It seems to me that with a huge gathering of people who are highly passionate about a particular topic, who are mingling in a revelrous atmosphere, and who are far away from home, there would be plenty of temptation, to say nothing of opportunity, to form a connection and engage in a sexual liaison or two.
How much hanky-panky actually goes on at these conventions? Would it be different at the Republican or Democratic convention? Have you ever been to one of these gatherings and can provide first-hand testimony?
Not the ones I go to. I went to a National Computer Conference (a huge one) in Houston in about 1982, at the Astrodome. When it broke up the place was ringed by a line of hookers. They looked very confused when all the engineers and programmers ignored them.
Actually I doubt it. If you’re committed enough to spend the effort to get in the delegation and spend the money for travel, I think you’re more interested in participating in the event than you are thinking about having a fling.
Still, the hours of the convention might lend itself to a bit more fun among the delegates. This isn’t a trade show that opens at 9 am the following morning.
Interesting, I read an article a few years ago about how the influence of the Christian Right has caused the open bar to not be as strong as an amenity at convention parties and receptions as in the past.
I think it was ten to twenty years ago that I heard a story–sorry, no cite–that the GOP convention was seen as good business for sex workers, and the Democratic convention less so. Republican convention-goers were more likely than were Democrats to sex as a service to be purchased; Democrats usually wanted an emotional connection rather than a business transaction. I think this was supposedly from a sex worker who thought the Democrats were deluded. But it also seems like it was a story in a magazine–maybe even National Review? naaah…
I may be remembering wrong, and it was a long time ago, but that’s what I recall. It stuck with me for some reason.
