tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post5894695037144450082..comments2023-10-26T08:37:12.232-04:00Comments on Heleni Smith: Abstinence vs. ContraceptivesAthena Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11483906167304901085noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-19629008619405451042008-10-05T09:47:00.000-04:002008-10-05T09:47:00.000-04:00Though it would much easier for schools to engrave...Though it would much easier for schools to engrave the idea of contraceptives, i reccomend that we still the abstinence idea a shot. I mean sure, most teens won't do it and it doesn't fit well with the current social lifestyle, but it can still be worth it. I mean, for one, you don't have to worry about having an unplanned pregnancy to become the main focus of teenage years and beyond.Sparkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16547066716465853497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-62188806072555791742008-10-03T16:27:00.000-04:002008-10-03T16:27:00.000-04:00I believe that a person has the right to choose ho...I believe that a person has the right to choose how they want to approach sex. Some choose to stay abstinate others choose to have sex at young ages. This is their choice and no one elses! If i had a teenage kid all i would say is hay, use a condom ok, i dont care if ur having sex or not but please just use a condom. I respect those who wait till marriage but seriously this is 2008, seeing something like that is like seeing bigfoot. So i guess i support Contraceptives.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04017072809326926289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-55051026822278341242008-10-02T11:49:00.000-04:002008-10-02T11:49:00.000-04:00No question in my mind on this. I support contrace...No question in my mind on this. I support contraceptives. They have been keeping my wife and I from having kids for 3 years (knock on wood) and for the vast majority of people who enjoy sex, but dislike debt, this is a good option. <BR/> In the teenage years sex is an issue on everyone's mind. In fact for decades after that, the average person still lives with sex on his or her mind most of the time. Trying to teach teenage kids abstinence is like trying to teach my dog to talk. Why bother?<BR/> I worked in Wuerzburg Army Hospital in Germany for about two years in the department of Pediatrics. We held a confidential "teen clinic", where teens could get, birth control, pregnancy tests, condoms, treatment of minor STD's etc, etc, etc. The youngest girl that we saw in the clinic while I was there was 12 years old. And she had Chlamydia. These kids were going to have sex, and the clinic provided some level of protection for these children. But abstinence, which most people do not wish to try, provides no protection, just a false hope that you're child won't grow up.<BR/> Well, I think that to discourage teen pregnancy in the United States we should make teen mother's go around from school to school with their kids, and let them try to talk to the students. When the students see how worn out the young mother looks, and smell a couple of diapers, they will be happy to go onto birthcontrol.Jason Raimondohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08378232928853708941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-62106640108186849452008-10-02T10:40:00.000-04:002008-10-02T10:40:00.000-04:00I support abstinence. I think is should be strong...I support abstinence. I think is should be strongly urged among teens, preteens, and children. However, I don't think our children should be ignorant to contraceptives. Information about safe sex should be taught along side stressing the importance of abstinence. In the end the choice is up to the teen. But I think they need to be informed not only of the physical "side effects" of teen sex such as pregnancy and STD's but also the emotional side which can be just as detramental, and sometimes more so. So I guess I side on the platform of abstinence with education.Madelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02173517239195568486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-28109199890959074452008-10-01T09:54:00.000-04:002008-10-01T09:54:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Gator_Gal5https://www.blogger.com/profile/15455205256617314849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-44715708601301420772008-09-30T17:19:00.000-04:002008-09-30T17:19:00.000-04:00I think that we should use contraceptives. I just ...I think that we should use contraceptives. I just graduated and all they say in school is abstinence is the key. It is not the key, if you look around it doesnt work there are many teens out there having sex many starting in pre teen years like 12-14 it is disturbing, yes there are some kids out there that will be abstinant but that is their choice, i made that choice myself and still am a virgin. But for those who dont make that choice many of them dont know the wonders of contraceptives or just think that it is all fake. What I think we should do is have both parents and educators in our school system teach the use of condoms and birth control, and not just for the one hour everyyear like they do now for abstinence but everyday for at least 15 min. then maybe kids my age will realize that it does work and is a good idea. I know one girl who is 16 and told me last week she wants to have a baby, i was like WHY! and i found out that she didnt realize that it would screw up her life beyond her belief, and when i tried to tell her that all she said was im mature and i can do it, or my parents would help.