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Explaining Sex Rate Changes

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Re: Explaining Sex Rate Changes

#171

In a way, this mirrors how technological advances have created winner-take-all markets in other areas. Thanks to CDs (and then the internet), we can now all listen to the very best musicians in the world — where previously we just had to settle for whoever was the best in our town. Similarly, technology may be shifting the dating/intimacy market toward a winners-take-most equilibrium, which favors the most attractive…

That also explains why it's become astronomically harder to make it as a content creator, instead of easier, like this whole information revolution promised.

Re: Explaining Sex Rate Changes

#172
post #26

As the article points out, fewer young men are having sex, but roughly the same number of young women are having sex. I wonder if dating apps (Tinder, Bumble, etc.) are leading women to have sex with a smaller cohort of desirable men. Years ago, OkCupid noted that a small percentage of men get an overwhelming percentage of messages from women. With the rise of "swipe right, swipe left" mobile dating apps, where peopl…

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Re: Explaining Sex Rate Changes

#173
post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What a horrible idea unless you're an extraverted person who'd be likely to join the events anyway.

‘What a horrible idea — interacting with other humans face to face - I’d be so uncomfortable’. I see it as a weak social muscle that hasn’t had a lot of workout time and is leaning on a crutch of modern lifestyle staying indoors on screen time. Just like how gradual exercise will make someone stronger , lose weight and take a burden off of the public healthcare system — social exercise will benefit society as well in…

Mandatory bullshit events forced on people who don't want to be there and then likely some stupid process to prove to the government that you attended the event is a horrible idea.

If you want to encourage face to face events then you need to transform urban spaces to be more walkable and create more public spaces people actually want to hang out at. If I go outside I could walk around for hours and the only people I would see are out there for fitness and do not wish to be disturbed by random chats.

Forcing people to do things is never as effective as making people want to do them in the first place.

Re: Explaining Sex Rate Changes

#174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The internet and dating apps surely play a part. It's also become more acceptable to be non-monogamous. I lived in the bay area for a while and hung out among queer circles in San Francisco. It seemed like nearly everyone was polyamorous and uninterested in being in a monogamous relationship. So much that I felt kind of obligated to try the poly thing myself for a while if I was going to date. I am a little worried a…

> It also seems to me that if a sizeable chunk of young men end up feeling undesirable, unwanted, and frustrated, the consequences won't be pretty, we all lose. Pretty much. This is the demographic most susceptible to radicalization.

See: isis to alt-right

Re: Explaining Sex Rate Changes

#175

It's genuinely depressing to think that a large number of guys now has no access to explore intimacy and partnership (or very little). No one's owed sex of course but it's like we're breaking aspects of society. And I think you'd naturally find women are less able to find meaning themselves here so it's not just a men's pity party. I wonder, if this is a dating app phenomenon, if there's anything that can be done tha…

While dating apps probably have a role to play, I doubt that the problem is limited to them. I think this is a lot of small things adding up over time.

1. Video games give us fulfillment. If the reason you're looking for intimate relationships is fulfillment in life and video games partly fill that hole, then you're less likely to look for intimate relationships. Men tend to make up a much greater share of games that require a large time investment ("hardcore games").

2. Social media gives us some human contact, but it rarely leads to intimate contact. It scratches the itch of human interaction without needing us to leave the room.

3. Porn. The easy access to porn means that there's less of a reason to search for intimate contact. Men tend to be visual. When you're online, then images of a beautiful woman are only a few clicks away. It doesn't come with any of the baggage relationships come with either.

3. Dating apps. Women on dating apps seem to be harsher when judging the attractiveness of men than men are. This leads to a situation where average looking men will find it harder to find intimate partners on these services. They can't really make up for it by being smart or witty either.

4. Relationships are difficult to start. If a man approaches a woman and fails, then (sometimes) he's considered creepy. In many cases it's simply a misreading of expectations. For example, some women think that a man should always approach first, but some women think that unless a woman explicitly shows interest then a man approaching her is creepy. It's risky for a man to start the interaction, so they are more apprehensive. At least this is the impression that I got based on what I've seen online, particularly Twitter.

5. Divorce. In many of the stories you hear about separation and divorce, it's the man that gets shafted. Women are more likely to get the kids and, at least in the stories, they might get a large alimony too. This means that the man would be severely hampered in any future relationships they seek, because some of their income goes to the former spouse.

