NationStates Jolt Archive

What can be done to stop teenage pregnancies?

Better sex education?
Easier access to contraception?
Less access to contraception?
Stricter drinking regulations?
Single sex schools?
Permenant surveillance of children?

I certainly can't work out how best to deal with this problem. :confused:

Clearly the only solution is to tell them nothing about sex and they won't even think about trying it. Or we could just tell them that sex is the tool of the Devil and if they fuck theyll go to hell.

Erm im a teenager, and i aint going to stop having sex, it is too much fun. I take precautions to stop my girlfriend getting pregnant, the easiest solution i see is making contraception more openly available to everyone.

Better sex education? Yep.
Easier access to contraception? Yep.
Less access to contraception? Hell no.
Stricter drinking regulations? Nope.
Single sex schools? Nope.
Permenant surveillance of children? Nope.

Single sex schools? Nope.

Well, complete segregation of the sexes during the teen years could prevent teen pregnancy...

Not exactly something that I'd want to be put into play though. I have childhood friends that are male, it would suck to be forcibly separated from them

nothing kids are stupid so stupid stuff logically follows

Better sex education, more information, statutary on the national curriculum and start it earlier, I think we should follow the Dutch, they have reduced their teenage pregnancy and STI's by doing just this. We have to get over our embarassment and talk to children about sex. Stop it being a 'dirty joke' to giggle about. EDUCATION! YAY! lets talk about sex....

What can be done to stop teenage pregnancies?

Better sex education?yep
Easier access to contraception?yep
Less access to contraception?nope
Stricter drinking regulations?yep
Single sex schools?nope
Permenant surveillance of children?yep...by the parents.

another method to stop teenage Pregnancies is a chasity belt that cannot be removed till after their 19th birthday. :D

oh and this belt would be for both sexes. :D

Real sex education--not this abstinence-only bullshit--and greater access to contraception. It's worked consistently in the past.

What can be done to stop teenage pregnancies?

Better sex education?
Easier access to contraception?
Stricter drinking regulations?
Single sex schools?
Permenant surveillance of children?

I certainly can't work out how best to deal with this problem. :confused:
All of the above. Plus chastity belts. [ nods ]

All of the above. Plus chastity belts. [ nods ]

I really hope that's a joke.

I really hope that's a joke.
can you think of a better and not permament way to stop teen pregnancies? :D

Well, complete segregation of the sexes during the teen years could prevent teen pregnancy...

Not exactly something that I'd want to be put into play though. I have childhood friends that are male, it would suck to be forcibly separated from them
yes, of course it would be effective, but it is a little OTT/orwellian to do so for all kids. it's not healthy, says i, despite what good effects it might have on teenage pregnancy.

i'm agreeing with WYTYG totally on this one



i think one thing that really could benefit is an extention of sex ed to teaching kids what it's like to bring up children of their own - the responsibility, the cost, the effort and time... the impact it would have on their lives in general. maybe some practical experience for some - especially those teenage mothers you just know don't give two shits about the welfare of their baby... they need a lesson in compassion and care somehow.
if you want kids to use contraception, they have to have a reason themselves to do so - not just cos they were told to use it in school - they have to be clued up and mature about the whole deal, not just told to do x or y when they might not fully comprehend the reasons behind it.

can you think of a better and not permament way to stop teen pregnancies? :D

:p

Well, I'm sure it would stop a few, but all of the parents that would be killed in the process wouldn't really help matters much.

can you think of a better and not permament way to stop teen pregnancies? :D
Yup! 'Specailly if you put a set of "cock clippers" in the opening! :D

:p

Well, I'm sure it would stop a few, but all of the parents that would be killed in the process wouldn't really help matters much.
ahh... not if the parents held the key to the belts... then if the parents are murdered.... the belts stay on! :p

- Better and complete sex education.
- Less of a "taboo" attitude towards sex in general.
- Honesty with teenagers, rather than a, "Do what I say, not what I do," mentality.
- Easy access to contraceptives. Seriously people, the condoms should be next to the checkout like the bubble gum. That way, if you forget to get them while shopping, you remember at the checkout. They definitely shouldn't be hidden in a locked container.

And, let's be honest, there will always been unplanned pregnancies, some of them among teens. But at least we can cut down on the ones that occur because of lack of information.

Try single sex countries.
All of them kinda encourage teens to have and contraception isn't totally reliable. Whatchya gonna do? So long sex exists, theres gonna be sex therefore pregnancies. Maybe we should kill all men =)

Real sex education--not this abstinence-only bullshit--and greater access to contraception. It's worked consistently in the past.
Yeah, but I think all the 'good' sex-ed is constantly undermined by the 'sex culture' - all those magazines that make kids feel like they're somehow abnormal if they're not at it every night and the like. It's the attitude that leaves people to complain 'I'm still a virgin at...' and then go out and do something stupid with some tart.

How can we show kids to be sexually mature on the one hand while going 'bang anything that moves' with the other?

What can be done to stop teenage pregnancies?

Better sex education?
Easier access to contraception?
Less access to contraception?
Stricter drinking regulations?
Single sex schools?
Permenant surveillance of children?

I certainly can't work out how best to deal with this problem. :confused:

Perhaps teaching children that sex isn't all that big (no pun intended), and it doesn't make you an adult; in fact it makes you stupid if you dont use precautions. We've been saying that for years but they don't seem to listen.

I think that a fortnight's compulsory ownership of one of those wretched simulated babies they have in childcare courses would be enough to turn them away from the idea of having children, though. It would teach them not to take pregnacy lightly anyway, and might encourage them to use precautions.

How can we show kids to be sexually mature on the one hand while going 'bang anything that moves' with the other?

This, Sir, is an excellent question.

- Better and complete sex education.
- Less of a "taboo" attitude towards sex in general.
- Honesty with teenagers, rather than a, "Do what I say, not what I do," mentality.
- Easy access to contraceptives. Seriously people, the condoms should be next to the checkout like the bubble gum. That way, if you forget to get them while shopping, you remember at the checkout. They definitely shouldn't be hidden in a locked container.

And, let's be honest, there will always been unplanned pregnancies, some of them among teens. But at least we can cut down on the ones that occur because of lack of information.
I like that idea.... have the trojans right next to the breath mints.

Kill them.

Kill all teenagers. Problem solved. :)

Okay, on a more serious note, the one thing that would help reduce the number of teenage pregnancies more than anything else is to give teenagers a sense of purpose in life and a future to look towards that consists of more than welfare or crime.
Teenage pregnancy has never been a significant problem among the well-to-do, it's by far mostly the most disadvantaged segments of society that have large numbers of teenage pregnancies.
And it's really easy to see why, considering that these girls don't have anything to look forward to that might be made impossible by getting pregnant - dropping out of high school and getting a job at a fast food place or just trying to live off welfare isn't something that would would entice anyone not to "screw up their lives".
Plus, in this kind of environment, many girls actually consciously opt to get pregnant at a young age, simply because it means they'll be loved - by the father of the child, hopefully, but far more importantly by the child. All too often they see it as the one thing that can imbue their lives with a sense of purpose and self-worth.

As PM said, if kids were taught that babies weren't cute, cuddly, living teddy-bears, but are, in fact, terrible parasites that will do nothing but destroy your life, hopes and any dreams you had before them, and also what disgusting creatures they are (want something to care for? Get a cat. They don't require constant attention, and can be taught to crap outside fairly quickly) then maybe they'd have some incentive not to have them.

Contraceptives and abortions are provided for free by the NHS. Nobody has any excuse any more.