<BR/><BR/>Kids need to know the consenquences of the action of having unprotected sex and the need to know the facts about using condoms, maybe then teen pregancy would lower some bitgoodriddenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16367605039684285072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-9667172535114727152008-09-30T12:14:00.000-04:002008-09-30T12:14:00.000-04:00I think the schools should teach both methods. The...I think the schools should teach both methods. They need to emphasize the fact that abstinence is completely effective, but also should include the safe use of all forms of contraceptives. They should teach the pros and cons of every contraceptive available, so that if the teenager decides to have sex (as many will do) they will have a better chance to avoid transfer of stds and said pregnancies. <BR/>This form of teaching could also lower the percentage of teenagers that contribute to the abortion rate in this country.Ferranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12776995873661529641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-75077602436536378762008-09-29T21:39:00.000-04:002008-09-29T21:39:00.000-04:00Con't. Sex isn't everything, if someone loves you...Con't. Sex isn't everything, if someone loves you enough they can wait until marriage. When you are married you don't have to worry about neither of the two. But until then, keep yourself to yourself you would live a longer healthier diseased free life.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15801041169807436075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-5913311079487401352008-09-29T21:24:00.000-04:002008-09-29T21:24:00.000-04:00I believe that abstinence is the key. The reason ...I believe that abstinence is the key. The reason is that unwanted pregancies are on the rise and also sexual transmitted diseases. I believe that if teenagers or people in general would wait until marriage with one partner, that unwanted pregnancies and STDs would start to decrease.<BR/>Contraceptives cannot stop diseases. Condoms can break and birth control is not 100%. I think that parents should teach their kids about abstinece and also teachers. It would make a whole lot of difference between life and death. Especially for innocent little babies that never had a fighting chance.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15801041169807436075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-48635850352929782292008-09-29T19:54:00.000-04:002008-09-29T19:54:00.000-04:00I believe abstinence is the way to go. I believe i...I believe abstinence is the way to go. I believe in this because of my religion. But I believe that God will help sort things out...but we don't need to put contraceptives in the middle of something as important as sex. I believe God will help sort things out when it comes to famine and population growth.<BR/>We must know right from wrong and contraceptives are wrong. It just gives a reason for a teen to allow him not to worry about his or her actions if they were to have sex.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-2643071772702662482008-09-29T18:27:00.000-04:002008-09-29T18:27:00.000-04:00One way we can eduate young teens is to have sex e...One way we can eduate young teens is to have sex ed in high school. Young teens need to about birth control and how to properly use it if they are going to be sexually active. parents should also take the time out to talk to there kids about sex. If that were to happen the abortiob rate in this country would. Also there are so many young kids in the counrty who are walking around with STDS of some kind. We need to get more into the live of our children and educate them, about the risk the are taking when they become sexually active and also not to give into peer presure. If they start teaching and lecturing kids about abstinence, maybe some will lessen, but for the most part they will get curious and want to experience it for themsleve. If we talk to our kids and educate them and make sure they understand, they will make the right choices. You see things like this happen all the time when little girls who are not even women walking around 7 or 8 months pregnate and they dont fully understand what they have gotten them seves into. We ahve got to do better when talking to our kids and teaching them that it's not all hyped up to be and the risk about HIV,STDS and AIDS.weshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09192638112608775666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-35196925307561998522008-09-29T16:58:00.000-04:002008-09-29T16:58:00.000-04:00I am more in favor of contraceptives. I think both...I am more in favor of contraceptives. I think both subjects should be addressed in school and also more education on downfalls of having children so young. More than likely many goals and aspirations will take a backseat to raising a child and harder to obtain later in life. Abstinence should be introduced at a younger age too give kids an idea before they really start to become promiscuous. Contraceptives should also be drilled into kid’s heads so it becomes like a red light before intercourse. Overall more education on negative aspects of nonuse of contraceptives and abstinence should be a focus during educational courses. When it comes down to it kids are going to do what they want to most of the time without thinking of the end result anyway, so more education is the key.