Why is human sexuality so controversial?

[Sunstone]

Whether one is talking about abortion, the age of consent, oral sex, HIV/AIDS, homosexuality or something else, topics that involve human sexuality are among the most controversial topics around. Why is that so? What is the root reason(s) that human sexuality is so controversial?

I have a friend who believes that the root reason is power. He argues that elites (religious and political) use human sexuality as a wedge to gain control over the masses of people. By scaring or conjoling people into following their prescriptions for what is proper or improper sexuality, they gain power over people. Does his theory hold any water? What do you think?

Is there a better explanation for why human sexuality is so controversial?

 

[mrscardero]

Whether one is talking about abortion, the age of consent, oral sex, HIV/AIDS, homosexuality or something else, topics that involve human sexuality are among the most controversial topics around. Why is that so? What is the root reason(s) that human sexuality is so controversial?

I have a friend who believes that the root reason is power. He argues that elites (religious and political) use human sexuality as a wedge to gain control over the masses of people. By scaring or conjoling people into following their prescriptions for what is proper or improper sexuality, they gain power over people. Does his theory hold any water? What do you think?

Is there a better explanation for why human sexuality is so controversial?

Cause some people don't get it.

 

[Sunstone]

Cause some people don't get it.

Mrs. Carrdero, are you saying that the sole reason human sexuality is so controversial is that some people are not getting any sex, or are you saying that it's so controversial because some people do not understand it? What do you mean by "get it"?

 

[mrscardero]

Mrs. Carrdero, are you saying that the sole reason human sexuality is so controversial is that some people are not getting any sex, or are you saying that it's so controversial because some people do not understand it? What do you mean by "get it"?

Both...not getting any and not understanding.

 

[Sunstone]

I think ignorance of sexuality might be one factor in why sexuality is so controversial, but surely it cannot be the only factor. There are many many things of which we are ignorant, but which are not nearly so controversial as human sexuality. So, what other factors are involved?

 

[retrorich]

Why is human sexuality so controversial?

Because humans have a natural talent for screwing up something that is inherently good.

 

[mrscardero]

I think ignorance of sexuality might be one factor in why sexuality is so controversial, but surely it cannot be the only factor. There are many many things of which we are ignorant, but which are not nearly so controversial as human sexuality. So, what other factors are involved?

Experience is one thing that some people are lacking. You can imagine all you want what a homosexual experience is but it may or may not lead to what you expect it to be. Same could be said about heterosexual experiences.

 

[Sunstone]

Why is human sexuality so controversial?

Because humans have a natural talent for screwing up something that is inherently good.

It is certainly the case that many of the moral prohibitions and moral commentaries on human sexuality have done little more than screw up an inherently good thing. They have demeaned and debased sexuality rather than enhanced it. Maybe that is human nature. But I certainly hope not.

 

[Sunstone]

Experience is one thing that some people are lacking. You can imagine all you want what a homosexual experience is but it may or may not lead to what you expect it to be. Same could be said about heterosexual experiences.

I agree with you, Mrs Carrdero, that it is very difficult to accurately imagine experiences one lacks having. But is ignorance the only reason that human sexuality is so controversial? Aren't there other reasons also that it is so controversial?

 

[Green Gaia]

I have a friend who believes that the root reason is power. He argues that elites (religious and political) use human sexuality as a wedge to gain control over the masses of people. By scaring or conjoling people into following their prescriptions for what is proper or improper sexuality, they gain power over people. Does his theory hold any water? What do you think?

I agree with your friend. Think about it, take away everything else, material goods, titles, weath, status, etc.,... and what do you have left? Yourself and everything that you are, including your sexuality, your thoughts, your feelings, your interests, your choices. So what would be the ultimate control over another human being? If you could control and have power over their choices, thoughts, feelings and interests, and to some degree their sexuality in that you shame or reward them based on what you want of them, wouldn't that be the ultimate form of power? To control a human being at their basic level would give you unimaginable control over them.

 

[mrscardero]

I agree with you, Mrs Carrdero, that it is very difficult to accurately imagine experiences one lacks having. But is ignorance the only reason that human sexuality is so controversial? Aren't there other reasons also that it is so controversial?

Environment and how some were raised. Some can easily be influinced from parents and friends about what is right and wrong in sexuality.

