When did you lose your virginity?

[vniow]

Anyway, I think it's unfortunate that so many young - like 14-15 - yearolds are having sex, now-a-days more than ever. At that age, can one really know what sex... well, what sex actually means? I think not.

Nowadays? Humans have been having sex when they reach sexual maturity (14-15) since the beginning of our evolution. If you were female, as recently as 200 years ago in Western culture you will have likely wed by then.

This is far from a new phenomenon.

 

[204467]

Heh, interesting thread.

Anyway, I think it's unfortunate that so many young - like 14-15 - yearolds are having sex, now-a-days more than ever. At that age, can one really know what sex... well, what sex actually means? I think not.

Uh, why is it sad that 14-15 year-olds are having sex? As long as it's safe and consensual, I really don't see a problem. I'm assuming you're older than that, though, so could you possibly enlighten as to whether sex means anything besides deeply connecting with someone on a physical and emotional level (and good old fashioned American fun )?

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

Nowadays? Humans have been having sex when they reach sexual maturity (14-15) since the beginning of our evolution. If you were female, as recently as 200 years ago in Western culture you will have likely wed by then.

This is far from a new phenomenon.

Before the times you speak of ("the beginning of our evolution"), it was more a matter of necessity... You probably would be dead by 25, so better get going at 15! If one looks back to say, oh, the 1910s, sexual intercourse was not a common thing for civilized 14 year olds to take part in. I'm not sure where in the world this has been widespread and accepted in recent times.

I see your point about the young marriages... However, is today's youth as mature as say, a young English lady who was in an arranged marriage 250 years ago? More likely than not, that girl was not the same as a 14 year old living in modern Boston.

It's just that I'm not too optimistic about the decisions youth are making. I'm only 18, so I'm in the same generation as a one who is 14 or 15. Nonetheless, I am very rarely impressed with most of the younger teens I meet. Hell, it's difficult to find someone *my* age who can have genuine conversation.

It's "sad" to me because there are so many other things someone this age should have on their minds. Sex is a big deal, despite what you think, and it's not a worry that Mary Jane in the 8th grade needs to have clouding up her thoughts.

 

[sushi]

Nowadays? Humans have been having sex when they reach sexual maturity (14-15) since the beginning of our evolution. If you were female, as recently as 200 years ago in Western culture you will have likely wed by then.

This is far from a new phenomenon.

Of course 200 years ago, life expectancy was much shorter, so things happened more quickly in the aging process if you will.

Interesting web site.

Extracts from the article:

• In 1796, life expectancy hovered around 24 years. A hundred years later it doubled to 48.

• men on average live to 72, while women live to 79 in the US

In the past 200 years there has been significant lengthening (about 3 times) of average human life spans.

 

[Iscariot]

Heh, interesting thread.

Anyway, I think it's unfortunate that so many young - like 14-15 - yearolds are having sex, now-a-days more than ever. At that age, can one really know what sex... well, what sex actually means? I think not.

The only reason they wouldn't know what it means would be if they were not properly educated on the matter. If we gave a little more credit to our young people, we might be surprised what they're capable of comprehending.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Before the times you speak of ("the beginning of our evolution"), it was more a matter of necessity... You probably would be dead by 25, so better get going at 15! If one looks back to say, oh, the 1910s, sexual intercourse was not a common thing for civilized 14 year olds to take part in. I'm not sure where in the world this has been widespread and accepted in recent times.

I see your point about the young marriages... However, is today's youth as mature as say, a young English lady who was in an arranged marriage 250 years ago? More likely than not, that girl was not the same as a 14 year old living in modern Boston.

It's just that I'm not too optimistic about the decisions youth are making. I'm only 18, so I'm in the same generation as a one who is 14 or 15. Nonetheless, I am very rarely impressed with most of the younger teens I meet. Hell, it's difficult to find someone *my* age who can have genuine conversation.

It's "sad" to me because there are so many other things someone this age should have on their minds. Sex is a big deal, despite what you think, and it's not a worry that Mary Jane in the 8th grade needs to have clouding up her thoughts.

ah you speak your opinion as if it is fact. Perhaps you need to take the time and reflect on what sex means. Not what it means to you, or others, but to speak in such absolute terms you should know the absolute meaning.

PS: nice avatar

 

[vniow]

Before the times you speak of ("the beginning of our evolution"), it was more a matter of necessity... You probably would be dead by 25, so better get going at 15! If one looks back to say, oh, the 1910s, sexual intercourse was not a common thing for civilized 14 year olds to take part in. I'm not sure where in the world this has been widespread and accepted in recent times.

The average lifespan of humans throughout history is largely irrelevant. The fact that humans have been reaching sexual maturity at approximately the same ages since the beginnings of homo sapien sapien until now has not changed due to lifespan extensions. It it only recent (and I mean very recent) you see a not-so-insignificant number of pre-teens reaching sexual maturity, some will argue its hormones in food or whatnot but it is happening. You're fooling yourself if you think 14-15 year olds only started having sex recently. Its been going on for a few hundred thousand years.

