Taking Sex Seriously

Psychology Today has a piece On the Seriousness of Sex. In it Michael W. Austin explains why there are reasons for thinking that sex is not mere recreation:

For some people, the claim that there is something serious or significant about sex will seem obviously true. For others, the alleged truth of this claim is not so clear. One contemporary philosopher has offered up the notion that perhaps we ought to see sexual exclusivity and romantic love as separate entities. One consequence of this is that we could love one person and be committed to that relationship, but have merely sexual relationships with many other people as well. The idea is that we should view sex as we currently view sharing a meal. Neither is that big of a deal.

It is clear that some people opt for this sort of approach to sexuality and love, but the deeper question is whether or not it is wise to do so. It is unwise to view sex too casually. Having sex is unlike sharing a meal with another person in many ways, and some of them are morally and psychologically significant. 

To see why this is the case, consider the following argument from Matthew Flanagan:

1. Children cannot, either by themselves or by proxy, give valid consent to sexual intercourse.
2. Children can give consent, by themselves or by proxy, to casual recreational activities.
3. Therefore, sex is not merely a casual recreational activity.

This is an interesting argument, because it brings out the seriousness and significance of sex (see the comments at MandM if you're interested in some critical discussion of the argument; the argument needs a bit of work but it makes the point that it is intended to make, I think).

Of course sex is fun and pleasurable, but [more...]

Oh Christchurch!

My fellow Cantabrians are suffering a disaster unprecedented in New Zealand in my living memory. New Zealand's heart is in Christchurch.

Vote for the Hottest Kiwi Female Blogger of 2011

Blogging NZ chicks are getting hotter. In alphabetical order, the finalists are:

Blondie

Cactus Kate

Jacqueline Sperling

Lisa Lewis

Madeleine Flannagan

Vote in the poll on the sidebar. Leave your comments as to why you voted the way you did below.

New Zealand Election Called

No dodging media or playing games Prime Minister Key lays his cards on the table and volunteers 26 November 2011 as election day. I like a PM who knows his mind. I like one even better who emphatically and categorically refuses to deal with Winston.

Ten Year Old Gives Birth - Her Mother Doesn't Get the Fuss

The mother of the new young mom said it was not unusual for girls in their native country of Romania to have babies when they are as young as ten-years-old. It is not considered to be too young there, she claimed.

Read more.

Tiger Woods to Convert to Islam

Obama’s plan for Sharia Law may benefit someone. Swiped from the Gunny G Blog.

In a stunning new development, the Tiger Woods legal team has unveiled an ingenious strategy to help the randy golfer avoid the rough in his recent marital problems and possibly skip a financial bloodbath. The answer is surprisingly found in the doctrines of Muslim Shari’ah law. This solution presented itself when Obama czars and other legal gurus, such as “Papa” Cass Sunstein, and Harold “Koo-Koo” Koh suggested importing Muslim law into America. Intrigued, legal experts across the gamut now agree Muslim laws on marriage make perfect sense for the indefatigable romeo Tiger Wood and his web of female relationships, claiming it will also play well to the gallery.

With the Obama Administration’s relentless march to universalize American law along global standards, it seems like a very heady time for Wood’s team to make a play on this bold maneuver. Tiger’s legal squad has brought in several prominent Muslim doctors of law to advise on the implications of Islamic teachings on the subject of his marriage and multiple other dangerous liaisons. Mike Tyson is also flying in to offer advice and support.
The following are the findings and recommendations of these august Muslim divines:

TIGER’S ISLAMIC CONVERSION

First, and most essentially – Tiger Woods’ must come out and publicly proclaim he is in fact a Muslim convert. This will immediately and legally put Tiger under the teachings of Muhammad, and allow him to follow the founder of Islam’s prescient example of polygamy. Apparently, Mohammad also boasted a world-class drive, having somewhere between 10 and 20 wives. Announcing his conversion via a TV news conference, preferably between rounds at the Riyadh Classic, would be an excellent approach to be able to stress the authenticity and sincerity of his conversion. He might enlarge here upon his Road to Damascus narrative to explain his epiphany. Doing so in native Middle Eastern garb, say in a tunic or a classic turban would be seen as a tasteful decision, while several authorities stressed that Woods’ donning a Burqa would be “a big mistake.”
Most intriguingly,

Save the Whale

Lady consequence appears to have caught up with Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater for his breach of name suppression orders.

I think Peter put it best:

Whale Oil finally ends up in court, and asks the obvious question:
Any Pro-Bono Lawyers Out There

He'll get convicted for sure but it will be fun to watch and it will be sure to raise the right questions which is probably why the police charged him, I'm sure they dislike name suppression as much as Whale Oil does.