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-77836397357018988122008-09-29T13:52:00.000-04:002008-09-29T13:52:00.000-04:00Lady HCC said... I can’t really choose a side as f...Lady HCC said... <BR/>I can’t really choose a side as far as abstinence or contraceptives go. This is a major issue, and I believe that it just depends on the age, maturity, and the situation at hand. What I do believe is that schools should definitely be funded for more health classes for sexual education. Not every parent teaches their children about sex, and some don’t even teach them proper class or morals, therefore I believe that if the schools could push the issue then maybe this can teach them about the risks that are at hand if they are sexually active. I of course agree that the only “safe” way is abstinence, but naturally teenagers end up doing what they want, and often listen to their peers and fall into that “pressure.”<BR/>If they are going to be sexually active, then they should use the contraceptives. In the end, it’s their choice, and if they choose to be sexually active, then at least they will have the education and the knowledge about the risks of being sexually active, and the use of the contraceptives. I believe it’s up to the parents to enforce these things, but unfortunately not all parents will, so if the school board can possibly help this situation, then I’m all for it.<BR/><BR/>September 23, 2008 11:55 PMLady HCChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15636717046578007252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-83115586730957619392008-09-29T07:42:00.000-04:002008-09-29T07:42:00.000-04:00wrtmillionsYou are very resilient! I am sure you a...wrtmillions<BR/>You are very resilient! I am sure you are a very strong role model to your child!Athena Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11483906167304901085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-47576346245941066162008-09-29T01:04:00.000-04:002008-09-29T01:04:00.000-04:00How many of us have been told not to do something ...How many of us have been told not to do something we knew little about...and we went right ahead and jumped in. I know on several subjects I can say that. But luckily sex wasn't one of them. My parents taught me safe sex instead of just "not doing it". They were wise enough to know that I would probably have sex and so prepared me for when the time came. I think that while everyone has a choice on to have or not to have sex, everyone no matter your choice should be prepared with the knowledge of safe sex. I also think this relates well to the underage drinking problem that the U.S suffers from. Personally I believe the same concept should be taught. Kids should be advised not to drink, but if they do teach them how to drink responsibly.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369939642276991911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-7263955204322693052008-09-28T23:59:00.000-04:002008-09-28T23:59:00.000-04:00Personally, I believe that it is unrealistic to pr...Personally, I believe that it is unrealistic to preach anstinence to teens and expect them to live by that standard. While it makes sense to caution against promiscuity and make teens aware of the consequences that chosing to have sex may carry, trying to force ideals of abstaining from sex until marriage and approaching pregnancy and STDs as 'scare tactics' to try to manipulate teens out of being sexually active is not effective. <BR/><BR/>The pro's of abstinence should be taught, but not presented as the only option. Teens should be made aware of the different methods of birth control available and how to access them. <BR/><BR/>It is especially essential that in school sexual education classes, both abstinence and contraceptives are equally stressed. It is not right to be preaching abstinence as the only acceptable option, especially in a public school. Trying to impose this religious and personal ideal should not be acceptable in a government operated school program. <BR/><BR/>Parents should also teach their children about abstinance and birth control. They should not try to scare their children from ever having sex, but give them all the facts so that when they are ready to have sex they can make that decision. <BR/><BR/>Deciding whether to be abstinent or have sex is a personal decision that should be made by that individual only. Being informed about birth control helps teens make an educated decision for themselves personally, which will allow them to be more responsible.sylviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09617613707188786677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-19574316458831153012008-09-28T23:30:00.000-04:002008-09-28T23:30:00.000-04:00This is a subject near and most dear to my