Are you sexually adventurous?
When looking for the most cutting-edge scientific research, we all know that it makes sense to look first to companies that sell sex toys. Why bother with research journals that, while written by the nation's top scientific experts, are dull and hard to google?
The New Sex Institute, which is based out of Beverly Hills, California and apparently consists of one guy who thinks he's really good in bed and wants to tell everyone about it, recently released a study claiming that Missouri and California are the most sexually adventurous states. The study was rigorously* conducted and was based on hard* evidence (the New Sex Institute's sales of DVDs, books, toys and other items).
* Both puns are intended.
Critics of the study point to flawed scientific methods and assumptive definitions as evidence that they are clearly just jealous that their states fell so low in the rankings. Does simply purchasing a sex toy or video necessarily mean that the individual intends to use it?
What exactly does it mean to be sexually adventurous? Rosecrans Baldwin points out, in an absolutely hilarious article that you must read, that everything that can be done sexually has already been done, usually badly. For most of us, the term sexually adventurous has positive connotations. We imagine someone sexually gifted with a high self-esteem, lots of experience with satisfied lovers and an unusually open mind. We do not necessarily consider the person who is a poor lover with little to no experience who watches porn alone in the dark every weeknight and who occasionally works up the courage to ask his teenage neighbor if he can "do something freaky to her." We do not consider the person who introduces a new technique into her lovemaking repertoire, leaving her partner horrified and traumatized and unable to sit down without using a donut. We do not consider the person who insists that for the four times a year that she has sex, it must always be in the missionary position -- but who, upon getting drunk one night, spends ten minutes humping on top of her fully-clothed lover before ultimately rollling over onto her back and dissociating.
Sexual activity is sexual activity. It's tough to categorize, especially using hierarchical definitions. In addition, the quality of sexual activity is entirely subjective. What makes one person an uberlover with one partner, may make them a flop with another lover.
Certainly the purchasing of sexual products is no indication of how willing a person might be to experiment sexually. Most sex toys are pretty standard and straightforward. Some have gimmicks, but when tested, don't hold up and others might be creatively designed but just aren't practical for most of us.
And we all know that the majority of sex videos feature exceptional acting, compelling storylines and provocative soundtracks, right?
Before you use someone else's measure to determine whether or not you are sexually adventurous, decide for yourself what the phrase means and whether or not it's a quality you wish to have. After all, some would argue that Bernd-Jürgen Brandes was sexually adventurous and he didn't fare very well at all.
Posted by Jenn on May 22, 2006 12:32 PM
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