When someone asks how many people you’ve had sex with, would you count all sexual encounters or just the ones where penetration is involved? I tend to omit anything from my list that doesn’t involve penetration (such as oral sex). What does everyone else count when asked what her or his sex partner number is?
I would count any time you gave or received sexual gratification.
But that’s me.
Well gosh, if I didn’t count it as sex unless there’s penetration involved, then my count would drop dramatically since I wouldn’t be able to count the women I’ve had sex with. Oh, and some of the guys, too. Basically, if somebody comes intentionally, it’s sex as far as I’m concerned.
Penetration is an arbitrary, silly dividing line. Especially since M/F or M/M oral sex does involve penetration, just not of the usual orifice. How about penetration with fingers? Toys? It’s not all about the dick, ya know…
If asked that question, I would respond the same way as the OP.
I’ll be the first to make the reference:
Dante: You said you only had sex with three different guys; you never mentioned him!
Veronica: Because I never HAD sex with him.
Dante: You sucked his dick!
For me, I think it all depends, really. My answer wouldn’t change, so it really doesn’t matter.
Close enough to my definition to count.
So lesbians never have sex with anybody?
Not unless they use strap ons, in which case they run afoul of the Lesbian Mafia who will involve them in the endless debate over whether or not using rubber penises buys into the patriarchal paradigm that enslaves women blah blah blah…
Penetration, schmenetration. I defy anyone to watch my SO going down on me and then try to tell us we didn’t just have sex. Mr. Aleq would probably rub their noses into the wet spots he leaves at the end of the bed–look ma, no hands!
Disclaimer: The above paragraph is informational only and no invitation is expressed or implied… 
Thirty-Seven?
Slurp-Slurp-Slurp
I tend to use **Mr. Blue Sky’s ** definition, unless lower numbers are needed. In that case it goes by penetration.
Didn’t the House of Representatives have a pretty inclusive definition a few years ago? 
So you tend to use different numbers then, depending on whether you’re talking to your friends or with a siginificant other?
It depends. If I came out of the encounter frustrated, no. If I came out disappointed, yes.
Perfect.
Well in that case I was a virgin until I was married! Brilliant!
Hm, it seems I read that wrong. Ignore please… :smack:
I might clarify w/ penatration (with the correct parts in the correct places), and other ‘sexual activities’, or ask them to define what they consider ‘sex’ actually entails.
I wouldn’t say never but it would require a man
There really is no good word for ‘sexual activities’ with out P/V penetration, the words ‘sodomy’ and ‘foreplay’ come to mind but neither really nails it.
I guess you can describe it (oral, anal, mutual masterbation)
When someone asks *me * how many people I’ve had sex with, I ask to see the subpoena.
Seriously, though… the definition of “sex”? I’m pretty much of the “where ever two or more of you are gathered in it’s name” school of thought. If more than one person participates in an act that culminates in orgasm, that’s sex.
Is orgasm necessary, though? I had an encounter once that involved penetration for a good twenty minutes. We were both a bit drunk, though, and it just wasn’t happening for either one of us. We both knew it,. and stopped, and went to sleep. No orgasm or her part of mine, but I’m pretty sure I had sex that night.
It’s awfully nebulous.
Since most of my sexual encounters have been within relationships, my number wouldn’t change no matter what the definition is. There might not have been penetration every time with every person, but there was at some point with every person.
As for my definition of sex; I’d say that any act involving more then one person where the intent is for at least one person involved to receive sexual gratification is sex.
Just my $.02, DESK
That’s not the Clinton definition.