As PM said, if kids were taught that babies weren't cute, cuddly, living teddy-bears, but are, in fact, terrible parasites that will do nothing but destroy your life, hopes and any dreams you had before them, and also what disgusting creatures they are (want something to care for? Get a cat. They don't require constant attention, and can be taught to crap outside fairly quickly) then maybe they'd have some incentive not to have them.

not quite what i meant... well, sorta, but perhaps a little stronger and more negative than what i was getting at :p (personally, i really, really want kids one day, but exactly that: one day when i'm ready and able to give them a good start in life)

nonetheless, what needs to be done is to really teach the kids not just the mechanics of sex in sex-ed, but the real-world repurcussions and concequences, not to mention costs and responsibilities of their actions.

- Better and complete sex education.
- Less of a "taboo" attitude towards sex in general.
- Honesty with teenagers, rather than a, "Do what I say, not what I do," mentality.
- Easy access to contraceptives. Seriously people, the condoms should be next to the checkout like the bubble gum. That way, if you forget to get them while shopping, you remember at the checkout. They definitely shouldn't be hidden in a locked container.

And, let's be honest, there will always been unplanned pregnancies, some of them among teens. But at least we can cut down on the ones that occur because of lack of information.

I will agree with you, but take the second one a step further. How about we remove the taboos about the body itself? It does take that sex drive down a knotch as guys would not be tripping all over themselves when they see a V-cut shirt.

not quite what i meant... well, sorta, but perhaps a little stronger and more negative than what i was getting at :p

nonetheless, what needs to be done is to really teach the kids not just the mechanics of sex in sex-ed, but the real-world repurcussions and concequences, not to mention costs and responsibilities of their actions.
Like say... volunteering at the local hospital to take care of newborns?

or if there is an orphanage nearby...

wanna see how eager for sex some guys are after changing a couple of diapers.

i'm a teen... my way of not getting a girl pregnant is simple and 100% effective:

not have sex.


yeah, i know others have called abstinence bullshit, but hey, it works all the time. plus that way you dont get all the emotional issues when you break up and nasty rumours about your girlfriend that having sex in high school usually causes.

if you really love her, fellas, dont do her. you dont want to rush it, save something (the best?) for last!

not quite what i meant... well, sorta, but perhaps a little stronger and more negative than what i was getting at :p (personally, i really, really want kids one day, but exactly that: one day when i'm ready and able to give them a good start in life)

nonetheless, what needs to be done is to really teach the kids not just the mechanics of sex in sex-ed, but the real-world repurcussions and concequences, not to mention costs and responsibilities of their actions.
OK, maybe my opinions are a bit stronger, yeah ;). I really don't see why anyone would want children, but if they must have them they really ought to look after them properly - a depressing number of people seem incapable of this (from what my mother's described; she works at a primary school).

Okay, on a more serious note, the one thing that would help reduce the number of teenage pregnancies more than anything else is to give teenagers a sense of purpose in life and a future to look towards that consists of more than welfare or crime.
Teenage pregnancy has never been a significant problem among the well-to-do, it's by far mostly the most disadvantaged segments of society that have large numbers of teenage pregnancies.
And it's really easy to see why, considering that these girls don't have anything to look forward to that might be made impossible by getting pregnant - dropping out of high school and getting a job at a fast food place or just trying to live off welfare isn't something that would would entice anyone not to "screw up their lives".
Plus, in this kind of environment, many girls actually consciously opt to get pregnant at a young age, simply because it means they'll be loved - by the father of the child, hopefully, but far more importantly by the child. All too often they see it as the one thing that can imbue their lives with a sense of purpose and self-worth.


Very good.

In the UK, it also means you'll get a council house and benefits of a scale an American or continental European girl can only dream of. There are enough girls in the UK who deliberately opt for this "career". The UK has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe.

i'm a teen... my way of not getting a girl pregnant is simple and 100% effective:

not have sex.


yeah, i know others have called abstinence bullshit, but hey, it works all the time. plus that way you dont get all the emotional issues when you break up and nasty rumours about your girlfriend that having sex in high school usually causes.

if you really love her, fellas, dont do her. you dont want to rush it, save something (the best?) for last!
I would much rather have sex Sorry

YAY Sex! Boo Abstinence! :D

Better sex education? Yes
Easier access to contraception? Only to preventative contreception
Less access to contraception? Only to reactive contreception

The reason for this is to prevent people from thinking that you can have sex without any consequences. The morning after pill and other drugs like it eliminate responsability completely. That isnt right. The last thing any society needs is the elimination of the mindset of responsablility

Stricter drinking regulations? I think stricter enforcement of the current regulations. Its too easy for underaged drinkers to get alcohol
Single sex schools? No. A main part of school is being socialised into society. Society is not single sex
Permenant surveillance of children? No. To curtalious of civil liberties. But the parents need to do more.

What can be done to stop teenage pregnancies?


Dude ... it wasn't me ... I swear. I was nowhere near that chick.

People haven't responded to my solution for teenaged pregnancy(kill them all). So I assume that most people either thought it was a bit harsh and/or I was joking.

So I have another more serious solution;

Encourage homosexuality. :)

If teenagers engage in homosexuality, they won't get pregnant. Plenty of time for heterosexuality in their twenties. :)

Erm im a teenager, and i aint going to stop having sex, it is too much fun. I take precautions to stop my girlfriend getting pregnant

You gently pluck out the sperm one by one? Must take a while. A condom is not 100%. However ....

the easiest solution i see is making contraception more openly available to everyone.

Bingo! So long as we also take very careful steps to ensure people know how to use it properly. Why so many people can't show their sons how to use a condom without embarrassment is beyond me. Not like you have to show him your willie ... use a damn banana or some other phallic fruit.

Better sex education? Yes
Easier access to contraception? Only to preventative contreception
Less access to contraception? Only to reactive contreception

The reason for this is to prevent people from thinking that you can have sex without any consequences. The morning after pill and other drugs like it eliminate responsability completely. That isnt right. The last thing any society needs is the elimination of the mindset of responsablility

Stricter drinking regulations? I think stricter enforcement of the current regulations. Its too easy for underaged drinkers to get alcohol
Single sex schools? No. A main part of school is being socialised into society. Society is not single sex
Permenant surveillance of children? No. To curtalious of civil liberties. But the parents need to do more.
You feel it fine to curtail peoples access to medication cause it makes things "too easy" but feel like survaliance is curtailing civil liberty

Wow

Encourage homosexuality. :)

If teenagers engage in homosexuality, they won't get pregnant. Plenty of time for heterosexuality in their twenties. :)

Also good! Except it reenforces the notion that sexuality is a choice.

The reason for this is to prevent people from thinking that you can have sex without any consequences.

Ummmm ... the average teenager thinks that already. They're invincible, you know. Been that way since we were tree dwellin' apes and nothing you can do to change it.

Also good! Except it reenforces the notion that sexuality is a choice.

Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.

Edit: I think that if it weren't for social taboos, there'd be a lot more bisexuals. :nod:

Bingo! So long as we also take very careful steps to ensure people know how to use it properly. Why so many people can't show their sons how to use a condom without embarrassment is beyond me. Not like you have to show him your willie ... use a damn banana or some other phallic fruit.
Figuring out how to use a condom doesn't take a frakkin' Masters degree from Harvard! Heh!

Figuring out how to use a condom doesn't take a frakkin' Masters degree from Harvard! Heh!

Damn right!

I only take mine off for a shower and for sex.

