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Should teenagers be given free condoms?

Should teenagers be given free condoms?

  • Of course! They need to have sex safely

    Votes: 47 50.5%
  • No, it only encourages them

    Votes: 23 24.7%
  • Other(Please elaborate)

    Votes: 23 24.7%

  • Total voters
    93
Or people should just learn to use some self-control.

While that would be great, it's not that realistic to expect it to happen. Teens have always lacked self control, and teenage pregnancy has always been fairly common.
 
While that would be great, it's not that realistic to expect it to happen. Teens have always lacked self control, and teenage pregnancy has always been fairly common.

Most of that is the fault of the parents.
 
I don't really think it's necessary. It's not like condoms are that expensive. Even if you buy them one at a time from a gas station vending machine, they're only like a buck apiece. If you buy a box of 12 they're less than half that. I can't imagine that many teens are having so much sex they can't afford that. Which leads me to believe that if they aren't already using them, despite their low cost, they aren't much more likely to use free ones.

As I showed in previous posts with statistics and links, free condoms are proven to be effective and do not encourage additional sexual activity.
 
Most of that is the fault of the parents.

Some of it, sure. But parents can only do so much. Teens want to have sex. Their bodies are screaming for them to do it. Those signals can be hard to ignore, no matter how good a job your parents did in teaching you to be careful.
 
So...

what about putting vending machines in high school bathrooms then...but it's asinine for taxpayers to pay for something that the recipients can easily afford?

That's good enough for me as long as the prices are low.
 
Most of that is the fault of the parents.

Unless one is going to imprison their children it is impossible to control everything that they do. Parents are not the only ones who influence kid's behavior. With teenagers, parents can be a relatively minor influence compared to peers and the media.
 
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As I showed in previous posts with statistics and links, free condoms are proven to be effective and do not encourage additional sexual activity.

Well, I didn't read all 33 pages of this thread, so I missed that.

If there are reputable studies that show it's effective at reducing teen pregnancy and STDs then I support it. I'm kind of surprised that it works, but if it does I don't have a problem with it.

It makes me wonder though, if it's giving out the free condoms themselves that is effective, or if it's the better quality sex ed that likely goes along with giving out the free condoms.
 
That's good enough for me as long as the prices are low.

Whatever the market will bare...since they will be privately run.


Btw, just how were you planning to give these government condoms away?
 
Or people should just learn to use some self-control.

I'm simultaneously rolling my eyes and laughing my *** off at these people who are saying the expectation of personal responsibility is unrealistic.
 
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Whatever the market will bare...since they will be privately run.


Btw, just how were you planning to give these government condoms away?

The only way I will support giving out government condoms is if they have pictures of members of congress and the white house on the wrapper.

Like baseball cards.

"Oh look, honey, I got Barack Obama!"
 
Some of it, sure. But parents can only do so much. Teens want to have sex. Their bodies are screaming for them to do it. Those signals can be hard to ignore, no matter how good a job your parents did in teaching you to be careful.

That's just an excuse.
 
I'm simultaneously rolling my eyes and laughing my *** off at these people who are saying the expectation of personal responsibility is unrealistic.

These are minors who are legally not expected to act as responsibly as adults. Research shows that the brain functions related to understanding risks and consequences and acting responsibly are not fully developed until someone is in their mid twenties or later.
 
These are minors who are legally not expected to act as responsibly as adults. Research shows that the brain functions related to understanding risks and consequences and acting responsibly are not fully developed until someone is in their mid twenties or later.

It's mommy's and daddy's responsibility to teach responsibility to their kids. We're not talking about some kid abandoned by both of their parents. If responsibility to buy and use a condom is that hard in your eyes, perhaps we should up the legal adult age to mid twenties or later.
 
That's just an excuse.

People vary, so no one knows how it is for everyone. Just because you may have had a low sex drive doesn't mean everyone does. Sex (reproduction) is our number one biological imperative beyond basic survival.
 
It's mommy's and daddy's responsibility to teach responsibility to their kids. We're not talking about some kid abandoned by both of their parents. If responsibility to buy and use a condom is that hard in your eyes, perhaps we should up the legal adult age to mid twenties or later.

These programs and comprehensive, honest sex ed are proven to reduce disease transmission, pregnancy and sexual activities. We can self righteously stand on lofty principals about personal responsibility, even though we are talking about minors, or we can cost-effectively prevent disease and underage unintended pregnancies amongst high school kids with a minimal investment. The latter tactic works, and saves tax payer costs in the long run.
 
That's just an excuse.

It's not an excuse, it's reality. Teens have always, without fail throughout history, regardless of the social or political system they lived in, had sex and gotten pregnant. The fact that you think it's possible to put a stop to that shows extreme ignorance.

Do some parents fail to do a good job teaching their kids about sex and how to protect themselves? Absolutely. Is that the main contributing factor to teen pregnancy? Absolutely not.
 
It's not an excuse, it's reality. Teens have always, without fail throughout history, regardless of the social or political system they lived in, had sex and gotten pregnant. The fact that you think it's possible to put a stop to that shows extreme ignorance.

Do some parents fail to do a good job teaching their kids about sex and how to protect themselves? Absolutely. Is that the main contributing factor to teen pregnancy? Absolutely not.

Disagree, Parents and society have failed, they glorify sex in immoral ways, that is the problem.
 
You are plain wrong with this claim "If you and your partner(s) use condoms and birth control CORRECTLY for five years, you will get pregnant."

"Are condoms effective at preventing pregnancy?
Yes. When used consistently and correctly condoms* are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. This is according to leading health authorities such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).1,2
Are condoms effective at preventing sexually transmitted infections?
Yes. Condoms have been proven to provide protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In fact, condoms are the only contraceptive method that also provides STI protection. Condoms provide different levels of risk reduction for different STIs because infections are spread differently—some are spread by contact with bodily fluids while others are spread by skin to skin contact.
In general, research shows that condoms are most effective in preventing those STIs that are spread by bodily fluids, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. Condoms also can reduce the risk of contracting diseases spread by skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes and HPV. However, condoms only can protect against these diseases if the sores are in areas covered by the condom.3
Do condoms provide protection against HIV?
Yes. Long-term studies involving couples where one partner is HIV-positive and the other is not (called serodiscordant couples) allow researchers to estimate the incidence of transmission among condom users and nonusers. Studies of these couples have found that consistent condom use reduces the risk of HIV transmission by between 80 and 94%.3,4

Do condoms break and slip off frequently?
No. When used consistently and correctly, condoms are 98% effective in preventing pregnancy and are the only form of birth control that also can prevent STIs.3,7,8 This is why it’s important to follow directions for correct use."

http://factsaboutcondoms.com/pdf/Condom Effectiveness FAQ 2.4.13.pdf





The perfect (proper) use pregnancy rate of COCPs (birth control pills) is 0.3% per year.

Trussell, James; Robert Anthony Hatcher, Felicia Stewart (2007). "Contraceptive Efficacy". In Hatcher, Robert A., et al. Contraceptive Technology (19th rev. ed.). New York: Ardent Media. ISBN 0-9664902-0-7.

98% effective means 2 out of every 100 times you will get pregnant. Even if you only have sex once a week, you are still getting pregnant every year. That's why websites like the one you posted are so dangerous. They give us a false sense of safety. They make us feel as though the magic tube of latex is going to make anything we do ok. The reality is, it is just slowing the frequency of pregnancy. That's it.

Trust me, I was in the same boat you are. I thought for sure that condoms and birth control ended any chance of pregnancy. I got a real smack in the face when my wife and I went to a fertility clinic and they told us what I'm telling you.
 
I would say 95%+ rate for condoms is relatively good, it's not 100% and we have to say but it's pretty damn close.

Ok, let's say a basketball player shoots free throws at a rate of 98%. Does he ever miss?
 
Ok, let's say a basketball player shoots free throws at a rate of 98%. Does he ever miss?

Yes but not very often say he shoots 1000 free throws he only misses 20. That's pretty damn good.
 
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