hart,be...This is a subject near and most dear to my hart,because I too was once a teenage mother. I want to say that i strongly believe in the teaching of abstinence First. There is butty, freedom and promise in a marriage covenant which God designed for only a husband and wife.Sex then in fact should Waite till marriage, that is what I hope to instill in my children. However with that said and knowing my own experience I also realize the truth of this life Stuff happens, and we all as a people fall short of good judgement sometimes. I think with knowing that we as parents have a responsibility to also arm our children with a strong foundation of sex-education knowledge as another percussion in keeping them safe. I do think that there should be a more extensive sex-ed class in American school I also feel that parents should not fear the uncomfortable conversations, after all kids don't need our judgement they need our love and guidance, we can't guide them if we don't speak!!I believe in abstinence and that parents should be the ones enforcing it in their homes,but i also know that merly teaching it can go so far "at the end of the day" the choice is with the teen them self. My hope is that they not fall in to the temptations of this world, however if they do may the know how to do IT safe....Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16914953201759488883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-31193619651340484322008-09-28T23:20:00.000-04:002008-09-28T23:20:00.000-04:00In choosing abstinence or contraceptives; I would ...In choosing abstinence or contraceptives; I would definitely choose abstinence. But that’s my opinion. I think that abstinence and contraceptives should both be taught in school because there are so many teenagers out there having sexual intercourse, and they think that they won't catch a disease or get pregnant. I think that teenagers are going to do whatever they feel like it no matter what their parents say or what teachers say, but at least they would know what the outcome could be by having sexual intercourse. People are going to do whatever they want to and that’s their choice, but I think its wrong for teenagers that are like twelve and thirteen having sex because they are too young to realize what they are doing. I mean they are too young to take care of themselves, so why take that chance. And nobody is doing anything to stop it or educate them on it. At least if they learn more about abstinence and contraceptives then they know what the outcomes could be.mp88https://www.blogger.com/profile/07225830004240715942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-48953561086282446942008-09-28T22:00:00.000-04:002008-09-28T22:00:00.000-04:00Well, this subject here is very serious subject to...Well, this subject here is very serious subject to me because I was a teenage mother at the age of 15, just 2 weeks away from my 16 birthday. In high school, I did take sex education and NO, I did not come from a dysfunctional home. As a matter of fact, I was raised by my dad and we all know how dads can be about their little girls. To me, it was just what cards I was deal with in life. I was lucky to have a wonderful family to help me until I graduated from high school and was able to support my child on my own but the journey was not easy. I constantly had people prejudging me, talks behind my back, and even lost family & friends. Even though, I was hurt by all this, it gave me strength to do better in life and to go beyond the expectation that people had for me. Now those same people praise me for what I have accomplished in life. They even ask me to talk to their child that are adults themselves but seem not to want anything in life. But anyways, I was one of the teenage mothers that were lucky enough to keep living life and knew not to ever give up but there are some teenagers that were not. I think that abstinence is the best way to go because some people, not just teenagers, don’t need kids. I think that they should have a program that would allow people to experience parenthood before they think about having a child. This program should be 3 months long to give them a wake up call. Being a teenage parent is not easy and being an adult parent does not make it any easier.wrtmillionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09854676395872989111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-11805940947126281822008-09-28T21:45:00.000-04:002008-09-28T21:45:00.000-04:00Contraceptives are the answer in my honest opinion...Contraceptives are the answer in my honest opinion. As students are going to have sex no matter what, they should be taught to use protection. Also the thought that we push abstinence because religious groups say so goes against the whole separation of church and state. Another thing is that teens have already started going threw puberty and it is only natural to want to have sex and "reproduce" so they need contraceptives to stop them from getting pregnant. I remember in high school there was like 10 girls pregnant if only they gave out free condoms at school.pyrobeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14908777183475722526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-23682660926367725912008-09-28T21:43:00.000-04:002008-09-28T21:43:00.000-04:00I