Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation

danny writes "Having problems with your sex life? Read on for my review of Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation -- it may not get you laid, but you can have some fun learning about the evolutionary biology and natural history of sex." With that disclaimer in mind, read on for the rest. Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation author Olivia Judson pages 308 publisher Vintage rating 9 reviewer Danny Yee ISBN 0099283751 summary the evolutionary biology of sex

Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation mimics a write-in advice column, in which anthropomorphised animals of all kinds ask for help with their sex lives. That is just the framework, however, for an entertaining tour of the natural history and evolutionary biology of sex. Pretty much every aspect of animal sex is at least touched on, though the "all creation" of the title is an exaggeration -- there's only the occasional reference to plants and bacteria, with nothing (for example) on the fascinating topic of pollination.

The columns are grouped thematically in thirteen chapters, divided into three parts. Part one covers the "expenses" involved in sex, female promiscuity, conflicts between males, and alternative strategies for those who are poor and small. Part two covers sex and cannibalism, sex and violence (male and female), love potions and homosexuality, and monogamy. And part three looks at incest, at hermaphroditism, facultative sex and other variants, and at asexuality and theories for the evolution and persistence of sex.

Each column typically runs to four or five pages, beginning with a question.

Dear Dr. Tatiana,

I'm an Australian redback spider, and I'm a failure. I said to my darling, "Take, eat, this is my body," and I vaulted into her jaws. But she spat me out and told me to get lost. Why did she spurn the ultimate sacrifice?

Dr. Tatiana never answers directly, but looks around first at other species with similar or related problems

"... most guys prefer not to be eaten at all. ... In the scorpion Paruroctonus mesaensis, the male whacks his partner several times before racing off; in the wolf spider Lycosa rabida, the male tosses his lover in the air, leaving her in a crumpled heap as he hurries away.

... In the bristle worm Nereis caudata, something similar goes on but for once it's the man who eats his wife.

... Do other males eat their mates? I have never heard of it. But note: this is not to say males don't eat females. They do. Just not during sex. Platonic cannibalism is a problem for creatures from apes to amoebae. It's depraved out there."

and sets the question in a broader context

"... It goes without saying that such a death wish can evolve only in special circumstances. That is, being eaten must mean you leave more offspring than if you are spared. So far, your species is the only one known to meet this criterion. A male redback who gets himself munched fertilizes more eggs than a male who survives. Why? ... it turns out that sex takes longer when she's chewing away on you, which gives you the chance to deliver more sperm and thus fertilize more eggs. So your challenge is to make yourself more appetizing."

before finishing with the answer, if there is one.

"The secret is picking your moment. Female redbacks aren't greedy; when they're not hungry, they don't eat. If you offer yourself right after she's feasted, forget it. You've got to wait until she gets that mean and hungry look in all eight of her beady little eyes. And then, for what you are about to receive, may your kiddies be truly thankful."

Links to many different areas of biology are explored.

"Lysin, the protein that determines whether an abalone sperm can enter an abalone egg, is evolving at record speed. Tantalizingly, abalone are also splitting into new species at a startling rate."

And for those who want to follow up specific topics in the technical literature, there are thirty pages of notes, giving annotated references for each column, with pointers into a forty page bibliography. (Though a short recommended reading list of non-technical popular works on evolution would have been a more useful inclusion for most readers.)

Sex Advice to All Creation assumes no background in biology, and there's the occasional wordy or repetitive explanation. But even scientists for whom the evolutionary biology is old hat are likely to find some new details in the natural history. The chatty tone and the framing conceit of an advice column -- extended in the last chapter to a mock television show -- remain entertaining and decorative, never pushed so far they become annoying or distort the science.

"If you are not a hermaphrodite, incest is best if you come from a species where males have only one set of genes. If you're not a member of such a species, I urge you to avoid sex with your nearest and dearest."

You can purchase Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation from bn.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.

Comments

Having problems with your sex life?

[Pingular]

This is Slashdot, the only problems with people's sex life here is that they don't have one.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[TrippTDF]

Speak for yourself.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

Judging from your sig, he doesn't have to.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Pingular]

I was suprised to not see this, but here's a link to Dr Tatiana's Website.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[roedeer]

Which is confirmed by the fact that a normal /. post would have at least 3 times the amount of comments by now

Or maybe they all went to read the book...

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[unoengborg]

Real slashdotters doesn't see this as a problem.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

That's not true! I have bona fide ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

Or actually read the article.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

Haha. You wish! =D

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey, it's not my fault no fabulously good-looking woman wants to eat me...

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

I've been accused of not ever getting laid on this site before. This not an espeicially illogical assumption given the fact that I am overweight, my feet smell, I dress shoddily, I watch Star Trek TNG DVDs and play Star Wars KOTOR, I work so much that I have almost no social life at all, am obsessed with computers and have a messy apartment (that I call "the cave") that smells like cat pee and where the cats track kitty litter all over the bed(actually it's a nice one). I also have a crusing fear of attractive members of the opposite sex (and I am *NOT* teh ghey, despite numerous accusations to the contrary and my somewhat androgenous nature). Oh, and I also own a StarFleet Uniform (Next Generation) and collect props from Star Trek Movies and TV shows. My "cave" has ethernet cables crisscrossing it and books strewn in piles everywhere. Quite a catch, ain't I?

I have had dry spells lasting upwards of 7 years (!!!) in my twenties and another 2 years in my early thirties. *BUT* to my utter surprise and amazement, I have had a number of gilrfriends over the years. All were at least *cute* some were so attractive that I was absolutely incredulous that they would be even seen with me, let alone that they would enjoy sex with me enough to not break up with me after the first tragicomic attempts to make love. Which I find intimidating. It's miserable doing nothing but masterbation for lack of a sex life, but on the other hand pleasing another human being in bed can be sort of intimidating. Nevertheless, I have had, and continue to have sexual opportunities to my utter amazement. One amazingly incredibly sexy young woman that I helped with an IT probelm is freakin' ga-ga over me. So is an attractive blond young saleswoman. Honest truth, and I don't really give a shit whether you believe me or not. I'm living this life, not you smart guy! Slashdot crowds are so damn easy to predict that I figured I'd cut some of the less psychologically cogent of us off at the pass by with some stock defensiveness. That being said, I certainly can't figure it out. I certainly wouldn't lay me. But it happens. For that, at least, I am glad.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Bendebecker]

What's sex?

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[segmond]

Anyone who is a serious geek and hacker and who wants to get laid and cannot get laid is not worthy to be called a geek or a hacker. I can understand that some geeks/hackers don't get laid because they devote much time to their projects that they see sex as a waste of resource in terms of time investment, emotional investment, etc... Human beings are computers, meat machines, they accept input using their senses (hearing, seeing, feeling) and they respond with output (feeling, speech, touch). The appropriate input gets you the right output just like any normal functioning computer does.

Humans are not universal machines, they are more complex and the inputs varies based on culture, social class, environment and such, so to program them, one has to be aware of all that. This is nothing more but advanced psychology. How so called geeks and hackers can not pick up books and study this baffles me.

To give some examples, you can use presuppositions so that things you want the girl to do is pre-supposed. Instead of asking, "WILL you like to go out for coffee?" which fetches a yes or no, you ask, "WHERE will you like to go for coffee?" your presupposition is that she wants coffee, if she says, "I don't drink coffee", you go ahead, why they sell milk and juice for the cute little girls like you, lets go! just get them never to say no.

When people communicate you have to find out how they communicte, and use the same method to code back their message to them. some are visual, others auditory, kinesthetic. Example, "What do you think about the movie?" a) It looked beautiful! (b) It was loud! (c) It was moving. now you know where they fall in and use words that they can relate to better, etc, etc.

NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) teaches this, and whilst you learn alot from it, I am not going to say that this is the one key, you have to tailor it and adjust it for your environment. What do political leaders, politicians, lawyers, religious leaders have in common? The power of persuasion and to influence. Being a geek/hacker is not an excuse!

I am from Africa, I live in Detroit and have for a while! By the old school definition, I am a hacker, I grok digital eletronics, programming languages, natural languages, I know more assembly langauges than the average geek knows high level languages. I have been a Unix fool for 10yrs shit like that, oh yeah, and I think Python is the ichiban of programming languages. I love to tune 4 cylinder cars and turbocharge them. I am not trying to toot my own horn or whatever, I am just pointing out, that yes, I am a hax0r! w00w00!, anyway! point is that I get laid quite often by beautiful women! I once was a social inept fool, but I had to actually really sit down, read, study myself, others and environments and figure out how to manipulate it. So geeks do have sex lifes. I am still an introvert, but I can still hit the rowdy detroit clubs, dance to gangstar rap, spit the slang of the detroits and close up some fine women for future encounters. So enough of this crap about geeks not being able to get laid, I worry that the more yall say it, the more it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[yali]

Sorry for the OT post, but I have to say it: As psychological theory, NLP is bunk. The reason it seems to work is that it gets guys to play the odds. Rejection stings, so most guys get rejected once and then go home and sulk. But when you've paid thousands of dollars for a "speed seduction" course to learn a supposedly deterministic system, you treat rejection as your failure to implement the system correctly and go into debugging mode, rather than taking it as an indictment of your inherent worthiness.

Every guy I've ever known who has lots of casual sex told me that he got rejected all the time. If 1 woman out of 10 is willing to have casual sex with you, you'll still get rejected an average of 9 times for every successful attempt. Most guys can't put up with that unless they're extremely self-confident or they have something like NLP to distance themselves from the hurt of rejection.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[programmeratarms]

"How so called geeks and hackers can not pick up books and study this baffles me." Show me the book that can compensate for two decades of missed basic socialization experience that most people go through. Where is the book that advises one on how to attract intelligent women that aren't swayed by "seduction methods" - the ones that do not frequent rowdy clubs, or dance to gangsta rap (perfectly fine hobbies, but not shared by all males who desire mates)? And, most importantly, what "neuro-linguistic" trick will transform a decidedly ugly male into something that is desirable to human females? No, alcohol doesn't count - see above. Some of us are interested in something more than toll-free prostitution - actual relationships, for instance. While males are stereotyped as creatures obsessed with appearances, it seems that for men there is a "sliding scale" of what is acceptable, and we can move our standards up or down as required, depending on what is available. For women, however, one can't help but notice that there is a minimum standard of "male beauty" which rarely varies, and women - with their controllable sex drive - are perfectly happy to remain celibate until a visually appealing and culturally-appropriate male is found. It is a fallacy that all males who are alone are lazy, stupid, or simply do not know where to look.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Tackhead]

> This is Slashdot, the only problems with people's sex life here is that they don't have one.

