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NickB79

(20,387 posts)

31. Not in the biological sense. But in the mental sense, maybe?

Tue May 27, 2014, 02:09 PM

May 2014

A person could theoretically live off of nothing but beans and rice, with a multivitamin thrown in every other day, while locked in a room with nothing but a Netflix subscription to watch. Some people would be OK with this, but personally, I'd be making a noose out of my bedsheet pretty quickly.

For many (most?) people, sex isn't just about carnal pleasure. It's about love. It's about feeling connected to another person in the deepest possible way. It's why so many marriages end in divorce when one partner's sex drive disconnects from the others.

That shouldn't be interpreted to say that anyone else is to blame for one's lack of sex. Even the most socially awkward people can find mates if they try hard enough (I'm living proof of that ). And if you find yourself in a relationship where your partner no longer desires sex, you are free to leave, even if that means divorce. It's not fun or easy, but the choice is yours. If you take your own life or someone else's because you don't get sex, it's all on you.

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Do people really think sex is needed to live? [View all] boston bean May 2014 OP

Well unless I'm some kind of zombie, you are right. dawg May 2014 #1

It certainly makes life more pleasant. But it's not a requirement by any means. Katashi_itto May 2014 #26

To people who think it is, it is to them. Puzzledtraveller May 2014 #2

They can think it all they like. However, not having sex is not going to boston bean May 2014 #3

Maslow includes sex in the Hierarchy of Needs. Also ... 11 Bravo May 2014 #101

no. logic fails. even if they think they need to live, if they do not have, they will ... LIVE seabeyond May 2014 #4

That seems like an odd argument. el_bryanto May 2014 #11

This is what I meant Puzzledtraveller May 2014 #23

simply believing something does not make it true. uppityperson May 2014 #59

Facts and truths are not the same. Puzzledtraveller May 2014 #64

With a can of worms in the hand of each of those worms. PeaceNikki May 2014 #33

I think that's called 'legitimate murder'... Whisp May 2014 #5

Yeah, that's how some of these posts read. I can't imagine they are grasping boston bean May 2014 #6

It's a debate in psychology whether it's a "need" davidn3600 May 2014 #7

Maslow's hierarchy is always open to interpretation. Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2014 #32

I really think part of sex-ed needs to be jeff47 May 2014 #8

Boys all seem to figure it out without training, MineralMan May 2014 #14

;). nt seabeyond May 2014 #15

There's a difference between being able to do it jeff47 May 2014 #17

Ah, I see. MineralMan May 2014 #18

Practice makes perfect. n/t hughee99 May 2014 #25

Crap! dawg May 2014 #43

so fuggin' bustin' up. didnt know there was an issue like this. too too funny. nt seabeyond May 2014 #105

I figured out how to do it very well MattBaggins May 2014 #133

The teaching needed is to accept masturbation as a legitimate form of sexual expression. Gormy Cuss May 2014 #61

It's masturbation, by the way, not masterbation. MineralMan May 2014 #77

I know how to spell it, Teach. Gormy Cuss May 2014 #85

There's a long history of masturbation being considered MineralMan May 2014 #87

Spelling matters, sure. You could have simply used the correct spelling in your post Gormy Cuss May 2014 #90

Masturbation always puts 'u' in the middle of things. n/t whopis01 May 2014 #88

master bating is what really good trolls do. nt uppityperson May 2014 #110

Well, if one is the master of their own domain... GoCubsGo May 2014 #121

you might be right, I might even agree, but to be clear... maggiesfarmer May 2014 #20

Does doing it "right" involve redqueen May 2014 #22

Doing it right involves using a clockwise motion with the right hand ... dawg May 2014 #40

Years ago, the National Lampoon published the "Palma Sutra". riqster May 2014 #107

Mostly it involves teaching jeff47 May 2014 #151

when I was a teenager I could have taught that class arely staircase May 2014 #108

I think we often call our sacred cows "needs" to better rationalize bad decisions. LanternWaste May 2014 #9

But I need to eat Doritos and watch Netflix 3 hours a day. dawg May 2014 #41

Is that all? Puzzledtraveller May 2014 #58

Sometimes sex is needed to die, or, at least to get exploding genitals snooper2 May 2014 #10

