I didn't take offense at the poll or the question. But it's a good point about society. And guys are allowed far more partners than women before they're judged negatively. As I've said before, I really don't like terms like "slut" and "skank," because there are no words that equal the disgust these words conjure towards the women they're aimed at. Some people might call men sluts and feel they're just as bad, but not society as a whole, and men often take such terms in humor and wear them proudly.

That said, I used to belong to an adult writing group, and one woman was proud to call herself a slut. I'm all for turning words meant to hurt you into a positive, but sometimes these words are used to hold women back.

I don't think being promiscuous is bad. I mean, I don't encourage it, because the risks are higher (but a person can get a disease or get pregnant just from one encounter, so nobody who's sexually active is immune), but I wouldn't avoid someone as a friend because of it, unless she slept with my partner. I wouldn't put them down for either liking sex or for having "issues" so that they sleep with many partners.

It amazes me how cruel people are. We now know that girls and women who are promiscuous often (not always) come from a sexually abusive background, yet we don't take pity or show concern towards these women, we scorn them. Why does society do that? Same thing with women in porn.

And look at how we are super-sensitive about sex in the U.S., particularly. The freest country in the world, and we have major hang-ups about sex. Europe is known for topless beaches, and it's no big deal there. But if you breastfeed in public or have a "wardrobe malfunction," the country gets all bent out of shape. It's just a breast! Nudity does not equal sex. Children aren't harmed by seeing naked people, unless those around them make such a big deal of it, it "sticks" with the child. You can teach your child you believe others' behaviors are wrong, but you don't have to freak out.

Sorry, got off on a rant there.