It's just that I'm not too optimistic about the decisions youth are making. I'm only 18, so I'm in the same generation as a one who is 14 or 15. Nonetheless, I am very rarely impressed with most of the younger teens I meet. Hell, it's difficult to find someone *my* age who can have genuine conversation.

Ah, here's the core of it. Because you've only known immaturity, only immaturity must exist.

It's "sad" to me because there are so many other things someone this age should have on their minds. Sex is a big deal, despite what you think, and it's not a worry that Mary Jane in the 8th grade needs to have clouding up her thoughts.

You really think when hormones are a raging that teens are going to think about anything but sex? Its irrelevant if you think they should or not, fact is its happening and is a natural part of our maturity process. Either deal with it, or find another species to belong to.

 

[Prof.]

You really think when hormones are a raging that teens are going to think about anything but sex? Its irrelevant if you think they should or not, fact is its happening and is a natural part of our maturity process. Either deal with it, or find another species to belong to.

The average teenage male thinks about sex every seven seconds. It's quite obvious young teens will start thinking about sex between the ages of 13 and 15. It's a natural occurrence and there's nothing that can be done to stop young teens from experimenting with their bodies.

 

[vniow]

The average teenage male thinks about sex every seven seconds.

This is actually a false interpretation of data.


http://kinseyinstitute.org/resources/FAQ.html


See the "Fantasy" section part way down the page. Cool stuff.

 

[Prof.]

This is actually a false interpretation of data.


http://kinseyinstitute.org/resources/FAQ.html


See the "Fantasy" section part way down the page. Cool stuff.

Those are men, not horny teenage boys.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Those are men, not horny teenage boys.

damn. I thought that was a link.

uhhh er.... what were we discussing?

 

[Prof.]

damn. I thought that was a link.

uhhh er.... what were we discussing?

LMFAOOOOOOOO

Sorry to excite... errrr... disappoint you.

 

[sushi]

I decided to see when females come in heat, as we on the farm call it.

I've attached a chart that shows a drop. So while life expectancy is getting longer, the age at which females begin their cycle has decreased. Most interesting.

 

[leekohler]

I decided to see when females come in heat, as we on the farm call it.

I've attached a chart that shows a drop. So while life expectancy is getting longer, the age at which females begin their cycle has decreased. Most interesting.

Interesting. I wonder why that is? It seems that logically it would happen later.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Interesting. I wonder why that is? It seems that logically it would happen later.

Beef hormones and fluorescent lights? (I'm kind of joking, but a little serious; why isn't there a smiley for that?)

 

[iBlue]

No offense to either of you (or anyone else) intended, but virginity is not something that is special by nature; it is special only if you consider it as such. ...

Despite that, I have had sex that has been vastly more special since then, and with different people no less. The beauty of life is that special is what we make it. You can have amazing and truly touching sex with someone you've known all your life, or someone you've known for ten minutes. I certainly respect that you have both made your own decisions and I am in no way trying to tell you that you're wrong, but in this thread and in others there seems to be a sense of moral superiority from both sides of the fence. Waiting for sex isn't necessarily going to make it more special, unless that's what special means to you.

Excellent post. I especially appreciate this on the level that some people have their virginity* TAKEN from them. At that point it become much less of a mythical/mystical thing and becomes what you make of it later on down the line. "Special" is all perceptually relative.

* (in the technical sense)

 

[motulist]

while life expectancy is getting longer, the age at which females begin their cycle has decreased. Most interesting.

Interesting. I wonder why that is? It seems that logically it would happen later.

As I understand it, in times of abundance we are designed to have more offspring than we do during lean times. This is evolutionarily designed so that when there's plenty of food to go around your genes want to take advantage of it and reproduce as much as possible while the gettin's good.

And during lean times we are designed to have fewer offspring because offspring require tons of resources, and if there isn't as much to go around then you won't be able to successfully raise too many offspring. On top of not being able to feed yet another child successfully, having too many mouths to feed will steal scarce resources for you and your other existing offspring, making you all more unfit and thus you wind up having fewer of your offspring successfully finding mates to continue your genetic line.

So evolution has selected for genes which create more offspring during times of resource abundance and fewer kids during times of scarcity. Over the past century we've been continually eating more and more calories in our diet. The more your body senses abundant resources (i.e. the more you eat) then the more it will try to maximize your amount of reproduction, and that means reaching menarche (first period) earlier.

