PUBLIC OPINION > Hugging Is Definitely Not 'Gateway Sexual Activity'
SodaHead News
2012/05/02 16:00:00
Tennessee passed a unique and controvesial law recently that makes it possible for parents to take legal action against teachers who condone "gateway sexual activity." The problem is, no one is quite sure what "gateway sexual activity" is. That's how it's worded in the law, which means it's open to interpretation. Do they mean hugging? Holding hands? Kissing? Groping? What are we talking about, here? We took it to the obvious extreme and asked the public if hugging, cuddling, and holding hands -- the most basic forms of romantic physical contact -- could be considered "gateway sexual activity."
For the sake of laid back teachers, let's hope Tennessee courts agree with the public. Only one in four thinks hugging, holding hands, and cuddling could be considered gateways to sexual activity, whatever that means. Even some of those responses were sarcastic. The Top Opinion wrote, "Yes! Add to that walking, talking, touching, seeing, breathing, and being human. I believe they are all gateways to sexual activity." So what could be considered "gateway sex"? Some said kissing, others said naked wrestling. A couple people said marijuana. (They were a little confused.) Just not hugging, for crying out loud!
Men Think Hugs Mean More
All of the demographics were pretty much in agreement that hugging and cuddling is a safe distance from sex, but there were a few interesting differences. For instance, men were nearly twice as likely to say that kind of activity was a gateway to sex. That could offer some insight into the minds of men, or it could just represent the protective father demographic.
All of the demographics were pretty much in agreement that hugging and cuddling is a safe distance from sex, but there were a few interesting differences. For instance, men were nearly twice as likely to say that kind of activity was a gateway to sex. That could offer some insight into the minds of men, or it could just represent the protective father demographic.Teens Think It's Silly
The strongest correlation was, not surprisingly, age, and there was a sharp change of heart at about age 25. On average, voters 25 and up were 3.5 times as likely to think of hugging and cuddling as gateways to sex. That's even more than the difference between parents and non-parents, married and single, liberal and conservative, and atheist and Christian.
The strongest correlation was, not surprisingly, age, and there was a sharp change of heart at about age 25. On average, voters 25 and up were 3.5 times as likely to think of hugging and cuddling as gateways to sex. That's even more than the difference between parents and non-parents, married and single, liberal and conservative, and atheist and Christian.Conservatives More Than Christians
In the comments, a lot of opponents treated this like a religious issue. However, based on the demographics it was more political than religious. Conservative voters were 7% more likely than Christians to think of hugging as a gateway sexual activity, and liberals were 4% less likely than atheists. Though religion and politics do often go hand-in-hand, there's clearly more to it.
In the comments, a lot of opponents treated this like a religious issue. However, based on the demographics it was more political than religious. Conservative voters were 7% more likely than Christians to think of hugging as a gateway sexual activity, and liberals were 4% less likely than atheists. Though religion and politics do often go hand-in-hand, there's clearly more to it.If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about Tennessee's new law. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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Beanybudd 2012/05/02 17:32:05
+14Outlawing affection... something humanity needs to show more of getting disallowed. Can someone please slap the old men making these rules. YOUR GRAND DAUGHTERS ARE NOT GOING TO GET PREGNANT FROM HUGGING! Who ever makes these dumbs things should go to a health class and get a good learning about sex education. It's there for a reason and it appear sthey need that education more than teens with this bullscheisse.
Kind of the reason why even the preppiest of girls love guys who work jobs like construction, farming, etc. Because they can't get enough of their smell. Though I'm not average, most guys make me want to faint... Though I seem to be turned on by a certain type of smell myself. I still barely can stand it, though there are guys that don't smell that bad. That some may think wreak, LOL. I guess it depends.
I'd like to tell them the importance of saving themselves for their future husband/wife. How abstinence can make you and your relationship stronger. If the guy/girl breaks up with you because you won't make out them as much or have intercourse with them. They are not for you.
Sometimes self control is the best birth control, I just don't feel like giving myself away to a person before I know they are the one is right.
Imagine you were fresh out of school, never had a job in your life, and the first place that hires you hires you for a position working with people. Great, you just got a job, but you have no idea what to expect or how to behave or anything.
So you show up your first day, and they immediately put you working with the general population. No training, no experience with people, and no idea of what might happen. Your first day goes well enough, you think you've done great, but nearing the end of the day, a customer approaches you and is incredibly rude and derogatory to you. Now, as a brand new employee with no understanding of how to interact with people in this situation while under abnormally high amounts of stress, you may react in a rather visceral way, say, for example, striking the customer.
Clearly, this is not something that you want to have happen, but it just did. Had you had proper training and guidance, it may have been avoided, but they threw you out there with nothing under your belt and expected the best.
It's the same with sex, contraception may fail, but not knowing about contraception in the first place guarantee's that it won't have the opportunity to fail. Th...
Imagine you were fresh out of school, never had a job in your life, and the first place that hires you hires you for a position working with people. Great, you just got a job, but you have no idea what to expect or how to behave or anything.
So you show up your first day, and they immediately put you working with the general population. No training, no experience with people, and no idea of what might happen. Your first day goes well enough, you think you've done great, but nearing the end of the day, a customer approaches you and is incredibly rude and derogatory to you. Now, as a brand new employee with no understanding of how to interact with people in this situation while under abnormally high amounts of stress, you may react in a rather visceral way, say, for example, striking the customer.
Clearly, this is not something that you want to have happen, but it just did. Had you had proper training and guidance, it may have been avoided, but they threw you out there with nothing under your belt and expected the best.
It's the same with sex, contraception may fail, but not knowing about contraception in the first place guarantee's that it won't have the opportunity to fail. The best form of sex education is promoting both contraception and abstinence. Because neither one is inherently wrong or evil or bad, they both need to be understood. I have several friends who threw around the "I'm going to save myself for marriage" for years, who all have ended up having premarital sex. It's not bad, they aren't bad people, these are just people who have made a decision with the proper understanding and education required to make that decision.
The purpose of government should be to maintain a minimum of laws, each with a minimum of words, so that the average person can read and understand them all at once. I'd even go so far as to devise some kind of language or code that allows lawmakers to express the logic of the law with mathematical precision, like a programming language, so as to eliminate ambiguity, fallacies and errors.
This is so stupid! Pretty soon we'll all be bouncing around in giant bubbles so we won't touch each other! Most everyone knows when something is inappropriate...a hug that lasts a bit too long...a kiss on the cheek that slides over to your lips...someone's hand down your pants...etc.
If a teacher allows dry humping in the classroom, I think that something should be done, but holding hands, patting each other on the back, and hugging are just simple acts of human kindness!
Just my opinion!