Reality check: 95 percent of Americans had premarital sex

[Epistemologist]

Quote by: PatrickHenry And the researcher published his study. It is available if you want to see it. I just don't feel like spending the money. However for you to sandbag his study based upon your own ignorance of the research is medieval, I think is the correct term...

I think that to accept his study without regarding even the most apparent signs of its biased nature is irresponsible, naive, and unethical. I don't feel like spending the money to look at the rest of his/her information either because I'm pretty convinced from the most basic information that it's flawed. All the other stuff is most likely fluff to add credibility to something that doesn't deserve it, in my opinion. That's unfortunately what many researchers do. I don't feel the need to better prove my hypothesis, however, when I have enough evidence to be convinced it's correct with adequate conviction and sincerity.

[PatrickHenry]

What are the "most apparent signs of its biased nature?"

[Epistemologist]

Well, the sample size itself is indicative of a statistical error, because it is not adequately representative of the population, which is the U.S. It's too small for any hypothesis test. That mistake right there is enough to stop and say it's messed up. Also, these were interviews, and questioning bias is always present in a large amount; it's just a matter of how big it is. Also, the poll was conducted on a majority of women, and no attempts at stratification or anything other than SRS were mentioned; in fact, it's not even said to be random. There are so many other possible confounding factors that could be alluded to in the published study.

Also, the people who conducted the poll themselves lack credibility here. They're a private firm that has an obvious incentive to form that conclusion since they're against abstinence-only education. Their non-objective nature is also a seed for bias. These pseudo-statistics have become a mere tool to aid propaganda.

[kubedawg]

Quote by: Captain Chaos When you do find the one, will you marry her before you perform the dirty deed of darkness with her?

It really depends on her wishes, and if we are in a serious relationship or not. I'm not going to put a time frame on it because it really isn't that important till I'm ready to become a parent, both emotionally, physically, and financially.

[Jack]

Reality check: 95 percent of Americans had premarital sex

What the report failed to mention...

In every instance, it was with the same guy.

[Cephus]

Quote by: PatrickHenry But overall, would anyone contest that large majorities of US men and women had sex before marrying?

I'm sure they do, especially the younger crowd, I just question who they are having sex with and whether it's just sex for the sake of sex, or sex with a soon-to-be-commited-partner.

[Gods_Mercenary]

That's the point, I have much less of a problem with someone having sex with another in a commited relationship. This is marriage in the spiritual sense, love and commitment.

[Praxius]

Sex for Sex is starting to become the more popular thing these days...... wait, let me rephrase that.....

Sex and relationships, long term or short term, tend to be the normal thing these days.

[GoldPheonix]

*shrugs*

I tend to think that people are usually way too loose about having sex, but to each his own.

I'm still a virgin, and I'm okay with that.

[bishop]

i had sex with plenty of girls before finally settling down with my fiance... i don't see anything wrong with that - and she actually thinks it's a good thing that i was experienced going into the relationship. she too had previous partners and i don't have a problem with that either (in my case, she was never as satisfied with a partner until i came along). sexually, not everyone is a good match and imo, it's good to know what you like and don't like before committing to marriage. sex certainly isn't everything, but it's an integral part of any relationship. the intimacy of sex is unparalleled by any conversation, bible study session or anything else..

i don't put a whole lot of stock in the "i'm holding out until marriage" line either - i often think people say that because they've never gotten the opportunity to have sex. holding out until marriage, then, turns out to be a convenient excuse. (and, there's also an element of being uptight and/or insecure with yourself to willingly abstain from sex.)


it is great to see, though, that the religious zealots (and politicians looking to curry favor) have pissed millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars into these worthless, unsuccessful and unrealistic abstinence programs. i think they owe us a refund.

[Osborn F Enready]

I graduated high school in 1990.

When I was in school, the typical peer pressure revolved around parties, the opposite sex, and sex.

I remember most of us laughing at being introduced to "family planning" and health classes that talked about sex in the 9th grade, because it was something most of us had been studying "personally" for a few years already.

In 7th grade, "sexually promiscuous", or "adventurous" girls were made fun of, while the same type of guys were high-fived.

In 9th grade, "sexually promiscuous", or "adventurous" girls were invited to a lot of parties, while the same type of guys were high fived.

Usually the most popular girls in school were the "promiscuous" girls, and the most popular guys were the "jocks". ( go figure )

I am not suprised at all by the statistic.

I would like to see the poll about how many people had sex before graduating high school, and another one about how many people had sex before graduating college.

