Does the idea of a thirty year old virgin athelete genuinely play well in America?

[Simple Linctus]

I see that Lolo Jones, who I would very much like to have sex with (in the correct circumstances) is an American athelete at these games but she's also making a big deal out of being a virgin.

But she's THIRTY for goodness sake. Is the American fetishism with purity and all that rubbish such that this is acceptable, or is this a joke, or what?

Seriously - I'm kind of used to the silver ring thing and teenage purity and all that crap but this is so way out of it, I can't tell if it's serious. My instinct is that it is but then again it's so demented that I just cannae tell.

Help please.

[TriPolar]

I think it makes her an oddity. A lot of people don't even believe it. If she's a virgin it's probably because she's dedicated her life to sport not because she's unbelievably chaste.

[md2000]

Can you think of any country outside of America (and maybe Saudi Arabia) that gives any serious importance to purity rings, abstinence pledges, virginity assertions, and quarterbacks who kneel and pray...?


There is a serious divide in America (in case you don't follow their news). Red states are liberal and like the rest of the first world, and blue states are all wrapped up in God, country, old time values, and keeping the government away from their guns. (ok, that`s a sarcastic simplification, but there is a great divide in popular American culture, and this sort of thing matters to half the population.)

What other country can you think of where the candidate for leader or legislature pretty much must confirm their deep devotion to God? I could not tell you what denomination the Prime Minister or former opposition leader of Canada professed; the only obvious ones are French Canadians are likely Catholic. I don't know that any Canadian politician going to church was ever a news story.

For the USA, just the opposite. Politicians' religion is everyone's business.

[mhendo]

Originally Posted by md2000

Red states are liberal and like the rest of the first world, and blue states are all wrapped up in God, country, old time values, and keeping the government away from their guns.

You are clearly on the cutting edge of American political culture. Please tell us more.

[Alan Smithee]

I would say that for a majority of Americans, it's just odd.

The ones who take purity really seriously, probably think that she ought to be married by now, though I'm sure they think it's admirable, given her lack of a husband, that she's waited.

There's a much larger minority, maybe even a majority, who will think it's admirable, but in the same manner as (but more extreme than) someone who has never, ever told even a white lie--that is to say, it's admirable but oddly admirable in a way that isn't actually, um, admired.

[Jim's Son]

It's her life, why is the OP so obsessed by it that he calls it "demented" and "rubbish"? A lack of tolerance for others with different beliefs?

I can't think of too many athletes who make a big deal out of it. Certainly there is Tim Tebow in the NFL and he is very popular with a lot of people, for different reasons. I don't follow the National Felons League much but I find him interesting from the point that his skills are very different from a prototype NFL quarterback. In the 1990s there was an NBA player named A C Green who was public about being a virgin-he didn't get married until he was 39. But Green was an average player and never much much publicity,

I think the usual model for athletes is to talk about their wives and kids. Probably the most is in NASCAR where you see them constantly-although one driver once criticized Kevin Harvick for being dominated by his wife Delana"she was the firsuit in the family". Delana, whose father owned a race track so she grew up in the business, responded by selling T shirts labelled "in fact I do wear the firesuit in the family." Delana was well known for wearing a firesuit (naturally with her hubby's sponsor displayed) which struck some people as a bit odd. She said she did it to emphasize safety for the crew

[astro]

Being a virgin is entirely her prerogative, but remaining a virgin at age 30 IMO borders on being a psychological issue or a stunt, especially if you are willing to pose nude for ESPN (safe for work).

I don't think I 'd be shocked to find out a few years from now what this was all a cynical marketing stunt.

[Ele the Stoic]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but who cares if she's a virgin? Is there some age past which being a virgin is abominable? The media crusades against children (~12+) losing their virginity and being sexualized, but when someone's past, what, 25? it becomes a mark of shame. Like they "can't" have sex, so there must be something wrong with them.

You even say:

Originally Posted by Confused dart cum

Is the American fetishism with purity and all that rubbish such that this is acceptable, or is this a joke, or what?

As if this should somehow be unacceptable. Why? Who cares how old she is/was when she first has/had sex?

Originally Posted by astro

but remaining a virgin at age 30 IMO borders on being a psychological issue

This is what I don't understand. When does virginity become a "psychological issue"? What if she was so focused on her school/training/sport that she didn't have the time and energy to go out clubbing? What if she's a closeted lesbian who hasn't admitted her feelings to herself? What if she just honestly wants to wait for marriage, for non-religious, emotional reasons? There's way too many variables involved in when people first have sex to just say "X years old, what the hell's wrong with em?".