That's not a bug, it's a feature, and it's working as intended! From an old joke, source attributed to NASA's JPL:

Every engineer needs both a wife and a mistress.

The way it works, is you tell your wife you're spending the night with your mistress, and you tell your mistress you're with the wife, and you can finally get back down to the lab and work!

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

Mod parent up (+1 Insightful)

Mod grandparent down (-1 WTF?)

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I had/have two specific complaints:

(1) The book could have been better edited. The tone/style are uneven in places, as if the book was written at different times with different intents. (Which I think it was.)

(2) While regularly espousing the benefits of female promiscuity, the book backs away, almost comically, from the idea of human female promiscuity, and never really looks at the issues. I thought this was something of a letdown.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[segmond]

I never paid for any book, all the books I read where from the library. I also mentioned it is not enough, you have to incorporate your own techniques which comes with pratice. do you learn to program a computer by reading a book and just a book? no, you actually have to write code! pratice is needed! do you write a program perfectly each time? no, sometimes you make mistakes, and you have to edit/recompile. It is not a random game or a game of number. I did not pay any money for any course, I do not play the numbers game. I understand human beings very well, not just cuz I read, but because I also observed and thought hard about the things I observed. I get laid lots of times, and it is not a numbers game, I don't keep any records of scores or sorth, but I can tell you that I am in the 6-7 out of a 10 hit. I don't ever walk out in the world trying to get laid, I love to work and concentrate on my work, relationship with women is a drain of energy in all ways, but when I am out, and I see a girl I fancy, I walk up to her and more often than not, I close the deal! please believe it.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Tackhead]

> Human beings are computers, meat machines, they accept input using their senses (hearing, seeing, feeling) and they respond with output (feeling, speech, touch). The appropriate input gets you the right output just like any normal functioning computer does.
>
> Humans are not universal machines, they are more complex and the inputs varies based on culture, social class, environment and such, so to program them, one has to be aware of all that.
>
>[snip big NLP plug]

On that note - on geeks and getting laid, or lack thereof:

"[...] for a group of healthy college-age males, there was remarkably little discussion of a topic which commonly obsesses groups of that composition. Females. Though some led somewhat active social lives, the key figures in TMRC-PDP hacking had locked themselves into what would be called 'bachelor mode.' It was easy to fall into -- for one thing -- as opposed to the hopelessly random problems in a human relationship -- which made hacking particularly attractive. But an even weightier factor was the hackers' impression that computing was much more /important/ than getting involved in a romantic relationship. It was a question of priorities. Hacking had replaced sex in their lives."

"[Hacking] was a mission. You would hack, and you would live by the Hacker Ethic, and you knew that that horribly inefficient and wasteful things like women burned too many cycles, occupied too much memory space. 'Women, even today, are considered grossly unpredictable,' one PDP-6 hacker noted, almost two decades later. 'How can a hacker tolerate such an imperfect being?'

- Hackers: Heroes of the computer revolution, Steven Levy.

Whether NLP can get me laid or not doesn't matter to me. The more I interact with individual humans, the more I realize they aren't the kind of machines I'm interested in programming, especially for something as easily-obtainable as orgasm.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[LittleGuy]

This is Slashdot, the only problems with people's sex life here is that they don't have one.

In addition to "IANAL" posts, we can add "IANAST" (I Am Not A Sex Therapist) posts.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

> Nevertheless, I have had, and continue to have sexual opportunities to my utter amazement. One amazingly incredibly sexy young woman that I helped with an IT probelm is freakin' ga-ga over me. So is an attractive blond young saleswoman.

"Fuck her like it is the last piece of ass you'll ever get in this world. Because that is all you ever have, the first peice of ass you ever had and the last one. Take this hot bitch on and slip your greased tool in her chocolate starfish. Felch her, bang her, grease her, slip her the tube steak, play stink finger with her, have her give you a hot whiskey blowjob. Smother her with marshmallow sauce and chocolate syrup and lick it off over two days. Rub her all over with salami slices, get out the rubber sheets and the Mazola, then mount handlebars on the headboard. Have hot screaming monkey-pig sex with no limits. Make her scream as she comes until she's hoarse. Videotape her masturbating with stuffed animals tied to a dildo. Tie her up and spank her until she begs for mercy then ass-fuck her until she tells you she loves you."

- From one of the all-time greatest postings on the once-glorious fuckedcompany.com

(Already burned my chance at modding you +5, Funny, my good man, so this is the best I can offer in return. W00t! Peace out.)

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[BMazurek]

I was surprised not to see a reference to the almost 20 minute interview with Dr. Olivia Judson (a.k.a. Dr. Tatiana) on the CBC science radio program Quirks and Quarks.

The interview is available in OGG, MP3 and Real Audio.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[qbproger]

I know i don't have one... Going on 20 and never been kissed :x

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

I think the suggestion is that getting laid is just another form of "hacking" - you figure out what works and then you optimize it and add in the error checks.

People who can't do this are like the "cupholder" users in the computer world that people here complain about - don't know, unwilling to learn -- "Oh, gangsta rap! Too difficult! I give up!"

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Steeltoe]

You talk like a victim. The former post did have a good point. You have to change your worldview, if you want things to change. I may not agree with the methods he listed, but it's true that our beliefs are fundamental in our interactions with the world.

If you think you don't stand a chance because of your looks, that WILL, believe me, reflect in ALL the people that you encounter. Their subconsciousness will pick up your insecurity right away, and treat you like you believe they will.

Have you every met a person who often complains they ALWAYS get treated rudely? Do you want to treat such a person in a respectful way, what do you feel like? We are mirrors to eachother, and can learn immensely about ourselves through others!

What makes you attractive? Liveliness, genuinety, happiness, able to give energy and love, share your deepest thoughts, etc, etc. If you're bored, why should anybody want to be with you, and why would you want to be with somebody who lacks these traits?

Twist the whole thing around, start with yourself. Are you a happy person that will attract others, or do you suck their energy in order to get what YOU want?

Some self-inquiry may surprise you, or maybe I'm speaking to the wrong person. Anyways, I'm sharing this in the belief it may help others.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

I know i don't have one... Going on 20 and never been kissed :x

I had the same problem. And then, on the night of my 20th birthday, this girl sort of appeared from nowhere. We didn't actually kiss until a couple weeks later, but that's okay. We've been dating ever since then (almost 2 years now) and have done much more than kissing.. ;) Just remember don't give up, just because nothing's happened yet doesn't mean it's never going to.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[programmeratarms]

1) "Liveliness, genuinety, happiness, able to give energy and love, share your deepest thoughts, etc, etc." - in order for a woman to give a rat's ass about these things, the guy must be "cute" and thus worth trying to talk to and getting to know. The difference between "i want to talk to the hot guy" and "that creep is staring at me" is purely in the physique of the men involved. 2) Telepethy does not exist (well, if you've discovered a way to make it work, share it with the world). A person's "subconscious" can only pick up signs that are _physically present._ hence the appearance-is-everything idea. "normal" people (those who have had relationships) who insist that it is not the main factor in who is allowed relationships and who is not remind me of "old money" (inherited wealth) millionaires who lecture incessantly about the value of hard work in getting rich.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[programmeratarms]

The point was, "what works" varies as the goal changes. Not everyone is interested in women for whom knowledge of "gangsta rap" and presence in clubs, etc. is a turn-on; not everyone is interested in simply getting laid.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

"The difference between "i want to talk to the hot guy" and "that creep is staring at me" is purely in the physique of the men involved."

This might be true in a sense - but I'd argue it's much more carriage (like posture, but with attitude) than it is straight physique. There are plenty of guys with bellies, and plenty of guys with harsh faces, and plenty of really really skinny guys, and plenty of guys with average build. And a lot of these guys have found someone they like being with. Sexually. And intellectually.

I was really lucky - I had a very similar point of view to yours, but I also have a female friend that has been kicking my ass for years to stand up straight and do more stuff that makes me feel good. I fucking swear to you that if you walk in to [place] with [people you want to meet] feeling good about your day, feeling sociable, not taking it all too seriously (but being real about people), and feeling good about yourself, that the extra 0.5 inch you gain in height, the extra 0.5 inch of chest you get from standing up and breathing, and the Genuine Smile On Your Face will not only give others an invitation... it will make you feel better.

Smiling makes you feel better. There is data to support this.

So do you often think others see you as a creep? Or are you willing to accept that (a) they're probably not thinking about you at all, and so (b) you can make a good impression if you're willing to do your part? Other people *that you want to meet* are probably not so self-absorbed that they're just thinking about how bad they feel, or how bad others think they look. They're enjoying other people.

And if they're not with other people, they're enjoying themselves. And I think you need to do that too. You don't have to go get someone to fuck. You can treat yourself to a romantic evening, take yourself out on a date, have a really productive coding session and then go for a walk somewhere public and keep feeling good about what you just did. You can treat yourself well. When you do that, it shows, eventually. If you can treat yourself well, *maybe* you can treat others well - and *that* is where superficiality is currently kicking your ass, I bet.

I feel so much better now. And that's all the proof I can give you. (And no... I'm not a model, I don't have a stunning physique, but since I've been taking care of myself I seem to look good enough.)

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Steeltoe]

I read an AC post that really hit the mark in my mind.. You are getting good answers my friend. Listen to them well. Read the posts again including your own, carefully. Save them down for later reading. You'll be doing yourself the biggest favour.

Please believe me, if you really WANT change and not just complain and maintaining status quo, what you're telling us is ALL IN _YOUR_ MIND. It is thought-patterns belitteling yourself, MAKING you who you think you are and limiting who you can be. There are SO many "ugly" people that are in relationships, you wouldn't believe it.. If you just opened up your eyes, you would easily see it! That beauty really comes from within.

It ALL depends on your state of mind. You see, first comes the thought, then the physical action. Every human activity stems from thought, so we should observe them carefully.

To become free of limiting and negative thoughts is easy and cheap, just become more CONSCIOUS that you're doing it when you do it and allow it to be, relax. This starts a process that doesn't stop until we're under the ground, but can turn your life into something more enjoyable very fast. We don't have time to go on murmuring about how "unfair" life is anymore!

Yes, there are girls that are that superficial they will never talk to you or me (except if we become friend with their friends!). However, those girls are trouble anyway. Stay clear, beware! You are only interested in such girls, because you yourself are interested in their superficial attributes.. Or your friends have somehow convinced you they are worth "possessing". Such people will easily give up short-time trouble and long-term pleasure, for short-time pleasure and long-time trouble.

