mixedmedia

Do I find excessive consumerism or excessive preoccupation with one's appearance or with video games to be less complicated than a preoccupation with having sex with many different partners?

Well, no. I don't.

I think they are all complicated and are all indicative of certain obsessive personality dysfunctions. But I do not think that any of them, in and of themselves (including sexual promiscuity), indicate anything in general about a person's character, about their ability to function reasonably in the world, or their suitability as a friend or lover.

That's not to say that I am not a proponent of responsibility. I believe people should practice safe sex. I believe that people should be good and kind to each other and not knowingly interfere with committed relationships. I believe people should be careful in choosing sexual partners and scenarios, etc, etc. But I don't think indulging in these things has anything to do with being a slut. I don't understand why sexual irresponsibility has to have its own stigma and its own name. In my opinion, it betrays a discomfort with sexuality, particularly a woman's sexuality, that irks me. Especially here, where so many people come to see women be sluttish inside a little box. Inside the little box they are hot, outside of the little box they are sluts who aren't good enough to love.

Granted, I realize that the word has been used to indicate what it indicates for a long time. I just disagree with it and I wish we could get past it.

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Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce