February 18, 2009
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Bristol Palin: Abstinence ‘Not Realistic at All’
Bristol Palin, daughter of former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, said that abstinence is “not realistic at all.”
She was giving an interview for for Foxnews. Here is the link: Link
Is abstinence realistic?
Comments (221)
For her, certainly not!
It can be realistic depending on the person and their values I guess. But for the general public…it’s not gonna fly.
Sure, for some people.
clearly not for her..and how old is she? 18???I was still practicing abstinence at 18 and damn proud of it too.
in todays society it can be seen as an ideal but with how things are probbly not very likely…
My father is proof that it’s realistic. I could be, but I chose differently. I definitely think it’s realistic, but there’s a definite pressure against it everywhere.
Well…maybe she’s right…if you enjoy sex that much. But I think it’s a very realistic goal…I don’t want to get a girl pregnant (and I’ll probably end up dying a virgin as marriage is most certainly NOT in my future plans).
It’s good though to see she’s not brainwashed by her mother’s bogus religion
HA!!! For once I beat you to the punch!! I posted this yesterday
And yet, I somehow still end up commenting. You rock dude
Oh, it’s real! But when your own selfish desires take over you, then you find ways to justify what you do in reguard to sex. It still doesn’t mean it isn’t realistic.
Yes, she is right, it’s far from reality.
@bosefius – I was going to say the same thing.
I personally don’t think that teaching abstinence works in today’s society. People need to be educated on protecting themselves and being smart.
realistic, i’ve known countless people who are abstinent. Not just from premarital sex, but also drugs, tobacco, alcohol, etc.
Myself included.
it all depends on the person, how one was raised, and his/her morals and beliefs.
Well, actually as humans we will find a reason to justify ANYTHING we do.
It has been working for me for 22 years so clearly it does. I would also like to say that I would not be taking any sort of sex ed advice from her seriously.
Absolutely.
Maybe not for everybody……. I guess it depends on where you live.
In a day of I want it now, I don’t want to wait, is it any wonder it doesn’t carry over to sex since sex is so glamorized on TV and in the movies
@ihsankhairir - (((((( hugs ))))))
Yay for you!!!!!!
x
Yes, I know a lot of people (including myself) who are and have been abstinent.
@ihsankhairir - Well sure. I abstain from illicit substances and tobacco as well, but be warned abstaining from alcohol is actually a risk factor for heart disease as there’s plenty of medical evidence that demonstrates that drinking moderately (and not just red wine) is beneficial for the heart (cuts heart disease risk by up to 40%).
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/AlcoholAndHealth.html
Check out that link for more info (NOTE: if you have a predisposition to abuse, are pregnant, or are taking certain medication, you should not drink alcohol).
I agree with Bristol to a point. I think that in this society and the time that we live in, that abstinence is not realistic.
Back in the 50′s? Yeah, it was realistic back then, but times have changed.
I think that teens should be educated by their parents, teachers, and other role models….on being responsible about sex. They should be educated on birth control & also on the other issues surrounding sex.
Just my personal opinion.
I think it is but not for everyone.
Now a days, no. There’s sex on TV, music, internet, magazines. Theres no escaping it, and hormones are raging in teens now, more then ever. I doubt it.
Shame.
It is realistic. It’s also the only 100% effective method for preventing unplanned pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted disease.
But given that our children are hitting puberty earlier, that society mandates that they marry later than they did in the past, and we have such a sex-saturated, entertainment-driven culture, I certainly can understand why our kids fail.
not at all.
i dont think so
i mean it depends on the person really
so yea i guess it is
Yes. For the individual. But it’s not something you can just teach people. They have to be willing to abstain in the first place.
I think it’s completely realistic. But it depends on that persons morals and values – if they are willing to do it. If you don’t think you can, or don’t want to, then no, it’s not realistic for that person.
I’m 27 and am STILL abstinent. The key is: you decide not to do it, and you don’t do it. It’s not really that difficult.
It obviously didn’t work for her, but it’s still the standard. Even though your Mom is Governor, she’s still going to have a lot of difficulties being a teenaged Mom. Others can learn from her mistakes.
Yes. But for a very small minority.
Abstinence is easier for some people. In fact, it’s not even a choice in some cases.
The best means to secure an abstinent lifestyle are to do some things while in high school…..
1) Be on the A-V crew.
2) Join the theater lighting group.