In his manifesto AgingAmerican May 2014 #12

not necessary like air, water, food, clothing... maggiesfarmer May 2014 #13

Absent sex, the whole species dies. Laelth May 2014 #16

This, pretty much. nt AverageJoe90 May 2014 #30

Hello, Joe. Laelth May 2014 #35

The implication of this though... Lancero May 2014 #168

Sex is not a "right." Laelth May 2014 #169

Sex isn't necessary for the survial of humanity. Lancero May 2014 #170

Hmm ... Laelth May 2014 #171

Who says I'm denying the importance of it? Lancero May 2014 #173

No clue where you are going with this. Laelth May 2014 #174

When the entire media seems to be geared to saying how easy it is dickthegrouch May 2014 #19

I identify with that 40 year-old virgin movie. dawg May 2014 #45

I love Asia, and Yes, and Sky dickthegrouch May 2014 #46

It is a biological imperative RobertEarl May 2014 #21

Your comment is non responsive to what is asked in the OP. boston bean May 2014 #24

It sure makes life more fun and enjoyable RobertEarl May 2014 #27

You make it seem like it's such a rarity. Plenty of people do not have sex. boston bean May 2014 #29

I sure am glad i lived with it. RobertEarl May 2014 #36

No one is saying one must live without it if they have a willing partners. boston bean May 2014 #38

It's an absolute requirement for the species, but not to any single individual. eom MohRokTah May 2014 #28

Not in the biological sense. But in the mental sense, maybe? NickB79 May 2014 #31

I reject this. And the reason is because it involves another participant. boston bean May 2014 #37

It's part of a larger agenda. nt redqueen May 2014 #44

I don't think that is a valid reason to reject it tkmorris May 2014 #48

Really you think that not having sex causes mental health issues? boston bean May 2014 #51

You seem to have responded to the wrong post tkmorris May 2014 #56

"People don't need to have sex to live fulfilling lives" NickB79 May 2014 #50

Many people do live fulfilling lives absence of sex. boston bean May 2014 #55

And many people don't. That's why blanket statements are so difficult NickB79 May 2014 #66

Similar situation here. Dawgs May 2014 #72

So many people don't even realize BC pills can do that kcr May 2014 #138

You then believe that a paraplegic is unable to love another person? LanternWaste May 2014 #52

There is more to sex than Tab A into Slot B NickB79 May 2014 #67

I think you're beginning to flail. LanternWaste May 2014 #83

I don't need shelter or human interaction to live LittleBlue May 2014 #34

Absolutely not. sinkingfeeling May 2014 #39

OK, you're not buying it tkmorris May 2014 #42

Can you clarify this� Sweet Freedom May 2014 #47

I mean that a healthy sex life has been shown... tkmorris May 2014 #49

So, maybe if some girl did sleep with Elliot he might have a better mental health outcome? boston bean May 2014 #53

I am not seeing your problem with this concept tkmorris May 2014 #65

Then I think you are having a problem with the concept I am speaking about. Are you? boston bean May 2014 #69

It is an odious assertion. redqueen May 2014 #68

Sex, sex, sex, sex, sex.... ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2014 #78

Excellent post. Blue_Adept May 2014 #84

Wow, I wasn't aware that all I ever discussed was penis in vagina. boston bean May 2014 #93

Can't say I'm surprised. ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2014 #94

No insulting false openers make me lose interest in anything further you have to say. boston bean May 2014 #95

Or you just can't answer anything else I said ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2014 #96

Right, I didn't read it, so I can't answer it, nor do I want to. boston bean May 2014 #98

meh... insults and jabs thru out. and a bunch of duh... but, he basically agrees, that no seabeyond May 2014 #115

I missed the other insults. redqueen May 2014 #120

yes. jabs. that is what i was talking about. was sure to get them in the rest seabeyond May 2014 #122

You have many good reasons to read beyond that. Schema Thing May 2014 #97

Don't bother ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2014 #100

Read the rest of it, it is worth it. uppityperson May 2014 #112

Please post this as an OP. Schema Thing May 2014 #99

Maybe I will rewrite later, but it needs context nt. ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2014 #102

I agree with almost everything you said *after* your nonsensical dig at bb. redqueen May 2014 #106

I thought the conversation was beyond Elliot Rodgers? ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2014 #111

Physical intimacy is a need. I agree with that. But that isn't romance. redqueen May 2014 #114

And though we can sympathize with lonely hearts redqueen May 2014 #113

"Tis better to love and lost...." and all that? ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2014 #116

True but again, the idea promoted that bb is addressing is that people need *sex*. redqueen May 2014 #119