Instead, become conscious about the real people all around you. Maybe there's a girl with a crush on you you never really noticed? Join some genuine activity you love to do, something more physical than sitting in front of a computer. Perhaps some volunteering. With computer-knowledge, they will truly appreciate you. If you love to do this activity, people will be attracted to you naturally. Become more conscious, maybe there's a someone you should get to know better? Become friends with a new person every day, wether male or female. Show some interest in other people but yourself! Your Life will become more interesting, then You become interesting. The quickest way to get depressed and spiteful is becoming self-absorbed.

You claim alot, happily debunking anything out of the ordinary. Truth is that a conscious person can see right through you. There's no magic needed to be involved. Just experience, especially similar experiences.

Your idea of "normal" people is completely off target, and is also just a concept in your mind blurring your worldview. Is your mind saying "No" at this moment? Be conscious of that, and stay with ME. No need to gather counter-arguments in your own mind, just become conscious of this and then REALLY listen to what I say.

You don't know me and how many years I spent depressed because I never had a girlfriend. Then I discovered I could love myself and my life first. Suddenly girls became more interested in me. If I didn't love myself and my life, why would anybody notice me but similarly depressed people? Misery loves company.. Before I knew it I became friend with a girl that I'm together with now. She's not a "conquest" or somebody I "possess", but a person that might become my life-mate and friend that I respect very much. I met her just after I dropped "chasing" girls in my head and started enjoying life itself instead. She's mirrors my new state of mind in that she is a genuine, deep and loving person. Just like we all really are, as soon as we drop the self pity and lesser identifications.

So I'm talking out of my own experience here and knowledge that I have been given by others. Your mind probably now has a list of counter-arguments. Please don't bother posting them. Save them down into a file on your HD instead, and reread it in a few months. I won't answer any replies in this thread.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

How does it feel to be a pussy? Of course, being ugly & an elitist can't help you much, either.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

Anyone who is a serious geek and hacker and who wants to get laid and cannot get laid is not worthy to be called a geek or a hacker.

That's right. As long as we have the cash, escorts and truck stop lot lizards will fuck us.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

Thanks. I haven't read a bigger load of psycho-babble bullshit in a long time. Volunteer? Good God, the PC brainwashers at your college really did a number on you. Sorry. I don't want to meet druggies or mental patients.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

take yourself out on a date

Jesus H Keeeyyyyyrrrrrrrriiiiiistttttttt! That is the most pathetic thing I've read on Slashdot. And while you're out on your "date", you better not look around and notice that you're the only one there by yourself. When you do, I hope standing up straight and your smile can compensate for the Tsunami of depression that is about to hit you.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[brian_olsen]

That is, unless you are incensed that nothing is ever going to happen in that area of life. When you are faced with it, you'll always look the other way. But believe me, it's not that bad, especially when you don't feel the weight of judgement on you for not partcipating in this venture.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[danny]

I was suprised to not see this, but here's a link to Dr Tatiana's Website

Thanks for providing that. I included that link in the version of the review on my own website, but forgot to add a "for more information" trailer when I posted here.

Danny.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

not that you care ;) , but the idea is not to give a shit that you're there by yourself. why wallow in something that feels bad when you could be wallowing in something that feels good?

seriously. why the fuck would you go do something that makes you feel like shit? do stuff that makes you feel good. if going out makes you feel bad, don't do it. or learn to do it better. if staying at home and poking away at some code makes you feel like a loser, well... don't do it. or do it better. there are plenty of options.

Re:Having problems with your sex life?

[Anonymous Coward]

I seriously don't know how your thoughts can live in anything that small.

You're a fuckwit. Have fun eating the table scraps of a shit-eating society. A depressingly small number of the rest of us will enjoy not being depressed.

The spammers are attacking slashdot!

[Anonymous Coward]

Next thing we are going to see penis enlargement stories.

Re:The spammers are attacking slashdot!

[TrippTDF]

Next thing? Every story about SCO is just them trying to prove they have a massive wang...

Why didn't this get a 10?

[Anonymous Coward]

There's nothing in the review that justifies the one point deduction!

Re:Why didn't this get a 10?

[Anonymous Coward]

maybe its a 0-9 scale.

$1.40 cheaper

[zontroll]

Referral: Amazon has this book for $1.40 cheaper than bn
Spend $13.80 more to get free shipping.

Re:$1.40 cheaper

[Dot.Com.CEO]

How thoughtful of you to provide an associate's link so you can get the commission. There is a word for you, and the word is spammer.

Re:$1.40 cheaper

[AmishSlayer]

Indeed!

Half of his posts are about how Amazon is cheaper than bn.com and spend X more to get free shipping. I've seen a lot of trolling spamming scum like this lately.

Same text everytime too... like it is a script making the post or something.

Re:$1.40 cheaper

[stephanruby]

Actually, there are at least 8 online stores that have it cheaper (shipping included).

Re:$1.40 cheaper

[Anonymous Coward]

REALLY?!?!

WOW! I'm glad you brought this to my attention! I never would have noticed!

THX!!!

Re:$1.40 cheaper

[monkeymonster]

I think his name says it all: (Ama)zon + troll.

Re:$1.40 cheaper

[AmishSlayer]

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhh the stinging sarcasm... I will need some therapy and meds to recover from that blow.

post like a man, not anon like a chump.

Very accurate review

[Anonymous Coward]

It said that this book won't get me laid, and guess what. It didn't. 4 stars.

Re:Very accurate review

[zoeblade]

It said that this book won't get me laid, and guess what. It didn't. 4 stars.

So if you got laid, would you have given it five stars?

Re:Very accurate review

[soulsteal]

So if you got laid, would you have given it five stars?

Probably, but he'd definitely give it three thumbs up.

What's with all the Furries lately?

[Anonymous Coward]

They were on CSI last night, now they have a friggin' fuzzy sutra. Creepy, creepy, creepy.

Re:What's with all the Furries lately?

[jonnyfivealive]

THAT was the nuttiest(no pun intended) thing ive seen in a while on CSI last night... that dude crying about finding out who he really was was WHACKED. id never even heard of all that before...

to stay on topic, uh... beowulf clusters of something or others... or how about SCO sux?

Re:What's with all the Furries lately?

[Anonymous Coward]

Furpile anyone? Who wants to yiff?

Re:What's with all the Furries lately?

[Anonymous Coward]

Nothing published by the media is ever unbiased. I think that episode exaggerated some aspects just a tad. Remember the 90s (or was it the 80s) that DnDers were portrayed as chanting pagans who acted out their fantasies and kill fellow players with swords through live action role playing? If that media portrayal did not fit any role player you've ever known then CSI just won't fit any furry enthusiast you will ever know.

Re:What's with all the Furries lately?

[bersl2]

The only reason it wasn't as bad as the awful MTV Sex2k "documentary" (which the CSI producers originally used as their base material) was because a fur actually consulted on the making of this episode. Source (somewhere in here)

Re:What's with all the Furries lately?

[Anonymous Coward]

What's a furry? I am serious.

Re:What's with all the Furries lately?

[shadowcabbit]

I think that episode exaggerated some aspects just a tad.

What made it scary wasn't that they exaggerated any of it (which they did), but that they actually did research and got about 80% truth to it. (OK, so a grown balding man wouldn't break down crying that he'd been discovered to be "Sexy Kitty", but the terminology was correct at least.)

And before you ask, hell no. My website's named after a nickname my little sister gave me years ago.

Re:What's with all the Furries lately?

[shadowcabbit]

[swallows pride]

A furry is a person, usually an internet user, who has a strong attachment to stuffed animals or the like. This can evidence itself ranging from a mere predilection towards anthropomorphized animals as their online avatar, to (at the extreme) "modifying" stuffed animals for sexual purposes. Gatherings of furries can usually result in many of them wearing full-body costumes to turn themselves into living stuffies (of course, this is no different than cosplay at an anime convention or wearing makeup at a KISS concert). Occasionally, the... attraction... can become so strong that... well, you saw the episode and you can read the comments, so I don't feel a need to go into it here.

And before you ask, no, I'm not. It's an old nickname from when I was a kid. (All right, so I'm on the low end of the spectrum. Sue me.)

Re:What's with all the Furries lately?

[bersl2]

The sibling post is being a bit too narrow and convoluted with his definition. Try What is a furry?

Come on

[pheared]

"Dr. Tatiana" ?

She clearly changed her name to garner sales.

Re:Come on

[Anonymous Coward]

You stupid shit.

Re:Come on

[Pingular]

She clearly changed her name to garner sales.
What do you mean, 'she'? :)

it was a bit short though

[rednuhter]

I was dissapointed when two thirds of the way through the book ended (it was a small paer back to start with) the last third was notes etc.
But regardless it was a fun read, turned a few heads on the train ;)

Re:it was a bit short though

[Anonymous Coward]

"I was dissapointed when two thirds of the way through the book ended (it was a small paer back to start with) the last third was notes etc."

So now you know how women feel about sex.

Re:it was a bit short though

[Tibor the Hun]

now you know how your significant other feels!
"it was a bit short though"
"I was dissapointed when two thirds of the way it
ended..."

Re:it was a bit short though

[tgibbs]

I was dissapointed when two thirds of the way through the book ended (it was a small paer back to start with) the last third was notes etc

I had the opposite reaction--the real meat of the book was in the notes. Personally, I could have done without the "advice to the lovelorn" hook, which seemed awkward and contrived. But perhaps that is justified if it helps the book find a wider audience. One thing good about that is that the book dispells a lot of commonly held false notions about what is "natural" when it comes to sexual behavior. The ultimate message of the book is that virtually everything we humans do is pretty vanilla when compared to the wide range of sexual behavior one sees in nature.

Re:it was a bit short though

[mgblst]

Next time, don't read it aloud.

Hooo-wheee!

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm all thankin', golly, who don't know how ta sex up a barnyard aminal 'fore they even learns themselfs to read? Who gonna buy this book?

But this book looks ta gots lotsa other stuff. I's gonna saves up fer this book fer lernin some new tricks fer 'Ms. Piggy.' :)

--Cleetus

A book on evolutionary biology...

[Anonymous Coward]

...should not have 'creation' in the title.

Re:A book on evolutionary biology...

[LPetrazickis]

Just because certain quaint notions are no longer held as fact does not mean that they cannot be used as a metaphor.;)

For example, I don't believe in Good and Evil, but I am still perfectly willing to call your post EVIL EVIL EVIL.:P

Re:A book on evolutionary biology...

[Kevin DeGraaf]

Good and evil are quaint notions?!?

Re:A book on evolutionary biology...

[kale77in]

Does anyone know of reasonably detailed online resources on exactly how sexual reproduction is believed to have evolved? I've always thought hermaphrodites (which I understand would have to occur first) would have been a better option in terms of simple survivability.