Ummmm ... the average teenager thinks that already. They're invincible, you know. Been that way since we were tree dwellin' apes and nothing you can do to change it.

Yep. Nuffin will change their minds about that.
Not even the fact that 18 yo Tutankhamen 'mysteriously' died right after he told his 40 YO Regent that he was ready to rule in person.

Anyway, I don't see the need to do anything about teenage pregnancy. If it boosts the birthrate, it can't be all that bad.

Damn right!

I only take mine off for a shower and for sex.
:rolleyes:

Well, complete segregation of the sexes during the teen years could prevent teen pregnancy...

All of the sluttiest, most whorish girls that I knew in high school were the ones who went to the girls' schools in the areas. The separation makes them long for penis.

Also good! Except it reenforces the notion that sexuality is a choice.
Reminds me of a site I saw once... Think it was called "Technical Virgin", but I don't think I should search for it at work ;)
Anyway, you can still get STDs other than pregnancy (and HIV is nearly as bad) by engaging in homosexual sex (at least in some cases), so you'd still have to use the same precautions there.

Figuring out how to use a condom doesn't take a frakkin' Masters degree from Harvard! Heh!

You'd be surprised how many people get it wrong, how many teenagers think it's ok to rinse and re-use, etc etc.

Okay, on a more serious note, the one thing that would help reduce the number of teenage pregnancies more than anything else is to give teenagers a sense of purpose in life and a future to look towards that consists of more than welfare or crime.
Teenage pregnancy has never been a significant problem among the well-to-do, it's by far mostly the most disadvantaged segments of society that have large numbers of teenage pregnancies.
And it's really easy to see why, considering that these girls don't have anything to look forward to that might be made impossible by getting pregnant - dropping out of high school and getting a job at a fast food place or just trying to live off welfare isn't something that would would entice anyone not to "screw up their lives".
Plus, in this kind of environment, many girls actually consciously opt to get pregnant at a young age, simply because it means they'll be loved - by the father of the child, hopefully, but far more importantly by the child. All too often they see it as the one thing that can imbue their lives with a sense of purpose and self-worth.
damn right... but the problem is once these girls from the poorest elements in society have their kids, they hardly have the know-how, resources or ability to take care of them. single mothers are one thing... unemployed or dirt-poor single teenage mothers are quite another...

i still believe that educating these mothers-to-be that they don't have the resources to look after a kid well (i live in quite a poor area here and the number of teenage mums you see really not caring about their kid, shouting at toddlers with no sense of compassion or patience, no love... only resent at the child for (i suppose) not being what they had imagined :() would be most effective. if they care about their (potential) kids, and know what it'll cost them to have said kids, then they'll do what's best for them and not have them in the first place.
of course, that requires easy and uncomplicated (ie no parental involvement) access to contraception - you want these teenagers to use contraception, so don't put any barriers in the way of them getting it.


though, sadly...
All too often they see it as the one thing that can imbue their lives with a sense of purpose and self-worth.
i, too, see that as my main reason to have children or raise a family... i see it as just about the only truly worthwhile thing i can do in/with my life - everything else is moot and majoritavely selfish. is that a bad attitude to have? :confused:


Like say... volunteering at the local hospital to take care of newborns?

or if there is an orphanage nearby...

wanna see how eager for sex some guys are after changing a couple of diapers.
exactly... though it's not just the guys...

You'd be surprised how many people get it wrong, how many teenagers think it's ok to rinse and re-use, etc etc.
That's pretty tragic. You get taught to use them in school (well, we did. More than once.) and they come with a flippin' instruction leaflet.

Send the tweens (10-12 year olds) to a single mother shelter in their neighbourhood for a week (or longer if necessary) to get the first hand view of what parenting is like.
Then each of them can make a informed choice about what they are getting into, when they want to enjoy unprotected intercourse.

Also, consider that this is a real first world question; in second and third worlds, if there is any age of consent, it's much lower than in first world countries.

That's pretty tragic. You get taught to use them in school (well, we did. More than once.) and they come with a flippin' instruction leaflet.
Thats what happens when ya let abestinance only classes into what should be about educating people

[QUOTE=Pure Metal]


maybe some practical experience for some - especially those teenage mothers you just know don't give two shits about the welfare of their baby... they need a lesson in compassion and care somehow.
QUOTE]

which teenage mothers are those then? Vicky Pollard?

Here's the plan. We get the teens to go to clubs and parties. Then we slip them roofies. Then we carry them out and let them wake up in the Library.

Send the tweens (10-12 year olds) to a single mother shelter in their neighbourhood for a week (or longer if necessary) to get the first hand view of what parenting is like.
Then each of them can make a informed choice about what they are getting into, when they want to enjoy unprotected intercourse.

Also, consider that this is a real first world question; in second and third worlds, if there is any age of consent, it's much lower than in first world countries.

So, basically, you want to teach 'em NEVER to become parents?

Small wonder then, that the Blue States can't compete demographically with the Red States.

I can't believe that nobody has thought of the most obvious, greatest solution for ending teenage pregnancy (ok, they might have, I only read the first nine or ten posts)

Just remove the numbers thirteen through to nineteen (inclusive) from the age system. No more teenagers, no more teenage pregnancies.

Send the tweens (10-12 year olds) to a single mother shelter in their neighbourhood for a week (or longer if necessary) to get the first hand view of what parenting is like.
Then each of them can make a informed choice about what they are getting into, when they want to enjoy unprotected intercourse.


That's never going to work, because teenagers don't think like that. How many horny teenagers are actually going to stop and think "No, I'm not going to have sex because there's a chance I might get pregnant"?

Only the ones that would already think that way, that's who.

we are looking at the results of a cultural myth, and that is why we see a problem. because the myth is false.

what is this myth?

it is twofold: sex is 'bad', and 'sexual responsibility' (knock her up and you both 'pay' some sort of 'price') -- this is an artificial restriction on a natural behavior.

what can we do to change the mythos?

step #1: run with nature instead of fighting it
step #2: "let your children play"
step #3: let your older (20-30-40) children play
step #4: reintegrate the elders into productive society
step #5: let the elders raise the children that (young adult) children produce

paradygm shift. all guilt, all torment, all gone.

would result in:

a.) happier children
b.) happier young adults (still children in a sense)
c.) happier old people (now elders, with a productive role in society)
d.) wisdom... how can a young adult, just learning about life, be expected to raise a small child in complete love and wisdom? an elder is far better suited to this task.

we're being too hard on ourselves.

let's all work together and reinvent society for greater collective harmony.

"we are all one"

[QUOTE=BogMarsh]So, basically, you want to teach 'em NEVER to become parents?

Yaaaawn - beings only learn from what they experience

That's never going to work, because teenagers don't think like that. How many horny teenagers are actually going to stop and think "No, I'm not going to have sex because there's a chance I might get pregnant"?

Only the ones that would already think that way, that's who.

Yaaawn - I didn't see a rational suggestion from you

Yaaawn - I didn't see a rational suggestion from you
here's a rational suggestion...

cover your mouth when you yawn... btw, you have a cavity in your upper cuspid... :p

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that some people view the sex act itself as validation - they have sex to feel better about themselves...someone is actually paying attention to them. One way of discouraging this would be by teaching children and teenagers that sex isn't the way to achieve validation, and to give them lots of positive attention.

