Reddit asks ‘What’s The Worst Sex-Ed Advice You Got In School?’

(images via Depositphotos)
A recent thread on reddit asked folks to chime in with “the worst sex-ed advice you received at school?” A lot of comments shared how little sex education was actually offered in their schools with many hailing the saving grace of the Google – “Thank God for the internet, seriously I don’t know what I would have done.” Abstinence made several appearances in the thread:

• “Don’t have sex or your penis will fall off.”

• “If you have sex, you will get gonorrhea, and you will die.”

• “Haha, we had an hour and a half long lecture about abstinence, in high school.

• “Virginity is like a handkerchief. If you let some boy sneeze in it, do you think anyone else would want to use it?”

Of course, masturbation was a big topic:

• “Masturbation elongates your penis. Half of my class was just tugging their slugs for the rest of that afternoon.”

• “When I was homeschooled, my mom told me that masturbating caused cancer because you’d be too aggressive to your ballsack due to ‘the motion.’ I feel bad for my father now.”

• “In seventh grade we had a speaker come talk to the whole school in the auditorium. This motherf**ker told us that if we pleasured ourselves, we were statistically much more likely to be rapists and pedophiles. Every guy in that room including myself felt instantly ashamed. F**k that guy.”

Condom use was addressed from several angles:

• “Condoms are worthless so don’t bother.”

• “Wrap it twice, just as nice.”

 “What you do is you put one on and then ad hot-sauce and then put on the other one. You will notice if one of them breaks.”

Not quite advice, but one Redditor did share a fascinating sex ed ‘factoid’ we’ve never heard:

• “My sex ed teacher told us, ‘Ejaculate is the whitest substance on Earth.'”

Several remembered getting a sex ed/morality lesson using two pieces of tape, like this one:

• “My teacher took two pieces of tape and stuck them to her sleeves. She would then peel them off and re-stick them to her sleeves getting the backside of the tape more linty each time. She said that the pieces of tape were people and every time she put them on her sleeve it represented them having sex with a different person. Eventually, when she put them together, they didn’t stick very well from all shirt fibers and this meant they were so emotionally disconnected they couldn’t form a lasting bond. So don’t have sex or you’ll be a broken shell of a person unable to love.”

And then there are these random thoughts:

• “They didn’t tell us u need to use lube. They just said it’ll work out some way. Fun story: I’m gay sooooooo yeah, that hurt… Like, really really bad.”

• “That lubricants are not needed ‘if the man is doing his job right.'”

• “Not school but my mom told me that anal could get somebody pregnant. But since I’m gay this doesn’t matter.”

• “I was homeschooled. All my dad told me was “you stick it in, you jizz, then it’s over..” Thanks, dad.”

• “It was unsolicited sex advice from a psych TA. ‘Don’t go into dark alleys because you WILL end up having sex in there.’ With whom? No freaking idea. Maybe the weird alley sex goblins.”

• “We were told that a wet dream produced an amount of fluid tantamount to wetting the bed. They didn’t even tell us what fluid it was.”

• “That men had to be circumcised before having sex or the foreskin would rip, leading to all kinds of infections, permanent injury, or even death.”

• “‘Men are completely incapable of controlling themselves.’ Made it sound to everyone like we had no control over our bodies, thoughts, or actions, and that we spray urine and semen at everything that crosses our path.”

Click over to the AskReddit thread for more nuggets of sex-ed here.

Russia Approves COVID-19 Vaccine Without Phase 3 Trials

(image via Unsplash)
Well, this would make me uncomfortable… From ABC News:

Russia on Tuesday became the first country to clear a coronavirus vaccine and declare it ready for use, despite international skepticism. President Vladimir Putin said that one of his daughters has already been inoculated.

Putin emphasized that the vaccine underwent the necessary tests and has proven efficient, offering lasting immunity from the coronavirus.

However, scientists at home and abroad have been sounding the alarm that the rush to start using the vaccine before Phase 3 trials — which normally last for months and involve thousands of people — could backfire.

