Is sex ever "just sex"?

[shufflemonkey16]

I was thinking. About sex.

Is it nothing more than a biological process that we're compelled to and inclined towards doing as humans? Or is there some kind of real, inescapable, powerful spiritual and/or emotional significance to the act that creates a sort of bond between the people involved.

Or is it both. A simple biological process that we as conscious beings give significance to.

Either way, if someone engages in intercourse and calls it "just sex", is that an accurate and appropriate attitude, at least in some cases? Or has that person sadly lost/never understood the real meaning of having a sexual partner.

 

[A random person]

Yes, some people do have "just sex." They're called one night stands.

 

[Radeonx]

Sometimes, people find it offensive when you look at sex as "just sex". However, sometimes, this is the case, it IS "just sex", but sometimes, it creates a bond between the two people.

 

[quiet_samurai]

Yes... and no. It all depends on who you are with. Sure you will always have some kind of special bond with the people you have had sex with, but the signifigance of that bond is determined completely on who that other person is, and who you are. If you are able to seperate the phisical and emotional aspects of it then yes, it is just sex. But when you do see a person you have had "just sex" with, there will be a tiny little twinkle of something there between you. So yes and no.

 

[GamerPhate]

Oh when you say sex is more than an act, you are talking about when people claim to have feelings and emotions afterward. Sadly, all feelings and emotions are just chemical reactions in the brain to stimuli. When you feel happy, it is serotonin or a dopamine being released and the uptake receptors in the brain freak out and go, OMG .. a moment of happiness is this wretched world.. and you glow for a bit. Take all the BS you go through in one day and put it in one hand, and in the other hand, put all the good stuff you get in one day. Now tell me that the first hand isn't MUCH MUCH heavier than the second. So what happens, the brain chemistry is interesting, it releases either dopamine or serotonin and your body freaks out since its use to just feeling normal. So, some people started to call these sensations "feelings". Sadly, feelings are just thoughts we have programmed our brains to feel strongly about through personal or external experiences throughout our lives.

 

[Vrex360]

Well when your sexual behaviour is similar in fashion to a pair of mating animals, savage, rough and with strange positions I think it is safe to say that's not love.

But then what do I know about love, I'm dating a dominitrix.

 

[MiserableOldGit]

For some animals it is merely a method of reproduction. For others (in particular humans) it becomes a method for creating social bonds, either between parents in order to ensure offspring are cared or looked after, or simply as a means to cement relations between members of the same generation (this is why you get homosexual mammals, but no gay insects).

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Oh when you say sex is more than an act, you are talking about when people claim to have feelings and emotions afterward. Sadly, all feelings and emotions are just chemical reactions in the brain to stimuli. When you feel happy, it is serotonin or a dopamine being released and the uptake receptors in the brain freak out and go, OMG .. a moment of happiness is this wretched world.. and you glow for a bit. Take all the BS you go through in one day and put it in one hand, and in the other hand, put all the good stuff you get in one day. Now tell me that the first hand isn't MUCH MUCH heavier than the second. So what happens, the brain chemistry is interesting, it releases either dopamine or serotonin and your body freaks out since its use to just feeling normal. So, some people started to call these sensations "feelings". Sadly, feelings are just thoughts we have programmed our brains to feel strongly about through personal or external experiences throughout our lives.

But at the end of the day, what else do we have to live for?
Everything we strive to accomplish is for the feeling associated with the completion of the goal, without exception.

 

[skcseth]

It depends on the circumstances and the mindset of the 2 (or several, whatever floats your boat) people involved. Most sex, at least for me, is casual, and therefore "just sex". If I'm in a committed relationship and care for the girl however, it becomes more than "just sex" and more of an expression of "love" (and I use quotes to denote the fact that it's not true love).

 

[A random person]

Yes, some people do have "just sex." They're called one night stands.

But no one ever has a one night stand as part of a biological process - if it was for that, they'd do a one night stand to get preggo... but they don't.

It's never just sex. There's always something to it. Whether it's for fun, procreation, or any other reason emotional or physical, humans don't simply do it instinctively.

One could argue that emotions "trick" us into acting instinctively, to which I'd say your point is irrelevant because either way, perceptually we don't do it for frank, biological purposes.

Biologically we're conditioned to do it for the pleasure, that pleasure existing to facilitate procreation. Doing it for fun is what you'd call it.

 

[TwistedEllipses]

Sex creates an emotional bond, however tenuous. This is isn't love, but a is created much like living through a traumatic event with someone. You've seen someone else naked and done the dirty with them - in a very literal sense they're laid themselves bare and exposed to you. This bond can be both positive or negative (i.e. shame), depending on the person and situation. It's a good way to destroy a long lasting friendship...

 

[Altorin]

you knocked it out of the park with your "both" definition.

 

[shufflemonkey16]

I know what a "one night stand" is. But I want to talk about whether sex outside the context of relational commitment or without any kind of emotional significance is something that's alright, wrong, or maybe even impossible. As in, no matter what, having sex with someone creates a bond of some sort whether you like it or not.

(This was to Catchphrase. Sorry I didn't hit the "reply" button)

 

[GamerPhate]

Oh when you say sex is more than an act, you are talking about when people claim to have feelings and emotions afterward. Sadly, all feelings and emotions are just chemical reactions in the brain to stimuli. When you feel happy, it is serotonin or a dopamine being released and the uptake receptors in the brain freak out and go, OMG .. a moment of happiness is this wretched world.. and you glow for a bit. Take all the BS you go through in one day and put it in one hand, and in the other hand, put all the good stuff you get in one day. Now tell me that the first hand isn't MUCH MUCH heavier than the second. So what happens, the brain chemistry is interesting, it releases either dopamine or serotonin and your body freaks out since its use to just feeling normal. So, some people started to call these sensations "feelings". Sadly, feelings are just thoughts we have programmed our brains to feel strongly about through personal or external experiences throughout our lives.

But at the end of the day, what else do we have to live for?
Everything we strive to accomplish is for the feeling associated with the completion of the goal, without exception.

And that is exactly my point. We build it up so much that it forms a basis for a relationship. And when all you have in common is you like to bump uglies, it usually doesn't go so well. So perhaps convincing ourselves that we are feeling a certain way, opposed to it being an involuntary/voluntary chemical release can make the whole thing seem less tedious.

 

[la-le-lu-li-lo]

I think it depends on the situation, and who you're with, etc.

Sometimes people have sex and it's simply sex. Just two people looking to get off. Other times there's emotional attachment, feelings and all the niceties involved.

Then there's the odd cases where a one-night stand leads to a flourishing relationship and even marriage, and of course where relationships start to become lack luster and the sex degrades to 'just sex.'

So it depends.

 

[Altorin]

Not to mention Porno.

that's just sex.

it's not some emotional thing.

 

[Nmil-ek]

Sex is nowt but the act of reproduction that we derive alot of pleasure from its instinctivley in our genes we are hotwired to always be thinking about it subconciously wihtout a care if we want to or not. Theres nothing wrong with casual sex absolutley nothing, its like a smoke or a drink at the end of the day you enjoy it as does the other person (hopefully...) and thats all there is too it. Few to no animals apply only to one mate for life and even then its likley due to convenience of travel/hunting, but you cant really apply human logic to nature frankly because nature dosent follow anything close to our "moral" codes or emotions.