THE UNIVERSITY OF DARKE KANAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2006
SEX ON THE HILL
13C
Online sites increase sexual knowledge provide easy-access for porn
BY ADAM SCHOOF
Go to Google.com and search catapult, Led Zeppelin or red snapper. Undoubtedly, if you look hard enough, you will find sex in some form. Innocent search results like those make it clear that sex has saturated the Internet to a striking extent.
"It was only a matter of time that sex went to the Internet," Tony Campbell, Overland Park freshman, said. "The Internet is unregulated, and sex sells. Plus you're not going to get herpes from the Internet," Campbell said.
Now more than just a way to acquire sexual gratification, the Internet has also come to be seen by many as a legitimate and useful medium for acquiring information about sex.
"The Internet is a pivotal sex-education tool. People can learn and ask questions that may be too embarrassing to ask publicly" second-year graduate student
Chris Redford of Wellington said.
Stephanie Bell, Overland Park freshman, said that the Internet served more purpose to sex than just things like pornography.
"The Internet is useful in dispelling myths about sex, such as virgins can't get pregnant the first time they have sex, pulling out is an acceptable method of birth control and oral sex can't give you an STD." Bell said. "It's also a place where people can find where birth control can be acquired, how it can be kept confidential."
Curious minds looking to do research on sex don't have to go far on campus. KU library computers have no regulations banning pornography, though some exceptions can be made.
"If a student complains about someone nearby viewing sexual or pornographic content, library staff will ask them whether the search is academic-related." Allison Rose Lopez, public relations and marketing manager, said. "If not, the staff will ask them to either cease viewing that content or leave the library"
Research and academic pursuit aside, there is also a darker side to sex on the Internet.
The Internet and its abundance of pornography has an ability to affect personal relationships, said Marta Vicente, assistant professor of women's studies and history.
The expansion of the Internet has changed the way people learn about sexuality and relationships, but also has potential for trouble.
Vicente said that Internet pornography can drive couples apart if they spend more time with pornography than with their sexual partners.
Photo illustration by Lisa Lipovac
"Pornography can be abused. It can lead to sexual addiction, and the Internet facilitates this addiction," Vicente said. "However, the Internet is not the cause of the addiction, but it may help people who are prone to sexual addiction. The same people 20 to 30 years ago would have done something else to satisfy themselves."
For some, pornography can also be a positive aspect of their love lives, if used properly.
"Pornography either enhances relationships or makes them more insecure. I don't think there's much middle ground." Bell said. "I think that it gives
people an outlet for their sexuality, whether or not it's legal."
So why does sex work so well on the Internet? There has been speculation on how the two have come to pair so well.
"Sexual expression has a history of being repressed in previ
ous Western cultures," Redford said. "I think the sudden boom of interest on the Internet is in response to that."
Kansan correspondent Adam Schooof can be contacted at editor@kansan.com.
Fresh perspectives on relationships
Freshman share views on when its time to cut your losses and move on
BY NICK MANGIARACINA
Knowing when to back off becomes a problem sometimes in relationships. Some people throw out definite warning signs, but they can be easily overlooked.
Various freshmen took a look at several issues with the topic of backing off, to get a new, or "fresh," look at the dating scene.
With regard to "knowing when to back off," in pursuing a relationship, Will Pro of Lenexa said
that he treated people as a friend and tried to make it as obvious as possible he was not interested in them. He said he had never known anyone who had specifically ignored these signs.
Coming from a different state and with a different perspective was Lauren Heimbaugh of St. Louis, who said signs like crossing her arms in front, or simply not talking to a guy usually works. However, this has not always been the case.
Heimbaugh remembered a guy who wouldn't leave her alone.
"I had to take different ways to
class, tell him to leave me alone in non-harsh words, and avoid confrontation," she said.
In fact, he went so far that he started hanging out outside her classes. He did eventually move on.
"I felt relieved after it was over," she said. "Girls are more aware of when the right time to back off is because girls play mind games more than guys do."
Jessica Ahrens of Kansas City recalled a stalker-like ex-boyfriend who once after Valentine's Day, after they had broken up, drove to her house in an attempt
to get her back.
"He tried to bring me flowers, so I locked the door to keep him out," she said. "He then drove off, but later called me a few times. I couldn't understand why he didn't understand why we broke up, especially since I gave him plenty of reasons."
Despite this, Ahrens said that guys were more aware of when the right time to give up on a romantic relationship was because most guys aren't as clingy as girls are. Some advice she offered for dealing with relationships was to just be honest with people.
As for Pro, he said he gives up on trying to establish a romantic relationship with a girl when he noticed certain obvious signs like when they start hitting on other guys, or talk about other guys.
Pro also said girls were more
aware of when the right time to back off is.
When not interested, Ahrens said she let people know that she's not interested in them by not returning their calls or not showing up when invited places.
Taking a similar "straight up" approach was Luke Underwood of Overland Park. Underwood stressed the importance of honesty in a relationship.
"I don't think you can really lie about your feelings," he said. "I tell the person that this isn't fun for me."
However, Underwood remembered a time in his life where his philosophy of being honest failed him. Luke remembered a girl he dated a long time ago who persisted after him, even after he broke up with her. Underwood's experience gave new light to
stalkers, dispelling the myth that only guys stalk girls. Tony Campbell of Overland Park had a simillar experience.
Campbell remembered a creepy girl who stalked him in high school.
"She would follow me from class to class, call me all the time, show up before and after school at my house, and eventually at my job," he said.
He said she took the hint that he wasn't interested in her after ignoring her for a long time.
"Guys are more aware of when the right time to back off is," he said. "Guys get a bad rap because guys definitely stalk girls in higher frequency, but when girls stalk girls it far creepier. People need to try to understand when people don't want you around. There are signs. Pay attention."
PICK-UP LINES HEARD AT A BAR ONE DREARY NIGHT:
**GUY:** "You have nice thighs."
**GIRL:** "Oh, thank you."
**GUY:** "I bet you're good in bed."
GIRL:"I think I'm going to attend law school next year."
GUY:"Well, I know this guy whose dad went to Harvard Law"
GIRL 1: "Can my cousin buy you an amaretto sour?"
GIRL 2: "Thanks, but I have a boyfriend."
GIRL 1: "He doesn't have to know that, just humor him."
GUY: "So, what sorority are you in?"
Lindsay Waples