Michael Riddle (Edison): Let’s Talk About Sex

As I sat and listened to presentations regarding the adult entertainment business in the local community, some presentations more serious than others, the obvious controversy regarding this topic was apparent in the retroaction of various students. Some could barely speak on the subject, some who did speak felt the need to choose their words wisely and carefully, while others were very open and blunt; and some chose to leave the discussion altogether, finding it in poor taste and an assault on their moral values.

The puritan philosophies on which this country was founded on nearly four hundred years ago still influences the open discussion (or lack thereof) regarding sex in this country. To this day, sex is spoken of in whispers and under-tones, and usually only with those of the same sex who are closest to us, and then it is spoken in some sort of code as if we were trying to prevent some national secret from being exploited. Many decry an open discussion of sex among people claiming that it is a topic that should be spoken of privately, yet, for many it is even a taboo subject with their own partner in the privacy and sanctity of their own bedroom for fear of being seen as, or perceived as, being perverted and looked upon with disdain. And still month after month, year after year, decade after decade, women’s magazines (and more recently men’s magazines), marriage and family counselors, even the clergy, have openly counseled men and women to speak with one another – in detail – regarding each others sexual wants, needs, and appetites in order to have a more harmonious relationship. But, for the most part, we don’t.

What do we have to fear by discussing sex with one another? Monikers. A man speaks openly of his sexual predilections and he is castigated as a pig, a dog, a man-whore. Women’s monikers are worse ranging from whore and slut, to bitch or prude. We as a society have been conditioned from birth to say and do those things that meet with the approval of those around us, from our family and closest friends, to society at large (hence the cornerstone of the “PC” movement). The mere mention of a subject that could be perceived as controversial – and not just this discussion – is tip-toed around so delicately so as to not step on anyone’s toes, or ruffle anyone’s feathers. It’s ridiculous. Lord forbid that an individual think independently and have his or her own opinions, regardless of how contrary they may be to society’s norms, all from fear of being labeled as some sort of outcast.

What is the solution? Only by embracing a mindset that directly repudiates the teachings in this country over the past four hundred years will we truly see this country embrace and accept a fully open dialogue of not only human sexuality, but all subjects that may seem offensive or contemptible that lingers on the fringe of human perception. Man is not logical and his intellectual history is a record of mental reserves and compromises. He hangs on to what he can in his old beliefs even when he is compelled to surrender their logical basis. (John Dewey).

This entry was posted on 29. March 2009 at 19:32 and is filed under Social Problems. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.