On top of which, a human female's eggs are significantly healthier the younger she is (and male's sperm are healthier when younger also), so having kids as young as possible when times are good is doubly advantageous evolutionarily.

more food = earlier first period

And this is exactly why in females with greatly reduced calorie intake, such as in gymnasts and anorexics, you see many years delayed onset of her first period.

google: anorexia menarche

DISCLAIMER: This is all just afaik, so I could be wrong about any or all of this.

 

[DoFoT9]

lost it last year when i was 17 haha.

pretty late for people around my area.

 

[sushi]

Interesting. I wonder why that is? It seems that logically it would happen later.

I was very surprised as I figured that the age was increasing.

My guess in simple terms is better nutrition.

From a parents perspective, instead of dealing with this issue at 16, now it's at 12. No wonder parenting is getting more difficult.

As I understand it, in times of abundance we are designed to have more offspring than we do during lean times.
<snip>

Good post. Seems reasonable.

Maybe one of our doctors or biologist types will chip in on the subject.

 

[0098386]

i'm 19, 20 in october. . plan to wait until marriage. i'm saving myself for wild, passionate, awkward, honeymoon sex. it's going to be grrreat. ha!

That's exactly why I'm waiting for it too
Though the powers that be said it's a green light for when we're engaged, I kinda think that we've waited this long... Might as well make that wedding night a bit more special.


I've definitely spotted folk getting younger doing it here. When I was in school it was mostly around age 15 that people started doing it, whereas it's 13-14 at my sisters school now. Even my parents said they didn't really bother with that stuff until they were 17-18. But then it was more a worry about the side effect of kids. Can't imagine it dropping any lower than 13-14. But who am I to guess, in 20 years time I'll be called prude for not wanting my 8 year daughter to have sex

 

[204467]

lost it last year when i was 17 haha.

pretty late for people around my area.

You're the first person to actually answer the original question in several pages. Good for you!

That's exactly why I'm waiting for it too
Though the powers that be said it's a green light for when we're engaged, I kinda think that we've waited this long... Might as well make that wedding night a bit more special.


I've definitely spotted folk getting younger doing it here. When I was in school it was mostly around age 15 that people started doing it, whereas it's 13-14 at my sisters school now. Even my parents said they didn't really bother with that stuff until they were 17-18. But then it was more a worry about the side effect of kids. Can't imagine it dropping any lower than 13-14. But who am I to guess, in 20 years time I'll be called prude for not wanting my 8 year daughter to have sex

I think sex with an 8 year old is a little extreme. Personally, I think 15 is about the youngest, with 14 pushing it. An 8-year-old having sex is just creepy.

 

[OutThere]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/health/research/26stat.html?ref=health

Compared with their peers in 1991, high school students today are less likely to be sexually active, and when they are, more likely to use condoms.

The percentage of high school students in 2007 who had ever had sexual intercourse declined by 12 percent since 1991, the percentage who had had intercourse with four or more partners declined by 20 percent, and the percentage who were currently sexually active declined by 7 percent. At the same time, condom use increased by 33 percent.

The findings were published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Aug. 1 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The news is not all good. There were no significant changes in the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors from 2005 to 2007. This may have contributed to a 34 percent increase in H.I.V. and AIDS cases diagnosed among teenagers 15 to 19 from 2003 to 2006, a 6 percent increase in gonorrhea from 2005 to 2006, and an increase in live births to 41.9 per 1,000 in 2006 from 40.5 in 2005.

“We’ve had some real successes over the last 17 years,” said Laura Kann, a co-author of the report and a scientist in the division of adolescent and school health of the C.D.C. “We need to renew our efforts to delay onset of sexual activity and to increase condom use among kids once they are sexually active.

 

[0098386]

I think sex with an 8 year old is a little extreme. Personally, I think 15 is about the youngest, with 14 pushing it. An 8-year-old having sex is just creepy.

Well our generation says that now but things might change. You can so easily apply what folk say today to it-

"If they're using protection, who cares! Their bodies!"
"Once you remove religion from society you realise it's only another form of showing affection"
and of course "peer pressure"

Of course it's an extreme but I wouldn't be surprised to see more and more younger pregnancies in the coming years. Personally I think 15 is too young and think the law's stance of 16 is perfect (finishes compulsory education and could support a child (condoms failure percentage in action), old enough to make life altering decisions etc).
But that's just me.

 

[leekohler]

Well our generation says that now but things might change. You can so easily apply what folk say today to it-

"If they're using protection, who cares! Their bodies!"
"Once you remove religion from society you realise it's only another form of showing affection"
and of course "peer pressure"

Oh please stop it, jimmi. That's not just extreme, it's ridiculous. Kids aren't thinking about sex at 8 years old. There are far too many other things keeping their attention, and their bodies certainly aren't ready for it either. Let's please keep this thread based in reality, shall we?

 

[0098386]

I doubt my grandparents could imagine kids having sex at 13, 14 now.
Also factor in the lower age of puberty kicking in. Maybe not 8, but 10, 11. Just wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.