Better sex education?Yes
Easier access to contraception?Yes
Less access to contraception?No
Stricter drinking regulations?Yes
Single sex schools?No.
Permenant surveillance of children?Yes. But be careful, teenagers are sneaky. Think of some way that the teens will never know how they are being watched and punished. Maybe make excuses for one of them to leave when they are doing this; :fluffle:

Forced sterilization at birth should work. You can reverse the procedure after they've passed a series of tests to show they're fit to become parents.

Forced sterilization at birth should work. You can reverse the procedure after they've passed a series of tests to show they're fit to become parents.
:rolleyes:

what kind of tests?

Forced sterilization at birth should work. You can reverse the procedure after they've passed a series of tests to show they're fit to become parents.
Personally I dont trust the government enough to allow them to have rights over my body like that.

I should have the right to do with my body as I please.

:rolleyes:

what kind of tests?
Being able to go on the rollercoaster four straight times without vomiting, staying up late doing laundry because you had to help with homework, being resigned to have no life outside of the house. You know, those tests.

I will agree with you, but take the second one a step further. How about we remove the taboos about the body itself? It does take that sex drive down a knotch as guys would not be tripping all over themselves when they see a V-cut shirt.

I'll agree to that. =)


i'm a teen... my way of not getting a girl pregnant is simple and 100% effective:

not have sex.

yeah, i know others have called abstinence bullshit, but hey, it works all the time. plus that way you dont get all the emotional issues when you break up and nasty rumours about your girlfriend that having sex in high school usually causes.

People don't usually say that the idea that abstinece prevents pregnancy/STDs/etc is itself bullshit. The bullshit is the idea that if we only teach kids about abstinence, that means they won't do it and everything will be hunky dory.

You have made a good decision, in my opinion, but others will not necessarily follow your example.

Personally I dont trust the government enough to allow them to have rights over my body like that.

I should have the right to do with my body as I please.
exactly.

On topic (just realized that I hadn't posted my opinion) kids should be taught about thier bodies, about sex, and about "how babies are made", and also should be informed better about contraception*, and consequences of sex. Contraception seems readily available enough, if people weren't so scared to go buy condoms, I think that if we don't make it such a "big deal" that in a generation or two buying condoms could be as un-embarrasing as buying toilet paper.

*and by more informed I mean, how to use what, what the odds are of failure, and stuff. I don't believe in the whole "condoms will keep you from any chance of STD or pregnancy" line, kids need to know that they are effective to a point, but there is no such thing as 100% safe sex (only 95-98% with perfect use, and while we are on the topic of perfect use, they need to know what that means)

Personally I dont trust the government enough to allow them to have rights over my body like that.
Ok, a private company can handle it then if it bothers you that much.

I should have the right to do with my body as I please.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, but that's how you end up with teenagers having kids.
"It's my life and I should be able to do with it what I please"
"Not while you're living here it's not, it belongs to me"
"I HAATE YOU!"
"FINE!"

See? Forced sterilization is so much easier. And if you want to get pregnant later then you go and ask to have it reversed. You still decide what to do with your body, you just start from a different standing point.

Being able to go on the rollercoaster four straight times without vomiting, staying up late doing laundry because you had to help with homework, being resigned to have no life outside of the house. You know, those tests.
I don't pass those tests, please come get my kids.

Better sex education? Yes
Easier access to contraception? Only to preventative contreception
Less access to contraception? Only to reactive contreception

The reason for this is to prevent people from thinking that you can have sex without any consequences. The morning after pill and other drugs like it eliminate responsability completely. That isnt right. The last thing any society needs is the elimination of the mindset of responsablility

You are aware, I would assume that the morning after pill is nothing more than a higher dose of the hormones in a regular birth control pill. Everything the morning after pill causes can also be caused by the birth control pill.

Stricter drinking regulations? I think stricter enforcement of the current regulations. Its too easy for underaged drinkers to get alcohol

Here's an idea. Remove the taboo on alcohol, so that teens are more likely to drink irresponsibly. If it isn't a big taboo, they are unlikely to binge drink and lose all inhibition.

Contraception seems readily available enough, if people weren't so scared to go buy condoms, I think that if we don't make it such a "big deal" that in a generation or two buying condoms could be as un-embarrasing as buying toilet paper.

Exactly! They should be next to the bubble gum so you don't forget them on the way out.

Of course, in some places, they are in a locked case that the pharmacist has to open for you. Why?

I don't pass those tests, please come get my kids.
I don't pass them either, you should give them to someone else.

Exactly! They should be next to the bubble gum so you don't forget them on the way out.

Of course, in some places, they are in a locked case that the pharmacist has to open for you. Why?
I have no idea, they are locked up here some places, I asked once and they said "because teens shoplift them" and I said "why do you think they do that?"

They said "because they are embarrassed to buy them"

like locking them up so that the kid has to say something about it is going to help?:headbang:

I have purchased condoms for friends who were too embarrassed to buy them until I got married and hubby said "if they are too embarrassed to get condoms, they shouldn't be having sex", which technically true, I don't think that me not going to get them is going to stop them any. I remember still buying them for a friend when I was pregnant, people gave me the weirdest looks and I would say "do you think it's too late?" :D always got a laugh.

I don't pass them either, you should give them to someone else.
I don't know anyone who passes those tests that would be worthy to raise my children.

Being a good parent has nothing to do with laundry, rollercoasters, or anything else you mentioned.

It's a process, nobody is born into it, it's something you learn by screwing up a lot.

I have no idea, they are locked up here some places, I asked once and they said "because teens shoplift them" and I said "why do you think they do that?"

They said "because they are embarrassed to buy them"

like locking them up so that the kid has to say something about it is going to help?:headbang:

Nice. I suppose they *could* get the cheap ones from the bathroom at the gas station, but I wouldn't trust them.

I have purchased condoms for friends who were too embarrassed to buy them until I got married and hubby said "if they are too embarrassed to get condoms, they shouldn't be having sex", which technically true, I don't think that me not going to get them is going to stop them any. I remember still buying them for a friend when I was pregnant, people gave me the weirdest looks and I would say "do you think it's too late?" :D always got a laugh.

LOL!

I agree that they shouldn't be having sex if they are too embarrassed to get condoms, but on the other hand, in some places, they really will be looked down on if people know. This is why I think we need to get rid of the taboos associated.

Young girls shouldn't feel embarrassed to buy pads/tampons either, but I can remember considering taking them and leaving money lying around somewhere to be found when it was a teenage boy at the checkout. (I didn't, by the way. And now I realize that the teen boy is probably much more embarrassed than I am and I will go to his line on purpose =)

I don't know anyone who passes those tests that would be worthy to raise my children.
I don't know. I've heard the gypsies are good for this sort of thing. The kids get to learn a trade, travel the world, meet all sorts of interesting characters...

It's a process, nobody is born into it, it's something you learn by screwing up a lot.
And surely most people have the capacity to learn it, which is probably what these tests would measure (not the rollercoaster one, that's just so the examiners have something fun to do), so what's the problem?

You go to the office say "I'd like to see how fit I am to be a parent" they hand you your Parental Quotient report that says: "PQ 105, normal. Work on your patience, though," and then you go to the doctor and ask to have the sterilization reversed.

Simple. Avoids unwanted pregnancies, including teens, you keep control over your own body and has the potential to make better parents with better children.

Young girls shouldn't feel embarrassed to buy pads/tampons either, but I can remember considering taking them and leaving money lying around somewhere to be found when it was a teenage boy at the checkout. (I didn't, by the way. And now I realize that the teen boy is probably much more embarrassed than I am and I will go to his line on purpose =)

I remember being embarrassed about that when I first "started" but my mom said something that helped "nobody is going to ask about it, and if they do you can lie and say they are for your mom"

she was right nobody asked, and nobody ever looked at me weird even. My husband will go for me if I am busy or cramping or whatever and my female friends are jealous because their husband's won't go and my hubby always asks "why the hell not? It's not like they are going to think they are for him!"

