# Does the idea of a thirty year old virgin athelete genuinely play well in America? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2012, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170 "2012-08-11T05:48:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/41 "2012-08-11T17:45:38Z")
> [@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. > [@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. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/42 "2012-08-11T17:47:23Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I don’t know what a PINTA is. Pain In The Ass Anybody recall this about American attitudes and not the girl? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/43 "2012-08-11T17:51:11Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Pain In The Ass No, that’s a PITA. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/44 "2012-08-11T18:02:15Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/45 "2012-08-11T18:34:08Z")
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’. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/46 "2012-08-11T19:04:00Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/47 "2012-08-11T19:09:09Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/48 "2012-08-11T19:17:51Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/49 "2012-08-11T19:30:11Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > 1. 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? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/50 "2012-08-11T19:31:40Z")
> [@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… ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/51 "2012-08-11T19:32:15Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > 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. No, it was an if/then statement. I was just commenting on **Ele the Stoic** saying virginity wasn’t a psychological issue and then two of the three examples he/she gave would be psychological issues. “Hey, maybe she’s just repressing her true sexual orientation!” Yeah, that would be totally healthy. I do think it would be rare to be a 30-year-old virgin for reasons that don’t include psychological issues though. And far more rare if you go around bragging about it. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/52 "2012-08-11T19:53:10Z")
**Rilchiam** , red has stood for Republican and blue for Democrat since the time of Reagan. > [@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. Add me as another person who was aware of her as an athlete and of her achievements, and had not heard about this until this thread. So it’s not something that was being “made a big deal of” until now. The appropriate reaction reaction would be:\* “Huh, really? OK. Now let’s talk about that medal count…”\* and we don’t dwell on it. And really, why should sharing \*\*\*that \*\*\*be considered TMI while other people being confessional about past troubles with the law, drug/alcohol use, closeting, parental conflicts, marital problems, etc. is a common part of “human interest” stories? > [@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? Xactly; as **billfish678** mentioned upthread, if she feels she can do without the other inconveniences and chances are _she’s got a whole lifetime for everything else_, then go for it. (The tendency around these here parts to quickly seekto tie celibacy to some sort of psychological disorder is somewhat annoying.) If we are to be sexually liberated, that freedom has to include the freedom for others to NOT join in with us, **without it being held against them**. _“But, they’re being ABNORMAL!”_ Are they hurting anyone? No? Then let them be proud of their difference. Want to ride a float down main street in tight leather chaps and a lace snood? Go right ahead, I’ll be waving at you. Want to tell an audience of 200 million that you’re a virgin? Knock yourself out. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/53 "2012-08-11T20:11:05Z")
Huh, I can see that some people would consider her virginity to be a positive, and that some people just wouldn’t give a damn, and certainly it’s “abnormal” in the sense of being uncommon, but I had no idea some folks would consider it to be proof of mental disorder. I mean, I guess I could see objecting to the fact that she hasn’t slept with _me_, but then, she’s hardly unusual in that. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/54 "2012-08-11T20:18:37Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > **Rilchiam** , red has stood for Republican and blue for Democrat since the time of Reagan. > … > > And really, why should sharing \*\*\*that \*\*\*be considered TMI while other people being confessional about past troubles with the law, drug/alcohol use, closeting, parental conflicts, marital problems, etc. is a common part of “human interest” stories? Actually, red and blue were used pretty randomly until the Florida Fiasco. Then, for some reason, red became Republican when everyone started using the same color code. Those other past troubles? They’re TMI, too. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/55 "2012-08-11T20:25:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Huh, I can see that some people would consider her virginity to be a positive, and that some people just wouldn’t give a damn, and certainly it’s “abnormal” in the sense of being uncommon, but I had no idea some folks would consider it to be proof of mental disorder. I mean, I guess I could see objecting to the fact that she hasn’t slept with _me_, but then, she’s hardly unusual in that. “Proof of a mental disorder” would be taking it too far but I haven’t noticed anyone saying that. I would think that most people, probably women especially, have had some kind of issues about sex at some point in their life. Some people have sex when they don’t really want to, some people feel guilt and shame after the fact, some people repress their feelings and desires, etc. I’m not saying she’s any more messed up than anyone else, but I also don’t think it’s at all admirable and that it probably is caused by some sexual hangup of hers. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/56 "2012-08-11T20:25:17Z")
> [@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? Is this very much different than a public figure coming out as gay or lesbian? They’re often lauded for their courage and for being a role model. Is Lolo Jones’s sexuality less of an issue than Megan Rapinoe’s, for example? > [@Rilchiam](#): > > 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? I was under the impression that 2000 cemented our current political color scheme. Prior to that, TV news coverage used to alternate colors from one presidential election to the next (red for Republicans and blue for Democrats, then the other way around). The results were never really pored over obsessively so the colors could be arbitrary. In 2000, “red state” and “blue state” entered the vernacular and we’ve stuck with them since. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/57 "2012-08-11T20:35:52Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I was under the impression that 2000 cemented our current political color scheme. That’s correct. Earlier in history it wasn’t even always red and blue. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/58 "2012-08-11T20:42:11Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Is this very much different than a public figure coming out as gay or lesbian? They’re often lauded for their courage and for being a role model. Is Lolo Jones’s sexuality less of an issue than Megan Rapinoe’s, for example? I think it’s slightly different. I would agree that if you are gay or lesbian and are being interviewed about the upcoming curling match that your sexual choices/lifestyle/orientation are irrelevant. Talk about the fucking curling match. That being said, since gay and lesbian issues are a hot political topic and those people have an extra incentive to be visible so as to promote SSM and other anti-discrimination laws, I can see the added impetus for a person to disclose his/her homosexuality. Unless there has been a wave of discrimination or denial of something to thirty year old virgins that I missed, I don’t see the need to bring it up. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/59 "2012-08-11T20:46:17Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Unless there has been a wave of discrimination or denial of something to thirty year old virgins that I missed, I don’t see the need to bring it up. Denial of something to 30 year old virgins? For some of those, yes something IS being denied. Trust me on this. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170/60 "2012-08-11T20:46:23Z")
No, it’s not about incumbents and challengers. Blue means Democrat/liberal and red means Repiblican/conservative. Prior to 2000, American parties or ideologies weren’t associated with any particular colors. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-idea-of-a-thirty-year-old-virgin-athelete-genuinely-play-well-in-america/631170.md?page=4)