Threads got away on me a bit so I'll apologise in advance if I manage to miss anything in my reply.
First of all, berry, I'm not even sure what you're saying. You said you didn't read all my post, which may be the reason. Each of your responses to the sections of what I've said don't actually appear to have anything to do with what I've saying, so either I've misinterpreted everything you said or we are indeed talking about two things.
In response to meshy:
"Just to clarify, this is a double-standard, a well-ingrained one I've seen in both western and eastern (i.e. asian) culture."
Yes.
"Please elaborate. Are you implying that someone must think better of someone they just slept with? I don't actually see how it's hypocritical (I think it's fairly dependent on the male's view on the value of sex and his motive for getting it). I'm not agreeing with berry, I just want to see you explain how it is hypocritical a little more thoroughly."
No I'm not saying that an individualshould think better of someone just because they've had sex together, I'm simply saying they shouldn't think worse of them. If you've had sex with someone, then to me it seems hypocritical to turn around and then lose respect for them because they consented to doing what you (and hopefully also they) wanted.
"Many guys wouldn't have a problem with engaging in casual sex [CS - not counter-strike or conditioned stimulus in this thread], but would have a problem with their wife having had CS in the past. Generally, the crux of what berry is saying here, is that men (generally) won't respect or desire a woman who has engaged in CS as much as one who hasn't engaged in CS when it comes to having a serious relationship."
The majority of my post was actually directed to tattoodguy, although now I realise I actually started with a reply to something berry had said, my apologies if this is the reason for the confusion
In response to that though, I can see your point here, just that I think it's wrong. Unless a male hasn't engaged in casual sex, I don't think whether or not a female has should be an issue.
If a guy hasn't had casual sex, then perhaps I can see the point in them being upset if a partner has, for example in a couple where one has postponed sex till after marriage while the other hasn't. However if a guy has had casual sex and expects his partner to have not, I think that's being unreasonable.
I realise that despite my personal objections, this is probably the way it does work with a lot of males. I personally see this as a failing in society in general, rather than any of the individual posters on this board.
"That's a pretty simplistic interpretation. You're disregarding or ignoring the male's motive which the female obviously overlooked or missed - if a guy simply tries to get into a girl's pants (and succeeds) he may think worse of her (e.g. that she was "easy"). Maybe it's not direct self-disrespect on the girl's part, but there's a fair degree of naivety (or misdirected trust) in a girl discovering the guy was a "kiss and tell" type after having had sex with him."
Of course the male's motive plays a role, and I agree. My point however was that this misdirection of trust, or naivety, is not really an instance of a female showing disrespect for herself. If a female has sex with a male with sound intentions, while a male does not, I really am unable too see how this equates to a lack of respect the female has for herself.
If a male has sex with a female, then laughs about it with his friends and hands out her number, I personally see this as him showing a lack of respect for what the two consenting parties have shared together.
"Disrespectful - yes to some extent but I don't think that was his intention, I think he has in the main given his viewpoint on the issue.
Uninformed - no. Ogmzergrush, your idealistic stance and tips for ridding the western world of this double-standard do not make you any more informed than berry.
Contradictory - don't just say his stance is, prove it."
Uninformed in that it seems to perpetuate the aforementioned double standard without actually being aware of its existence. Perhaps uninformed is the wrong word, although I'm not sure of the correct one for this situation. What I was attempting to say was that I don't feel that this viewpoint has been thought out well enough.
In stating that females deserve no respect if they've engaged in casual sex, and at the same time saying that friends think it's a great laugh and share the number around when it happens, I think tattoodguy is either missing the double standard, or isn't really concerned that it exists. That was what I was attempting to say
As explained previously, I find the contradiction in this stance in two main areas. Firstly tattoodguy's insistence that he respects females seems to be questionable (At least based upon my definition of respect) through both the language which he consistently uses, and the opinions which he expresses.
The other level of contradiction I'm speaking of relates to the double standard which is becoming increasingly obvious. In my opinion males and females aren't so hugely different that having casual sex reflects poorly upon a female and not a male.
now tattoodguy, or should I say Most Guys, seeing as that seems to be what you like calling yourself
I am, as my post probably would have indicate if you'd read it, a male. No, I wouldn't be concerned about how many guys my girlfriend had engaged in sex with in the past. If I was going out with her, it'd be because I'd liked her. I think respecting someone involves allowing them the freedom to make their own choices.
What they'd been up to before we started going out would basically be none of my business. An individual's experience and upbringing shape their attitudes to do with issues like this, and I wouldn't presume to understand my girlfriend's past well enough to pass judgement on what they had done before going out with me.
In the event that a girl had engaged in casual sex, I wouldn't be overly concerned providing it didn't continue during our relationship. As I said before, (saying this twice so hopefully you understand it at least once), I would be going out with the female because I liked them, because I respected them, and because I found that I enjoyed being with them. I don't tend to go out with people because I 'approve' of their past.
Hypothetical situation, although it'll probably be lost on you. Say you had two children, one male and one female. Say they both went out (at an appropriate age) and engaged in casual sex. The male comes home and you say "Good work son, I hope you threw her away when you were done?" The girl comes home and you'd do what? Send her to bed without dinner for being disrespectful to herself?
"I dont think you have any clue on what the concept of respect is."
examples of respect?
* Using non-derogatory words, such as 'females' or 'girls' for members of the opposite sex.
* Not assuming that I know better than every female who ever engaged in casual sex.
* Not judging partners based on how many people they had slept with, but instead judging them on their personal merits.
* Attempting to look at things from other people's point of view, of course sometimes a hard one, but we can all try it.
I've just reread the rest of your post and I think I'll stop here. The rest of it is just something I completely disagree with, and I'd lend it credence by responding to it.
Edit: oops, marginally longer than I expected, sorry all.