| Dating in today's world has changed dramatically in the | | | | by both daters. There's little embarrassment in |
| last half century. The subject of sex, and even the act | | | | answering questions about one's past sexual |
| itself, has become more recognized as an acceptable | | | | experience, one's likes or dislikes, or even one's level of |
| part of a date in today's world. In the 1950's and early | | | | sexual expertise. Questions of this nature are neither |
| 1960's the subject of sex was rarely discussed or | | | | embarrassing to the participants, nor, thought of to be |
| considered in such an open manner, on a date, as it is | | | | intruding upon one's personal and private business. In |
| today. This is not to say that sex, or the subject of | | | | fact, if the subject of sex isn't brought up, the dater is |
| sex, has never made an 'appearance' on a date. On | | | | often thought of as boring or inexperienced, rather |
| the contrary, sex, on many occasions, has indeed | | | | than respectful of one's privacy. Even more disturbing |
| 'inserted' itself into a date. The difference between | | | | is the number of first time daters that engage in sex |
| then and now is that those occurrences were the | | | | after knowing one another for mere hours. Many guys |
| exception, rather than the rule.For the broad majority | | | | come right out and ask their date if they have ever |
| of daters in those times, the subject of sex was kept | | | | had a 'one night stand', and/or if they would be |
| in the background. Sex was the unspoken of 'elephant' | | | | interested in having a 'one night stand'. Few girls are |
| in the room. As one might expect, in a situation where | | | | insulted by this line of questioning, and answer as if |
| two healthy young members of the opposite sex are | | | | they were at a job interview. Worse still, some girls |
| sharing close quarters, there was always an | | | | consider the request, and some even agree to it. |
| undercurrent of sexual electricity in the air. It just was | | | | When it comes to sex, it seems as though the thought |
| not openly, or crassly, acknowledged by the dating | | | | process of some of these young women has |
| couple. Most of the dates back then, followed along | | | | become slightly warped. Point in fact, an increasing |
| similar lines. During a date, a guy could make | | | | number of young women today insist that a certain |
| suggestive jokes and/or comments, and sometimes, | | | | type of sex, which I will not describe here, is not, in fact, |
| playfully hug and grab the girl, but he knew where to | | | | sex. They say sex only occurs when two people lay |
| draw the line - and had enough class not to cross it. A | | | | together and have sexual intercourse. They say that |
| girl flirted and looked knowingly at her date, and | | | | any other sex act isn't a sex act at all, and such acts |
| depending on the circumstances, might allow a certain | | | | are no worse than kissing. With this type of thinking, it's |
| degree of superficial physical contact. Still, she wouldn't | | | | plain to see how easy it is for unscrupulous males to |
| go so far as to put herself into a compromising | | | | exploit these naive and ill-informed females. The level |
| situation that she couldn't get out of. Most dates | | | | of self-respect and self-control, in many of today's |
| culminated in a 'good night kiss'. Some went further, | | | | dating couples, seems to have declined in direct ratio |
| and included 'heavy petting', which included tongue | | | | to the increase of their unabashed and unbridled lust. It |
| kissing, fondling, etc. - but no 'skin' came out into the | | | | would be wise, for the daters of today, to keep in mind |
| open. Finally, a smaller group included those who went | | | | that while it cannot be denied that having sex is a |
| 'all the way'; but as previously mentioned, this group | | | | pleasurable experience, it can also be a costly one. |
| was the exception, rather than the rule. It was rare | | | | The act of sex carries consequences and |
| that a dating couple would have sex during the early | | | | responsibilities that are frequently underestimated, and |
| stages of 'courtship'. While there is no question that | | | | often overlooked. Pregnancy, sexually transmitted |
| sex was always in the background of a date, the | | | | diseases, family crisis, and a loss of standing in one's |
| daters had enough self-restraint, or, self-respect, to | | | | community are just some of the consequences of an |
| prevent it from coming to the fore. In today's world of | | | | 'uncontrolled libido'. Sexual choices made by daters |
| dating, sex has taken a much more prominent role. On | | | | must be fashioned with foresight, self-control, and a |
| most dates, sex is openly discussed and talked about | | | | willingness to accept responsibility for one's actions. K. |