What can be done to stop teenage pregnancies?

Better sex education?
Easier access to contraception?
Yes, better sex education would surely have a good share in it.
For most schools in the US, any sex education at all would be already a beginning.

Easier access would certainly contribute to it as well. Placing condom vending machines in schools would surely help, but it would create an outcry in the puritan US :rolleyes:

Less access to contraception?
Single sex schools?
Less access would certainly only increase it.
Single sex schools would also be a bad idea, as boys and girls would get totally alienized form each other.

The last one, "Stricter drinking regulations", doesn't contribute to it imo.

Stricter drinking regulations?

Boys need to quit looking for sex all the time and girls need to quit giving it up so easily. Nobody is forcing teens to have sex. Believe it or not, it is entirely possible to live life without having sex as a teenager. Probably a good idea to wait until marriage. (Now everyone can get mad at me for voicing the unpopular opinion)

Boys need to quit looking for sex all the time and girls need to quit giving it up so easily. Nobody is forcing teens to have sex. Believe it or not, it is entirely possible to live life without having sex as a teenager. Probably a good idea to wait until marriage. (Now everyone can get mad at me for voicing the unpopular opinion)
Maybe it is guys that need to quit giving it up so easily?

I don't know. I've heard the gypsies are good for this sort of thing. The kids get to learn a trade, travel the world, meet all sorts of interesting characters...
my kids wouldn't do well on the road.

And surely most people have the capacity to learn it, which is probably what these tests would measure (not the rollercoaster one, that's just so the examiners have something fun to do), so what's the problem?

You go to the office say "I'd like to see how fit I am to be a parent" they hand you your Parental Quotient report that says: "PQ 105, normal. Work on your patience, though," and then you go to the doctor and ask to have the sterilization reversed.

Simple. Avoids unwanted pregnancies, including teens, you keep control over your own body and has the potential to make better parents with better children.
and I want to know what you would put on your "parental quotient" test, you will never know how you will react to a situation until it sets itself in front of you, there is no great predictor of good parenting, and most people could lie on the test anyway.

And how exactly when you are being forced to be sterilized at birth do you ever have control over your reproductive rights? (OMG did I just say "reproductive rights"?! darn you Dempublicents1 !!!)

Maybe it is guys that need to quit giving it up so easily?

Very true, though it tends to be them seeking it actively more in my experience.

Boys need to quit looking for sex all the time and girls need to quit giving it up so easily. Nobody is forcing teens to have sex. Believe it or not, it is entirely possible to live life without having sex as a teenager. Probably a good idea to wait until marriage. (Now everyone can get mad at me for voicing the unpopular opinion)What if you're never going to get married?
What if you get married as a teenager?

Yaaawn - I didn't see a rational suggestion from you

Well, I don't know how to cure cancer, either, but I'm not about to suggest we try exterminating crabs and hope it works.

What can be done to stop teenage pregnancies?

Better sex education?
Easier access to contraception?
Less access to contraception?
Stricter drinking regulations?
Single sex schools?
Permenant surveillance of children?

I certainly can't work out how best to deal with this problem. :confused:


How about castration for the males and/or sterilization for the females?

How about castration for the males and/or sterilization for the females?

So, bye bye humanity? At least you brought about world peace, ended disease and hunger. All almost within our lifetimes, too!!

So, bye bye humanity? At least you brought about world peace, ended disease and hunger. All almost within our lifetimes, too!!


Heh? there's loads of millions and millions of humans.Don't worry we won't go extinct that soon.

I didn't meant all the teenagers.

Plus it isn't a bad either.there's no restriction on the birth rates,therefore we well eventually end up having no space,food etc to maintain all this people.

I think that in the UK, the present system is encouraging teenage girls to get pregnant, because if you have a baby they give you a house. In my road alone there are two young girls, one is only 17 and I don't know the age of the other, but she is not very old, who both have small children and a house for nothing basically. I suggest that making teenage mothers live in a communal place, like a home with someone who makes sure that they know how to look after the baby properly and making them go to school still might stop some thinking its an easy ride. Babies should not be a meal ticket. There are some really young girls around with two or three small children all by different fathers and there is no social shame, no consequences for them that aren't good, so why the hell should they do anything else? We have to stop this or our society is going to pay the price.

Sorry rant over

:D

my kids wouldn't do well on the road.
Maybe there are gypsies that travel by plane.

and I want to know what you would put on your "parental quotient" test, you will never know how you will react to a situation until it sets itself in front of you, there is no great predictor of good parenting, and most people could lie on the test anyway.
Do I look like a head-shrinker to you? I'm just an evil genius! We are not talking about a Cosmo test, but a personality test designed to measure several personality parameters and, hopefully, determine your *capacity* to be a good parent. No guarantees, though.

Of course, such theory of personality applied to good parenting doesn't exist, and the tests would have to be developed and their accuracy determined. For that I will require 40 couples and 200 children for experimentation. I'll try to go easy on the electroshocks and, to avoid psychological scars, the subjects will be put down at the end of the experiments. Humanely, of course.

And how exactly when you are being forced to be sterilized at birth do you ever have control over your reproductive rights? (OMG did I just say "reproductive rights"?! darn you Dempublicents1 !!!)
How do you have control over your reproductive rights when using a condom and one manages to go past the goal line? Sterilization at birth guarantees that won't happen and when you DO decide to have children you go and have it reversed, then you have all the kids you want.

Hmmm... maybe I shouldn't have used the word 'forced'...

Very true, though it tends to be them seeking it actively more in my experience.

Biology my friend.

The question comes if we should make major changes in society to restict biology

Sure it can be benificial in certian cases ... but is this one of them? and is it benificial enough for the costs? Is there justification for it?

I think that in the UK, the present system is encouraging teenage girls to get pregnant, because if you have a baby they give you a house. In my road alone there are two young girls, one is only 17 and I don't know the age of the other, but she is not very old, who both have small children and a house for nothing basically. I suggest that making teenage mothers live in a communal place, like a home with someone who makes sure that they know how to look after the baby properly and making them go to school still might stop some thinking its an easy ride. Babies should not be a meal ticket. There are some really young girls around with two or three small children all by different fathers and there is no social shame, no consequences for them that aren't good, so why the hell should they do anything else? We have to stop this or our society is going to pay the price.

Sorry rant over

:D
By "Making" them do you mean Forcing them to stay there? what if they are willing/able to provide their own loging?

Well if theyre willing and able to provide ther own lodging it wouldnt have been an attempt to provide housing for themselves.

Hey,i just remembered one thing that can solve this issue and will still enable kids to have sex.

Insteal of vaginal sex just do anal sex. hey if it works for the gays it probably works for ya'll

Heh? there's loads of millions and millions of humans.Don't worry we won't go extinct that soon.

I didn't meant all the teenagers.

So, which teenagers, then? The ones that get pregnant, because that seems to be "locking the stable door after the horse has bolted". Although I guess there could be other metaphorical horses in the hypothetical stable

Or just those most likely, statistically or demographically, to get pregnant?

So, which teenagers, then? The ones that get pregnant, because that seems to be "locking the stable door after the horse has bolted". Although I guess there could be other metaphorical horses in the hypothetical stable

Or just those most likely, statistically or demographically, to get pregnant?