3) Photography Club (you end up taking the photo more seriously than the model)
4) Math Club
For those with bad eyes, Birth Control glasses help.
Yes, abstinence is realistic. But even more realistic- being responsible. Wear a condom. Take birth control. That’s what’s realistic!
At least she didn’t father a child with a 13 year old I guess. Saying abstinence isn’t realistic is like saying that it isn’t realistic to eat a healthy diet or work out on a regular basis–yes it takes will power but I don’t see why abstinence isn’t realistic.
Of course it doesn’t help that many of the parents of this generation were raised in the hippie era and therefore many of our values have plummeted. The seventies and eighties weren’t any better and now we’re left with this filth of a society where one can actually be ridiculed if he or she hasn’t had sex by a certain age.
It worked for me and I didn’t have a baby before marriage. So, I totally think it is realistic. It is called self control.
I think people have been remarkably content to ignore the basic fact that a couple that waits to have sex until marriage is remarkably unrealistic.
I wouldn’t say abstinence is unrealistic, but I think the most of the people who believe in abstinence and how effective it can be never were in a tight spot between yes and no.
Sure, for some people it can work, but those people are dwindling.
Abstinence is. Abstinence only education–laughable.
I think that if the person has enough self-control, it IS realistic.
I think it can be & is.
But I think it depends on the person & how they feel about it….
Its realistic.
But only if you WANT to be abstinent.
Abstinence is realistic. But most people are not willing to pursue it. Is it easy? Of course not. Not for most people, anyway – not even those who are serious about it.
Heck, putting on a condom isn’t difficult, yet some people still don’t do it. Does that mean safer sex education is unrealisitic? No. It means some people just don’t want to take any responsibility for their own decisions. Safer sex education does not ‘work’. Abstinence only education does not ‘work’. It is the individual himself or herself who works — or fails to work.
That is like saying no one can resist temptation or addictive things which is ridiculous.
I know people who have completely stopped smoking, alcohol, hard drugs, etc and never went back. It depends on the will and the strength of the individual. Sex is tempting and hard to resist but from what I hear from friends who have used heroin, its pull is nowhere near as strong as that drug.
No. Abstinence programs are religious based campaigns parading as health campaigns. People are people, and people have sex. And yes..teenagers count as people. It’s the 21st century, and it’s time to get over it. Let parents deal with their hormonal teenagers, instead of these “abstinence” programs that have no business being in schools.
I don’t think it is realistic in a society consumed with control and driven by the media.
It’s always the God-fearing that get knocked up.
@BB61 - The best means to secure an abstinent lifestyle are to do some things while in high school…..
….
4) Math Club
My guess is that most guys on the math club has trouble getting laid– abstinent or not.
@randomneuralfirings - It is realistic. It’s also the only 100% effective method for preventing unplanned pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted disease.
Taking out a gun, pointing it to the head, and pulling the trigger is also a 100% effective means of preventing unplanned pregnancies.
But given that our children are hitting puberty earlier, that society mandates that they marry later than they did in the past, and we have such a sex-saturated, entertainment-driven culture, I certainly can understand why our kids fail.
It’s human biology. Fucking with human biology will always ben an upward climb.
umm yes. but of course she’s going to think that. Isn’t she the one who got pregnant??
Nope.
No, abstinence is not a realistic form of birth control in youth. Some people will abstain from sex, and that’s great, but not everyone will. Not everyone is intelligent enough to see the practical benefits of abstaining, not everyone is Christian, and have no moral taboos against it.
Why are people saying “not at all”??? I’m 22 and have never had sex. You just have to set some boundaries and have a little strength. Date people with similar values. There are times when it’s difficult, but overall… it’s really not that bad.
@huginn - Duh. You’re sharp today. Not much experience sarcasm?
Abstinence is realistic. Whether or not people CHOOSE to pursue it is another issue altogether.
It seems Bristol is only saying that to justify her lack of self-control.
Come now, abstinence is totally realistic. Though I can certainly see why Bristol would think that it isn’t, because, well… yeah.
When most of the media today tells people just to do what feels good, is it any wonder that so many are seduced into thinking that abstinence is unrealistic?
Psh what does she know!
Yes it is.
And I don’t say that because I’m so ugly no one would touch me with a 10 foot pole..XD
No.
It’s certainly realistic, I was abstinate until 21. However, it’s only realistic for a portion of the population. I’d say it’s equally truthful to say that it’s not realistic.
If she means using abstinence only education, I would say she’s on the mark.