UK Man Becomes 1st In The World To Have New Penis ‘Built’ On His Arm

Malcolm MacDonald (screen capture via The Sun)
After losing his penis due to a blood infection, a 45-year-old UK man is the recipient of a new penis being grown on his forearm. MacDonald, who lives in Norfolk, UK, struggled for years with an infection of his perineum, the area between the anus and testicles. Over time, the infection spread to his fingers and toes causing them to turn black. Then, one day, he was shocked to see his penis turn black as well. “It was like a horror film,” MacDonald told The Sun. “I was in a complete panic. I knew deep down it was gone and I was going to lose it.” “Then one day it just dropped off on to the floor,” he adds. “Because I had been through the devastation of knowing I was going to lose it, I just picked it up and put it in the bin.” MacDonald, who works as a mechanic, says the best doctors could do for him at the time was “to roll the remaining stump up like a little sausage roll.” The separated dad-of-two fell into a depression, became a recluse, and began drinking heavily. In 2016, his doctor referred him to Professor David Ralph, a specialist in phallus reconstruction in residence at University College Hospital in London. Ralph and his team were able to take skin grafts from MacDonald’s arm and butt to build the new penis along with a vein from his leg for blood flow. During discussions about what the new appendage would look like, MacDonald asked for – and received – an additional two inches.
(Malcolm MacDonald (screen capture)
“They were happy to listen to what I wanted it to be like, which was amazing,” says MacDonald. “Not many can say they have a designer penis.” The procedure, funded by the NHS, cost £50,000 ($65,000US). He says when he first saw the penis on his left arm, he felt “so, so proud.” He adds that, like any other man, he “just couldn’t leave it alone” in the beginning – “I thought it was the best thing ever.” The penis was ‘grown’ over the next two years and in 2018, it was time to transplant the new appendage (that he had nicknamed ‘Jimmy’) to his groin along with a penile implant to help him achieve erections. But, the final surgery has been postponed numerous times due to illness, transportation, and scheduling mistakes. Last December, he was ready and prepped for the operation but a last-minute staff shortage caused another cancellation. Then, in April, he was scheduled again for the transplant but the COVID-19 pandemic put the surgery on hold again. MacDonald tells The Sun he hopes to be able to have the surgery before the end of the year. “It really feels like it is time to get it off,” admits the 45-year-old. “I can’t run because it waggles about. I can’t go swimming or wear a short-sleeve shirt.” “I can’t lie, having a penis on your arm for four years is a really strange thing to live with,” adds MacDonald. “But I am determined this penis will be ultimately used for what it was built for.” (source: The Sun)

New Zealand: Zero New Cases Of COVID-19 In Over 100 Days

New Zealand (image via Google Maps)
Axios reports New Zealand has gone more than 100 days with zero new cases of COVID-19 coming from a local source. With an election coming up in September, the current prime minister sees her government’s response as a selling point for reelection.

New Zealanders are going to the polls on Sept. 19. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been widely praised for her leadership that saw NZ lock down hard for several weeks before all domestic restrictions were lifted in June. She sees her government’s response to and recovery from the coronavirus outbreak as key to her Labour Party being re-elected.

By the numbers: New Zealand has 23 active coronavirus cases. All are NZ residents newly returned from abroad, who are staying in managed isolation facilities.

The border remains closed to non-residents and all newly returned Kiwis must undergo a two-week isolation program managed by the country’s defense force. All travelers tested three times before they leave.

Police are stationed outside hotels where travelers are in quarantine.

At this writing, New Zealand (population just over 5 million) has had 1,569 confirmed cases and only 22 deaths from COVID-19. New Zealand’s number of confirmed cases translates to 315 per million people versus 15,366 cases in the U.S. per million citizens.

Snapshot: First Flight Since Pandemic Began

My hubby Michael had to travel on a business trip yesterday from Nevada to California. My understanding has been that most major airlines require a face mask to board planes. But when Michael got settled, the traveler on the other end of his row was clearly not wearing a mask. And then there’s the personal wine bottle she somehow got on-board…? I hear that was confiscated later.  I reached out to the airline (who I won’t shame here) on Twitter via DM and they responded immediately. At some point in the flight, the woman did don a mask (kinda sorta) but wasn’t wearing it correctly. Just a snapshot of what’s happening out there in the world these days.

Florida Hits New Record For Weekly COVID-19 Hospitalizations

Florida ends the week hitting a new record for weekly reported hospitalizations due to COVID-19. From the Orlando Sentinel:

From Sunday to Sunday, the state saw 3,355 hospitalizations, a new record for COVID-19 admissions in one week. In the span of five days alone — Tuesday to Saturday — the state reported more than 500 new hospitalizations per day, including a high of 621 on Wednesday.

To date, 30,505 people have been hospitalized in Florida, the state’s COVID-19 dashboard shows, up 254 more than a day earlier.

From June through mid-July in Florida, there were 207 new hospitalizations a day on average. That has spiked to a daily average of 447 since mid-July.

To date, 8,186 people have died in the Sunshine State from COVID-19.

Trump Says Vaccine Could Be Ready By Election Day, Experts Disagree

Donald Trump (screen capture)
Donald Trump said Thursday that he believes a vaccine for COVID-19 could be ready before Election Day. The medical experts disagree. From NBC News:

When asked on Geraldo Rivera’s radio show if a vaccine could be ready by Nov. 3, Trump said, “I think in some cases, yes, possible before, but right around that time.”

“We have great companies, great. These are the greatest companies of the world,” Trump said. “And the rest of the world is also doing vaccines, so let’s see how they do. I’m all for them, whoever comes up with them.”

Experts say the development, testing and production of a vaccine for the public is still months away, and it would take a medical miracle for one to be available this year, much less before Election Day.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious diseases official, said in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday that vaccine doses could be available in 2021, a more sober timeline than Trump offered.

What Is The ‘Man Box’ And Do You Want To Be In It?

