And while we're on the subject: in which the author attempts to clear something up for once and for all

Personally? I don't hold with calling people "prudes."

I don't actually know as I think there is such a thing as a "prude."

I think there are people who really like sex, and like talking about it.

I think there are people who really like sex and don't like talking about it.

I think there are people who don't much like or have interest in sex and don't spend much time talking about it.

And then of course there are people (which probably includes most of us at some point or another) who are of the opinion that "I'm normal, you're kinky/wild, she's a degenerate perverted slutbot."

All of these, um, positions, make sense. To me. If you really like something, it makes sense to want to talk about it. Sometimes, because of cultural mores and our own sense of whatever, we like to keep ourselves to ourselves. Others of us, for whatever perfectly valid reasons, are not interested at this time (or ever); go in peace. And sure, one might have real concerns about abuse and exploitation and disease and other forms of harm in thisthatortheother, based on one's own experience with same (direct or otherwise), and/or based on fear of the unknown and the widely disdained.

The "I'm normal, but -that's- just sick" thing--well, it irks. But it's also pretty human. One hopes--well, I hope--that as long as the general standard of "consenting adults" is met, one's personal ick factor shouldn't really be an issue to someone else's enjoyment; or vice-versa.

Here's the thing about disgust, though:

Generally speaking, if it really is simple disgust (if disgust is ever simple) or, for that matter, indifference (more likely to be just that simple), one doesn't spend a whole lot of time talking about the object/practice of disgust.

So: now consider the people who are, to all appearances, not just uninterested but violently repulsed by sex--or, far more likely, certain specific kinds of sex; and yet, for some reason, never frigging shut up about it.

Not only do they talk endlessly about ("sodomy," cocksucking, leathersex, rabid ferret porn), but they somehow manage to track down the most obscure, shocking, perverse examples of the genre they can find. And share the most lurid details, painted with lovingly vivid imagery, with anyone who cares to listen and a number who really don't.

Remarks about "nonconsensual domination and/or exhibition" might be a bit obscure, perhaps.

Old joke:

Man goes to see a psychiatrist. The shrink, being old-school, kicks things off with a good old-fashioned inkblot test.

First image: "What do you see?"

Man sez, "I see...a nekkid woman."

Note. Second image. "What do you see?"

"I see..two people having (heh, heh) sex."

"Mm. And this one?"

"Oh! It's an orgy, isn't it! Look over here, you see how he's..."

"And this one?"

"...I can't even say it out loud (whispers)"

And so on. At the end of the session, the doctor sez,

"Well, Mr. Blahblah, it would appear that you have a rather morbid obsession with sexuality."

"Me?! ME??? But, doc! You're the one showing me all the dirty pictures!"

**

I realize that what I'm saying here is not exactly news for most people reading it. And the people who it -would- be applicable to certainly aren't gonna hear it now if they weren't before.

But I'm gonna spell it out anyway.

If you find yourself relentlessly battling with the forces of predators and perversion? If your driving passion is the rooting out and extermination of whatever-filthy-thing-it-is? If you see the world as one big cesspool of seething, teeming, depraved lusts, and spend all your time alternately bewailing the muck and stirring it with a stick?

It ain't the doc. And it's not the "dirty" pictures.

It's you.