I mean, don't get me wrong. I'd sooner chalk this up to a media stunt or "technical" virginity than outright never-done-nothin-with-nobody virginity, but the notion that maintining virginity past a certain age is somehow "odd" or "wrong", and thus unacceptable just doesn't make sense to me. Just like how women are "sluts" after sleeping with X amount of guys.

[jz78817]

This should be in IMHO, especially given the juvenile tone of the OP.

[Telemark]

Originally Posted by astro

Being a virgin is entirely her prerogative, but remaining a virgin at age 30 IMO borders on being a psychological issue or a stunt

This attitude makes no sense to me. Lots of people have remained chaste until marriage, and while I'm not necessarily a fan of that for myself it's so far removed from being a psychological issue as to be ridiculous.

[jz78817]

Originally Posted by Telemark

This attitude makes no sense to me. Lots of people have remained chaste until marriage, and while I'm not necessarily a fan of that for myself it's so far removed from being a psychological issue as to be ridiculous.

"Remember kids, everybody is different. And that's BAD!"

[AK84]

Most everyone has had sex. I have, you have they overweight guy with tree kids has.She has reached the Olympics. She has won medals in international competition. She has achieved something that 99.99% of us can never dream of doing. I don't think there is anything wrong with her. She is clearly a gifted and successful individual. Getting laid is not the definition of that.

[Iggy]

I think Americans respect someone who lives up to her personal convictions, even if many/most Americans might not hold themselves to the same standard.

What Americans particularly do not like is hypocrisy.

[jz78817]

Originally Posted by Iggy

I think Americans respect someone who lives up to her personal convictions, even if many/most Americans might not hold themselves to the same standard.

What Americans particularly do not like is hypocrisy.

I don't think that's universally true; far too many of us are willing to overlook hypocrisy depending on who the hypocrite is.

[samclem]

MOved from General Questions to IMHO.
samclem

[monstro]

It's only a "thing" because she's so physically attractive. If she had a face like Bullwinkle's I don't think anyone would care.

[Loach]

I volunteer to cure her of this horrible affliction.

[StusBlues]

1. C'mon, she's attractive, but not THAT attractive.

2. Might it be possible that she is a virgin but her mouth is not?

[Filbert]

I don't think the actual *being* a virgin is odd, but making a big thing out of it, like it's some amazing accomplishment, does strike me as something a bit weird.

It's like someone boasting that they've never eaten eggs in their life- I mean, it's not doing any harm to eschew eggs, but it's a bit bizarre to expect everyone to be impressed. And even more bizarre if anyone is.

[TheChileanBlob]

Originally Posted by md2000

Red states are liberal and like the rest of the first world, and blue states are all wrapped up in God, country, old time values, and keeping the government away from their guns. .

Ummm...you might want to look into a colorblindness test.








It's the other way around.

[Alessan]

So, one of the Olympians thinks she's Artemis. Is that such a surprise?

[AK84]

Originally Posted by Alessan

So, one of the Olympians thinks she's Artemis. Is that such a surprise?

Who is Orion then?

[The Flying Dutchman]

I didn't know who Lolo Jones was until this thread and thus checking her out on Wikipedia. She has such an inspiring life story that this focus on her virginity and what this says about her seems ridiculous.

[miss elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Filbert

I don't think the actual *being* a virgin is odd, but making a big thing out of it, like it's some amazing accomplishment, does strike me as something a bit weird.

It's like someone boasting that they've never eaten eggs in their life- I mean, it's not doing any harm to eschew eggs, but it's a bit bizarre to expect everyone to be impressed. And even more bizarre if anyone is.

This.

[The Great Sun Jester]

Originally Posted by Filbert

I don't think the actual *being* a virgin is odd, but making a big thing out of it, like it's some amazing accomplishment, does strike me as something a bit weird.

This+1. If you just don't wanna, for whatever reason, that's fantastic and I still hope you find happiness. But it's also kinda personal--why are you even talking about it? I'm equally baffled by homosexuals who feel they need to come out to me when I've never even expressed an interest in them or their preferences. I save my intimate history for my close friends, I would really appreciate the same courtesy. Oh, and same goes for religion, your bowel movements and the color of your menstrual blood.

