# You keep using that word. I do not think "abstinence" means what you think it means **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 25, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487 "2015-06-25T23:28:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/1 "2015-06-25T23:28:25Z")
Bristol Palin is [pregnant again](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/25/bristol-palin-pregnant_n_7666678.html), after being a spokesperson for [abstinence](http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/04/05/156116/bristol-palin-profiteer-teen-pregnancy/). In her defense, I think the organization was focused on teen pregnancy, not mid-20s pregnancy. I’m sure that makes all the difference. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/2 "2015-06-25T23:34:31Z")
That just makes my hackles bristol. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/3 "2015-06-25T23:39:42Z")
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer, more hypocritical family. Interesting that she hasn’t named the father. She cancelled her wedding to a Marine veteran last month. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/4 "2015-06-25T23:54:28Z")
Probably got knocked up by a moose. That’s why they called off the wedding. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2015, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/5 "2015-06-25T23:54:38Z")
> [@](#): > > “At the end of the day there’s nothing I can’t do with God by my side,” Maybe God should stop wandering off. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/6 "2015-06-26T01:10:27Z")
> [@](#): > > “Honestly, I’ve been trying my hardest to keep my chin up on this one,” Palin wrote. I think the trick is to keep your knees together. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/7 "2015-06-26T01:11:52Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > I think the trick is to keep your knees together. The trick is to use some damned birth control. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/8 "2015-06-26T01:46:58Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > She cancelled her wedding to a Marine veteran last month. …after having already served her country…? 😉 _d&r_ ---
**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:** [June 26, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/9 "2015-06-26T01:55:27Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > The trick is to use some damned birth control. But that would mean she _planned_ to have sex. Good Christian girls don’t do such things. They have a “lapse of faith” instead. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/10 "2015-06-26T02:08:03Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > But that would mean she _planned_ to have sex. > > Good Christian girls don’t do such things. They have a “lapse of faith” instead. I never was much of a Christian. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/11 "2015-06-26T02:08:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Palin wrote that she shared the news “sooner than I ever expected due to the constant trolls who have nothing better to talk about.” Palin wrote that the pregnancy “has been, and will be, a huge disappointment to my family” and asked for privacy. Considering that Fox has gotten rid of Mama Hockey Bear, I think her request for privacy will be granted very soon. Unless of course, one of the Palin clan stands on the corner, or on the web, screaming as loudly as possible, “Leave us alone! We want our privacy!” not realizing that most people don’t want to pay attention to them anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/12 "2015-06-26T03:14:45Z")
Trailer trash continues to act like trailer trash, despite having one of them see-ment ponds in the back yard; my lack of surprise knows no bounds. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/13 "2015-06-26T03:15:18Z")
Maybe nobody [explained it](http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?id=3762) clearly enough. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/14 "2015-06-26T03:17:17Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > But that would mean she _planned_ to have sex. > > Good Christian girls don’t do such things. They have a “lapse of faith” instead. The lapse of faith also explains why the month of praying afterwards didn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/15 "2015-06-26T03:20:26Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Bristol Palin is [pregnant again](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/25/bristol-palin-pregnant_n_7666678.html), after being a spokesperson for [abstinence](http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/04/05/156116/bristol-palin-profiteer-teen-pregnancy/). She’s serving the cause. You have to admit the argument _“Practice abstinence. Do you want to end up just like Bristol Palin?”_ is surprisingly persuasive. ---
**Author:** ![LouLou7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LouLou7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouLou7)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/16 "2015-06-26T03:29:13Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > She’s serving the cause. You have to admit the argument _“Practice abstinence. Do you want to end up just like Bristol Palin?”_ is surprisingly persuasive. Well, I don’t know…she made $262,500 off of her Teen Pregnancy Prevention non-profit. That’s some pretty good scratch for an unwed mother with no real job. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/17 "2015-06-26T03:56:40Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Maybe God should stop wandering off. Maybe she should get God one of those kiddie leashes but, you know, God-sized. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/18 "2015-06-26T13:39:45Z")
I’m a little annoyed, since she said she doesn’t want lectures, but she’s definitely lectured other people in her position. But I’m also a little sad for her. Her announcement sounds so sad: > [@](#): > > Honestly, I’ve been trying my hardest to keep my chin up on this one. > > At the end of the day there’s nothing I can’t do with God by my side, and I know I am fully capable of handling anything that is put in front of me with dignity and grace. > > Life moves on no matter what. So no matter how you feel, you get up, get dressed, show up, and never give up. > > When life gets tough, there is no other option but to get tougher. > > I know this has been, and will be, a huge disappointment to my family, to my close friends, and to many of you. > > But please respect Tripp’s and my privacy during this time. I do not want any lectures and I do not want any sympathy. This sounds like someone talking about a drug addiction or how they are about to go to jail or something, not like a baby coming into the world. I know a lot of people have unplanned babies and it can still be happy news. Or maybe not even super happy news, but something you can go along with. But just the way that this was written makes it sound like terrible news for her. Like I wish Palin and other conservatives could see that pro-choice people aren’t anti-kids or anti-babies, it’s just that we want all babies to be wanted. And that even if you don’t ever want to have an abortion, it’s okay to have birth control and plan things out better. ---
**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:** [June 26, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/19 "2015-06-26T13:51:58Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > But just the way that this was written makes it sound like terrible news for her. It is. Maybe this will derail the [gravy train she was on.](http://www.inquisitr.com/2203203/bristol-palin-made-close-to-1-million-pushing-abstinence-only-policies-now-is-pregnant-with-child-no-2/) > [@](#): > > Ironically, it was lectures on abstinence that helped to make Bristol Palin a millionaire. In 2009, she went to work for The Candie’s Foundation as a teen pregnancy ambassador, giving speeches to warn against teen pregnancy. > > Forbes reported, “Apparently, the organization was only able to find $35,000 to grant to charities from the $1,242,476 donated from the public. Meanwhile, the young Ms. Palin managed to pull in a $262,500 paycheck for her role as an ambassador for their teen pregnancy prevention campaign in 2009.” > > Bristol Palin continued to rack in the earnings from her appearances, making between $15,000 and $30,000 for every speech she made advocating abstinence-only policies, which the Daily Beast estimated to total about $100,000 per year. > > While Bristol made close to $500,000 directly from abstinence-only appearances, her advocacy against teen pregnancy also helped lead to an appearance on Dancing with the Stars and a memoir, Not Afraid Of Life, earning her well over $1 million in total. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487/20 "2015-06-26T14:27:05Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It is. Maybe this will derail the [gravy train she was on.](http://www.inquisitr.com/2203203/bristol-palin-made-close-to-1-million-pushing-abstinence-only-policies-now-is-pregnant-with-child-no-2/) It’s possible that’s the case. But it’s possible she could stay on there, or find some other gravy train job. But the tone didn’t read to me as sad because she could lose her money stream. It read as sad because of the pregnancy. [This blog post summed it up better than I could:](http://www.shakesville.com/2015/06/on-bristol-palins-pregnancy-announcement.html) > [@](#): > > The reason I advocate for comprehensive reproductive rights options and reproductive justice is because I don’t want pregnant people to feel shame about unwanted pregnancies, and because I want them to have the choice to terminate unwanted pregnancies, without judgment. This is the exact opposite of that. > > I don’t wish a sad, disappointing pregnancy on Bristol Palin. What I wish is that she felt like she could get an abortion without shame, if being pregnant is not what she wants. > > And I wish she could use this experience to understand why other women might want that option, even if she doesn’t, and that it’s okay. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-abstinence-means-what-you-think-it-means/723487.md?page=2)