If she just means abstinence in general, the obvious retort is to say, “I know a good handful of people who are all practicing sexual abstinence!” But I’d intuitively guess that a vast majority of people I have known throughout my life had sex before they were married. And the media tends to encourage it far more than it used to a couple generations back. That trend looks like its going constantly down the slope.
I’d say anyone with a child should not be caught off guard to find out their child is sexually active. One can hope that he/she is abstinent but one most certainly cannot count on it.-David
No, not really.
Sure it is.
Everyone defines a different kind of “realistic”. It’s realistic for me because I strongly believe in abstinence. So does my family. I was raised this way, and personally, looking at the medical facts, I strongly believe that this is the safesty way. My other family members, however, believe that abstinence is okay, but if you really love someone, then you should go ahead and have a good time. And because my cousins are taught this, they think it’s stupid and weird to be practice abstinence.
Nope. And it never was possible. I think the sexual desire is a natural part of being human yet it has been repressed for so long. Especially female sexuality, which is seen as something negative, hence, we have words like “slut” that we like to throw around casually.
Personally, I think the idea of abstinence is bullshit. Its just another way of repressing sexuality. Sex is an amazing thing, why hold out? Of course, its my personal opinion but we are all free to say what we think. No matter how hard they try, nobody can stop sexuality because it is just too powerful.
So what can be done? Education. Teach these kids about condoms and birth control. Teach them how to use condoms and where to get birth control. Teach them about being careful and responsible, because sex is going to happen whether these kids are safe about it or not.
i think it falls somewhere in a grey area, really. and whether or not it’s realistic has little to do with whether or not people are going to adhere to such an expectation – thank goodness we have a choice. it’s better to expect that not all people will remain abstinent, and to prepare for that … or, to not assume that everyone’s lifestyle must be the same, and that just because one religion or group practices a certain thing, that the rest of society must follow suit. the reality is, not everyone waits; it doesn’t matter if it’s realistic to wait or not.
@Picture_Perfect_Chaos - I totally agree with you on this one. People are going to have sex regardless. Maybe a few people can pull off abstinence and that’s great. Good for them…but education needs to cater to everybody and abstinence only is not a health education program. It has no business in the schools.
No.
Up to a certain age or point of the situation.
I have a point of no return in intimate situations — once I’ve committed, I can’t be convinced otherwise. Although it takes quite a bit of convincing to get me to commit to sex with someone. I’m pretty easy when I like a guy!
yes.
Sure it is. Why do so many think it’s impossible? It’s the only sure fire method insuring you won’t be a mommy at age 18.
It sounds like a lot of folks are admitting they just can’t think or act for themselves. “There’s sex on TV, music, internet, magazines” is just a cop-out excuse for dropping your pants
haha its realistic, but having that much self control is not in most cases.
If someone wanted to abstain, they would.
I think it is very realistic if that is what you are comitted to do.
For some people no, but for me yes. I’m happy not to be a teen pregnancy statistic. And it annoys me when people think my foster sisters are my kids.
for some people. but not most
For some people, but not for me at all.
Expecting abstinence is not reality. Actually being abstinent is possible, either by choice or not.
It’s realistic, and my brother/his fiancee are proof. As are many of my friends. It’s a matter of making that decision and having the willpower, the support of lifestyle values and the accountability to friends/mentors to make it happen for real. Unfortunately, a lot of people just don’t care anymore, and the attitude that it “isn’t realistic” is the precise attitude that makes it, for them, unrealistic. And it makes most kids feel like they don’t have a choice in the matter — they’re not going to even try for abstinence.
@randomneuralfirings - Well said.
@UnworthyofHisgrace -
Beliefs that make the after-life seem more palatable included?
Abstinence coupled with accountability & a companion on dates Works. The trouble comes in when you think two Hormonal Teens can keep their hands off each other if they are alone often.
If it’s not realistic, then why are people able to do it?
I was a virgin on my wedding night (at age 23).
i forget where i heard it but a month or so ago the issue of abstinence as an effective means of prevention was brought up on some radio show before and the statistics that opponents of abstinence education were brought into bearing and shown to be false. among those who make pledges as teens to abstain (mostly among Christians) they are far more likely to abstain and those who do have sex tend to wait until they’re much older- about 21 according to the study clarifications. Abstinence can be an effective means, but I think it’s good to let the parents decide what is best for their teens.
