Comments on stuff people have been saying:
D:
Do you realise the amount of sex and prostitution content in your last few entries? Anyway, here's my take. I offer it because articulating a thought can sometimes clarify it. I don't know if prostitution is good or bad, I think it really, really depends on the situation. Sure, it can be argued that women forced into prostitution to make ends meet is an undesirable outcome, and I would agree (I think that society is obligated to find other options instead of selling sexual favours to allow otherwise impovished people to make a living. Similarly, providing those means but making prostitution favourable by paying a lot more to sell sex is a no-no.). But shouldn't it be up to the man.woman in question to decide whether or not they want to sell sexual favours? They have a right to themselves, and should be allowed to exercise those rights. That being said, there are some cases where society has to take a stand to restrict what choices a person can make with his or her body. One such situation is the "compensated dating" you mentioned. These underaged girls are not deemed mature by society's standards, and just as juveniles are free from some adult responsibilities (juvenile court takes the age of the accused into account and issues lighter sentences), they are also denied some adult rights (alcohol consumption, driving, carrying a firearm, etc...). Similarly, I suppose that those judged to be non-competent to make such decisions about how they want to have sex, like the delusional or self-abusive, should not be offered to choice to engage in prostitution. That being said, prostitution _is_ the world's oldest profession and isn't likely to be leaving us any time soon...

Thinking about it, I realise that it's silly that we try to establish moral standards on sex, but we pay so little attention to actions that are almost certainly morally lapse, like power politics, backstabbing, dishonesty, etc... in our lives. Why do we care so much who sleeps with whom and why when we don't seem to care that we'd lie, cheat and steal to get ahead of each other? Seems like we focus on sex because a)it's easier to notice - self-propaganda could just as well be confidence, an outright lie could just be an overconfident assertion and b)the mysteries of the reproductive process take a huge role in the human psyche. Moreover, sex is a basic human desire: if men think about sex every six seconds, then it's no wonder that at least half the population is obsessed with sexual mores.

That being said, I notice a lot of safe sex talks going on in the dorms right now. They all go with the slogan "what's better than sex?" From personal experience, a lot of things. Sex, like almost any activity, can range from bad to boring to really, really good. So what's better than [bad or mediocre] sex? A good book. Watching the sun rise over the ocean. A really warm breeze on a cool Spring day (we've been having a lot of those lately. *grin* The daffodils are starting to bloom in abundance, little patches of white on green grass). Proving theorums (trust me). Sweat, exhaustion, and a job well done. Good music. The company of friends.

C:
Remind me to try that stew. I like stew.

Anyways, since my mind is on the "s" word right now (and, as Nessa points out, my mind is usually in the gutter...), I have to say, C, that from what I've heard, most straight or bi people find homosexuals of the opposite gender attractive.