Condoms For Children - Page 5

West Ender · 18-07-2007, 20:01

Believe it or not I was once a teenager and went through all the usual teenage emotions, desires etc. I was a normal girl, I fancied boys, was curious about sex, thought I was very grown up. The one difference between me, along with most girls who were my age, and young girls now is that we knew that slut was just what we would be called if we had sex. We knew that no one would respect us, our parents would go beserk and, worst of all, we would lose our own self-respect. We knew that even the boys who wanted to be our sexual partners woudn't respect us either. We would become girls to bed, not wed.

Somewhere along the way the stigma of illicit sex has been lost. We are now so enlightened that we say, "It's natural. Give them condoms." No one really tells them that it's wrong, it's illegal and it's damaging. We're so busy trying to educate them how not to become single parents we've lost the ability to say, "You're a child. No way." Add to that the way we sit back while sex is flaunted in front of them from every angle, almost from the day they start Nursery School, and the picture is complete. Your little girl or boy says everyone's doing it, it's free, it's easy and it's "fun" and we older ones say, "OK but be careful"

I don't envy teenagers today. There are few parameters, few boundaries and precious few taboos. You're right, Eric, that there are other issues but, in my opinion, this is a damned big one with potentially disastrous consequences.

WillowTheWhisp · 18-07-2007, 21:11

I am more and more convinced that the world is on its merry way to Hell in a handcart and hardly anybody seems to give a fig anymore. Thank goodness for one or two who still see that sex shouldn't be a normal part of childhood. Child porn is quite rightly viewed as more abhorrent than adult porn and with good reason. Children need to have their childhood. Will we be expected to condone paedophilia next as long as the girl doesn't get pregnant?

SamF · 18-07-2007, 22:18

Hrmm, got a lot to go at here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by West Ender

And kids have sex because it's fun? Drinking alcohol can be fun but sometimes it can lead to disaster. Driving a car is pretty much the same. It needs to be handled with responsibility and a level of maturity then it can be very pleasant and enhance your life quality. Sex is no different in that respect, it's unsafe in immature hands. Of course it's fun, but it's so much more so when it's between 2 people who love and respect each other and have the maturity to know it has implications of reponsibility.

Firstly, you say if sex is handled responsibly it can be enjoyable - free condoms would aid this.

Secondly, maturity and age are often two different things. There is no "magic" age where a person wakes up and is suddenly mature enough for a sexually active relationship. Being given condoms at 13 is a "catch-all" meaning that those who are going to have sex early will have the precautions required.

Thirdly, if the reason for not giving condoms to 13 year olds is that the couple are not in love/respect each other it is a false arguement. The fact is that you aren't going to get 13 year olds going out to club on a friday night, drinking all night and going home with someone they've just met - as can be said for the 18-30's. As to the knowledge of the consequences - this can only be combated with a full education.

Quote:

Originally Posted by panther

wonder who is the youngest then?

Reckon I can claim that at the ripe old age of 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Two thoughts have just come to my mind - the first being that you can educate a child not to have sex and yet they go ahead and do it so what makes us think that we can educate them to use a condom and they will? If the boy doesn't want to is the girl going to insist? Do they even stop to think about condom in the heat of the moment?

My second thought is, if educating them isn't working then maybe they should see live action film of the 13 year old screaming in agony through labour and birth. Maybe that would put them off.

As WestEnder says we don't condone 13 year old drivers or 13 year olds drinking and smoking so why should we condone underage sex?

~1st paragraph~
1st Question: Why not. If they are having sex anyway giving condoms away is going to have nothing but a positive effect.
2nd Question: Depends on the girl, but I would say, yes. No girl I know would have sex without some form of protection.
3rd Question: Yes.

~2nd paragraph~
That may work, though shock tactics are not normally favoured. This is of course assuming they need to be "put off" a responsible couple can have sex with over 97% chance of safety from pregnancy and transmission of STDs (that is using a condom which is 97% effective of preventing pregnancy + spread of disease, with the girl on "the pill" which is 100% effective - when being taken without memory lapses)

~3rd paragraph~
13 year old drivers wouldn't be able to afford the car, insurance running etc - however I also disagree with the driving age so I won't go there. As for drinking and smoking it is pretty much a no brainer. They definately cause harm, not matter what. Sex doesn't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by West Ender

Believe it or not I was once a teenager and went through all the usual teenage emotions, desires etc. I was a normal girl, I fancied boys, was curious about sex, thought I was very grown up. The one difference between me, along with most girls who were my age, and young girls now is that we knew that slut was just what we would be called if we had sex. We knew that no one would respect us, our parents would go beserk and, worst of all, we would lose our own self-respect. We knew that even the boys who wanted to be our sexual partners woudn't respect us either. We would become girls to bed, not wed.

