Have young people in Japan stopped having sex? • Hacker News Board

Re: Have young people in Japan stopped having sex?

#241

Post by nctorn » Sun, Oct 20, 2013, 5:56 PM UTC

I see this trend in other industrialized countries, like in western Europe. I believe probably a very important cause of this demographic imbalance is the equality factor. Women work same as men, earn same as men and feel empowered. This is great for the individual, but then the society as a whole remains out of equilibrium.

For some reason being independent (able to buy what I want, when I want it and work 20 hours a day) is better than rising a family and having children. Things that are after all, the reason of what as species, are suppose to be doing in this planet.

The signal is then clear, you fail to do that, but being to extinct. This is exactly what begins where this trends are prevalent. Perhaps we need to rethink the roles and if being independent is something that in the long term will create more value for the group.

Re: Have young people in Japan stopped having sex?

#242

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Oct 20, 2013, 5:57 PM UTC

westicle wrote: post #96

veidr wrote: post #73

This is a stupid article, and young people in Japan have not stopped having sex. What westerners might call 'casual sex' -- sex without the framework of a relationships that implies various other promieses/committments -- is normal, and also not likely to be spoken about frankly, especially to a reporter, and much less a British one. Sometimes I'll witness a young woman asked about it at a social gathering (as people…

This certainly isn't a phenomenon exclusive to Japan either. I know plenty of western young people who have no interest in marriage, procreation or families. Maybe they're more interested in their work. Maybe they're more interested in rock-climbing. Maybe they're more interested in Pokemon. More power to them, I say.

[deleted]

Re: Have young people in Japan stopped having sex?

#243

Post by chc » Sun, Oct 20, 2013, 6:00 PM UTC

ferongr wrote: post #192

berntb wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You missed the claim that it is well documented that the Japanese young have less sex. A quick check of condom sales (and/or VD statistics) can verify if people have less sex. But, of course, the article really might be just pure fantasy with invented statistics. (I have no idea. Since it is easily testable, any fact checkers at the magazine would find out quickly. But maybe only NYTimes have them, these days.) Edit:…

>A quick check of condom sales (and/or VD statistics) can verify if people have less sex. Or it could mean that Japanese people have more unprotected sex and that they value personal hygiene and health more, resulting in lower condom sales and V.D. rates per capita.

It really strains credulity to think that Japanese people are going at it like bunnies but are simply light years ahead of everybody else on the planet in terms of sexual sophistication (to the point where unprotected anonymous sex is actually safe sex).

Re: Have young people in Japan stopped having sex?

#244

Post by outworlder » Sun, Oct 20, 2013, 6:05 PM UTC

nkhodyunya wrote: post #106

Sex nowadays became a redundant, obsolete, risky, overcomplicated act which you can totally avoid with the help of good porn. So why bother with searching partner, if you can have all of sex benefits alone, but with porn or good imagination.

Have you ever considered the possibility that you are just lacking experience, and thus not doing it properly?

Indeed, if sex were as boring as masturbation, it wouldn't be worth it.

Re: Have young people in Japan stopped having sex?

#245

Post by alexeisadeski3 » Sun, Oct 20, 2013, 6:12 PM UTC

willvarfar wrote: post #98

alexeisadeski3 wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wars aren't generally fought over resources these days.

As an armchair student, I'd judge most wars to be about resources. We must differ in definition of resources. Which recent wars are not about resources, do you think?

No, it's not our definition of resources which differ. It's our understandings of human motivation which differs.

You see the US as invading Iraq to control it's oil. I see the US invading Iraq out of frustration and the wish to "send a message" a-la mafiosos.

Most wars are fought over honor and respect.

Re: Have young people in Japan stopped having sex?

#246

Post by alexeisadeski3 » Sun, Oct 20, 2013, 6:14 PM UTC

ohyes wrote: post #154

alexeisadeski3 wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wars aren't generally fought over resources these days.

Wars aren't overtly fought over resources these days, but the US has spent a lot of money in Iraq and 'stabilizing' the middle east (lot of good it's done). There happens to be oil in that area.

And the US has spent a lot of money 'stabilizing' Afghanistan - quite possibly the most resource-less locale on the planet.

Re: Have young people in Japan stopped having sex?

#247

Post by Crake » Sun, Oct 20, 2013, 6:14 PM UTC

westicle wrote: post #96

veidr wrote: post #73

This is a stupid article, and young people in Japan have not stopped having sex. What westerners might call 'casual sex' -- sex without the framework of a relationships that implies various other promieses/committments -- is normal, and also not likely to be spoken about frankly, especially to a reporter, and much less a British one. Sometimes I'll witness a young woman asked about it at a social gathering (as people…

This certainly isn't a phenomenon exclusive to Japan either. I know plenty of western young people who have no interest in marriage, procreation or families. Maybe they're more interested in their work. Maybe they're more interested in rock-climbing. Maybe they're more interested in Pokemon. More power to them, I say.

I am definitely more interested in Pokemon.

Re: Have young people in Japan stopped having sex?

#248

Post by raverbashing » Sun, Oct 20, 2013, 6:18 PM UTC

muraiki wrote: post #170

klipt wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> from the exorbitant costs of buying property in Japan Well they are living on an island. You can't grow your population forever in a finite space without increased competition.

I recall reading an article saying that there is actually quite a lot of undeveloped / rural land in Japan, but people tend to live in the largest cities because large businesses want to be close to the areas of greatest political influence.

Yes, I remember hearing about some places where the cities would give you a place to build your house in exchange for living there.

Japan is concentrated on the urban areas, apart from that it's very scarcely populated.

And Japan is bigger (area) than Germany.

Re: Have young people in Japan stopped having sex?

#249

Post by Crake » Sun, Oct 20, 2013, 6:30 PM UTC

unsignedint wrote: post #88

Few things I'm reading from Japanese people (albeit, I won't say this is unbiased observation) often cite unrealistic expectations of their partner's income, look, and personality. So, I've looked into the government research about it, at least for income part as it is being tangible. [1] As for income, there have been some research that lifetime unmarried rate would collaborate with income. (Mostly for male) [2] The…

I think I remember a study a while back that found that women expect their future husband(s) to make more than them, even though women make equal to men or more in my country. Naturally, this makes "good men" (according to this rather sexist definition of suitability) hard if not impossible to find.

Women have been liberated from a lot of their gender roles, but seem fine with keeping men in theirs.

Re: Have young people in Japan stopped having sex?

#250

Post by Crake » Sun, Oct 20, 2013, 6:35 PM UTC

nkhodyunya wrote: post #217

graycat wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sex? Add in commitment, caring, affection, intimacy, romance, joining of lives, a good version of passion, a collection of memories, activities, traditions really like, don't want to lose, can't get anywhere else, and, thus, cause 'lock in', vows, supportive families, children ("most rewarding thing we did"), etc. One night stands are not very good on passion; it takes a while for a caring, loving couple to be good w…

This probably must sound reasonable, at least for a guy who was taught this things during his whole life. But as for me, any relationships I can imagine with a human being is a painful nightmare. I don't really know if I enjoy loneliness or not, but at least I don't find it painful at all.

I think I can sort of relate.