[Marley23]

Most people haven't heard about this - I'm a sports fan and I hadn't, although I'm not into track and field - and of those who've heard, most don't give a crap. People who care about this are either a small minority of conservative hreligious believers or joke writers for late night talk show hosts.

[Ulfreida]

Originally Posted by md2000

I could not tell you what denomination the Prime Minister or former opposition leader of Canada professed; the only obvious ones are French Canadians are likely Catholic. I don't know that any Canadian politician going to church was ever a news story.

I didn't know Canada even had news stories. This is exciting.

[Lochdale]

She raised it during an interview on Real Sports. I don't care but I'd like to bang her despite her having tiny breasts.

[Red Wiggler]

I wonder who brought up the issue in the first place? If it was her, that seems like a little too much sharing. Why should we care about the sex lives of successful athletes?

[F14tomcat]

IMHO, I think she is a virgin, 1st because she has dedicated her life to her sport. 2nd (and at the core of it really), she is TOO picky! You can tell she is very controlling and probably a complete prima donna. I think she is a very gifted athlete and quite attractive, but I bet she is a total P.I.N.T.A. to be around.

[Marley23]

Originally Posted by F14tomcat

IMHO, I think she is a virgin, 1st because she has dedicated her life to her sport.

Athletes from Jack Johnson to Wilt Chamberlain to Tiger Woods have dedicated their lives to their sports and still found time to have plenty of sex. Being in well-known and in great shape makes it easier to get laid even if you devote lots of practice time to your sport.

[Astroboy14]

Is she gonna do me?

No?

Then I can't see that it's really any of my bidness.

[Acsenray]

Originally Posted by Marley23

Most people haven't heard about this - I'm a sports fan and I hadn't, although I'm not into track and field - and of those who've heard, most don't give a crap. People who care about this are either a small minority of conservative hreligious believers or joke writers for late night talk show hosts.

Yes, this thread is the first I'm hearing about this too.

Originally Posted by Confused dart cum

Is the American fetishism with purity and all that rubbish such that this is acceptable, or is this a joke, or what?

What makes you think that this has anything to do with an American fetishism? The fact that this Lolo Jones seems to be unique among American Olympians making such a claim should tell you something about what Americans as a whole are likely to do.

Seriously - I'm kind of used to the silver ring thing and teenage purity and all that crap but this is so way out of it, I can't tell if it's serious. My instinct is that it is but then again it's so demented that I just cannae tell.

Are you Scottish?

Originally Posted by md2000

Can you think of any country outside of America (and maybe Saudi Arabia) that gives any serious importance to purity rings, abstinence pledges, virginity assertions, and quarterbacks who kneel and pray...?

Waitaminit, the entire country gives importance to these things? Where are you getting that?

There is a serious divide in America (in case you don't follow their news). Red states are liberal and like the rest of the first world, and blue states are all wrapped up in God, country, old time values, and keeping the government away from their guns. (ok, that`s a sarcastic simplification, but there is a great divide in popular American culture, and this sort of thing matters to half the population.)

1. The red state/blue state paradigm is a gross oversimplification of the situation.

2. You reversed the meaning of red and blue in this context.

[hajario]

Originally Posted by AK84

Most everyone has had sex. .

Clearly you haven't read here for long.

Originally Posted by Inigo Montoya

Oh, and same goes for religion, your bowel movements and the color of your menstrual blood.

Nor have you.

[jtgain]

Count me in the "why did she bring it up" camp. It's her personal life, and if she's made that choice it's fine, and possibly admirable, depending on her motivation for doing so.

But, unless she's talking to someone she's about to start a relationship with, why is your sex life a topic for discussion?

[The Great Sun Jester]

Originally Posted by hajario

Nor have you.

Har! This place doesn't really count. It's sort of a pocket of non-reality. Sometimes surreality. Blood, sex, tampon string management, electric blue 18 inch ribbed two-headed jelly dongs...everything goes.

[DrDeth]

Originally Posted by md2000

Can you think of any country outside of America (and maybe Saudi Arabia) that gives any serious importance to purity rings, abstinence pledges, virginity assertions, and quarterbacks who kneel and pray...?


.

You don't follow news from around the globe much, do you?

[bump]

When we see late-virgin athletes like this, I think that there's also a little bit of a Galahad thing going on as well; even though nobody comes out and says it, I think there's a little bit of the thought that their "purity" is part of what got them this far.