(stock image via Depositphotos)
A new study (published today in Preventative Medicine) found those men who hold more rigid beliefs about masculinity – including attitudes about acting tough, hypersexuality and homophobia – also tend toward bullying, sexual harassment, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children’s Hospital based their study on the “Man Box” report from 2017 conducted by Promundo, a global consortium that works to promote gender equality. In the 1980s, activist Paul Kivel developed the “Act Like a Man Box” as a way to help men discuss how society can place pressures on men to act a certain way. Men “in the Man Box” are those who most internalize messages of having to ‘be tough’ in life or being hyper-dominant in sexual roles. Young men “outside the Man Box” are those who have broken out of the box and reject these ideas. Dr. Robert Coulter, one of the new study’s co-authors, told Business Insider that for the purposes of their study, the “man box” is defined as a “rigid set of beliefs that men have to ascribe to in order to be a proper man.” The 3,600+ male participants, aged 18-30, in the U.S., Mexico, and the U.K. were asked to rank on a scale of 1 to 4 (from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”) 15 statements regarding attitudes on self-sufficiency, hypersexuality, sexual prowess, gender roles, and homophobia. Some of the statements included: • “It is not good for a boy to be taught how to cook, sew, clean the house and take care of younger children” • “Men should use violence to get respect, if necessary” • “A ‘real man’ would never say no to sex” • “A guy who spends a lot of time on his looks isn’t very manly” The researchers found higher scores on the “man box” scale often indicated higher levels of verbal, online, or physical bullying as well as sexual harassment. Additionally, men who landed higher on the “man box” scale were twice as likely to admit experiencing depression and/or suicidal thoughts. The five statements that had the strongest associations with violence and poor mental health were:

1. A man shouldn’t have to do household chores. 2. Men should use violence to get respect if necessary. 3. A real man should have as many sexual partners as he can. 4. A man who talks a lot about his worries, fears, and problems shouldn’t really get respect. 5. A gay guy is not a “real man.”

In regard to that fourth statement, it makes sense that men who repress or tamp down personal concerns or emotions would be more likely to experience challenges in terms of mental health. Dr. Coulter told Business Insider his research team was “quite surprised to see harmful masculinity is associated with negative outcomes (like depression and suicidal thoughts) for the men themselves.” ‘Harmful masculinity,’ sometimes referred to as ‘toxic masculinity,’ can be defined as damaging beliefs that can lead to strict, controlling, heteronormative and violent norms about what constitutes a ‘real man.’ The research team hopes their “man box” scale might be a tool for health care providers and public health workers to help “measure progress toward changing harmful stereotypes and advancing both gender equality and healthier versions of masculinity.” (source: Business Insider)

Gays Are Hooking Up 84% Less Due To COVID-19

Congress is considering legislation that would require internet platforms to allow an algorithm-free version of the platform.

Who’s been on Grindr lately? (stock image via Depositphotos)
A new study of gay and bisexual Australian men found the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a dramatic reduction in casual sexual behavior. How dramatic? Researchers at the Kirby Institute surveyed 940 gay and bi men about casual sex practices and found the number of sexual contacts dropped 84 percent in the month of April. Other than monogamous relationships, all types of sexual intimacy saw a steep decline in the number of hookups. Additionally, 95 percent acknowledged they understood the risk of hooking up and/or having group sex represented an increased risk of contracting the coronavirus. Dr. Mohamed A. Hammoud, the lead author of the study, told QNews decades of coping with the HIV epidemic has taught gay and bisexual men how to be adaptive in the face of health threats. “Our community has a long history of creating innovative strategies to reduce risk,” explained Hammoud. “[We’re] seeing this continue with this new health challenge.” Hammoud added, “The results from our study show that an overwhelming majority of gay and bisexual men have adapted their behavior and are adhering to physical distancing guidelines.” There is an upside to the drop in hooking up. The decline in casual sex will likely result in “a reduction in new HIV and STI diagnoses in the short term,” according to Associate Professor Garrett Prestage, one of the co-authors of the study. “Trends in these diagnoses are likely to fluctuate significantly in response to changes in physical distancing restrictions,” said Prestage. The new study was published in the medical journal JAIDS on Friday. (Source: QNews)

COVID-19 Outbreak On One Of First Cruises To Resume

(image via The Points Guy)
One of the first cruises to set sail since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic has been brought to a halt after 36 crew members test positive for the virus. From The Points Guy:

Norwegian expedition cruise company Hurtigruten late Friday said four sick crew members from the 535-passenger Roald Amundsen were admitted to the University Hospital of North Norway in Tromsø, Norway, earlier in the day after the vessel docked in the city. All four had tested positive for COVID-19.

On Saturday, the line said another 32 crew members had tested positive for the illness. All four of the hospitalized crew members had been sick for several days while onboard the vessel, and all four had been placed in isolation. But the line said their symptoms weren’t consistent with COVID-19. They only tested positive for the illness after the ship docked in Tromsø early Friday.

The entire ship has now been placed in isolation, and the 154 remaining crew members on board have all been tested for COVID-19. Hurtigruten on Saturday said 122 of the crew members had tested negative for the illness.