South America-Africa-certain areas of China-India

By "Making" them do you mean Forcing them to stay there? what if they are willing/able to provide their own loging?

I mean those that would normally be given a house, should be 'housed' in this way instead, until they can support themselves and this way it would make it WAY less attractive. I know its never going to happen....I did say it was a rant, I never thought it THROUGH.....:headbang:

Hey,i just remembered one thing that can solve this issue and will still enable kids to have sex.

Insteal of vaginal sex just do anal sex. hey if it works for the gays it probably works for ya'll

Anal sex isn't a gay-only thing, y'know.

And it's "y'all"

There are a lot more reservations and hang ups that people have about anal sex, and it probably carries an increased infection risk if you don't do some kind of cleaning procedure before and after (I'm guessing on that part. I might be wrong, I might be right)

Anal sex isn't a gay-only thing, y'know.

And it's "y'all"

There are a lot more reservations and hang ups that people have about anal sex, and it probably carries an increased infection risk if you don't do some kind of cleaning procedure before and after (I'm guessing on that part. I might be wrong, I might be right)

Of course it's not a gay thing only.that's way i pointed it out.

thanks for the information. i gotta work on my american slang.


oh well,i suppose it's better to have some trouble than risking getting pregnant.




I mean those that would normally be given a house, should be 'housed' in this way instead, until they can support themselves and this way it would make it WAY less attractive. I know its never going to happen....I did say it was a rant, I never thought it THROUGH.....

Why would they be given a house? they got themselfs into this mess and now the dudes who pay taxes have to solve the problem for them?

South America-Africa-certain areas of China-India

...and you reasoning is?

What can be done to stop teenage pregnancies?

Why would you want to stop them in the first place? :p

Look we teach automobile safety until the cows come home and always every year some kid gets crazy goes out of control and kills his or her self in some accident. One just died in my town the other month. Getting pregnant is nothing compared to getting killed.

Education and alternatives is always the best method to reduce (but never stop completely) teenage pegnancies. (Alternatives as in alternate things to do besides engaging in sex all the time.)

...and you reasoning is?

diseases,hunger, over population,crime low rates of Education,etc justifies itself

Isn't it logical to improve the Quality of the Human Specie instead of The Quantity? =)

I mean those that would normally be given a house, should be 'housed' in this way instead, until they can support themselves and this way it would make it WAY less attractive. I know its never going to happen....I did say it was a rant, I never thought it THROUGH.....:headbang:
Personaly I am only for "bare minimum" support for thoes that dont earn for themselfs... They have a right to life and our help but they do not have a right to luxeries at others expenses.

So yeah basicaly I agree ... if they need shealter they should get it ... and a respectfull modest place to live that is clean if not extravagent.

But that does not cover having their own house ... something I am working hard to acomplish myself after draging my ass through 5 years of under/post grad collage

I think that in the UK, the present system is encouraging teenage girls to get pregnant, because if you have a baby they give you a house. In my road alone there are two young girls, one is only 17 and I don't know the age of the other, but she is not very old, who both have small children and a house for nothing basically. I suggest that making teenage mothers live in a communal place, like a home with someone who makes sure that they know how to look after the baby properly and making them go to school still might stop some thinking its an easy ride. Babies should not be a meal ticket. There are some really young girls around with two or three small children all by different fathers and there is no social shame, no consequences for them that aren't good, so why the hell should they do anything else? We have to stop this or our society is going to pay the price.

Sorry rant over

:D

I see no rant in the above; only factual description of what is going on.

I live in the UK, too, and I know what you're talking about. Girls purposely get pregnant for a council house. The more advanced type of girls then also discover Disability Living Allowance (since there's always something that can be made up, like ADHD, very popular). Quite a lot of them end up with more income than many a working and tax-paying moron. It's a livelihood, and quite a lucrative one.

A system that materially encourages teenage pregnancy is inherently flawed. It should discourage.

diseases,hunger, over population,crime low rates of Education,etc justifies itself

Isn't it logical to improve the Quality of the Human Specie instead of The Quantity? =)

You so crazy...

Like, really fucking batshit...

lol i have a friend who got jammed because his girlfriend gave him a Fellactio,he ejaculated in her mouth and she used it to get herself pregnant and make him pay him pay child support.

Ah society...:headbang:

You so crazy...

Like, really fucking batshit...

:rolleyes:

lol i have a friend who got jammed because his girlfriend gave him a Fellactio,he ejaculated in her mouth and she used it to get herself pregnant and make him pay him pay child support.

Ah society...:headbang:
She did what now?

That's...quite impressive.

I think it's more likely your friend is lying to you about what they did. :)

She did what now?

That's...quite impressive.

I think it's more likely your friend is lying to you about what they did. :)

They went to court for that. he tried to sue her but she won:rolleyes:

lol i have a friend who got jammed because his girlfriend gave him a Fellactio,he ejaculated in her mouth and she used it to get herself pregnant and make him pay him pay child support.

Ah society...:headbang:



:rolleyes:

Boris Becker?

(cruel laughter)

that poor guy suffered the same ?:eek:

lol i have a friend who got jammed because his girlfriend gave him a Fellactio,he ejaculated in her mouth and she used it to get herself pregnant and make him pay him pay child support.

Ah society...:headbang:



:rolleyes:
I call Bullshit

If he DID say that he was probably lying trying to shift the blame on her rather then stand up for what they REALLY did.

They went to court for that. he tried to sue her but she won:rolleyes:
Well, I think that's the first time my assumptions have been confirmed by a court of law. :D

:rolleyes:

You think it's a sane thing to advocate what amounts to genocide? Especially one based on geography?

You so crazy...

Like, really fucking batshit...


and your reasoning is?

and your reasoning is?

look up

How do you have control over your reproductive rights when using a condom and one manages to go past the goal line? Sterilization at birth guarantees that won't happen and when you DO decide to have children you go and have it reversed, then you have all the kids you want.

Hmmm... maybe I shouldn't have used the word 'forced'...

I can choose to have sex and accept the risk or not, having someone else choose what you can and can't do with your body is taking away control.

You think it's a sane thing to advocate what amounts to genocide? Especially one based on geography?

Am i advocating to genocide?

I'm talking about improving people's life.

You going "political correct" on me?





AFK(food)

that poor guy suffered the same ?:eek:

Well, so he says...

She got a flat in Central London and £8000 per month.
Not bad.

I can choose to have sex and accept the risk or not, having someone else choose what you can and can't do with your body is taking away control.
You can choose to have the sterilization reversed and then accept the risk. Or you can choose to keep it. Same control, different starting point.

You can choose to have the sterilization reversed and then accept the risk. Or you can choose to keep it. Same control, different starting point.
What about STDs? You sterilise kids, then they really are going to feel indestructable.

You can choose to have the sterilization reversed and then accept the risk. Or you can choose to keep it. Same control, different starting point.
no, you said "sterilized at birth" and then "take a test before you can get it reversed" I see control there, but it doesn't lie with the person, it's put into someone else's hands.

Besides, there are times when sterilization is not able to be reversed, I remember them telling us when hubby got "fixed" that it's like 50/50 that it even can be reversed, if not worse odds. Sterilization is a supposed to be a permenant procedure.

You can choose to have the sterilization reversed and then accept the risk. Or you can choose to keep it. Same control, different starting point.
You are still violating the parents rights to determine within reason the healthcare choices for their family.

Sterilization is an ELECTIVE procedure. It is NOT required to maintain the health of the child.