think that contraceptives is the better choice b...I think that contraceptives is the better choice by far. It is very unrealistic to say that may teens pick abstinence over contraceptives. The statistic listed in the blog is just one way of proving it. If 65 percent of teens want more funding to go to sex education, at least they are telling them that they want things to be done the right way. I think that by being properly educated teens might actually wait longer to have sex because they will have learned all the consequences. <BR/> Providing more contraceptives at least is protecting everyone because just telling teens to abstain until marriage will never work for everyone.bobopephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01059753115036533544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-52441733958716742312008-09-28T20:31:00.000-04:002008-09-28T20:31:00.000-04:00I am for contraceptives I feel that if you are wil...I am for contraceptives I feel that if you are willing to play with fire, you are risking getting burned. Even though contraceptives are only 99.9% accurate...I still feel that it's better than nothing and that you are taking some kind of step to protect yourself. In a perfect world abstinence would be the better option, but look at the world. Teens don't listen to their parents on simple issues let alone sex. You know that they are going to do it, but wouldn't you feel a little better knowing that they are using some kind of protection than not?shocky8056https://www.blogger.com/profile/02239740752309731207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-71723902879379156492008-09-28T20:22:00.000-04:002008-09-28T20:22:00.000-04:00First of all I believe that pregnancy is a gift fr...First of all I believe that pregnancy is a gift from God whether it is out of wedlock or not. If I made a child out of wedlock and you made a child in a marriage, that doesn’t mean that God loves your child more than he loves mine. Making a child out of wedlock might be my mistake, but not God’s. He already knew it was about to happen.<BR/>When it comes to abstinence or contraceptives, I support both methods. Although abstinence might be the better of both methods to practice, it is likely that most teenagers will engage in sexual activities. Therefore contraceptives, sex education about contraceptives and how to use them can come into place here. However it is necessary if we teach teenagers both about abstinence and the use of contraceptives, because it all boils down to their choice in the end. When reality kicks in, whose going to decide for them? They are the ones who are going to choose if they want to have sex or not. So it’s best to educate on both abstinence and contraceptives and not only support one or the other.Alainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06624278434311313738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-2090855313854585752008-09-28T20:11:00.000-04:002008-09-28T20:11:00.000-04:00Guys, it is up to you to practice what you are wri...Guys, it is up to you to practice what you are writing right here in this blog... right?<BR/>So, let's be careful out there!<BR/><BR/>Keekee<BR/>You sound like a model-parent!Athena Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11483906167304901085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951811281604727291.post-29650658446780628382008-09-28T19:04:00.000-04:002008-09-28T19:04:00.000-04:00I feel that trying to get most teens to be abstine...I feel that trying to get most teens to be abstinent is a loosing battle. There is just took much pressure from your peers and from the media. If you look in any fashion magazine that every 13 year old girl reads there are sexual images everywhere. Girls are using makeup at earlier and earlier ages because of our mass media influenced culture that tells women that they must dress a certain way or look a certain way. I find it incredibly shallow that our culture puts external beauty above anything else. <BR/><BR/>Now, back to the issue. I feel that the proper education and use of contraceptives is the best way to go on this issue. When I say contraceptives I mean some form of barrier (i.e. condoms). Birth control is not the way to go when it comes to contraceptives. It messes with your hormone levels and can lead to blood clots, stroke, cervical cancer, and heart attacks. That is some pretty serious stuff. Not to mention that the emotional ups and downs that women experience while using birth control (I know because my girlfriend is on it) can be very straining on a relationship. Condoms are by far the better route to take. If the condom does happen to break the Morning After Pill is readily available over the counter to prevent pregnancy.<BR/><BR/>It is the choice of the individual to make the decision of whether to use contraceptives or to be abstinent. I feel that schools should teach a standardized sexual education course which is mandatory for every freshman in high school. Having a standardized program would make sure that nothing gets left out and the kids get all the information. Yes it may be uncomfortable to teach this to kids but it is absolutely necessary to do to prevent unwanted teen pregnancies.crguy73https://www.blogger.com/profile/16652129652787341515noreply@blogger.com