@huginn - Taking out a gun, pointing it to the head,
and pulling the trigger is also a 100% effective means of preventing
unplanned pregnancies.
Nope. That’s only effective 98% of the time. That percentage would increase to 99.5 if we’d just let the NRA train all of us on the proper use of firearms.
And you’re so cute when you try to be all tough and violent.
It’s human biology. Fucking with human biology will always ben an upward climb.
Yes, it is. Which is why abstinence before marriage has never been broadly practiced, though it does happen and people live very happy and productive lives doing just that. But that doesn’t deny that there are specific factors in this culture that work against it.
Nope.
Yes, it is.
Maybe not for her daughter but i’m definitely waiting until marriage– I have religious and moral values.
depends on the person.
@randomneuralfirings - Nope. That’s only effective 98% of the time. That percentage would increase to 99.5 if we’d just let the NRA train all of us on the proper use of firearms.
Holy shit, that’s actually a pretty scary thought. (That 2% of the time)
And you’re so cute when you try to be all tough and violent.
Thanks. I dont’ care much for the tough-part, though.
…Which is why abstinence before marriage has never been broadly practiced…
Western society is marrying much later now than in the past.
“Abstinance” as a cultural couple to “marriage” might make sense to some people– but I’ve never really undedrstood it.
@ClockworkBunny - And I think that’s the key–it’s realistic if it’s an individual choice. Much like underaged drinking, in that respect. But neither stopping underaged drinking nor promoting abstinence are realistic on a crowd-sized level.
In the end, disease- and pregnancy-prevention isn’t enough of a motivation to abstain from sex. The person has to find their own individual, stronger motivations in order for self-control of that magnitude to be possible.
It doesn’t mean I don’t promote it, it just means the choice to abstain is one that requires certain underpinnings.
Nah.
boy, she’s really let herself go. i thought she was gonna be a stone-cold MILF for sure.
…
Abstinence is for chronic masturbators.
I love all of the “in these times” type comments, as if people weren’t having sex as often as possible from the beginning of humanity to now. Oh yeah, just cause it’s the 50′s, people were able to control those “horrible” urges and not have sex. People have sex and want to have sex and all of us wouldn’t be here if people didn’t. Learn the facts about birth control methods and practice them. I never understood why that was such a difficult concept to grasp.
Of course it is realistic. There are plenty of people who are able to practice self-control.
Yes it is.
it may not be popular that doesn’t mean it’s not realistic.
Not for most young people.
mayyyybe for some, rare people. But I feel that in today’s society, it really isn’t.
I don’t think it is at all.
Um, it’s obviously realistic since there are many people who have made it to their wedding night.
What’s not realistic is to assume that every single person will refrain from having sex before marriage.
As a whole, no
As individuals, sure if they are motivated enough
for some, for others not. Not really anybody else’s business.
it’s completely realistic if it fits your views. I am abstinent… but as a teaching, I would agree it has not shown itself to be realistic. Maybe if we could isolate all teenagers from the influence of media, friends and general culture, it would be…
where’s the iron shackles when you need them…
Timestamping ftw?
for those willing to stick with it, yes.
If it was realistic even in the 1950′s, they would not have had homes for “wayward” mothers. People shipped teenaged girls away, they had their babies, and gave them to family members or gave them up for adoption. We did not have the internet to communicate with people all over the place. The news was not reporting on teen pregnancies left and right. People got married younger and had children younger in the 1950s than they do now.
Abstinence is a personal choice that some people choose to make. It is not a realistic goal for the entire teenaged population.
i believe that abstinence in the sexual context is extremely unrealistic, but thats just my opinion. also. my not participating in abstinence doesnt mean i don’t have self-control. it’s a choice, and i just don’t believe it’s realistic. i have morals, and i still don’t abstain.
@IfIWereAchilles - i agree.
I don’t think so…I was taught abstinence extensively…that did nothing to stop me at 16!!
It worked for me.
Of course it is! What a silly question. Many, many people managed it for hundreds of years, and still can today if they really want to. The glitch is that the stigma has been removed, so most people don’t want to badly enough. Obviously, there are going to be some who fall, even with good intentions, but on the whole, pretty much anyone who truly desires to abstain will. It’s mostly a matter of controlling your surroundings and circumstances so that you don’t get into difficult situations.
It’s worked for me
Sure it is… but it certainly takes discipline…
If you have the willpower, then it could be realistic. But what’s the point of abs.???
I agree-being a teenager is hard with all those sexual desires.
