over their own sexuality shut up about it? Yes. But limiting sexual behaviors that are destructive to families and the critical social-formation role they hold in society is a legitimate goal. Sadly, there are only a very few people with the moral integrity to model the behavior they suggest. It has been this way throughout history.

My question and yours are the same, basically: how can we encourage people to express our natural sexuality in a way that supports both ourselves and the social networks around us (particularly families)? Hookup culture - what is heavily promoted on our screens - is hurting us. We need to encourage a different model that (just as you say) encourages sexuality expressed in harmony with emotional bonding, not just for its own sake.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Nobody here has ever had sex. Eww, yucky.

The reason consequences were severe for extramarital sex is a practical issue of support, primarily financially, so as not to burden the family or community.

I say let the people fuck! Whatever weird shit they want to do as long as it doesn't harm anyone else, and we don't have to hear about it or see it. Some shit should just be private. I don't go around telling everyone who and how I want to fuck, that's crass for me and it's crass when they do it too.

[–]StillLessons[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

It's precisely the reason you give for severe consequences that concerns me. If I thought all-sex-all-the-time actually led to human happiness, I wouldn't have an issue with it. But it doesn't work. In my experience, the people who regularly throw themselves into sex with the nearest warm body end up feeling emptiness and meaninglessness. Worse, however, the ones who fall into this pattern while simultaneously pretending to maintain a stable family life create intense destruction in those around them. I am quite concerned that the offspring of promiscuous parents are damaged for life. The research is clear: kids growing up in stable monogamous heterosexual relationships grow up happier and more stable than those in other environments. Do we want a more happy and stable future generation or not?