How many sexual partners have you had

[Kuciwalker]

Which part?

The whole thing. It just... makes you shiver a bit, at the end. When I read it, the last sentence feels very quiet, and pleading.

[Jon Miller]

Anonymity does not guarantee accurate reporting, Jon. The fact that you think it does makes me question your grasp of basic human psychology.

I agree. But it is going to be the best numbers that we have.

People always say they doubt these sorts of studies... and I agree that anything that is this soft isn't going to be near as accurate as measurements in the hard sciences tend to be.

But I don't see why we should doubt these studies (because it has been more than 1 that has produced similar numbers) just because some guy on the internet says so.

JM

[KrazyHorse]

Jon, you don't see why unverifiable questionnaires to men will have them giving number of sexual partners higher than reality?

[Dis]

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_d...ecate_in_a_day

didn't realize anyone was that bored to study that. hmm, I stand corrected.

[Jon Miller]

I know that people have faulty memory, people like to screw with things, people lie to themselves.

I do admit I don't really get why some guy would be much more likely to give a higher number of partners than reality on a survey where there is no acknowledgment if not for those three reasons.

I do know that guys might like to give exaggeration of their sexual prowess. However, I haven't seen all that much of that (might be who I hang out with), and I don't see what the gain is if no one sees it... not even the person putting the study together.

JM

[notyoueither]

The whole thing. It just... makes you shiver a bit, at the end. When I read it, the last sentence feels very quiet, and pleading.

Thinking about her made me sad.

[Dis]

anonymous survey is better. But some people like to troll, and vote high or low to mess up the numbers. I bet some people voted 0 who actually had some, and some people voted 31+ who haven't had that many. Why do people mess things up? Because they have anarchist tendencies perhaps. Regardless the results are better than not being anonymous, but I'm sure there are significant accuracy problems.

And what's with the drug questions? That's what bothers me about the msnbc survey. How does sex relate to drug use? I don't get it. They say it's risky behaviour, but it is possible to have sex relatively risk free.

[Jon Miller]

They were trying to do studies about stuff that people don't honestly report on as much.

JM

[Jon Miller]

They were trying to do studies about stuff that people don't honestly report on as much.

JM

[Flubber]

. Again, I'm not denying that ANYBODY here has done it. I am denying that most of the people who claim to have done it on a silly poll on Poly actually have. 9/49 is like 19%. That's far too high.

perhaps-- I don't claim at all that the sample is at all representative. I just think about my experience and what I have observed. I wouldn't think that 9 individuals is impossible from poly-- hell its not even improbable-- Again I don't assert the number is necessarily true

Just curious , what number would you believe in the 31+ category

.

3. KH knowing what you know from poly would you believe me if I said I had 5 partners in a stretch of 5 weeks?

Yes, actually.

Interesting-- you find my 5 in 5 more believable than the idea of 9 folks seeing 31 plus over years and years and years-- I would not have thought myself to be such a slut as compared to the general population of poly. I am somewhat curious as to what led you believe that assertion but it does show me you don't blindly believe a poly person as being incapable of promiscuity.

.

I don't think 31+ is unattainable.

To me its not even an issue. Its clearly and obviously attainable.

Let me be clear -- I don't necessarily believe the poly poll number. Given the number of jokesters who revel in answering polls inaccurately, it is reasonably likely that someone did a 31+ in jest. But on the flip side its also reasonably likely IMHO that there could be 9 30+ folks and I cannot discount the chance the data for this sample is actually accurate.



Oh and I agree with you that it is "easier" to stay in a regular sexular relationship than it is to find a different lady all the time. Heck I stayed in a relationship or two for too long and the only reason was that the sex was good.

But at the same time, have you ever dated in your later 20s or early 30s? That old joke/saying about sex by the 3rd date seemed to be true as often as not and its not shocking to contemplate that someone that had ZERO one night stands could have a half dozen to a dozen sexual partners in a year from "relationships" that ranged from a week to a month in duration.

[Dis]

Something that was never discussed in the poll, which I feel bears mentioning. Prostitution. That does count, right? From some surveys I've seen a significant number of men do prostitutes. I doubt I'm the only one here at poly who has in the past. You could hit 31 whores in a week if you wanted. not that I've done that or anything

But that's what bothers me about these surveys. They are half assed. The Kinsey ones were good, I think they even asked about prostitutes. They really need to do something like those again for 2010. Maybe do it along with the census.

[Flubber]

Something that was never discussed in the poll, which I feel bears mentioning. Prostitution. That does count, right? From some surveys I've seen a significant number of men do prostitutes.

Dis is correct-- and like the really slutty girl phenomenon, prostitution could explain some of the differences in males and females when it comes to median number of partners

[Chemical Ollie]

What is a sex partner?

Is it enough to squeeze some naked boobs to count as sex? Or a Bill/Monica affair?

Or do we only mean full intercourse?

[Dis]

I would say there has to be some sort of penetration, or in the case of oral sex, direct tongue on genital touching.

therefore dry humping does not count These are my rules, I make em' up. *name that quote*

[b etor]

oh if it includes just oral... then my answer needs to be changed to 31+, instead of 15-20.