It is realistic if one chooses it to be. It is the only guaranteed way, as someone already commented, to avoid pregnancy, STD’s. That’s not to say that it’s easy to be abstinant. What is totally UNrealistic is having unprotected sex. If you believe that abstinance is not realistic, and you do not want to get pregnant or get someone pregnant, then the realistic thing to do is to use some form of protection. Further, avoid situations where sexual activity is bound to occur. Getting caught up in the throes of passion has consequences. That’s a reality.
I am especially against teens and younger kids having sex even if protected. Sexual activity carries with it emotional baggage. Teens and kids are not equipped at that time in life to handle that baggage.
Yea, it is possible.
From reading the comments, I think people are way to scared of sex. I dont know…I just dont see abstinence is unrealistic for the entire teen population.
For some people, yes. Abstinence only education is unrealistic in that it won’t apply to everyone, but abstinence in and of itself is not unrealistic for some people.
No, and that’s not a bad thing, in fact, it’s a good thing.
It’s not really or at least sex before marriage isn’t.
Well, it’s all about social standard and if you live in contemporary American society and not in Utah, the Bible Belt or the Amish village, then yes, it is somewhat unrealistic/likely.
@fivepts - It would be a copout if everyone uniformly had the same set of value beliefs (premarital sex is immoral), and that the media was just a distraction that has no influence over any way that people act. Unfortunately, I’m of the view that very few people have that value set. Most in my generation seem to be of the belief:
“If I use protection then there’s as little risk of pregnancy/STD infection as there is dying in a car crash on my way to work. Having sex is pleasurable, and driving to work instead of walking is pleasurable. Therefore, not having sex out of fear of pregnancy/STDs is as ridiculous as walking to work out of fear of a car crash.”
They don’t see the moral/religious attachment to it anymore. Not necessarily a copout, just an entirely different approach. Note that this is what I have observed and obviously does not speak for everyone, but does show that our values are not uniform.
And being convinced that everyone else is doing it, and is better off for it, and you’re the brainless conformist who still holds ancient ideals from the early 1900′s if you don’t, probably isn’t very encouraging. -David
Depends on desire, opportunity, and consequence.
I only wish conservative Republicans would give poor black and Hispanic teen mothers the same respect and support as they have Bristol Palin. But their rules change as the world turns, so I’ll wait in vain, I suppose.
For society as a whole, no, it’s not realistic. But when you consider each person individually, the situation changes each time.
Of course it’s realistic. That’s just a stupid thing to say.
Do we make it unrealistic?
We have the organs to have sex, so I would assume they’re there for a reason. Therefore, abstinence is not realistic.
Okay, wait a minute. All the commenters seem to be talking about pre-marital abstinence. That’s not how the question was worded. Are you telling me that you’re NEVER going to have sex, even after marriage? Didn’t think so.
Yes. Unfortunetly I’m living proof.
For our society and government to think that this is the only option–she is right on target.
But–I still think we should strive for abstinence because I think it is better in the long run. My husband and I were able to remain abstinent until marriage so this gives me hope that others can achieve this as well.
From what I saw in the interview I think she has learned a lesson and I can see her taking this and turning it to a positive experience.
Um…yeah? There are still people who practice abstinence…and for anyone who thinks it’s not realistic, they’re stupid.
i thynk itz possible i kno i certinly abstained for waaaaaaay too long
never again
Perhaps if you neglect every form of personal hygiene on top of already being ugly.
it’s realistic, but all comes down to you as a person. to what point will you sacrifice morality for gratification?
Some people can, some can’t. It’s not as realistic as it used to be.
Depends on the person, but in general, probably not.
Yes, definitely.
You can’t really say no because many people remain abstinent based on values and religion and whatnot.
Yes!!!!!
It depends on the person and his or her values. :
If it’s based on religious beliefs, yes. If only as “100% failproof birth control”, it’s not realistic at all.
YEs
Abstinence is realistic for anyone with self-control (an increasingly absent commodity, it seems).
Yes, I’m an example of those whom choose to be abstinence. It’s people like her makes it hard for people like me to stay true to our morals.
It is realistic for the individual.
Not for a society altogether though..
nah i def. dont think it is i just think it’s funny how her mother is pushing abstience only sexual education classes …
not really…
Teaching abstinence only shouldn’t happen. I don’t know if abstinence is realistic, that depends upon the person.