[brien]

Who cares??? Masters and Johnson types, I guess.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Epistemologist I think that to accept his study without regarding even the most apparent signs of its biased nature is irresponsible, naive, and unethical. I don't feel like spending the money to look at the rest of his/her information either because I'm pretty convinced from the most basic information that it's flawed. All the other stuff is most likely fluff to add credibility to something that doesn't deserve it, in my opinion. That's unfortunately what many researchers do. I don't feel the need to better prove my hypothesis, however, when I have enough evidence to be convinced it's correct with adequate conviction and sincerity.

Of course, it doesn't help that sometimes the media tends to draw conclusions that those doing the studies didn't conclude. I'm not saying that necessarily happened here but the media puts things into simplistic terms that don't always reflect what is really the result of a particular study.

Here's an interesting quote:

"Eager to satiate the nation’s hunger for sciencerelated stories, the news media boil each new study down to a punchline. “We simplify everything—everyone has to have a quick answer, we talk in sound bytes, and things are very black and white, but that’s not at all the way science works,” says Scotchmoor.

Reductionist language is an alarming characteristic of popular science. If the public constantly hears evolution, global warming, or the safety of prescription drugs described in yes/no, true/false terms, then it’s not surprising that nearly three-quarters of American adults don’t understand the scientific process."

SOURCE

See also: I, Science : Imperial College's science magazine

[Gods_Mercenary]

Nice point, the theories of evolution, global warming, and others are immensely complex issues that shouldn't be meddled in by Politicians.

[Captain Chaos]

Quote by: kubedawg It really depends on her wishes, and if we are in a serious relationship or not. I'm not going to put a time frame on it because it really isn't that important till I'm ready to become a parent, both emotionally, physically, and financially.

Um...

Are you secretly gay?

I don't mean that as an insult, just an honest question.

[ByaKya]

[quote=Chancellor;317032]Of course, it doesn't help that sometimes the media tends to draw conclusions that those doing the studies didn't conclude. I'm not saying that necessarily happened here but the media puts things into simplistic terms that don't always reflect what is really the result of a particular study.

Here's an interesting quote:

"Eager to satiate the nation

[TheColdTruth]

Quote by: Epistemologist I'm trying to help everybody. If I was selfish and looking for my self-preservation, then maybe I wouldn't have said that. Sometimes strong words are necessary. Eh, I see your point.

When did I ask for your "help"? When your "help" offers nothing but the divorce between mind and body of oneself and reasons that any who would not willingly accept such a moral treason should be killed, you're doing anything but help, you're showing yourself to be the most evil form of human on this planet: the one who thinks others' don't have a right to exist for their own sake. You're selfish in spouting your elitist bullshit. Your selfish in thinking something you practice is something everyone else should practice, or face your hate, disdain, and from what you've said.. potential murder.

Strong words are necessary always because they get to a point. Too bad the point you make is one that's the very rot of human virtue: selflessness.

[Epistemologist]

Quote by: TheColdTruth When did I ask for your "help"? When your "help" offers nothing but the divorce between mind and body of oneself and reasons that any who would not willingly accept such a moral treason should be killed, you're doing anything but help, you're showing yourself to be the most evil form of human on this planet: the one who thinks others' don't have a right to exist for their own sake. You're selfish in spouting your elitist bullshit. Your selfish in thinking something you practice is something everyone else should practice, or face your hate, disdain, and from what you've said.. potential murder. Strong words are necessary always because they get to a point. Too bad the point you make is one that's the very rot of human virtue: selflessness.

That's your opinion. If you keep being egotistical, then you minimize the aesthetic betterment of our universe and are thus an impediment to progress. So-called "people" like you are like a dam in the river of goodness. No, sir, I think you are the most evil thing in the universe, because you are a corruptive substance.

And don't try to counter this with your hippie "elitist" insults, because you're just as elitist as anyone else. Ha, giving "freedom" to the masses. Pass the weed while you're at it. :rolleyes:

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary Nice point, the theories of evolution, global warming, and others are immensely complex issues that shouldn't be meddled in by Politicians.

Or by the media.

[Chancellor]

[quote=ByaKya;317102]

Quote by: Chancellor Of course, it doesn't help that sometimes the media tends to draw conclusions that those doing the studies didn't conclude. I'm not saying that necessarily happened here but the media puts things into simplistic terms that don't always reflect what is really the result of a particular study. Here's an interesting quote: "Eager to satiate the nation

Did you have a point in quoting this part of my earlier post? Did you have a comment? Are you in agreement?