 

[Sunstone]

Maize, it took me a while to grasp what my friend was saying. He had to repeat it to me on several occassions before it sank in. But I have since come to see that he has a very powerful point.

For instance, there does not seem to be any other explanation for the notion that homosexual marriages destroy the sanctity of heterosexual marriages than that the notion was concocted by elites like James Dobson as a means of gaining power and controlling people. Because the notion has absolutely no intellectual or scientific merit. And since it has no intellectual or scientific merit, it is permissible to ask who benefits from promulgating such rubbish? Well, the answer seems to be that elites like James Dobson gain quite a bit from promulgating such rubbish.

 

[Sunstone]

To clarify, I'm looking for the root reason(s) that sexuality is so controversial. What causes the topic of human sexuality to be so controversial. To be sure, there are many factors that contribute to it being controversial, but what are the root factors?

 

[Jaymes]

I believe it's controversial because it's one of the few actions we can perform that will create intelligent life.

 

[Sunstone]

I believe it's controversial because it's one of the few actions we can perform that will create intelligent life.

Somehow, Jensa, I'm much more inclined to believe that education and effort create intelligent life than does sex itself. Afterall, we're talking about a species that has spent most of its time on this earth figuring out ways to more efficiently kill members of its own species. Is that true intelligence?

Back on topic: Some people (such as Freud) have maintained that sexuality is central to human nature. If it is central to human nature, then whoever controls it is given immense power over other humans. Do you see?

 

[michel]

I believe it is so contraversial because we , as humans (and I am making an assumption here) can become 'tense' about sex. What is natural to one person could well be seen as a pervertion to another; there is no 'rule book' as to what is acceptable in sexual behaviour, and what is not.


I think the controversy lies in our fear of 'shocking' a partner by something that we feel comfortable with, but we aren't quite sure.......

 

[Jaymes]

Somehow, Jensa, I'm much more inclined to believe that education and effort create intelligent life than does sex itself. Afterall, we're talking about a species that has spent most of its time on this earth figuring out ways to more efficiently kill members of its own species. Is that true intelligence?

Education can help someone along the way to wisdom, but it sure doesn't make babies. Looking at my wording, I think I was a little vague. 'One of the few actions we can perform that has the potential to create intelligent life' is a bit more accurate, I think. (Until rereading it I didn't realize my statement was inaccurate a lot of the time.)

Back on topic: Some people (such as Freud) have maintained that sexuality is central to human nature. If it is central to human nature, then whoever controls it is given immense power over other humans. Do you see?

That makes a lot of sense. I wonder if asexuals escape that, or are just a different part of it..? /random thought

 

[Sunstone]

That's a good point, Michel. In sex, one opens oneself up to another human in a very intimate way. That makes one very vulnerable. Perhaps, the fear of that vulnerability has something to do with why sex is so controversial.

 

[kreeden]

There are very few basic instincts that all living things share . Sex is about the most primeval of them all . Some creatures don't even have working mouths in their adult forms . Sex is more important then even eating for them . So naturally it is controversial , as anything that important tends to be .

As for a mean of control , yes , it has been used as such . Think about the control it would give if one could control other's views of such a thing . But I believe there is more to it then that . I believe that sex is as personal as anything that we feel . Even in cultures where sex tends to be open , each have their personal ... perferences . Which adds to the controversity .

 

[Prima]

Hmmm. Here's what I think - I agree with Freud.

The first experience we have with sexuality is ourselves. Even fetuses masturbate. But then, when we're one or two years old, we start to get slaps on the wrist, and a 'No! that's bad and icky!' So our desires for sexual satisfaction are shoved under into our unconcious mind. Then maybe during puberty we start thinking we want to have sex - "No! that's not good!" Then we are attracted to a brother, sister, parent, friend, or someone of the same sex - "That's gross!" So all these sexual impulses are shoved under. Then whenever we start talking about something sexual, the unconcious goes "WHOA! red alert! bad! bad! bad!" and we start to freak out a little. Then our impulses try to slip out and we freak out even more.

I think that if we weren't forced to attach negative emotions and guilt to sexuality from the start, it wouldn't make people so nervous.

But I think all of the above ideas are true, also. I think it's the combination of it all that makes it so bad.