I think that for some people it is, for others it is not…It all depends on the person, their beliefs and their willpower to stay abstinent [if that is what they choose to do]…
Is it realistic? No. The reason why is simple:The idea of abstinence is to abstain from something- it doesn’t state how long or for what reason. Are we just suppose to remain virgins until we die? If we all practiced abstinence like that, then mankind would die out.
In short, one must have a goal of how long they plan to abstain and for what purpose. Abstaining until marriage for example is perfect realistic- but abstaining just for the heck of it is dumb.
abstinence is not realistic for everyone and not always possible, especially since the abuse rate is rising.
Not to mention the world today is filled with a culture who is confronted with porn, sexual messages in everything, we are becoming a very sexual kind of people, and the wisest thing to do is stress protection and safety.
Telling someone they cant do something at all is going to stir within them a higher drive to do it. Alternatives are extremely important.
I think so, but I don’t think everyone will do it.
No, but it’s funny.
@skinnychic8 - Then again though most people from the 50′s fell in love with each other in a week and got married early
Like others have said: for some people, and a good chunk at most times…but as an expectation for everyone AT ALL TIMES…especially the young? No, no it’s not realistic.
Yes….sex doesn’t just happen, it takes a choice. sure it takes self control and maybe self control isnt realistic anymore but…cmon.
realistic means that it can happen in reality. I believe that it is realistic, but it must be very difficult for some teenagers
of course it is. especially if you are religious. it says specifically in the Bible to not have sex before marriage.
I think so, after all, I’m practicing abstinence.
In societal terms, no.
In terms of one individual, sure.
How is this a “Top blog”?
I was a virgin until my wedding night. So was my husband.
I don’t think it is a question of being possible. Hopefully we can control ourselves if we want to. Most people just don’t choose abstinence.
I think our society has become very big on getting what we want when we want it. People want sex, they have sex. I think it is similar to dieting. I could choose to eat healthy. Just because there are fast food restaurants all around me and commercials of all kinds of yummy bad food doesn’t mean I can’t eat healthy. It makes it more difficult, but it is still my personal decision. I want ice cream, I get ice cream. As a side effect, I am less healthy and a little overweight. And as a result of America’s growing promiscuity, STDs are becoming more common and people are getting pregnant when they aren’t ready.
As a fellow teenage hornball, I can honestly say that if you devote yourself to not getting laid, then you wont.
Yeah, it is.
Its not realistic.
Teaching teenagers about birth control and other protective measures are.
It was practical back in the old days when people married at around eighteen. But ask anyone if they want to wait until they are 28 before having sex, not a lot of people will say yes. Also back in the old days there where no effective birth controlling factors and anything to stop disease. But now we have them, They are called the BC Pill and the Condom now.
The same goes for drugs and alcohol
Only if you have a small penis, or get really cocky.
I think her mom is very cool, but she herself is a dumb fucking bitch who needs to keep her damn legs closed and shut the fuck up.
She’s stupid as fuck.
I’m just as old as she is. I’m not even conservative and I’m abstaining.
What the hell.
Someone time her to a moose, please.
@icicle84 - agreed.
Why wouldn’t it be realistic? There are many people who practice abstinence, she obviously isn’t one of them.
I’m just glad this kind of message was at least being shared on Fox News.
@Gosalyn223 - Good point! :0)
For some people, it is, and for others it isn’t. So I would have to disagree with her. It isn’t unrealistic at all, just for some people.
Its tough. You have to be tought self control. Which isn’t really taught any more. As a species, we have gotton more and more interested in immediate satisfaction. We have lost patience to wait for things. It is possible, but very unlikely that much of the youth today will wait for marriage.
you know what’s funny is the anti-premarital sex crowd getting pissed about all the “sluts” in town.
what do you think?
@chadwilly - it’s all about comments and footprints…traffic and what not.
@skinnychic8 - They call it romance and love at first sight I call it Lust at first sight then they do it crazy like rabbits. The human flesh is weak.
I believe she said abstinence-only EDUCATION was unrealistic, not abstinence, period. Please get your facts straight, as they are two totally different things.
Of course it’s realistic. Is that even a serious question? I’m 20, a virgin, and will remain so until I’m married. Is it easy? No. Is it realistic? You bet your ass it is. It’s called self-control. Thanks.
abstinence is in fact, realistic. maybe not for everybody, but not everything suits everybody.
if that makes sense.
o_O
It’s not full proof (by that I mean, not EVERY teen or even young adult will remain abstinant..infact most will abandon that plan early on), but not totally unrealistic either (though it shouldn’t be the ONLY thing taught and suggested to prevent pregnancy and/or STI’s).
