Having Killed Science, Kansas Lawmakers Now Go After Sex

[Guynemer]

I was also a history major.

And if you haven't taken a human sexuality course, what on earth makes you qualified to speak as to the academic merits of such a course?

[Imran Siddiqui]

No wonder we're the fattest nation on earth.

Actually we aren't . There are South Pacific countries that are fatter because they believe that look is good.

If this stuff was kiddie porn ( the possession of which is illegal in a lot of places) I would see a problem.

I think pictures of the genitals of 5 and 10 year olds comes very, very close to kiddie porn, and that is my main complaint (well that and this class being a total waste of money ).

I have to agree with obiwan. I had friends who took the human sexuality class (guess why they took it). It simply seemed like a course on, as obiwan put it, more efficient ways of making out. It seems like a waste to me, but if the University wants it, who am I to say otherwise?

[Ben Kenobi]

guynemer:

And if you haven't taken a human sexuality course, what on earth makes you qualified to speak as to the academic merits of such a course?

Where have I said that the course is useless, according to my authority?

"Besides teaching students how to make out with each other more efficiently, what else does the course provide?"

This is not a rhetorical question, guynemer. I want to know what are the benefits of the course.

Since you have taken the course, how did the course help you to become a doctor?

[Elok]

Well, my mother did a report on sexuality in long-term care(i.e. nursing homes-it's not a graphic description so I escaped sans blinding mental images)...does that count?
And, as an English major, I am completely free of the wicked tyranny of facts. Actually, I'm not so sure why we're so picky that people be adequately informed about this, but not in all the other topics. Like the "what should we do in Iraq" topics. Dozens of people who get all their info from the daily news, the same wacky folks who told us Y2K would kill us all and bombard us daily with "human-interest" yellow journalism tearjerker crap--dozens of people who have probably never been to Iraq, receive no Intel reports, and spend a few minutes of their spare time thinking it over, all doing their best to second-guess people who ponder all possibilities for days and weeks at a time. That's not what I call an informed opinion, and nobody sweats it there; why here? Welcome to American debate. We conjecture, we stereotype, we make ad hominem assaults without provocation(just like I did right now, applying blanket terms to the whole American population. It's fun and easy!). If you're gonna fight that power, why doncha fight it everywhere, with consistency?
Does anyone see what I'm getting at?

I'm not sure I do. I'd better shut up now.

[Flubber]

I did not take the sex psych course but did see the relevant text. It was far from a course on making out and while there was a chapter on sexual positions the prof neither lectured nor tested that topic as he believed it was " the most studied chapter in the history of this university".

The remainder of the materials/lectiures were a combination of sociology and psychology. I believe there were discussions of homosexuality ( genetic vs environment arguments presented), sexual norms across cultures and across time periods, the biological processes that go into desire, sexual disfunction ( both physical and pschological), transgendered persons and on and on.

The fact that the subject matter was popular does not mean they are any less worthy of study. if a film school wanted to study pornographic films or some literature or art class decided to study comic books, thats fine too.

I don't know whether this particular class is valuable of not, I've never attended. All I am saying is that there is ample material in the field of sexual psychology/ sociology to be worth a stand-alone course. If the course is seen as easy, thats a function of the professor, not the material

[Flubber]

Originally posted by obiwan18
guynemer:


This is not a rhetorical question, guynemer. I want to know what are the benefits of the course.

Thats a tough test to meet. Heres a short list of courses that have been of no benefit to me as a lawyer

Math
Physics
Chemistry


Did that make them unworthy of study??

[Lorizael]

People should attempt to be adequately informed about all subjects that affect their lives on a daily basis. Sex, being as how it is an integral part of human experience, most assuredly affects us everyday.

The complaint from the state senator was that such material was "obscene" and therefore should not be taught, at least not with the government attached to it. This sort of thing needs to go away.

Sex is a part of life, a large part of life, because everyday the sexual urge to procreate affects how we interact with each other. It should not be something repressed and hidden away. Repression and fear is what leads to child molesters and people with sexual identity crises.

Not everyone needs to know all of this to function in society, but people should not shudder away from it just because it's got the word sex in the title.

[Guynemer]

Are you kidding, obiwan?

How did the human sexuality course help me?

Talking to patients about sexuality transmitted diseases
Talking to patients about their sexual history
Talking to patients about risk factors
Understanding the psychology of people when it comes to sexual issues
Talking to adolescents about sexuality
Talking to children about sexual abuse
Talking to women and men about rape

I could go on for another halfhour or so, but I wouldn't want to bore anyone with such useless information.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The complaint from the state senator was that such material was "obscene" and therefore should not be taught, at least not with the government attached to it.

IIRC, she said SOME of it was obscene.

[Guynemer]

And how is human development obscene?

[Ben Kenobi]

Flubber:

guynemer said that he is a medical student, so my question is valid. Doctor can use this information everyday.

Did that make them unworthy of study??

Did you take these at a university level?

Do the majority of the students taking the course find them useful for their occupation?

I'm a history major, likely working in research, and I will say that my training in sciences has helped me to structure my questions, as well as my way of thinking.

What about this course? Why are the majority of the students taking the course? Are they trying to become doctors, or looking for more efficient ways to make out?

[Guynemer]

Obi, do you honestly think that class in Kansas is about how to "make out"? 'cuz, if so, I may just have some exciting investment opportunities to share with you.

[Ben Kenobi]

guynemer:

I'm not a doctor, so thank you very much.

This should have been your first argument, rather than the knee-jerk 'you've not taken the course, so how do you know?'

[Imran Siddiqui]

And how is human development obscene?

Are you serious, now?!

Pictures of naked children that borden on child porn, showing pornographic videos? The sex class we had at our university had on its test pictures which you'd have to property identify. **** rings, Prince Albert piercings, nipple and clit piercings were all part of it. You don't think that ordinary people would consider the obscene?

[Guynemer]

Exactly why did the pictures of children border on porn?

Ordinary people might find it obscene? Sure. Ordinary people might find a lot of the content of university classes obscene. What makes that any different?