[Alessan]

That's what I was implying with my remark earlier about Artemis. It takes a special sort of mentality to become an Olympic gold medalist; if the whole "virgin goddess" things is what works for her, then who are we to object?

[j666]

Originally Posted by F14tomcat

IMHO, I think she is a virgin, 1st because she has dedicated her life to her sport. 2nd (and at the core of it really), she is TOO picky! You can tell she is very controlling and probably a complete prima donna. I think she is a very gifted athlete and quite attractive, but I bet she is a total P.I.N.T.A. to be around.

Her decision begins to make sense now ...

[mhendo]

Originally Posted by F14tomcat

You can tell she is very controlling and probably a complete prima donna.

You can tell that? From what? From the media coverage? I think you give yourself too much credit.

Originally Posted by F14tomcat

I think she is a very gifted athlete and quite attractive, but I bet she is a total P.I.N.T.A. to be around.

I don't know what a PINTA is.

[TriPolar]

Originally Posted by mhendo

I don't know what a PINTA is.

Pain In The Ass

Anybody recall this about American attitudes and not the girl?

[mhendo]

Originally Posted by TriPolar

Pain In The Ass

No, that's a PITA.

[TriPolar]

Originally Posted by mhendo

No, that's a PITA.

Sorry, I meant Pain IN The Ass. Some people abbreviate it that way, or else I'm clueless as well.

[billfish678]

Okay, if she brought it up on her own thats a bit odd. And if she thinks staying a virgin is some super great thing she should be admired for I find that a little odd as well. Though for some people managing to stay that way when you had plenty of chances and temptations to do so does say something good about someones will power and self control.

Sex is great. Though I suspect some are way more into it than others. But lets face it, there CAN be some serious downsides. STDs or heaven forbid AIDS. Unwanted pregnancies. Drama filled relationships from hell that drive you crazy trying to live through and or get out of. And it can just distract you from other things in your life.

I can certainly respect and understand her if her thought process was "Thats some shit I just don't wanna risk dealing with right now...I'm focusing on the gold here'.

[Kimmy_Gibbler]

Originally Posted by Marley23

Most people haven't heard about this - I'm a sports fan and I hadn't, although I'm not into track and field - and of those who've heard, most don't give a crap. People who care about this are either a small minority of conservative hreligious believers or joke writers for late night talk show hosts.

You forgot "misogynists who are pretty sure that women should not be permitted to make their own choices about their sexual activities, at least if they want to avoid criticism from men who disapprove."

You know, a cousin to those men who feel "women have to much power in relationships" because women are allowed to choose whether or not they will be having sex.

[Blackberry]

Originally Posted by Ele the Stoic

This is what I don't understand. When does virginity become a "psychological issue"? What if she was so focused on her school/training/sport that she didn't have the time and energy to go out clubbing?

Then her obsession with her sport to the exclusion of other important aspects of life (not clubbing specifically, but socializing with her peers) is a psychological issue.

What if she's a closeted lesbian who hasn't admitted her feelings to herself?

Then she has psychological issues preventing her from accepting herself.

[billfish678]

Originally Posted by Blackberry

Then her obsession with her sport to the exclusion of other important aspects of life (not clubbing specifically, but socializing with her peers) is a psychological issue.

There's another word that you could use. Calculated choice.

If you are not a horndog thats absolutely miserable because you are not having sex, then choosing to not do so is not psychological issue. Beejeesus.

[Rilchiam]

Originally Posted by Acsenray

2. You reversed the meaning of red and blue in this context.

Did he, though? I thought red states voted for the incumbent. Currently, Obama is the incumbent, so if liberals are voting for Obama, then red states are liberal and blue are conservative.

Or are we stuck with the 2004 definitions, and red will always mean conservative and blue liberal, as they did in '04?

[FairyChatMom]

Originally Posted by jtgain

Count me in the "why did she bring it up" camp. It's her personal life, and if she's made that choice it's fine, and possibly admirable, depending on her motivation for doing so.

But, unless she's talking to someone she's about to start a relationship with, why is your sex life a topic for discussion?

My thoughts exactly. I don't care about anyone else's sex life or lack thereof, except, obviously, in my husband's case. But beyond that, don't need to know, don't want to know, don't think about it, don't care about it. I could say the same thing about bowel movements, what one scrapes out of one's ears, or what one coughs up - some things just need to be kept private. Once upon a time, people seemed to realize just that...