The thief assumes everyone steals.
Why is that even a question of debate?
F*ck yes.
You can blame the media and culture, but you can’t displace the blame that you should put on yourself if you try to say that it wasn’t your fault.
Most people can’t but there are still a few out there who can.
It is. We have powerful physical urges but also the intelligence and willpower to choose not to give in to them. It’s our sex-crazed culture that makes us think differently.
Yes, it is.
It is completely realistic. Difficult? Absolutely, we are all sinners. People have to put value in abstinence. Once people believe their is value in remaining pure, then they can overcome their urges. Just because a daughter of a politician can’t control herself, doesn’t mean she speaks for everyone.
I think it can be realistic, but again I don’t think it should be the only thing that is taught. It’s all I was ever taught, and when the time came that I was tempter, I really wasn’t remembering Mom’s voice telling me to abstain. I was thinking about how mad she was going to be, and how I didn’t really care. Not to mention all the hooplah made me scared to talk to her about it. I had been sexually active for like two years before I told my mom.
But anyhow.. realistic for a person. But not for it to be taught to EVERYONE.
@mZEROq - She can control herself. Having sex isn’t about not controling yourself. It’s just a choice. One in which you are 100% in control of.
It isn’t realistic at all.
It CAN be realistic, but it shouldn’t be taught in lieu of actual sex ed. And it’s realistic for some people. Not everyone wants to go around having sex with everything, but at the same time, some people are going to do that no matter what you tell them, so it’d be helpful to teach them how not to get a bunch of deranged morons like themselves running around.
Maybe not. But I hear condoms are.
It works every time it’s tried! Apparently, Bristol Palin has learned nothing from her experience. Good people all over the world learned of her misfortune, prayed for her and her child and took comfort from her stated intention to marry her lover, the father of her child, and provide a family for his raising. Instead, she’s now expressing no remorse for her irresponsible actions. And, with additional offense, she’s allowed her baby to be born illegitimate.
This tells me that she is a self-obsessed kid who doesn’t understand that, as a like-it-or-not celebrity, she is a face of her generation. Her example is one that will be taken to heart by many young people resultingly. Furthermore- and also in Hollywood fashion- she has revealed herself to be an unfit mother. Any young woman with any true sense of motherly love or responsibility to family would have made absolutely sure that no child of her’s would be burdened from birth with his origins.
yes it is.
and for those where it isn’t, get a job and buy condoms if you want to have sex.
I believe abstinence exists…
but it is unrealistic to expect skanks and prostitutes, let alone man-whores to consider abstaining from sex.
Was this the daughter of that lady in an American Flag bakini with the gun?
Yes, it’s realistic–for some, maybe even for most. I think the point she was trying to make is that it’s not realistic to expect everyone to abstain, and therefore ‘abstinence only’ programs in school shouldn’t be the only sex ed classes we’re offering.
Hahaha. No.
it has nothing to do with reality. It has EVERYTHING to do with where your walk with God is and with your individual choice to honor God with your body. I’ve been with a guy for three years now, and because we put God first in our relationship, (it has been hard at times) we have remained abstinent and are planning on it, until marriage.
It’s realistic for the one who wants to abstain. It is unrealistic to prescribe it for others.
@jhim43 - Dear Jhim: Yes, Bristol is the daughter of Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. That “bikini” shot you refer to, however, was a hoax!
Yeah it’s realistic.
Well, not for everyone of course but for some people.
Yeah, it’s realistic.
I suppose it’s not if you’re weak willed and easily bowed to the influence of society. Self control and personal responsibility are hard to come by these days, sadly.
I did know a lot of people in high school and college who were sexually active and a lot who honestly weren’t. It’s a personal decision, and not everyone will make the same one.
@alwaysjessielove - I would agree with that partly. In the manner of “control”, I mean that if that’s what you value. If there is no value in trying to abstain, then there is no need to apply any sort of control, but to just act naturally. However, in this case, I would say that sexual behavior is definitely something people should try to control. I don’t think it is chauvinistic to say that, generally speaking, men have a larger libido and so have much more need to control themselves.
In the end, you are absolutely correct. It is a choice. But just like the urge to eat is a part of being a human being, so is the urge for sex. I personally subscribe to the biblical model; it is not hard to see all the problems that come from any other model. And there certainly are problems that come as a result of sexual promiscuity, wouldn’t you agree?
