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Ask Laurie

Q: Dear Laurie:

In your personal, informed opinion, what is the level of sexual experience your average 18/19 year old male (and female) should be familiar with. Although a very broad topic please try for a minimum/maximum approach given "average" conditions (i.e.: not raised in a box, but not raised in a "free love" environment).

Thank you,
Just Wondering

A: Dear Just Wondering:

Oh, what a tricky question you've posed here J.W. On the one hand I feel I SHOULD say--and to a great extent, it's true--there are no RIGHT numbers. Sex is a personal thing, shared between two people, and when you feel you're ready blah, blah, blah. (Thank you Sister Blah Blah). Know what I mean-BLAH! Because, truth be told, when I was 19 all I could think about was getting RID of my virginity. It felt like a 2-ton lead weight lived in my shoe because Stacey was doing it 24/7 and Jenny lost hers to Horatio the summer before and here I was...I didn't care how or when or why or to what I lost the big V. Is this too much information for all of you out there in TV land? Oh, and not that "we" think YOU are a virgin J.W.--no, we're not thinking that at all, but, now, back to me. As I was saying:

My honest, heartfelt, "personal" and "informed" opinion? Cross my heart and hope to get laid I mean die? Weeeeeel, I guess a not-raised-in-a-box guy would feel better, and more in the swing o' things, if he'd slept with a small handful of women (say two to four) by the time he was 19--and a women would feel a-okay about her bad self and her burgeoning sexual-ITY if she'd slept with say, one or two men by the time she was 19. That's what I would say if you put a gun to my head.

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind this is one person's somewhat whacked-out opinion, namely mine, and if your statistics don't match up well, that's what's beautiful about bio-diversity and our blue planet. The short answer: I know many people feel pressured to be "doing it" and it's only with a little "hind"-sight that you realize the quota preoccupation is quite ridiculous. Sex can be a great, intimate expression of how much you care for someone. Then again there'll always be a warm place in my heart for the good old wham bam thank you Ma'am (or Sir). Either way, make sure it's your agreed-to decision (none of this: Please baby, please baby, please baby, please) and, you know, use a condom!

Lovingly and logically yours, Laurie