(There's a lot of dross to sort through in a web search on the subject, hence this qn.)

News for News?

[goldspider]

Comon! I know this question almost always gets modded down, but I think in this case especially, it's as valid a question as any!

The Book is utter crap with statements like...

[Anonymous Coward]

"... most guys prefer not to be eaten at all. ... " I KNOW that I sure do!

News for nerds? Stuff that MATTERS?

[ichthus]

Funniest thing... I typed slashdot.org, but It looks like I got www.salon.com. Where the hell did this review come from?

Is it safe

[czephyr]

To still have hot Monkey love?

Speak for yourself...

[NineNine]

... not all of us are fat and pasty, with spit coming out of the corners of our mouth when we talk, which so happens to always be about computerth. I get laid on a *very* regular basis (no, I'm not married), AND I've been posting on /. for a while now. So there.

Re:Speak for yourself...

[Anonymous Coward]

Methinks he doth protest too much.

Re:Speak for yourself...

[11223]

Dude, you run a porn aggregating site. You have a serious credibility problem on this subject.

Re:Speak for yourself...

[sulli]

Maybe being a pornographer gets you laid? Just a thought.

Re:Speak for yourself...

[American AC in Paris]

Not to be pedantic, but "laid" is not a superset of "laid off"...

fnord

Re:Speak for yourself...

[proj_2501]

yes, but by whom?

Re:Speak for yourself...

[Anonymous Coward]

Throw a little respect for women in that equation and you might end up with a little dignity too.

Re:Speak for yourself...

[Anonymous Coward]

even if you do get laid as much as you claim, your boastfulness leads me to believe you are short somewhere else.

Re:Speak for yourself...

[TheWanderingHermit]

I get laid on a *very* regular basis (no, I'm not married)

But without paying for it and by the same species? (Dolls don't count.)

Re:Speak for yourself...

[FFFish]

Yes, but paying for it doesn't count.

Re:Speak for yourself...

[NineNine]

I just do it part time, but it definitely helps. Plus, it's a great first conversation. Works all the time. But then the women I end up with are generally incredibly hot, somewhat unstable. And you know, now that I mention it, this even works with the plain ol' secretarial/librarian types, too.

Re:Speak for yourself...

[rthille]

Shouldn't that be _Spank_ for yourself?

Re:Speak for yourself...

[Tackhead]

> Personal hygene + the gym + ability to talk about things other than computers + confidence = pussy.

Spending time on your hygiene and appearance, and spending brain cycles on something other than computers, and entering the LAN party with any confidence whatsoever, doesn't equal "pussy", it equals "pwn3d".

*rimshot*

Re:Speak for yourself...

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow, a slime-ball geek. Never expected to see that on slashdot.

Re:Speak for yourself...

[DrCode]

I get laid on a *very* regular basis (no, I'm not married)

I think your first assertion implies the second.

Re:Speak for yourself...

[Anonymous Coward]

But without paying for it and by the same species? (Dolls don't count.)

LOL! good one :)

Re:Speak for yourself...

[Anonymous Coward]

incredibly hot, somewhat unstable. [suicidegirls.com]

You think those suicidegirls are incredibly hot? Well maybe a couple of them... the rest... bleh...

Re:Speak for yourself...

[Vellmont]

Dude, you run a porn aggregating site. You have a serious credibility problem on this subject.

I'm really curious. Why does running a porn aggregating site give you a credibility problem on getting laid? Do you think porn is morally corrupt, and therefore the guy has no credibility? Or do you just think porn websites are generally run by sleezy spamming bastards?

Re:Speak for yourself...

[cpeterso]

I think we need more truth in advertising for young geeks considering a career in engineering: "I want to be an engineer... sex can wait!"

Re:Speak for yourself...

[Pieroxy]

I get laid on a *very* regular basis (no, I'm not married)

• Of course you're not married, otherwise you wouldn't get laid at all
  
• once every ten years is a regular basis.

Re:Speak for yourself...

[NineNine]

You haven't seen mine ;)

Re:Speak for yourself...

[Anonymous Coward]

it just means he can get the phone numbers for the local call girls before they've been fucked by well over 1000 guys and have become worthless crackwhores.

Re:Speak for yourself...

[hkmwbz]

Humor impaired, are we? Well, if you are going to be serious in analyzing that post, he probably means that if he was getting laid he wouldn't have to do porn. So his credibility on this subject is questioned. If he got some, why use porn, etc.

Geddit?

Re:Speak for yourself...

[Anonymous Coward]

Or do you just think porn websites are generally run by sleezy spamming bastards?

Was that a rhetorical question?

Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation

[siphoncolder]

"We apologize for the inconvenience"

Re:Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation

[Anonymous Coward]

Only on slashdot would someone consider sex as inconvenient.. (yeah yeah, I know it's from HGttG, and I don't even mean it seriously it's just one of those "might as well get over it" slashdot jokes ^^)

News for NERDS, that is!

[Anonymous Coward]

Ack, not been a good day, what can I say...

don't buy the book

[brad3378]

.... when you can get better advice for free:

http://www.sosuave.com/ - this one is my favorite for content, but the interface sucks

I haven't looked at this one much, but it has potential.
http://fastseduction.com/guide/

and a couple more:
http://www.blowmeuptom.com/index2.html

http://askmen.com/

No, I wouldn't consider myself a player - far from it, but yes I do read these websites. You can always learn from others even if you don't agree with their philosophies. If you'd consider yourself more of a "niceguy" than a "player", you should still read this stuff and figure out what you need to do differently to start scoring.

Re:don't buy the book

[Anonymous Coward]

No, I wouldn't consider myself a player - far from it, but yes I do read these websites.

Ummm.. No one is going to assume you are a player because you read these websites.

Re:don't buy the book

[brad3378]

Ummm.. No one is going to assume you are a player because you read these websites.

Nor will anybody assume that you are a genius for reading slashdot.

Re:don't buy the book

[numark]

I think you missed the point of the book. It's about the evolution of sex throughout the animal kingdom, written in the form of advice column letters. Nothing in the review about humans.

Re:don't buy the book

[Anonymous Coward]

"No, I wouldn't consider myself a player - far from it, but yes I do read these websites."

but apparently not TFR.

Re:don't buy the book

[Abcd1234]

You do realize that the point of this book is to provide *scientific* information about the evolution of sex in various species, right? This isn't at book intended to teach you how to be a player. Maybe you should try reading the review next time. After all, I find it's often helpful, when commenting, to actually understand what you're commenting on.

Re:don't buy the book

[Sloppy]

Have you ever actually tried to engage a spider in conversation while looking deeply into its eyes?

Re:don't buy the book

[Anonymous Coward]

There is actually another person on Slashdot that knows who Tom Leykis is?

Re:don't buy the book

[Anonymous Coward]

No, I wouldn't consider myself a player - far from it, but yes I do read these websites.

ROTFL. Yeah, it's funny, 'cause I was really about to assume that you were a "mad skillz playa" -- y'know, from the fact that you're on Slashdot, responding to a book review, whipping out a half-dozen of your favorite links to "How to Get a Girl" websites.

Seriously, dude...I was this close to asking you for some advice. Thanks for the much-needed disclaimer...

Re:don't buy the book

[GreenCow]

well since i am a playa may i humbly suggest that you consider the use of sarcasm in bringing smiles to the faces of those you interact with. =]

More of this sort of spooky information

[Anonymous Coward]

... can be found here.

Don't thank me, just use PayPal.

Re:News for nerds? Stuff that MATTERS?

[jonnyfivealive]

did you RTFR?

its science, foo. bugs and things. its funny, laugh

Sex will not exist soon.

[Thinkit3]

It is the single most complicating factor of life today. Imagine how much simpler if we didn't have the division between sexes? Less pronouns to remember! We already have artificial wombs, so we'll just evolve into a being that doesn't reproduce. But imagine if we had stayed like earthworms, both male and female.

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[jonnyfivealive]

poor soul... you really have given up on ever getting laid, havent you?

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[Anonymous Coward]

What? You think life would be simpler when EVERYONE'S potentially someone to have a relationship with? No "hangin' out with the guys" or "going out with my girlfriends?" Hoo-boy.

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[Anonymous Coward]

If you can think of a better way to exchange long protein strands, we'd like to hear about it.

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[Abcd1234]

But just imagine what you'd be missing out on. IMHO, the companionship of the opposite sex is one of life's greatest pleasures (both mental and physical).

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[drox]

Imagine how much simpler if we didn't have the division between sexes?

That's different than sex not existing though. Sex exists for earthworms; the difference is that both partners can get pregnant (well, get their eggs fertilized) as a result.

Less pronouns to remember! We already have artificial wombs,

We do?

...so we'll just evolve into a being that doesn't reproduce.

Um... why? The world may be overpopulated *now*, but it would quickly be underpopulated if humans stopped reproducing entirely. Humans need to start limiting their reproduction in order to live within the carrying capacity of their planet (and still have nice things like clean water, someplace to put their waste besides on their neighbors, and some wilderness for the other living things to, well, live on) but stopping human reproduction completely is more than even a "population nazi" like myself would ask for.

But imagine if we had stayed like earthworms, both male and female.

Back to the biology side of things... I've often wondered what's the draw of having two different sexes instead of one. IIRC sexual dimorphism first appeared among marine algae (different male and female parts on the same creature, like earthworms) in part to facilitate reproduction at a distance (tiny motile sperm were needed to cross vast oceanic distances, while large resource-rich eggs were still required in order for the young to survive) but for species where fertilization is internal (no vast distances for sperm to have to traverse) it would seem to make more sense for there to be one kind of medium-sized gamete instead of large eggs and tiny sperm. Yet even earthworms follow the latter plan. And I can't see why. What's the selective advantage? Dr. Tatiana?

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[loucura!]

GATTACTTACGACATTAGACAGATTCTAATGAATGCTGTAATCTGTCTAA T
ACAGATTCTAATGAATGCTGTAATCTCTGTATATGACTGTACTGTAG TAG C

Please combine with an appropriate long protein strand and bake for 9 months.

Thank you.

Lameness filter encountered. Post aborted!
Reason: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[ocelotbob]

Ah, but you missed the biggest reason why sex won't be going anywhere anytime soon. It's fun. If sex didn't exist, you'd be damn sure we'd invent it.

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[nitrobuzz]

You say soon? So in about 2 or 3 weeks?

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[Wolfier]

Sexual reproduction evolves species that fights microorganisms (i.e. pathogens) better.

It has been verified by experiments and is a widely-accepted theory.

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[El]

Yes, but then the phrase "Go fuck yourself!" would lose all impact!

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[MCRocker]

We already have artificial wombs

Actually, we don't need these. There's a better way to get to the single sex species. I read an article a long time ago about using a simple trick from IVF to fuse two ova together rather than a sperm and an ovum. So, you see, men are no longer necessary... geeks even less so.

I wish I could find a link to this article, but I haven't had any luck. Then again, the forces that fight over reproductive rights on both sides probably hate this concept and have squashed any mention of it. I'm expecting a knock on the door any minute now from a black bag team accusing me of supporting ungodly lesbian... aghh... help..

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[drox]

Sexual reproduction evolves species that fights microorganisms (i.e. pathogens) better.

It has been verified by experiments and is a widely-accepted theory.

That's as may be, and it may 'splain why sexual reproduction has worked out so well for much of life (though many microbes continue to reproduce the old fashioned way - without sex - and have managed to survive despite pathogens), but it still doesn't 'splain why the gametes have to be so wildly dimorphic. Why huge eggs and tiny sperm? It makes sense for algae, but near as I can tell it doesn't seem to make much sense for the rest of us. So why does life stick with that plan? Where's the selective advantage? Genetic recombination (and accompanying resistance to pathogens) would seem to work just as well for organisms that combine two more-or-less same-sized gametes as for those that combine one big egg with one (or more, as in some plants) small sperm.

I ask again... what's the draw?

Re:Sex will not exist soon.

[LordLucless]

Man, you can so tell you're on Slashdot when the major impact of our species losing one gender is that you don't have to remember a few pronouns.

Missed the *nix critters...

[Black Jack Hyde]

but that's ok, you can always read the man page if you must.

Wait for her...

[NineNine]

"The secret is picking your moment. Female redbacks aren't greedy; when they're not hungry, they don't eat. If you offer yourself right after she's feasted, forget it. You've got to wait until she gets that mean and hungry look in all eight of her beady little eyes. And then, for what you are about to receive, may your kiddies be truly thankful."

This is some good advice. The best way to get laid is not to pursue, and not to give a shit. If she's interested, let her chase you down. Hell, make her wait. Then when the time is right, BAM! Crazy, hot, dirty monkey sex.

Re:Wait for her...

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd have to agree with you, there.

Re:Wait for her...

[segmond]

"The secret is picking your moment. Female redbacks aren't greedy; when they're not hungry, they don't eat. If you offer yourself right after she's feasted, forget it. You've got to wait until she gets that mean and hungry look in all eight of her beady little eyes. And then, for what you are about to receive, may your kiddies be truly thankful."

This is some good advice. The best way to get laid is not to pursue, and not to give a shit. If she's interested, let her chase you down. Hell, make her wait. Then when the time is right, BAM! Crazy, hot, dirty monkey sex.



This is rubbish, women don't have sex and become filled and wait for months to get sex hungry again. If you see a woman out there, you have to actually make the initial approach, this is how it is works! If she is not "hungry", You have to make her hungry, by putting her in such a state! If you don't, another guy will do before you. The best way to get laid is to chase but in such a subtle manner, her being interested is not enough, she has to be comfortable with you, you have to make her feel comfortable, and why would you want to make her wait if she wants it soon?

Re:Wait for her...

[Abcd1234]

This was modded *insightful*???

Re:Wait for her...

[NineNine]

(sigh) kids, kids, kids. You can make an initial approach, but that initial approach can be just a look or a gesture. You don't walk up to a woman and say some version of "I like you. Let's fuck." or "I really like and respect you. Let's date." The game isn't played like that. You make her come after YOU. And yes, you make her wait, because all of that waiting makes her want you even more. If she's interested, she'll wait until you're ready. It's called having a bit of self respect. Once you're in a relationship, THEN when the woman says, "Hey, let's have sex", you can safely say, "Sure!".

Re:Wait for her...

[slimy_dude]

let her chase you down

I agree that pursuit based on desperation is to be avoided. However, I think the advice that most people need to hear is to be more aggressive.

It may be different for you, but I don't get many women expressing their interest in me. I have to first express my interest and establish my personality with confidence. I can't sit around hoping the girl gets interested in me without any work on my part.

IANAPimp, but I recommend everyone go to iTunes and download Bust A Move by Young MC.

Re:Wait for her...

[Gregoyle]

Umm, dude, believe it or not some guys DO get hit on. A LOT. Ninenine has it right here. The secret to having "game" is to not have ANY game because you don't really care. Check out "The Tao of Steve" to see what I mean.

Re:Wait for her...

[CFBMoo1]

This is some good advice. The best way to get laid is not to pursue, and not to give a shit. If she's interested, let her chase you down. Hell, make her wait. Then when the time is right, BAM!

I've been waiting 11 years, when does it kick in?

Re:Wait for her...

[BHearsum]

Sure, that approach works when you've got looks I guess, but what about the rest of us?

Re:Wait for her...

[Anonymous Coward]

>I've been waiting 11 years, when does it kick in?

It doesn't. Forget it. It didn't "happen" in the first five seconds, or if it did, you didn't notice and now it's way, way too late. Just make it happen on the next chick. This one's spent. She will be way more likely to have sex with someone you introduce her to, within an hour of meeting him, that EVER with you.

It will not happen, and if you could make it happen, the effort you put in will get you laid ten times (and much sooner than you think!).

I don't care if you're an ugly doofus, either. Once you realize what I'm saying is true, you might not really like women much anymore. Few men do, once they find out what really motivates them towards sex.

Re:Wait for her...

[Anonymous Coward]

Sure, that approach works when you've got looks I guess, but what about the rest of us?

Diet, go to the gym, and buy some decent clothes. Smile at women, but never fawn over one just because she has a pair of tits (this is the most pathetic quality of geeks). I dislike the game, but after losing at it enough I caught on.

Re:Wait for her...

[Anonymous Coward]

Believe it or not, there's a fair number of bald, fat, ugly dudes who get laid. Maybe because they don't care that they are bald/fat/ugly, but primarily because they're actually interesting people. (Having an foreign accent doesn't hurt either.)

Look at what passes for "funny" or "insightful" on slashdot. That pretty much sums up the "can't get laid" problem right there -- you are never ever ever going to get some tail with "We welcome our XYZ overlords" or canned rants about Microsoft. Show some mental creativity.

Re:Wait for her...

[Zeriel]

Warning:
Surgeon General Zeriel has determined that following sex/relationship advice from NineNine may result in attracting similar women to those NineNine attracts.
These approaches may also work on other types of women, but (I'm being serious now =P) there are as many types of females as there are males, and many women that geeks would be interested in (who are also interesting people and not just sperm receptacles) are highly responsive to being courted or other non-faux-apathetic strategies.

Re:Wait for her...

[Anonymous Coward]

That is such bullshit. The only way anything remotely close to that happens is if she thinks that you have money. and lots of it. Otherwise, she will not give a rat's ass about you. Keep on waiting. Hopefully, your neighbors will notice you've died before the smell gets really bad and/or insects, vermin, & pets chew your face off.

Re:Wait for her...

[Anonymous Coward]

YAH!!!!!! Bust a move!!! great track! mad propz bro! I haven't thought of that in so long. Thanks for the flash back. btw, I do get hit on and the pretty ppl seem to like me. dunno wtf is wrong with them, but whatever. no problems there. pzzzz'out

"Having problems with your sex life?

[botzi]

No. But I should say that's the most original first line from a /. book review in a loooooong time......

Sex, new topic on slashdot!

[Anonymous Coward]

How are we supposed to discuss sex?
I predict utter and complete failure, posts are going to be so slow it's not even funny, anonymous cowards bringing fantastic new insights (-sure i've done it, it was me, a stripper, and her friend).

To mod me up is a vote, to mod all sex down.

someone please kill me

[Anonymous Coward]

someone please kill me

Re:Speak for yours elf...

[Anonymous Coward]

This guy is an immature idiot... just look at his other comments

Getting laid is actually simple

[Neo-Rio-101]

Just don't make the lady feel like a slut, and she will become one for you.

All the crazy stuff women do is based on this one thing. Just avoid letting her make decisions, and never force her to seduce you... that makes her feel slutty.

There is no such thing as rejection... just a warning alarm that you made her feel cheap. (even though she may very well be!)

Re:Getting laid is actually simple

[ExistentialFeline]

Show me a man who refuses to believe that he can be rejected and I'll show you someone who comes off as a sleazeball.

Suggesting that someone can be forced to seduce someone else, and that it's best to not let the woman make decisions, is not terribly insightful or enlightened.

Re:Getting laid is actually simple

[Neo-Rio-101]

Sure, a guy may come off as a sleazeball, but a woman will call him the asshole ex-boyfriend "because if 'just happened', and he doesn't treat me right" the next day. It's a convenient excuse for women to call men sleazeballs to make it look as if the women are innocent victims with no sex drive! *cough* *cough*.

Re:Getting laid is actually simple

[Anonymous Coward]

So... I like bought her some nachos, so that she'd like... put out and stuff?.

did it work?

yeah chuck, I scored... uh huh huh...

Uhh...

[Anonymous Coward]

there's only the occasional reference to plants and bacteria, with nothing (for example) on the fascinating topic of pollination.

Hey man, whatever gets you goin'...I guess...

Hey!

[ReciprocityProject]

I suggested this in my journal back in june. I guess I shoulda written a review.

How to have an active sex life

[Cyclopedian]

Step 1) Move out of your parents house and into your own apartment/house/townhouse/condo.

Step 2) Invite female friend for dinner.

Step 3) ????

Step 4) uh, profit? More like score!

Ok MODS, I'm ready for you!

-Cyc

Re:How to have an active sex life

[Peyna]

Step 4) Loss (Female profits, then you have to take her back to her street corner)

Re:How to have an active sex life

[CCIEwannabe]

Step 3) Copious quantities of alcohol

Re:jesus hates y ou

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, if I'm going to burn in hell anyway...

(drops pants back down)

Sex Article on Slashdot?

[Shaper of Myths]

Great. Fires, floods, famine, now this...

MOD PARENT UP! IT'S FREEKING ON TOPIC

[Anonymous Coward]

for once...

Re:ESR's Match.com LoveLetter

[Anonymous Coward]

Today was shaping up to be a great day for Eric S. Raymond, Open Source figurehead and accidental anthropologist extraordinaire. He had finally received, after a year and a half, a reply to his Match.com love-letter. He knew this not because he had been checking his mail in anticipation, but because he had scripted Fetchmail to set off various alarms and buzzers all over his cabin when his reply arrived: Using Open Source tools such as Perl and Jagermeister, Eric had wired his entire house to his 386 with eight megs of RAM running Linux. His shack had just lit up like a Christmas tree before his eyes.

Straining to read his 13" monochrome monitor, ESR pulled out a soiled handkerchief and spat it in, eagerly wiping away the years of filth and grime. When the screen was cleared, he sat anxiously at his kitchen table waiting for his lovely's email to come up. After what seemed like minutes (and was actually closer to a half hour) of Linux paging out and going swap-mad, Felchmale displayed her reply on the screen. Eric beamed as he read the first few lines, and warm sweat began welling up on his ruddy brow.

I liked your little poem. And I did guess the answer before you told me. uh LOL! UR 2 funny!

Eric clapped his hands together several times as a smiled festered its way across his face. He exhaled sharply through taut lips, as if he were literally letting pressure off, and mopped sweat from his forehead. He also began opening a new bottle of Jagermeister.

So how did you learn Anglo-Saxon and Old Icelandic? I speak Latin-American Spanish fluently, and also know a little German and Portugese.

Eric almost had a heart-attack. Jager shot into the air and his hands started shaking uncontrollably. The girl from Match.com he fancied was not only beautiful, but intelligent! He began drinking the Jager with his trembling left hand as he started pounding on his chest with his right-- not in victory but in an attempt to get his heart beating in a proper cycle again. This email was so exciting it was making his congenital arythmia act up! All the while his crooked eyes were fixed hard upon the text of the email.

Well, Eric, allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Maggie Delano Ipsimer. I am please to meet you, Eric S. Raymond! You may just call me "MDI" for short, Mr. ESR! :-)

Sex advice^H^H^H^H^H^^Htalk from Oderus of GWAR

[The Ape With No Name]

"This song goes out all you guys who ain't gettin' laid. And that is every last one of you. Sexcow!" -- Oderus, Level 5 show, the Roseland, NYC, Halloween, 1997.

Re:Sex advice^H^H^H^H^H^^Htalk from Oderus of GWAR

[Anonymous Coward]

Here's a little something from a GOD to a SLAVE!
Never should've been let out the fucking microwave!
Burning a mall or two!
Blowing the load I spew!
If you don't want to fucking fuck me, I'll fuck YOU!

Evolution is a crock of shit

[Anonymous Coward]

Why do they still teach 19th century thinking in schools?

Re: Evolution is a crock of shit

[Anonymous Coward]

"Why do they still teach 19th century thinking in schools?"

You mean like genetics, theromodynamics, electromagnetism, quantitative chemistry, and all that unreliable jazz?

Re:Evolution is a crock of shit

[Anonymous Coward]

I agree. Lets get back to good old 1st century creationism!

tech news??

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sorry but what the F*CK does this have to do with Slashdot.

Re:tech news??

[buckeyeguy]

It's for the majority of geeks who know that there's a world outside of open source software.

Entertaining

[RobFrontier]

I friend of mine bought this for me about a year ago, and while it starts out entertaining enough, it really gets redundant quickly. It certainly would make your sex life interesting if you followed some of the examples from the animal kingdom.

Re:Entertaining

[Anonymous Coward]

...you mean like follow their example and actually HAVE a sex life instead of living in our parents basements?

That's a start...

Re:Entertaining

[Anonymous Coward]

"It certainly would make your sex life interesting if you followed some of the examples from the animal kingdom."

Yeah, that's how I learned the benefits of pouring warm vegetable oil on the trampoline before we start.

Re:sex.. bah

[Oddly_Drac]

"I am a big pussy and will most likely not say anything to either one of them so I expect this to go on for a while. Fuck."

Say anything? Fuck that, take revenge. Be a carbon-based lifeform about and stop blogging your frustrations. Play loud polka music; call his mom and ring off just after she answers; fake a fire alarm; record the whole thing for a wedding speech.

Jesus, unless you're trolling you need to take some portion of yourself back.

creator's advise to all creation?

[Anonymous Coward]

lookout bullow. the daze of the georgewellian fuddite southern baptist corepirate nazi payper liesense stock markup FraUD execrable, is WANing into coolapps/the abyss, at the speed of right (which tends to be kind of slow sometimes).

that whoreabull blemish on humankind is being replaced by the creator's newclear power, & planet/population rescue initiatives.

it's quite obvious to the creator that most of you already know about sex.

no moretoll man can win this daze.

consult with/trust in yOUR creator... get ready to see the light.

Listen to a Dr. Tatiana interview

[corvi42]

Here's an interview with Dr. Tatiana herself, available online in real and ogg courtesy of the Canadian Brodcasting Corp.:
http://www.radio.cbc.ca/programs/quirks/ar chives/0 2-03/jan18.html

Re:Listen to a Dr. Tatiana interview

[corvi42]

sorry, try that link here:
http://www.radio.cbc.ca/programs/quirks/archives/0 2-03/jan18.html

PS - also available in mp3

I had sex last week! But....

[Anonymous Coward]

This has nothing to do with anything remotely Slashdot related, but I need to do something before my head explodes:

As I type this, my roomate and my best friend/recent lover are fucking in the next room over. WHAT THE FUCK. After 10 years of friendship and built-up sexual tension, we finally hooked up and now less than a week later she's banging my roomate. I am so fucking incensed right now I can't think straight. I wouldn't mind if they went to a hotel or otherwise didn't make it known, but she just FUCKING WALKED PAST MY ROOM TOPLESS AND SHUT THE DOOR IN MY FUCKING FACE. How fucking insensitive can you be?!

This sucks. It's 3AM and I'm telling strangers (GEEK strangers, no less) about my personal problems. I am a big pussy and will most likely not say anything to either one of them so I expect this to go on for a while. Fuck.

Feeling low? There's someone else out there that's having a worse day than you. Trust me.

NPR Interview

[centauri]

I first heard about this book when the author was interviewed on NPR. It was just like a normal interview with callers and everything, but the callers were actors pretending to be slime molds, or wasps, or birds or whatever asking her for advice. Really hilarious.

Sure they do

[Anonymous Coward]

Respect and dignity will get you NOT laid.

Wow

[Anonymous Coward]

You're a fucking moron.

Did you even read the review?

I'll Probably Get Modded, but...

[greymond]

Slashdot, News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters...

There is definately a broad list of topics you can fit in that blurb, however I fail to see the reason why we have a review (good review) of a book that doesn't quite seem to fit. If someone reviewed a Howard Stern book would we post it here? With this post it seems like we could, but I don't think that would fit in the "News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters" category.

Good review, funny book btw

Re:I'll Probably Get Modded, but...

[ocelotbob]

It's funny, laugh. Besides, it's always good to see an accessible book on evolutionary biology. Not everything needs to be dry and boring.

Re:I'll Probably Get Modded, but...

[Arysh]

This book is a) about sex and b) about weird science (more specifically biology). How could this NOT matter to nerds? ;) As a nerdy biology student with no sex life and an interest in all things weird, wonderful and sometimes dirty, I'd say this matters to me at any rate :P

Besides, if Howard Stern wrote a book about sex and evolutionary biology, someone probably would review it too :P

As a side note, I haven't read the book, but I'm wondering... does it mention any interesting habits of penguins? I remember hearing a radio show years ago which talked about how female penguins literally prostitute themselves in order to get stones for their nests...
---

Re:I'll Probably Get Modded, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

I fail to see the reason why we have a review (good review) of a book that doesn't quite seem to fit.

See the other couple of hundred responses to this article? Notice how a lot of them find it an interesting topic?

That's why it's here. So get the hell over yourself. No one cares what you find interesting, and you're a self-absorbed idiot for thinking otherwise. The Slashdot editors know from experience what articles the readers will enjoy; and nine times out of ten, their judgment proves correct. So shut the fuck up -- and if you don't like this article, then move on to the next one. Don't clutter the thread with your egotistical whining.

You should try actually reading before commenting

[Walter Wart]

You didn't read the book, did you?
You didn't even read the review.

The cover of the book shows two bright blue weevils making little weevils. This should clue you in.

This is not a book about how a man can have a good time bumping nasties with a woman. It's a book about how rotifers, hyenas, stick insects and bee-eaters do the deed with other rotifers, hyenas, stick insects and bee-eaters. It's evolutionary biology case studies styled like an advice column so that people will enjoy reading it.

www.fastseduction.com

[Anonymous Coward]

Learn how to get laid for real.

Nature has its own system of checks and balances

[symbolic]

But when it comes to humans, I don't get it. I could understand if we, as humans, had to constantly struggle for survival (as a species), but this clearly isn't the case. With 6.5 billion and counting, does continued proliferation ever stop making sense?

A friend tells that a common acquaintance is expecting a fourth. I'm supposed to get excited? I guess families can be nice (though often fraught with dysfunction of one sort or another), but what about the big picture? Is there still something to proving one's verility? What have you proven exactly? And does the mere fact that someone can add to the 6.5 billion already in place, really mean anything?

It's all a "been there done that" proposition in my eyes. I'd rather focus on tending to what we already have, than continue to pile more and more onto the heap.

Is there no justice?

[bwoodard]

This book review does not do this book justice. The book is much better than the reviewer seems to give it credit for. The book teaches you a vast amount natural history and biology in a way that is in such stark contrast to the typical dry and often times unrefined and boring presentation of scientific literature that you find yourself quite eager to delve into the next chapter. In particular, the book is actually funny and you find yourself laughing at the subtlety of the setups that the author puts the creatures in. You get the feeling like she spent literally days watching shows like Jerry Springer and contriving these scenarios. All the broached taboos that make shows like Jerry Springer so facinating to some people are represented in this book through the sex lives of various animals. It is almost unsettling at times how, things that are so universally verboten in our species are normal in other species. The book continues to surprise you with the extremely deviant sexual behavior and breaks down your aversion to it by explaining how it fits into the context of the lives of the creatures that practice it.

The breaking down of taboos surrounding sexuality is the slightly hidden agenda of the book. By presenting, the wide breadth of sexual behavior in the animal kingdom, in such a matter of fact way you become increasingly aware of how limited your own sexual repitoir truly is. The universal truths that you unquestioningly accept such as incest is bad, and females are chaste while men are promiscious are not quite as universal as you have been led to believe and that opens you up to a new way of thinking about the world.

Toward the beginning of the book and near the end Judson lifts her skirt just a little bit and hints at the book's hidden agenda and her personal feelings about sex after writing this whole book about on the topic. What she revealed and what she kept hidden reminded me of that old quote about bikinis, "What it reveals is suggestive, what it conceals is vital". This few paragraphs very effectively communicated to me that Ms Judson was not just a well lettered academic; the very pretty Ms. Judson also understands human sexuality and in particular the art being a seductress. She did this so well that after I finished the book, I had a serious crush on her for several weeks.

Re:Who needs it?

[NineNine]

I give the parent post a +10 insightful. I agree 100%. Respect and dignity is NOT what women want, even though they may say otherwise. I learned that through many years of experience, but if you want to try yourself, fine. You'll go home alone every night with that whole "respect and dignity" angle.

Read this if you're a Bio nerd, or want to be

[Lish]

This book is really well written. Much more interesting and understandable than most biology texts. It's that rare balance between information and fun that makes you actually want to read about, say, the sex habits of scorpions. Kind of like how Mr. Wizard or Bill Nye make physics principles interesting.

Dear AC

[heironymouscoward]

Your question is right on topic. As a member of Homo Sapiens Sapiens (although if you are actually a red-backed spider, my advice will be somewhat flawed), you should know that your sex life is probably the most complex of any species except the Brazilian flatworm (eguenisis h. cryptae), which has four genders.

Your problem started ten years ago, when you spent more than three months with your friend without passing through the sexual relations phase. A healthy young girl can be an enthusiastic lover, but not after ten years of friendship, by which time you will be considered more of an older brother than an object of desire.

You are most likely obsessed to some degree by this girl, who has never dared tell you flatly that your relationship will never become sexual. Or perhaps she has, many times, but you have ignored her.

Who knows what provoked the final "hooking up"... drink, stress, blackmail? Certainly not the natural desire to get to know someone better.

Sex, you see, is about getting to know someone. For women, it's something they give in exchange for the opportunity to look inside your darkest corners and check you out. For men, it's just sex.

The fact that she is banging your best friend can be taken as a not very subtle hint: go and find the object of your desires somewhere else. Whoever your soulmate is, it's not a girl that ignores you for ten years.

When you do find that woman who is right for you, she will not wait more than ten days before giving you everything you ask for. So go to sleep, stop focussing on an unattainable goal, and realize that life is full of opportunities, they just aren't in the hotel room beside you.

Re:Nature has its own system of checks and balance

[Anonymous Coward]

But when it comes to humans, I don't get it. I could understand if we, as humans, had to constantly struggle for survival (as a species), but this clearly isn't the case. With 6.5 billion and counting, does continued proliferation ever stop making sense?

A friend tells that a common acquaintance is expecting a fourth. I'm supposed to get excited? I guess families can be nice (though often fraught with dysfunction of one sort or another), but what about the big picture? Is there still something to proving one's verility? What have you proven exactly? And does the mere fact that someone can add to the 6.5 billion already in place, really mean anything?

WTF are you talking about? Was that just some pre-compiled rant you had lying around and thought this was the best opportunity to spring it? In a /. book review about the sexuality and habits of insects & wildlife? I think the FP trolls have an appropriate message for this: "YOU FAIL IT!" This is the most off-topic, meaningless pseudo-psycho-babble spam I've ever read.

It's all a "been there done that" proposition in my eyes. I'd rather focus on tending to what we already have, than continue to pile more and more onto the heap.

And unless you're out there feeding the homeless and teaching the deprived, I don't want to hear this crap. If *you* want to focus on it, go ahead. But you're probably one of those people who think "Why are X wasting their time doing Y? They should be working on a cure for cancer!" You want a cure, become a geneticist and find it. Or become a VC and fund some research. But don't sit on your ass in front of a PC and bitch at the world because they don't see things exactly the same way you do!

If any of us were actually getting laid

[Anonymous Coward]

If any of us were actually getting laid, we wouldn't be posting here on Slashdot. Let's see, this is a hard choice: Be with a girl I really love; get in a flame war on Slashdot; be with a girl I really love; get in a flame war on Slashdot.

Yeah, Slashdot sounds like more fun. Not.

I find the expression "get laid" very offensive, actually, since I believe that I should be screwing around with a girl unless I have a very strong emotional attraction to them and really enjoy just talking to them or looking in to their beautiful eyes and seeing them give me their special magical smile.

Re:If any of us were actually getting laid

[zoeblade]

If any of us were actually getting laid, we wouldn't be posting here on Slashdot. Let's see, this is a hard choice: Be with a girl I really love; get in a flame war on Slashdot; be with a girl I really love; get in a flame war on Slashdot.

Well, I'm right next to the woman I really love, who reads The Register, but I won't hold that against em.

Re:If any of us were actually getting laid

[sharkdba]

I find the expression "get laid" very offensive, actually, since I believe that I should be screwing around with a girl unless I have a very strong emotional attraction to them and really enjoy just talking to them or looking in to their beautiful eyes and seeing them give me their special magical smile.

You must be a female to word it like that...

Re:Who needs it?

[stephanruby]

I second that. The parent post is not a troll. In animals, respect and dignity have nothing to do with sex. Why does the moderator think it's any different with humans?

Re:Who needs it?

[Anonymous Coward]

You both need a (Score:-1 asshole). If your main goal in life is " = pussy" (and what kind of chick magnet uses an equation to represent getting laid) you have some serious problems. Maybe the typical slashdotter doesn't get "the primo tail", but maybe that is because they don't have to fill their empty lives with sex.

Re:I had sex last week! But....

[Anonymous Coward]

This isn't even yours; I've seen this before. It was funny then, and is funny now, but at least acknowledge that it isn't yours.

Mares?

[SharpFang]

How is the interspecies sex covered in the book? I really wonder what approach does the author take on that. True, Incest is fun for whole family, being a bi doubles your chances, and being a herm gives you at least twice as much positions, but still in means of pleasure nothing beats old-fashioned bucket and cuddly fluffy mare rump.

Re:Nature has its own system of checks and balance

[symbolic]

My oh my...looks like I've hit a sore spot.

book review about the sexuality and habits of insects & wildlife

The poster drew the inference to getting laid I believe, not me. Aside from that, it's all sexuality and reproduction, so I have not veered off topic - I've merely extrapolated a bit.

This is the most off-topic, meaningless pseudo-psycho-babble spam I've ever read.

And the reason for this is...? We're talking about sexual behavior. I've looked a bit beyond the "what's right in front of me" and included the element of human participation. I apologize if this is a bit more than you can handle.

And unless you're out there feeding the homeless and teaching the deprived

What makes you think I don't practice what I preach?

Overall, I find it damn funny that my post brought such a fiery response. I'm only asking questions, nothing more. Lay off the caffeine. Do some soul-searching. Think. Engage. Then come back and say something meaningful.

mod parent up

[Anonymous Coward]

I saw this story when it first aired on 20/20, and I can't tell you how shocked I was. Needless to say I have removed all traces of linux from our company network. This is one man who is glad to have his eyes opened.

Re:Nature has its own system of checks and balance

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm only asking questions, nothing more

Ha. Your post is akin to walking into Best Buy, asking for a "98 Degrees" CD, then asking the employee, "So, do you believe the Fahrenheit scale accurately represents human's struggle for knowledge about our place in the universe? Why are we here? What does it all mean?"

You're not impressing anyone. You're not inspiring "soul-searching" or "meaningful" conversation. (Unless you think out little banter is such.) You're acking like an ignorant, pompus prick. You're talking meaningless drivel in an inappropriate forum. Why not just post "Think about the children!" in every story? It's just as (ir)relevant. Perhaps you are expecting your relatively low /. UID to boost other's perceptions of the quality of your posts? I hope not.

An older book in the same vein.

[Cruciform]

The Sexual Connection: Mating the Wild Way is another book in a similar vein. It skips the whole advice column thing, but delves into some of the weird and interesting things animals (and people) do to procreate.

It's an old book though, so some of the info is outdated (or proven incorrect), and it's not always easy to get a copy.

So true, at the root of it all

[Anonymous Coward]

chicks just want to get nasty dirty sex with someone who makes her feel like a sex kitten (with her choice of suitors no less).

If you don't believe it then fine. Don't knock the poster because he gets sweet pooty. Some chicks aren't like that. You can have those pal.

Re:So true, at the root of it all

[stephanruby]

Well said.

The only thing that I would add is. Women want two kinds of men. They want men they can have sex with and they want men they can get married with. Those two types of men are not usually the same. And according to their rulebook "The Rules", they can have sex before marriage, but once they find a guy who's good marriage material (a guy who respects them and a potentially good provider), they're not supposed to have sex with him until the wedding night. Supposedly, withholding sex creates sexual tension, it maintains the mystery, and it greatly motivates the suitor(s) to propose.

Which brings us back to our original discussion. Someone implied that the guy with the porn site aggregator wasn't getting laid because he wasn't respecting women. And personally, I think that's bull. Women are animals, just like men. They want sex, and yet they're not supposed to let other people know they want it. Guys who advertise that they're not afraid of meaningless sex are going to attract those same women who are afraid to talk about sex and they're going to attract those same women who are withholding sex from their potential suitors.

Re:Who needs it?

[Anonymous Coward]

Hmm... fill an empty live with computers or sex? Hmmm... Hmmm... I'll take the sex, dumbass.

Re:I had sex last week! But....

[Alric]

You're probably just trolling, but I'll reply seriously anyway.

If she's really your best friend, I think it would pretty stupid for you not to talk to her. Some time when you are alone with her, just ask her what's up between the two of you. It makes you feel very uncomfortable when she sleeps with you and then also sleeps with your roommate.

Don't be a prick about it either. It's hard to keep calm and logical, but letting your emotions overwhelm your good sense is a path to a miserable life. Obviously you shouldn't ignore these emotions; you should just discuss your thoughts with her in an adult manner. Don't be a desperate, winy ass. That is the most unattractive personality trait in the world.

If this were just some chick, I'd recommend just ignoring her stupid games and being thankful that you didn't get too involved with a manipulative, disloyal, promiscuous, immature girl. If she's actually your best friend, then maybe she's cool and just doesn't understand what you're feeling.

In conclusion:
TALK TO HER.

Re:sex.. bah

[fishbowl]

You posted the same complaint a week ago. Shame on you for getting burned in the exact same way twice (as if).

(plonk)

Re:Nature has its own system of checks and balance

[symbolic]

Ha. Your post is akin to walking into Best Buy, asking for a "98 Degrees" CD, then asking the employee, "So, do you believe the Fahrenheit scale accurately represents human's struggle for knowledge about our place in the universe? Why are we here? What does it all mean?"

Hmmm..Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation...Are humans not a part of all creation? Do they not reproduce sexually? Has the human race been excluded from evolutionary biology?

Dare I say that your level of abstraction shares nothing in common with what I did in my initial post. Further, you unfortunately suggest that Slashdot readers have neither the intelligence nor the mental acuity to consider something that is abstract (but certainly not to the level that you claim).

You're not impressing anyone. You're not inspiring "soul-searching" or "meaningful" conversation.

Fair enough. My comments, like anything else, aren't meant to cater to all tastes.

Get Circumcised!

[Anonymous Coward]

if you want to get laid. That uncircumcised geek think is just nasty. I've turned down 4 uncut linux geeks this month!

--linux chick

Re:I had sex last week! But....

[Anonymous Coward]

Well.. If you are serious, then so what? Boink one of her friends instead. I guarantee that she'll be totally jealous and upset if the tables are turned. Do you need to become obsessed over a woman that really cares that little for you? No. Life is only what you make it out to be.

Sounds like you're missing out on the REAL thing..

[Steeltoe]

This is not it. Manipulating people for your own goals is a selfish way to live. You make them objects in your own fantasy world. In a relationship, this is often disastrous. Because if both participants are doing what they do, just in order to get satisfaction, they will empty the energy in-between themselves pretty fast.

Happily I don't need it. My girlfriend loves me for who I am, not because I "persuaded" her or treat her like a vending machine. If she says no to sex, we can talk about it like equals and I respect her choices. That's just a crude example.

Humans are NOT machines.. You may model a human like one, but it's a gross simplification. The reality is much more subtler than that.

Knowledge used to get power for yourself, is useless knowledge and will hurt you and others. Only knowledge that empowers everybody around you, including yourself is worth knowing. A gift is not a gift, if there is expectations of a return of the gift in some form. That's called a transaction. We have much more to give than we realize.

Re:Nature has its own system of checks and balance

[Anonymous Coward]

Fair enough. My comments, like anything else, aren't meant to cater to all tastes.

Touche. Thank you for the debate and your candidness. Until next time.

Re:I had sex last week! But....

[Anonymous Coward]

The reactions to this troll are pretty funny, because they completely over-analyze the situation and then launch into some complex proscriptive advice which wouldn't do jackshit in the real world.

Basically, she finally threw Our Hero a bone and he turned out to be a lousy lay and therefore an inadequate mate. So she turned into superbitch as retaliation.

The only solution is the final one -- move out and find a new best friend. You aren't going to talk this one out.

Re:Who needs it?

[gauauu]

And if all you want is to get your sex kicks semi-regularly, then well, you're set. I don't think I'd be happy with that. Sure, your average stereotypical slashdotter would say "I'd be happy with any sex!" but I think in reality, most of uswant more than that.

Many of us prefer meaningful relationships with our sex. I treat my girl with respect and dignity, and I get a loving, happy relationship. AND regular, good sex. The great thing is, the loving relationship makes the sex more meaningful, and the good sex makes our relationship closer.

Sure, it's not a new woman every week, but I'll take a meaningful relationship and a close friend over variety. I think most people, if they really admit it to themselves, would agree.

Mods read this:

[pHatidic]

Hey all I am cute 17f blonde. I want you! I will sleep with all those who moderate this post plus one!

--Karma Whore :)

Re:Mods read this:

[Ziviyr]

But will you devour my body during intercourse?

Re:Nature has its own system of checks and balance

[infinite9]

The problem is that the right people are not reproducing. Ideally, all groups should have the same birth rates. Western europe and japan for example have incredibly low birth rates while the third world is growing out of control. This is entiry economic. The west has access to relatively cheap birth control while actually raising a child is dredfully expensive if you do everything society requires of you. The third world can't afford contraceptives, while the standard of living allows for far cheaper child rearing. Also, population growth is not linear in these countries. China and india already with over a billion people have the capacity to grow much faster than the west. The third world needs access to cheap contraceptives. And the west should get their priorities straight.

Re:Nature has its own system of checks and balance

[Thing 1]

I share your thoughts, but the biggest problem with our point of view is summed up in a joke my high school sweetheart told me: "The intelligence of the planet is a constant. The population is growing."

The worst part is that welfare mothers are "paid"[1] to have kids, whereas the more successful realize that they can't afford a large family and thus have no or few children. If the successful had large families, then they may end up on welfare due to the expense! So the result is that smarter people breed less than stupider people, and thanks to our safety net we're breeding stupidity.

I don't see a solution for this. I'm not advocating removing our safety net, because I think it is valuable to keep people alive when they're in dire straits. But to have entire generations living "on the dole" and their kids accepting that as a way of life for the new generation as well, I think something needs to change. And change it will; soon, we'll have nanotechnology and all our needs will be taken care of. The only issue left will be whether we really will overcrowd the earth, but we'll also have cheap space travel and we'll be able to inhabit the ocean and deserts and dig vast tunnels like ants, so we'll greatly increase the space available to live in.

There's still the problem that exponential growth is going to hit a wall someday, but I think intelligence will win out: we'll keep finding ways to live more efficiently, and thus our growth will lead to advancements and innovations. In fact, it's kinda neat to look at it that way: without population growth that constantly threatens to eliminate us, perhaps our technological growth would be much slower since we wouldn't need solutions to keep us viable.

This reminds me of a company I used to work for; we didn't have a lot of funding so we used slow machines and slow connections. We had to improve our protocol so that it worked well on the equipment we had -- and then, when it came time to sell it, our customers had better equipment so the thing flew on their systems and we cornered the market. Kinda neat, if we hadn't had to struggle so much we wouldn't have created as efficient a product. Sometimes the lack of resources leads to exponential improvements.

[1] - unfortunately many of them don't "do the math" to figure out that they're not getting paid more than the child costs; in fact, they're being paid significantly less than they'll be spending.

Re:Nature has its own system of checks and balance

[El]

I assume, kind sir, that you don't have any children... and furthermore, that is a very good thing!

sex advice on slashdot

[Merk]

Gee, sex advice on slashdot. Isn't this like a guy who was blind from birth trying to describe a rainbow to another blind guy?

I'm sure there are many slashdot readers who have sex. There are many others who don't. But I doubt that the ones who are can help the ones who aren't. Getting laid isn't like writing a "hello world" program, it's more like riding a bike no-handed.

Writing a program is pretty deterministic. You figure out the rules of the programming language, and then implement it. Someone else who has written a program in that language can help you do the same. Getting laid by someone you find attractive is very different.

Granted, there are "tricks" you can use, from simple confidence-boosters, to sleazy things with questionable ethical implications. The problem is that no two people are the same. This means that a good-looking person giving an ugly person advice isn't likely to be too useful. At the same time, someone who will screw anything that moves giving advice to someone who has very high standards is just as likely to be useless advice.

Even if you look at the advice people are giving, it is completely contradictory. Some say "pursue a girl, make sure she knows you care", others say "let her come to you, let her think you're not interested". Some say "treat a girl like gold", other say "treat her like dirt". Some say "don't look for it, it will find you when you least expect it", others say "if you don't pursue it, you'll never get it, the secret is to be rejected all the time".

Bah! Can't we just agree that while people on Slashdot are interesetd in sex, they make even worse sex-advice-columnists than they do lawyers?

Re:Nature has its own system of checks and balance

[symbolic]

Children for the sake of children, eh? A little on the selfish side, wouldn't you say?

Re:Who needs it?

[Anonymous Coward]

If your main goal in life is " = pussy"

Any animals main goal in life is sexual reproduction. The rest is just living long enough to fulfill that goal. Sure, you can say all you want about quality of life, but animals are about getting pussy.

Re:Who needs it?

[krist0]

you got one of those mirror things for your monitor, cause i am sure you see your girl behind you writing that :)

its true mind you, but its funny to see out there.

Seriously...

[Anonymous Coward]

...of all the things to post on Slashdot...

Spoken...

[Anonymous Coward]

...just like a man who never (or hardly ever) gets laid.

Re:Spoken...

[symbolic]

I'd like to extend my gratitude for your help in proving my point. Also, I thought it might be interesting to point out that I'm not the one posting as an Anonymous Coward.

Re:Who needs it?

[stephanruby]

Hey man, I didn't say I got any sex. I didn't say this is all what we needed to do. I didn't say this was good for society. I just felt the observation of the parent was accurate. Call me an "asshole" if you like, but it's not going to change the reality around you.

Re:Who needs it?

[mcnugget91]

I think you guys are confusing 'sex' with 'love'. You can have sex without love and you can have love without sex, but when you have both - you've got it made.

Re:News for nerds? Stuff that MATTERS?

[Waltan Hammett]

No, this couldn't be Salon - they are much more current. They had this covered back in January.

http://archive.salon.com/sex/feature/2003/01/27/ta tiana/index.html

Tao of Steve??

[Anonymous Coward]

That movie is such a collossal pile of shit. More like Steve's Fantasy World. None of those women would fuck a fat loser like that guy unless their were getting paid or were drugged.

interesting people

[Anonymous Coward]

with huge bank accounts.

Re:Nature has its own system of checks and balance

[Anonymous Coward]

that's right. the West needs to fire up those nukes and wipe out 2-3 billion. I hear France is retargetting theirs. Maybe they should take out North Africa before the only real Frenchman can only be found in Quebec.

Re:Nature has its own system of checks and balance

[pocopoco]

>Ideally, all groups should have the same birth rates.

What for? Is God going to come down and smack us around for having different cultures and levels of development? Why would you try to dictate something like this for no better reason than symetry?

>And the west should get their priorities straight.

So your saying we should switch over to popping hordes of shoe factory workers out of our women? Or should we go try to tell a Chinese man not to have any more kids to help support his family since it's not economic for us?

Re:sex.. bah

[Anonymous Coward]

buy a gun. you only live once. ;) you know what they say... hapiness is a warm.... uh huh huh...

Re:Who needs it?

[Anonymous Coward]

Respect and dignity? Sex is about rubbing certain part of one's bodies against each other and getting off while making silly noises... Dignity indeed.

Re:Who needs it?

[stephanruby]

Some of us are at different stages in life. We shouldn't get modded down as trolls because of that.

That's quite narrow minded.

[Thinkit3]

You are aware that the companion of the same sex is considered by very many to be "one of life's greatest pleasures". I never said companionship or relationships would go away.

Re:That's quite narrow minded.

[Abcd1234]

Ahh, you are absolutely correct. Allow me to amend my post to say "companionship of your preferred sex".

Work on reading comprehension.

[Thinkit3]

We already have artificial wombs, thus we won't reproduce but we'll be able to--through the artificial wombs. Got it?

Women versus men.

[Thinkit3]

It would be clearly easier for women to do this than men. But I think it would be men who actually do. There may be a hurdle, but there is more desire and ability.

Your post was insightful though.

[Thinkit3]

OK, so once we get beyond sex, we'll still have the mental, if not the physical. My vision is not a world without relationships.