It’s not realistic in the long run no. Temptation to be with someone wins every time.
Is abstinence realistic?
The question is too vague.
Obvious it is realistic for people to practice abstinence because so many have, did , or do. People practicing self-control is something that occurs on a daily basis all over, even teenages practice self-control, on occasion…lol
If what you meant is: Is teaching or encouraging abstinence realistic, I would say yes and no. The reason most people give for saying that teaching abstinence is unrealistic is that “Teens are going to have sex, no matter what we tell them.” I have two issues with this. FIrst, no, not all teens are going to have sex, the statistics prove that. Second, teens are going to speed, drink, do drugs, and yet we do not say it is unrealistic to tell teens not to speed, drink or do drugs. An honest discussion of sex says that the only 100% protection against STDs, and pregnancies is abstinence. That is fact.
An honest view of the subject also takes into consideration that some teens will have sex and that some teens who have been taught abstinence are going to experiment with other sexual activities. Teaching what sex is, how it works, and emphasizing that it is something that affects not just the body, but the mind and emotions is vital. Teaching about how STDs are spread MUST be part of any teaching on sex.
Teaching abstinence is realistic if we teach sex honestly.
Oh, is it realistic to assume that all teens are going to pracitice absitnence, esp. after we tell them to…NO
http://www.goinggreenaccidently.blogspot.com
Hell NO!!
The kids who are going out and having sex at fifteen are the same kids who are having their big brothers buy them beer for their parties because the stress of having to write those 500-word essays for algebra class is so much that they just couldn’t live without wasting countless hours of their youth inducing crude and unstable chemical reactions with long-term consequences in their brain to reduce stress. Abstinence is absolutely a viable option for any non-idiot. Granted, said non-idiots tend to have terribly dull childhoods to look back on, usually concentrate on their studies only because they lack the mainstream social skills required to be invited to said parties, and any of them who can end up getting knocked up before marriage inevitably will, in rebellion against their state of social behindness, and usually with far less regard for the consequences than some of the more intelligent idiots.
Yes, it is, but it obviously isn’t going to work for everyone.
I think it can be if you want it to be, absolutely.
Speaking for myself and many, many others…ah, no.
You have to realize why you’re being abstinent. It’s kind of a spiritual thing. We all lust, and it takes willpower to suppress natural urges. And, well, people now have neither willpower, nor the thought process to quit being gluttonous in a country that runs on instant gratification.
If you have a song stuck in your head, pop in your earbuds and listen to it immediately. If you want to learn about something, type it into the google search bar and get results in seconds, and have the number of seconds it takes to get your results reported back to you. If you want food, put it in the microwave for 3 minutes then eat. Et c.
@Omlettes
I was having sex at fifteen, and I loved writing essays and I never got drunk. Also, I have plenty of social skills and I am perfectly aware of the consequences of most of my actions.
So please, stop making such broad (and frankly, offensive) generalizations.
@Omelettes - I disagree about what you said about itelligent people and their lack of social skills and dull memories of childhood. I had one hell of a childhood and I have fantastic social skills. I just choose not to use my social skills anymore, because I find that everyone I would be using them with would be a waste of my time. Although I suppose I really should explain that situation more in-depth.
@ComaWhiteX - That’s Omelettes, not Omlettes, young lady. And I’ll thank you to read my comment in full rather than zooming right down to the bottom to type up your reply after a quick skim-through. Perhaps I didn’t make it entirely clear in my comment, but I was being tongue-in-cheek.
@sizzl - You’ll have to forgive me for not making my comment more concise; I wrote that off of four hours of sleep and left far more ambiguity than I intended to.
For some people it can be realistic. I think that Bristol shouldn’t make such large generalizations when it all really depends.
P.s. and who names their daughter Bristol? It sounds like Pistol.
abstinence can be the choice for some people… but we DEFINITELY need comprehensive sex education in schools… teens who are taught abstinence only and DO have sex just make less informed decisions when they do.
um no
It’s realistic, depending on your own personal beliefs and values.
Also, she named her son, TRIPP?!!
@strappleberry_xD - Tell me about it. Bristol named her son Tripp! TRIPP. Can you believe it? That family is all about their weird names … Track, Willow, Bristol, Piper, and Trig. I’m just utterly confused about why anyone would choose those names for their children.
no
It worked out well for me