Engineer Comp Geek directed me to this forum. I was told to avoid “penthouse talk”. I thought I was doing so with my posts. I’ve been in spaces such as fraternities, blue collar jobs, and of course poker tables. I think anything I posted has been light years away from some of the things I’ve heard in those spaces. I made a masturbation joke and mentioned that I didn’t live in my car “because I want to get laid”. I was told that was unacceptable and that is fine with me. But that raises a question? Where should we draw the line in discussions about sex? What is considered as “penthouse” will vary from person to person.
Example, I’m thinking about starting a new thread about the many ways modern society has become increasingly predatory, especially with technology. In that thread I want to briefly talk about pornography. No graphic details. I just want to discuss the hidden risks of pornography in the 2020s vs “back in the day”. Is that acceptable?
You probably wouldn’t have been modded for “I want to get laid,” but that it isn’t what you said.
You were more crude, and the fact that you spelled the word using dollar signs and shit means you knew, or at least suspected, that it wasn’t appropriate.
I wondered what the hidden risks of accessing new porn to old porn are, whether affected psychologically or maybe exposure to identity crimes of some type. There are probably some stats to cite in any of these fields.
If you were at a white-collar conference with a diverse population of participants, what would you think would be appropriate as a discussion topic and method during a break or at supper?
If I was in that scenario I sure as hell wouldn’t be talking as you wrote (when you got your warning) to a typical work team which included my female project manager and a couple female subject matter experts, as well as male counterparts.
She was the most liberal minded person I knew, at the time. But there are words and phrases or details I wouldn’t tell her, or anyone about.
Sometimes your personal details aren’t necessary to blurt out in public.
Why people have to brag on these things and tell everyone is insanity, in my mind.
And the same people freak out if you ask for their phone number. But, golly if you wanna hear about the size dildo her boyfriend bought her, she’s all too willing to say. Might even show it to you. Just insane.
The thing is that phone numbers are considered as personal/private information that can be abused. It’s like your address or social security number. If people use that info in inappropriate ways someone can be harmed. But knowing about someone’s sex life…I mean what can people do with that information?
I can think of lots of things folks can do with your sexual info.
Some might be pleasant or fun. Others, not so much.
I also prefer people not discussing their bowel habits. Doesn’t mean I won’t laugh at a good fart, poop, or butt joke. I do have boys around here. Probably heard them all.
I’ve noticed that some male posters on this site still assume that the other posters are all male, and that they enjoy or at least accept raunch as part of normal discourse. They aren’t and they don’t.
Leaving grannies out of it, I think it’s not a bad idea when posting about sex (or gender for that matter) to remember that your readers include straight women and LBGTQ of various persuasions. For example you may be surprised that many people who aren’t you weirdly don’t find masturbation intrinsically amusing.