As such it should be up to the PARENTS to determine NOT society

no, you said "sterilized at birth" and then "take a test before you can get it reversed" I see control there, but it doesn't lie with the person, it's put into someone else's hands.
Well, I changed my mind. I said I'm an evil genious, not an estable one. The test should be for you to determine whether it's a good idea or not. How about that?

Besides, there are times when sterilization is not able to be reversed, I remember them telling us when hubby got "fixed" that it's like 50/50 that it even can be reversed, if not worse odds. Sterilization is a supposed to be a permenant procedure.
While we work to perfect the test we'll also work to perfect the procedure. I need another 60 couple for testing. Same as before, but with more electroshocks.

As such it should be up to the PARENTS to determine NOT society
What about the health of society? Shouldn't society determine that? In many cases society has to support teen mothers and their children, I'd say that gives society at least some leverage there.

Besides, the other option is having to educate children, or having to accept the fact that teens will have sex, and some will get pregnant regardless and build a proper support network which means spending tax money.

I'm too lazy for all that, so I'll go with sterilization at birth.

What about STDs? You sterilise kids, then they really are going to feel indestructable.
Yeah, but instead of pregnant and syphilitic, they'll only be syphilitic.

Clearly the only solution is to tell them nothing about sex and they won't even think about trying it. ...

Yeah. :)

What about the health of society? Shouldn't society determine that? In many cases society has to support teen mothers and their children, I'd say that gives society at least some leverage there.

Besides, the other option is having to educate children, or having to accept the fact that teens will have sex, and some will get pregnant regardless and build a proper support network which means spending tax money.

I'm too lazy for all that, so I'll go with sterilization at birth.
Lol I go with your second options ... It means less fucking with newborns

How many deaths do you think will come about by non nessisary surgery? 10% ... more

I wonder if society would be ready for litteraly thousands of preventable infant deaths a year

Am i advocating to genocide?

I'm talking about improving people's life.

You going "political correct" on me?

Except for the people who are dead, on your arbitrary whim. They're just dead.

Yeah. :)

**looks at the name** Anyone scared over this?

Lol I go with your second options ... It means less fucking with newborns

How many deaths do you think will come about by non nessisary surgery? 10% ... more

I wonder if society would be ready for litteraly thousands of preventable infant deaths a year
Well, there are too many people... It wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing...

Anyway, I just remember, all this discussion may just be purely academic (yeah, right, I wish I could ever get near that level). A few weeks ago I recall reading in New Scientist an experimental method that would allow a woman decide when to become pregnant, that is, control her own fertility.

I can't remember what's involved, but I don't think it's surgery.

Well, there are too many people... It wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing...

Anyway, I just remember, all this discussion may just be purely academic (yeah, right, I wish I could ever get near that level). A few weeks ago I recall reading in New Scientist an experimental method that would allow a woman decide when to become pregnant, that is, control her own fertility.

I can't remember what's involved, but I don't think it's surgery.
If it is safe and people can electivly take it absolutly

If not you are violating their right to their own body

If it is safe and people can electivly take it absolutly

If not you are violating their right to their own body
Darn! I was going to suggest to mix it in the water.

What about my rights as an evil genious? :(

Make stable lesbian couples the social norm and make cheap male-to-female sex change operations available on the NHS. That'll get your teenage pregnancy right out. And nobody'll be upset. >_>

*Joke. Maybe. <_< *

What can be done to stop teenage pregnancies?

Better sex education?
Easier access to contraception?
Less access to contraception?
Stricter drinking regulations?
Single sex schools?
Permenant surveillance of children?

I certainly can't work out how best to deal with this problem. :confused:

Better education will work.
Easier acces to contraception, well depends where you're from.
Drinking regulations? Who get "it" up when you're drunk?
Single sex schools is boring and against mine liberal mind.

Surveillance? They are children... come on.

Darn! I was going to suggest to mix it in the water.

What about my rights as an evil genious? :(
work on your spelling first... then come and see us.

Drinking regulations? Who get "it" up when you're drunk?
There's a widely held belief, in this country at least, that the teenage pregnancy rate rising has a lot to do with the start of the sale of 'alco-pops', ie alcoholic drinks that taste like pop (as if it really needed clarification...)

I was reading an article in the paper just this Saturday about a 15 year old who got completely out of her skull on these things and slept with three boys that night.

Please don't ask me to look up statistics to prove that point. I'm not sure there are any, it's just a common belief that probably has a lot of basis in fact.

Better sex education?
Education equals knowledge and knowledge is power. By educating the masses, we can spurn the shackles of ignorance and cast them off. Without ignorance, we see the world without blinders and without rose coloured class. It isn't pretty but we're enpowered.

Sex is a basic need and it is necessary for survival, but, because we have knowledge, we can be enpowered on the topic and thus be able to use this ultimate tool of survival responsibly. By knowing what we need to know, we can not only control the population and ensure that resources aren't drained due to overpopulation but also protect ourselves and hopefully help to kill off the sexually transmitted diseases.

Easier access to contraception?
In any case, this is a good idea. Sexual relations isn't just about procreation any more. It has been shown that it help humans in the long run and that pleasure is good for you.

This contraception helps to protect, however, it alone isn't good enough. Just because it is there doesn't mean a thing. If you're going to provide easier access, you must also provide the education to go along with it, otherwise people won't know how to properly use it, which in essence defeats the entire purpose of contraception in the first place.

Less access to contraception?
No way! By lessening the amount of availabkle contraceptives and the numbe of venues through which contraception is available, you're only fostering a culture of ignorance and unwanted children and disease-ridden people who want sex but keep infecting the population.

After all, when you're a teenager, you're not exactly graceful with contraception your first time; you're liable to kill the mood if you take too long.

By taking away the access, you're only compounding an already complex and easily preventable problem.

Stricter drinking regulations?
There are already strict laws in place that prevent minors from accessing alcohol.

However, human judgement does fail and a law cannot stop human judgement because we're falliable and liable to make mistakes. Further, it'd be futile to charge legal adults if they have alcohol in their house shoukd minors get their hands on it in the first place.

If the minor takes it, it's likely stealing. What's next? Proposong that the alcohol in all households be put under lock and key? That's simply stupid and teenagers know more than one way to skin a cat. If they want it they'll get it.

Continuing on that, by actually making it harder, you increase the risk involve and it becomes all the more tantalising for teenagers who get their kicks from breaking the rules. Most like to challenge the establishment and shale things up a bit.

If they feel it's too strict, just watch out. Remember, they're going to be in power in 20 years, don't piss them off. They just might make strange laws that target senior citizens and restrict your rights. After all, what goes around, comes around.

Single sex schools?
What is this? The 19th century?

By isolating the sexes from each other, you hinder social development, which is key to forming them for adulthood, in which they will be having contact in the work place with the opposite sex.

Now, unless you propose that one sex must NEVER leave the house, then, this is simply just a bad idea. After all, they need to learn how to interact with each other and a controlled enviroment, like a school is an excellent place to begin.

School is supposedly an academic place; a place of learning. By taking away an important element in learning, the social aspect, you're paving the way for a society that doesn't know how to properly interact with each other. By keeping the genders exposed, they are used to the other and interaction comes on a natural level.

Permenant surveillance of children?
How would you like to have 'BIG BROTHER' always watching you? It wouldn't be much fun now would it?

Teenagers aren't really children; they're someone's kid. But, in essence of the word 'children' and its connotations? Not likely. Teenagers are mini-adults and they need to be increasingly granted freedom to make mistakes. By not having that important bumper space to make mistakes, they don't learn.