Thanks for writing that jamzrockz May 2014 #166

See multiple responses in supplied link to GD post. LanternWaste May 2014 #54

Sex is like food. The_Commonist May 2014 #57

GREAT POST!!! n/t Dawgs May 2014 #63

Or he may have simply terrorized her. redqueen May 2014 #70

I'm not quite sure what that means... The_Commonist May 2014 #73

Really? It should be obvious. redqueen May 2014 #75

Not according to tons of asexuals and if you want to qualify them as unhealthy individuals... that's MillennialDem May 2014 #86

Again, I've known 3 people over the years... The_Commonist May 2014 #91

I disagree. "but certainly to be healthy" Might be true for some people but not all. nt raccoon May 2014 #92

you don't need sex to be healthy noiretextatique May 2014 #126

Completely agree with you. closeupready May 2014 #156

Because of some severe emotional trauma (not rape or sexual abuse) because of a bad MillennialDem May 2014 #60

well... i do not know what is up, seabeyond May 2014 #118

Please tell us who's made this suggestion? Dawgs May 2014 #62

well if everyone stopped doing it arely staircase May 2014 #71

But that wouldn't matter for those of us alive today, other than people signed up for cryonics. MillennialDem May 2014 #74

I am not sure world wide chastity or cryonics are particularly practical nt arely staircase May 2014 #80

I never said they were, just that propagation of the species is not required. You don't get a 5 year MillennialDem May 2014 #81

It is necessary that at least some people have sex for the species to continue gollygee May 2014 #79

Some people probably do, just like some people think LGBT caused Hurricane Katrina, Zorra May 2014 #76

That's what I was saying with my first reply, reply#2 Puzzledtraveller May 2014 #82

Yeh, ideas don't need to have any basis in fact or common reality in Zorra May 2014 #103

I think it's more helpful to consider that the sex drive is perhaps the strongest we have, Maedhros May 2014 #89

Nope. TDale313 May 2014 #104

Having done without shelter and food in my past, riqster May 2014 #109

Who decides what someone needs? IronLionZion May 2014 #117

You said your ex was a sex addict. redqueen May 2014 #123

One's self-imagined "need" for sex certainly informs how they behave. Maedhros May 2014 #128

Agreed, but some here are outright stating that sex is a need. Full stop. redqueen May 2014 #131

No matter how we try, we cannot escape our biological needs: Maedhros May 2014 #135

Perception creates our reality IronLionZion May 2014 #136

It is a want, not a need. Rex May 2014 #124

Define 'live'. Shandris May 2014 #125

Air, water, food, compatible climate/shelter level need? No, but we are talking major quality of TheKentuckian May 2014 #127

It is essential part of happiness for many of us. alphafemale May 2014 #129

this is a good post. and some have no desire to ever read a good book or sit outside seabeyond May 2014 #132

then you make it more. cali May 2014 #134

You really think Helen Keller wouldn't have rathered to speak hear and see? alphafemale May 2014 #137

I can't say. Neither can you. I can tell you this cali May 2014 #147

That was very nicely put. +1! nt IronLionZion May 2014 #139

What reality do you think pertains to me, personally? Please answer this question. boston bean May 2014 #144

Your reality is your reality. alphafemale May 2014 #167

no one mocks sex. we do demand that others not use it as a weapon against us. surely that is allowed seabeyond May 2014 #172

It's not necessary for *survival* LadyHawkAZ May 2014 #130

Rather pointless without it. rug May 2014 #140

what is pointless without it? Life? boston bean May 2014 #142

Ultimately. rug May 2014 #143

Really? ok. boston bean May 2014 #145

That's not the question. lumberjack_jeff May 2014 #141

I was going to post the same chart Nevernose May 2014 #148

Other than the survival of the species ... GeorgeGist May 2014 #146

I think we all have the right to love and be loved Nevernose May 2014 #149

Elliot Rodger didn't think so AgingAmerican May 2014 #150

Do you think sex is necessary for the survival of a species that reproduces sexually? nt rrneck May 2014 #152

Yeah, I do. I'm not some dolt. boston bean May 2014 #153

I'm sure you're not. rrneck May 2014 #154

You don't see a difference? Ok... boston bean May 2014 #155

The difference is quite obvious. rrneck May 2014 #157

huh? go play someplace else. I'm busy right now. nt boston bean May 2014 #160

Busy doing what? rrneck May 2014 #161

It's a need for good mental health. As others have pointed out, closeupready May 2014 #158

I don't sex to live. I live to sex. bigwillq May 2014 #159

Asexuals tell their stories Scout May 2014 #162

They have a vacant and lost look about them miyazaki May 2014 #163

Merely a photographer's editorial choice. Hell Hath No Fury May 2014 #164

"Sex is a waste of time" joeglow3 May 2014 #165