So everyone under the age of 16 is incapable of respect ? Just because a girl has sex doesn't make her a slut. There are teen couples that have lasted longer than some marriages. I actually find it quite insulting that you are so ignorant to assume that EVERY SINGLE male at the age of 13 onwards is after one thing and do not respect the girls they are with. That is simply not true.

With me you are getting the viewpoint of a 17 year old male. I wouldn't be offended to still be classed as a child to some of you. I am the person here most eligible to see "inside the mind" of a 13 year old male and I'll say this now, the benefits of giving away free condoms would far, far, far outweigh the consequences. As I mentioned before, being given a condom isn't going to turn the model catholic into the town bike, but it will mean that those who ARE going to have sex will have a higher chance of being safe.

jackyalex · 18-07-2007, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

If you had asked me that question 40/50 years ago I would have said no but today I guess I would go along with it.

If nothing else they make great water bombs.

and i thought 40/50yrs ago that condoms were reusable,are you sure your waterbombs didnt bounce

katex · 18-07-2007, 23:29

Well, I for one vote for giving 'em condoms for all the reasons already stated on this thread. 'Cause when nature does kick in Westender, not always difficult to stop, and no matter what social morals you may have taught your children, vicars, ministers kids were always the worst in my experience.

WillowTheWhisp · 19-07-2007, 07:56

Sorry to have to disillusion you Sam but the pill is not 100% effective, I doubt very much that it would be prescribed to a 13 year old and there is no way it can prevent STDs.

I still maintain that a 13 year old girl is not mature enough both physically and emotionally to be sexually active.

davo69 · 19-07-2007, 07:56

you may not condone under age smoking at 13 but most kids smoke because they are brought up with parents puffing it in there face from a very young age it becomes away of life .lots of under age drinking is for the same reason.YET we woudnt dream of having sex in front of kids and bringing them up with it forsed on them.my point being when kids have sex it is more because they make a decision that is wright for them at the time and if helping them not to get pregnent or get nastey infections then giving free condoms away is a good thing as long as you are not forsing them on kids as long as they no they are there if they need them .

davo69 · 19-07-2007, 07:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Sorry to have to disillusion you Sam but the pill is not 100% effective, I doubt very much that it would be prescribed to a 13 year old and there is no way it can prevent STDs.

I still maintain that a 13 year old girl is not mature enough both physically and emotionally to be sexually active.

my friends daughter as just been put on the pill and she is 13 years old with her mums consent.

WillowTheWhisp · 19-07-2007, 07:59

I don't really think they make a decision. I think they get carried away and some regret it later. A friend of my daughter said she would never be so daft but she's now pushing a pram.

WillowTheWhisp · 19-07-2007, 08:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by davo69

my friends daughter as just been put on the pill and she is 13 years old with her mums consent.

Now that really does shock me.

Quite apart from the sexual side of it and the fact that if she now thinks it's OK to have sex she will still be open to contracting STDs there are other problems with the pill. It has effects on the body other than just stopping a pregnancy.

davo69 · 19-07-2007, 08:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Now that really does shock me.

Quite apart from the sexual side of it and the fact that if she now thinks it's OK to have sex she will still be open to contracting STDs there are other problems with the pill. It has effects on the body other than just stopping a pregnancy.

well thats were the free condems will come in handy

panther · 19-07-2007, 08:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by davo69

my friends daughter as just been put on the pill and she is 13 years old with her mums consent.

i cant believe that, putting a child on the pill, my daughters 13 and i wouldnt dream of putting her on that!
at that age she shouldnt even be thinking of sex, probably because all her mates are doing it!, its a shame kids are trying to look older and want to be older than they really are, if i could go back in time i wouldnt do half the things i did back then. having sex is not clever, no wonder there is an increase in STD's!! what ever happened to playing with dolls

and being a child!! its just silly!!

SamF · 19-07-2007, 09:11

There are other reasons to go on the pill other than to stop pregnancy.

As for the effectiveness

Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill - claim 99.8%

Birth Control Questions - claim 98%

The Pill - Birth Control Pills - Oral Contraception at www.Birth-Control-Comparison.info from Cedar River Clinics - claim 92-99.7%

As I mentioned before using a condom + the pill is pretty much 100% effective.

andrewb · 19-07-2007, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Now that really does shock me.

Quite apart from the sexual side of it and the fact that if she now thinks it's OK to have sex she will still be open to contracting STDs there are other problems with the pill. It has effects on the body other than just stopping a pregnancy.

I know that some young people go on the pull to get regular periods and less painful ones, e.g. some people who are my age now who are on the pill, were not originally on it for having sex, it was because they were in agony at irregular intervals.

However davo69 didn't specify what the pill was for in this case and since its in this thread we'll assume its not what im talking about.

lettie · 19-07-2007, 09:35

This 13 year old may have been put on the pill to control heavy, painful periods. My sister's GP offered to put her on it when she was 14 but my step mum refused and said that she would just have to put up with the pain, the pill at 14 was not going to be an option..