<p>Teen sex rates are down, as are unintended pregnancy rates. The idea that we are more sexual is actually untrue, teens are actually less sexual, and are waiting longer for their first experience. </p>
<p>What has changed is the norm of communicating the sex acts. What was once done in secret is not public. However, just because more people are admitting to doing it does not mean that more people are actually doing it.</p>
<p>And sex is not just for reproduction, it's also for bonding. Humans are one of the only, if not only, species that have sex for a social function. Many people have a very negative view of this fact, and it's unfortunate.</p>
<p>What you're not including, however, is those who don't regard oral/anal/hand sex as sex...Those seem to be quite popular, particularly oral, from what I have heard...</p>
<p>I know a lot of people here anyways don't consider non-penetration as sex. So I agree with mcz that a lot of time it doesn't take this into account. I would almost say the non-penetration sexual acts are increasing</p>
<p>Yes, as people fear preganacy, as they are told in school that the condom is only 97% successful, so they try other types of sex, thinking they won't be the one to become infected, but they are...</p>
<p>Anecdotal evidence, while it may seem useful, is oftentimes flawed. The fact is that all types of sexual contact are down in teens (according to the National Center for Health Statistics.) Yes, people may have funny interpretations about what sex "is" (depends on what your definition of is, is), but the fact still stands: People are waiting. </p>
<p>People had oral sex in the "good 'ol days" too, it's not some new phenomenon.</p>
<p>The condom, while not the most effective method of birth control (that goes to depo, the pill, or Norplant) is the most effective protection against STDs, short of abstinence.</p>
<p>The biggest pity of our educational system is that it oftentimes demonizes sex more than it teaches people how to be responsible about it.</p>
<p>Yet it is still popular, and it still occurs...You should hear one kid on my bus, giving vivid details of his sexual encounters each day...People are still engaging sexual activities. How can the NCHS know, though...People are now sometimes more reluctant to admit it. As people have said before on here, many people from their schools claim to regret it.</p>
<p>I'm not that much older than you, and I have a fair grasp on what goes on in high school. </p>
<p>Again, I'm not condoning teenaged sexual activity. However, it's going to happen. Abstinence-only education is not the answer, because all it does is remove the option of contraceptives.</p>
<p>I know it's very new, very strange, and very foreign to you, but sex is a part of adult life.</p>
<p>UCLAri, I know it happens, as I've said many times. And it is part of adult life, which doesn't mean that people should practice while young...Should we give beer to teenagers...Drinking, too, is part of adult life, yet it is prohibited from teenagers (in NJ until 21)...How is sex different? It can be addictive, and it can be even more dangerous...</p>
<p>
[quote]
UCLAri, I know it happens, as I've said many times. And it is part of adult life, which doesn't mean that people should practice while young...Should we give beer to teenagers...Drinking, too, is part of adult life, yet it is prohibited from teenagers (in NJ until 21)...How is sex different? It can be addictive, and it can be even more dangerous...
[/quote]
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<p>Well, I for one believe the drinking age should be lowered to 18. 21 is absurdly old, and I believe counterproductive to building responsible drinking habits in Americans.</p>
<p>I don't believe that we should condone sex in youth. I do, however, believe we should educate them properly in the methods of contraception, how to avoid STDs, and how to obtain proper medical treatment and preventative care.</p>
<p>Ignorance about these issues has been shown to positively correlate with higher instance rates of STD transmission and unintended pregnancies.</p>