Opinions. Need to vent? Contact the editor at opinions@theotherpress.ca Internet intimacy The social stigma against a safe means of finding ‘The One’ By Elliot Chan, Staff Writer omance: a perpetual cloud hanging over our heads—or not. Sometimes it’s violent like a thunderstorm, other times it’s a wisp in the sky-refracting sunlight upon us. Either way, we yearn for it. But it’s not easy in this modern world: a relationship is as hard to get and keep as a full-time job. So with the advantages of Internet dating, why are we still reproachful of it? Why do so many consider online dating sites to be for the desperate, the lonely, and the horrifyingly unkempt? Is it ever going to change? Dating sites exist across the globe and they’re gaining popularity. What began as a trend in the early ‘90s is now a million-dollar industry. So why is it not like Facebook? Why are so many individuals not on Play it safe Regular STI testing is Rey to safe sex By Aidan Mouellic, Staff Writer don’t know many people who practice entirely safe sex. The cloud of chemicals that turns us all into fanatical sex machines also makes us skip important steps in protecting our health and that of our partners. Using birth control and condoms is a crucial step in preventing unwanted pregnancies and many sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but those two methods of protection do not adequately protect people during typical sexual acts that many of us perform. Oral and anal sex are two acts that a lot of people perform without using barrier protection, but both forms of sexual intimacy can and do transmit STIs. It’s 18 Plenty of Fish (POF) or Match. com? It’s because finding a meaningful relationship isn’t as simple as picking apples out in the produce section. We choose to go to certain bars and nightclubs instead of others because we enjoy the scene, the music, and most importantly, the people there. It’s easier to interact with someone if they have similar tastes and interests, and dating websites understand that—that’s why in recent years the Internet has exploded with different sites appealing to every kind of person, from exotic travelers looking for companionship to married individuals seeking affairs. Yep, once we get over the stigma of online dating, odds are we will never be alone again. Ultimately, the fear of loss, rejection, and humiliation are what keep online dating at arm’s-length. Then again, heartbreak happens in physical relationships too. How often do you see two friends dating each other within a friend circle, and when the inevitable breakup happens, one of them is cast away from the group? Some people, myself included, consider this form of intimacy to less glamorous and enjoyable performing oral sex on someone when their plastic-wrapped genitals resemble your grandmother’s couch, but it mitigates the risk of contracting a life-altering STI. You'd think that the rate of STIs would be on the decrease, thanks to years of sex education in schools and resources for safe sex being more widely available, but the rates of infection are increasing. In Vancouver, cases of syphilis doubled between 2011 and 2012, which has caused Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) to describe the situation as having reached “epidemic proportions.” According to VCH, the majority of people who have syphilis are unaware since symptoms are rarely visible. Another recent Canadian study concluded that 14 per cent of individuals between the ages of 14 and 59 are infected with the herpes type-2 virus. Once be even riskier. Online dating is changing rapidly. Sites like POF are converting to mobile devices, allowing users to correspond without having to be tied down to their computers. “All online dating is going to be mobile in the next year or so—that’s the huge thing,” POF founder and CEO Markus Frind told The Globe and Mail before Valentine’s Day this year. “We also launched top prospects a few weeks ago, which basically shows all the people you have communicated with and then we predict which one of those you’re most likely to enter into a relationship with—and also stay in it.” We do a lot of shameful things in the name of love, so why are we still condemning Internet dating? Drunk girls and drunk boys, pull yourselves together and reevaluate what you really want. You can choose follow your heart, but there are many paths leading to your happy ending, and Internet dating should no longer be the road less traveled. again, many of the people who are infected with herpes are unaware of their ST1-positive status. We should all be getting regular STT testing and also be disclosing our test results to our sexual partners if we want to engage in unprotected sexual acts. The pornography industry is a good example of both how to have sex and how not to have sex. At first glance, everyone on screen is rarely ever wearing a condom or using a dental dam. Guys and girls who grow up watching porn before engaging in sexual acts themselves are led to believe that you can do some crazy things with strangers without using proper protection—and that it’s okay. Porn is not reality. The view of sex that porn portrays is rarely positive or educational. Unlike MythBusters, no porn video begins with, “We are trained safe professionals—do no try this yourself unless proper safety procedures are followed.” In a way, porn gives permission to young, immature people to engage in unsafe sex. But hey, all the actors in the porn videos I watch look healthy, and I never hear anything about ST] porn epidemics! That’s because the porn industry does some things right and all actors within the industry are extremely professional and get regular STI testing to ensure that nobody will end up with more than fake moans and fun. Some may say that I’m paranoid about getting an STI, and IJ agree that I have some anxiety about contracting an unwanted disease, but asking for peace of mind when going down on someone is more appealing than having to MacGyver a dental dam out of a banana-flavoured condom. It seems as if people stop talking about safety Photo courtesy of www.gathukimundu.com measures once sex education class is over, but as we all become more sexually active, we should be as vigilant as ever. If one is comfortable enough to have sex with someone else, then the two should also be able to discuss their STT statuses or get tested together; if someone isn’t cool with that, then it’s important to resort to traditional safety measures. Making sex safe, fun, and worry-free should be everyone's goal. Regular STI testing on yourself and your new partners will help to ensure everyone's safety and promote a healthier and more informed society.