# Isaac Asimov: Sex Offender? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 2, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-sex-offender/822320 "2018-10-02T15:29:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-sex-offender/822320/21 "2018-10-02T17:21:10Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Pratchett used to pay amputees in heavy bondage to watch him do auto-erotic asphyxiation while wearing a Sailor Moon uniform. Who doesn’t? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-sex-offender/822320/22 "2018-10-02T17:27:22Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Who doesn’t? I was on board up to the Sailor Moon costume. Talk about _sick_. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-sex-offender/822320/23 "2018-10-02T17:28:15Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Pratchett used to pay amputees in heavy bondage to watch him do auto-erotic asphyxiation while wearing a Sailor Moon uniform. Out of interest, is it illegal to pay someone to watch you perform a sex act on yourself? Asking for a friend with a Sailor Moon uniform. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-sex-offender/822320/24 "2018-10-02T17:54:15Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Out of interest, is it illegal to pay someone to watch you perform a sex act on yourself? Asking for a friend with a Sailor Moon uniform. JAQing about jacking. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-sex-offender/822320/25 "2018-10-02T18:09:47Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Would you support, even participate in, his being outed as a predator? > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > If Asimov were in his full fanny-pinching and fondling personality today I wouldn’t need to out him - everyone would. How he handled the aftermath would determine what my feelings were. > [@Scumpup](#): > > Then why did you bother to respond? Reading comprehension is your friend. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-sex-offender/822320/26 "2018-10-02T18:38:33Z")
I just finished reading the first volume of Asimov’s autobiography, _In Memory Yet Green_, published in 1979. In it, he admits to behavior that would today be classed as sexual assault. But it was 1979, and times were different. There’s no doubt about his behavior back then. His autobiography appears to be surprisingly candid. He even admits to some adultery, although it almost amounts to a brag. On the other hand, he recounts a number of things he obviously takes to be faults and failures. That said, by his own admission Asimov was more of a talker and groper than an active sex fiend. Then again, considering **friedo** and _Uke_\*'s takes on him, he either wasn’t as forthcoming as he seems, or wasn’t aware of how bad he was. I met him once, but under circumstances where these qualities wouldn’t be in evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-sex-offender/822320/27 "2018-10-02T18:42:11Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Reading comprehension is your friend. A direct answer is your even better friend. We’ll just assume I am a poor reader. Explain in simple words. The part about how hypotheticals are above your paygrade, but you are here anyway. ---
**Author:** ![txjim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@txjim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txjim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-sex-offender/822320/28 "2018-10-02T19:01:12Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > He kept this part of him so secret that he published a book called “The Sensuous Dirty Old Man.” I also saw him spend his time on a panel about whether Isaac Asimov should write more science fiction telling a (not very good) story about trying to seduce Judy Lynn Benjamin (still when this happened) and failing. > I suspect today he’d own what he did and be repentant. I still have my copy of [Lecherous Limericks](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7843571-lecherous-limericks) purchased in the '70s. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-sex-offender/822320/29 "2018-10-02T19:10:06Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > If he were alive today, would you attend conventions at which he was going to be present? Sure. > [@](#): > > Would you support, even participate in, his being outed as a predator? Sure. > [@](#): > > If he were still writing, would you buy his new books? Nope, > [@](#): > > Would you buy new copies of older works? Nope. I don’t now. > [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Please, people, at least tell me there was nothing wrong with Terry Pratchett. Well, he did like cats a little too much… I’d met the man a couple of times, he never gave off a single creepy vibe, ever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-sex-offender/822320.md?page=1)