Yes, they'll make stupid decisions, but, didn't you as a teenager make a stupid mistake or two? I know I did and it benefitted me greatly because I know better. I learned from having fewer rules.

When there are fewer rules, there is less compulsion to break the lenient ones that exist because there is too much freedom to be enjoyed that you don't notice the moderate ones in place.

Just turn parents loose. Let them deal with their children. Teen Pregnancies would be a thing of the past.

work on your spelling first... then come and see us.
My spelling is perfect. Except when writing in English. I'm evil, not educated.

Just turn parents loose. Let them deal with their children. Teen Pregnancies would be a thing of the past.
Control is a good thing, to a certain point.

Most of the teens who get pregnant are usually irritated because they're parents are being unnecessarily heavy handed. By being unnecessarily strict, parents give their child rules that are ridiculous and thus enticing to break.

Teenagers are human and once the adults governing realise this, most of our problems will end. Teenagers are mini adults stuck in a child's world. They're ready for the R and maybe even NC17 life but are being forced into the PG life.

What can be done to stop teenage pregnancies?

Better sex education?
Easier access to contraception?
Less access to contraception?
Stricter drinking regulations?
Single sex schools?
Permenant surveillance of children?

I certainly can't work out how best to deal with this problem. :confused:

The only way it will stop is ABSTINENCE!:headbang:

Complete abstinence before marriage, complete and total fidelity in marriage.

No sex education, contraception, condom, survelliance, or law will fix it.

However, abstinence cannot be en-FORCED. We can only persuade and change attitudes.

But that is the ONLY answer that WILL work. But nobody seems to get that. Until you do, teen pregnancy will always be a problem.

And I'm not out to pass laws forcing you to do as I say. The decision is yours. Use your agency.

The only way it will stop is ABSTINENCE!:headbang:

Complete abstinence before marriage, complete and total fidelity in marriage.

No sex education, contraception, condom, survelliance, or law will fix it.

However, abstinence cannot be en-FORCED. We can only persuade and change attitudes.
You'll be fighting for a long time if you think people are just going to give up sex.

You'll be fighting for a long time if you think people are just going to give up sex.

I'm aware of that. That's why I'm not too gung-ho on fighting it. Not on a grand scale, anyway.

Personally, my opinion is that any of those solutions offered in the first post would be something of a band-aid solution: the true problem is the destruction of the family unit and the collapse of neighbourliness. Nobody feels like a community anymore. Perhaps this is the socialist in me coming out strong, but I blame it on capitalism, or at least the type of capitalism we run under (I am a social democrat, FYI).
When the gap between the rich and the poor is as wide as it is, even in the middle class both parents are forced to work: feminists have it right that women should have the choice to work, and I wholeheartedly endorse that. However, I also believe that maternity leave needs to be around two years, or that a father can take a year's paternity leave too, although to continue income the two leaves would have to be consecutive and not parallel, and with that, we need to raise minimum wage and stop cutting taxes for the upper class and big businesses so that the family can survive with only one working parent.
If the children are raised with one parent always present to play with them, teach them values, etc., then at the very least they identify with that one parent and don't feel like the world has let them down. I believe that teen pregnancies result from illict sex as a result of not feeling loved by the parents. While there are exceptions, when the parents get home at 5 and smother the children with love, most parents are so concerned with and tired from their job that they don't have time for their little ones.
It is up to the parents to teach the kids that sex should be saved for, depending on their values/religion, the one you love or your husband/wife. At the same time, sexual education and access to contraception are very important too, so that when the kids do have sex, especially before marriage, they know all the measures to take. I'm not against pre-marital sex, but I do believe strongly that you wait for the right person, and that has to mean using your best judgement and not thinking with your dick or pussy. That's up to the parents to teach them, and no amount of sex ed can change that, because if the parents are not responsible enough to teach the kids, then there's little or nothing anyone else can do. That's just my belief/opinion, anyhow. Peace be with you all.

SNIP
Well said. This is the most solid argument I've seen so far. That's a good approach and it is liberal while still being family-focused.

You can choose to have the sterilization reversed and then accept the risk. Or you can choose to keep it. Same control, different starting point.

What type of sterilization do you know of with a 100% reversal rate?

What type of sterilization do you know of with a 100% reversal rate?
If reversion doesn't work you can always have in vitro fertilization.

If reversion doesn't work you can always have in vitro fertilization.
which is expensive dangerous and more ineffective than reversal.:rolleyes:

Better sex education? Yes.
Easier access to contraception? No.
Less access to contraception? No.
Stricter drinking regulations? Yes.
Single sex schools? Yes.
Permenant surveillance of children? No.

Better sex education? Yes.
Easier access to contraception? No.
Less access to contraception? No.
Stricter drinking regulations? Yes.
Single sex schools? Yes.
Permenant surveillance of children? No.
You just want all the sex that comes from cooped up school girls that are trapped in single sex schools :p

which is expensive dangerous and more ineffective than reversal.:rolleyes:
You people are making me lose my patience. First it's complain, complain, and complain about teens getting pregnant. Then some people say that education and blah, blah, blah. "But some teens will still get pregnant," someone else cries; and then it's "Abstinence is 100%," and someone says "yeah! sure! like you can keep teens from doing it" and blah, blah, blah, blah.

So, here I come with a perfectly evil plan that guarantees that no teens will get pregnant and you don't like it. Sure, some babies will develop infections, some sterilizaton won't be reversible, possibly a few other downsides; but guess what? Every plan has downsides. Mine at least ends teenage pregnancy (and a few others on top of that).

Of course, I you want me to get really delusional and propose completely radical and impractical solutions I would say that instead of trying to stop teenage pregnancy we try to change society's perception of teenage pregnancy and accept the fact that there will always be teens that get pregnant but that doesn't necessarily mean throwing your life out the window or being condemned to poverty.

This would require creating policies and structure to provide for teenaged moms and dads and also campaigns to reeducate society. That means spending tax money.

As I've said before I'm too lazy, so I'll go with the sterilization from birth.

You just want all the sex that comes from cooped up school girls that are trapped in single sex schools :p

More? You mean like none.

More? You mean like none.
When they get out ... man I lived next to an all girls school.

Talk about making up for lost time

What can be done to stop teenage pregnancies?

Better sex education?
Easier access to contraception?
Less access to contraception?
Stricter drinking regulations?
Single sex schools?
Permenant surveillance of children?

I certainly can't work out how best to deal with this problem. :confused:


Why is teenage pregnacy a problem? I mean human bodies are allowed to reproduce starting in the teens. So really...why is it a problem?

Why is teenage pregnacy a problem? I mean human bodies are allowed to reproduce starting in the teens. So really...why is it a problem?
But society is pushing Development later and later

With society as is and the long "Learning" times often associated with moving youself into a position of stability what is biologicaly ok may not in fact be the best Idea


I have no "moral" problem with it BUT it may not make the best sociatal sense

I think that better sex ed is the most important. I live in an extremely liberal commnity, and the sex ed classes are good, though not as informative as they should be. In the South and in conservative communtities, kids don't get taught anything important, so it's more likely that they're not going to know what they're doing and end up pregnant.

Also, I think it's important that families be more open with each other about sex. Neither of my parents have ever talked to me about ANYTHING, and I've learned most of what I know from my friends or the internet.

If all girls were told where to get contraceptives and how to use them, and if they were told where to go and what to do if they thought they were pregnant, there would be one hell of a lot less single, teen mothers with no money to support their child and themselves.