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Sticky Keyboards

The reality of “hooking up” for college students is a dangerous one. Getting your rocks off online is just one way to avoid that sexual minefield.

In a 2007 study of college men and women, The Department of Justice (DOJ) found that 26 percent of female seniors and six percent of males “reported experiencing attempted or completed sexual assault since entering college.” The DOJ states that the majority of these attacks occurred after the victim voluntarily consumed drugs or alcohol.

Nobody has ever been raped by their computer.

Furthermore, a 2009 study conducted by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declares, “Estimates suggest that even though young people aged 15–24 years represent only 25 percent of the sexually experienced population, they acquire nearly half of all new STDs.”

You can have as much sex as you want online and the only virus you might get will be on your hard drive.

Finally, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reports that 61 percent of women who have children after enrolling in community college do not finish their degree. This dropout rate is 65 percent higher than women who do not have children. Last time I checked, computers can't reproduce either.

Some critics of cybersex focus on the negative aspects. They point to addicts and claim cybersex diminishes one’s ability to create and maintain real and healthy relationships.

“Cybersex addiction is the compulsive use of Internet pornography, adult chat rooms, or adult fantasy role-play sites,” blogs Catherine McCall, a licensed marriage and family therapist. “Cyberporn has a drug-like effect on the body and mind. Soon the user can't control his or her use, is aroused only by images and interactions on the screen, and natural sexual responsiveness is reduced.”

Sounds horrifying.

The fact is people with addictive personalities can become addicted to anything from stamp collecting to masturbation. There were sex addicts long before there were cybersex addicts.

There will always be people who spiral out of control, weirdoes who spend 12 hours a day in sex-chat rooms, sweating and grunting into a webcam until they ultimately end up curled in ball, crying on their bathroom floor.

But these people are the exception, not the rule.

Most people are fully capable of separating fantasy from reality and maintaining a healthy balance of the two. In a 2009 poll taken by MSNBC of 9,177 men and women, 92 percent reported spending fewer than 11 hours a week engaged in sexual activity on the Internet.

This hardly looks like an epidemic of sex-crazed degenerates when you consider that the average American watches four hours of television each day. Maybe somebody should focus on the health and behavioral risks of watching “The Jersey Shore.”

Advocates of cybersex believe online sexual encounters can be very satisfying. “Cybersex, like real-life sex, can be a wonderful thing—full of pleasure, skill, and sexual self-expression,” writes Bonnie Ruberg in the Village Voice.

Besides, 11 hours at a computer can’t possibly be as dangerous as trolling the bars and party scenes looking for somebody to fulfill your sexual needs.

Critics may say that cybersex is creepy or unhealthy, but I would say it pales in comparison to how creepy and unhealthy it is to have herpes or AIDS.

And if that’s not scary enough, consider the perverts who obviously can’t control their sexual urges. Just imagine if all those creeps put down their keyboards and stepped into the daylight.

Contact Joseph Van Dusen at communitarian@mail.dccc.edu

The Communitarian Opinion Policy: The opinions expressed on the editorial and the op-ed pages do not necessarily reflect those of The Communitarian staff or college. We welcome your comments on any matter relating to Delaware County Community College, and responsible rebuttal is encouraged. Write to communitarian@mail.dccc.edu. Please write “letter to editor” in the subject box.