Some men add these together and then ask themselves "why bother?" Why risk approaching a woman, if instead you could be playing video games? They are as much fun, and hey, chances are that she wouldn't be into you anyway. As a result, some men opt out from this part of society.

I'm sure there are many other small issues like this that I couldn't think of, but these are certainly things that made me question whether relationships are even worth it. Every time you hear about things like "toxic masculinity" or some such it ever so slightly chips away at some men's interest in participating in society. The small chips have added up. Couple that with compelling alternatives on how to spend your time and I think you get the result we have.

You could also argue that we're simply following in the footsteps of Japan.

Re: Explaining Sex Rate Changes

#176
post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not even close. If anything it'll make things worse, as more immature kids will think this is great and feel less motivated.

How would that make the chances of destabilization higher? It seems you actually agree with me?

Its because relationships, both casual and long term, are usually more than about sex. And even purely sexual ones... its not just orgasm that makes sex good. Its everything before and after sex, too. Its the ecstasy of sharing your most vulnerable self with _another human being_. And also the uniqueness of every experience.

It may be possible that a sufficiently advanced AI and advances in robotics may be sufficient for what most people think of sex though, IDK.

Re: Explaining Sex Rate Changes

#177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> we can now all listen to the very best musicians in the world — where previously we just had to settle for whoever was the best in our town Yeah, so billions the world over progressed from their local musicians and folk tradition to Kanye West, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, and Nicky Minaj.

Like him or not, but it's hard to deny that Kanye West is a talented rapper. I'm not exactly sure what point you're making here.

Why is it hard to deny? His work appears empty of real meaning, vapid, lacking in poetry and worth in all respects.

Further he is packaging himself as a product not merely his art. His bad art is wrapped in a stupid person with nonsensical views. Its like a shit sandwich wrapped in a brown paper bag peed on by a hobo.

Re: Explaining Sex Rate Changes

#178
post #40

I would be interested in having some stats by education level and profession. From my current personal experience as a CS student, I would say it is easily above 50%.

Generally speaking, academic performance is inversely correlated with sex. In top universities the majority of students are virgins coming into university and a substantial percent (usually in the 25-50% range) are at graduation. Probably due to more time dedicated to study and career growth than relationships. Anecdotally, I've found that in tech and STEM more broadly rates of sex are lower - probably due to the ove…

STEM is the worst social wise. You're correct that gender imbalances have a lot to do with this. There's also the fact that people who like STEM are generally social outcasts of some sort (nerds bullied in school, rarely the popular/cool kids).

Re: Explaining Sex Rate Changes

#179
post #37
post #26

As the article points out, fewer young men are having sex, but roughly the same number of young women are having sex. I wonder if dating apps (Tinder, Bumble, etc.) are leading women to have sex with a smaller cohort of desirable men. Years ago, OkCupid noted that a small percentage of men get an overwhelming percentage of messages from women. With the rise of "swipe right, swipe left" mobile dating apps, where peopl…

I've noticed this disparity within my friend circles. The objectively attractive men match/sleep with multiple woman a month where almost all of the men with near average looks get approximately zero matches. Interesting indeed. My female friends match with almost every male regardless.

This is the whole reason monogamy was standardized. It is a stabilizing force in society and creates equality instead of a winner take all situation. Without monogamy you end up with a small number of men having the attention of the majority of women. This causes huge problems, with the loosers being the average and below average men and women. Certain things about how society evolved to function are there for a reason.

Re: Explaining Sex Rate Changes

#180

It's genuinely depressing to think that a large number of guys now has no access to explore intimacy and partnership (or very little). No one's owed sex of course but it's like we're breaking aspects of society. And I think you'd naturally find women are less able to find meaning themselves here so it's not just a men's pity party. I wonder, if this is a dating app phenomenon, if there's anything that can be done tha…

Dating apps, much like social networking apps like Facebook, reduce our interactions to the shallowest form possible. So it is much better for people to not use these forms and resort to more laborious methods of interaction because these also allow a deeper more honest connection between people. Deeper and more honest connections lead to better understanding and appreciation of each other, which is good for society. Unfortunately we haven't even figured out how to ween people off easy "social interaction" yet, much less dating apps.
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