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A-R-Norman
Written By A-R-Norman (Age:36 to 45) Note This

Friends with Benefits - Why it never works

 
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Posted 7 months ago Views 736 Comments 18 Category Sexuality
When I was young, I always believed sex "meant something", and it wasn't simply something that was taught to me -- it was instinctive.

When I grew up and entered the adult world, tons of people told me that sex was meaningless and I was just being on old-fashioned Priss. Being naive (and trusting the wrong people) I had a one night stand at the urging of so called friends.

I recall nervously telling the guy that it was my first time in that realm. He sneered at me and said "Most women say that so you won't think they're a slut..."

At that moment I felt very cheapened. Later, the one girl who had coaxed me into the one night stand laughed and replied, "See, now you are no better than me, and you can't say anything to me!"

I cried.

I never had another one night stand again, and learned some valuable lessons. Despite how nonchalant people try to be about sex, it is far more complicated than many would have us believe.

As I matured, I made other sexual missteps, but of a different nature. Because of this, I slowly realized a pattern of behavior. MOST people, MEN INCLUDED, do not really take sex lightly, they merely run from various implications of it.

Now, this may not be the case with all people who enjoy a liberated lifestyle, but I will say that the MAJORITY of men and women I found who engaged in wanton, free sex, be it with stranger or friend, were either afraid of commitment, or running from something.

Invariably, if I sat down to talk with these people (I have a way of making people feel comfortable enough to bare their souls) they spill on old ghosts, fears, childhoods, that hint at why they don't desire to have an adult, give and take, one on one sexual relationship.

There were always two main culprits, which is always at the heart of emotional issues.


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Fear and anger.

Anger emerged from those who were hurt by a man or woman, or as a child, culminating in an immature, almost sociopathic rage that only served to perpetuate the cycle of pain that we inflict on one another - such a response solves nothing.

Fear is borne from individuals who believe that they are damaged, and don't want to let anyone in enough to see flaws. As soon as someone gets too close, they run like scared rabbits.

Immature individuals also feel they deserve to have what they want free of expectations or respect to the person they want to obtain it from. In this way, meaningless sex allows them to have the perks of a relationship, without having to deal with the needs of someone else.

People must realize that anything that has worth, kids, love, marriage, come with a price--nothing is free. You can't just walk into a store and walk out with diamond--you pay for it. Sex has its price as well, and we can't circumvent it.

Did we not learn anything from the past? The free love sixties fell by the wayside with a thud. Why? Because Human beings are by and large, emotional and spiritual beings. We are not Vulcans who can push aside our natural responses with a "logical pact". Our emotional side is just as valid as the intellectual one.

We are biologically engineered to bond after sex. For example, a woman release a hormone called oxytocin when she orgasms during sex. This hormone is also released when she breastfeeds her baby, so that she bonds with it. Some studies indicate men also release a hormone that causes an attachment to the female partner. We are SUPPOSED to want to be with one another after a sexual experience -- it is the nature of the human creatures design.

As I told one poster, it ain't nice to fool with mother nature!

Want to know why FWB doesn't work--because sex does mean something--we know in our hearts this is true, no matter what we tell ourselves -- going against our hearts and spirits has always been the height of human folly, but also of man's learning and evolution.


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vortexofdoom97 I kinda disagree. Friends with benefits means REAL friends who can relieve sexual needs with each other without asking for anything in return, it doesn't just mean casual sex buddies. Friends with benefits can be meaningful in a completely different way - 5 months ago
A-R-Norman If you can do that, then you have beat out 99.9 percent of the rest of the population. Bravisimo! - 5 months ago
littlesenorita Great article. You write so well, what a gift! - 5 months ago
A-R-Norman Thank you! I have learned so much the hard way and I hope I can spare others from making the same mistakes... - 5 months ago
lovebird01 I agree with you 100 percent here, and I couldn't say it any better! Really great article! I made a similar comment about FWB on another question about it. I'm happy to see morality, affection, respect, and decency make a reappearance here! - 5 months ago
kiamia Awesome article, so true and so well written. Thanks.

- 4 months ago
tmandl I agree with most of this except for the part about men feeling attached after sex.....I would say that women do feel or want to feel close after an orgasm but men.....I think they can easily have sex and not feel anything..... - 4 months ago
A-R-Norman I have met guys who get emotionality attached but are afraid to say so ue to societal pressure. I don't know how many guys I have "counseled" who had their hearts broken by a chick who had sex with them and left. - 4 months ago
Sugarcoat Very wise words! *applauds*
I'm sorry that so called friend hurt you like that, that's just horrible to do to someone. =[ - 3 months ago
motorboater My response to the start of your article was "You are quite the sensitive, knight-in-shining-armor act, aren't you?"

But you did conclude with some sound, non-self-aggrandizing points about motivation and ramifications and biology so, hats off for the second half.

Men bond after sex typically too, not just women. Why are we jealous, fighting each other over unfaithful girls, and consumed with imagery of her with the new guy after you split up? We respond to bonding differently, that's all. - 3 months ago
A-R-Norman Amen motor boater! I firmly believe that men experience emotional connections with sex, but society makes them feel as if they should be ashamed of this aspect. Not to say that it couldn't be casual, but that men can bond physiologically and emotionally as well - 3 months ago
archer86 Say WHAT?!? FWB are the simplest relationships to start, maintain and disengage. Without FWB, I would have commited suicide years ago! With divorce, men-bashing, internet dating frauds and lack of legal prostitution, what else are men to do? Sex flings are a good thing and always have been. Unfortunately, all it takes is one idiot man to ruin it for the rest of us GOOD guys whom women reject because we are not their type. - 3 months ago
LilMiss I love your writing style, and I agree with you on this entirely. I've also learned the hard way with a lot of things and it's wonderful that you've shared your experiences with others to help prevent it from happening to them. When you said you felt cheapened, I had a flashback to a bad memory and you're absolutely right. A lot of guys know exactly what to say to make us feel that way and it's awful. Anyways, I give you a million kudos for this article!! - 3 months ago
Foxy-Sox I agree...it doesn't work....weather it be the male or female with the need to band after sex...one person almost always ends up getting hurt.

I never even knew about the hormone thing.

Well said! Cheers! - 3 months ago
A-R-Norman Archer--if you were really one of the GOOD guys you wouldn't be thinking o f women as simple devices to get off with... - 3 months ago
MangoMooMoo I think that this is really an awesome article and youve made some thorough points. For the most part I agree with you, but I can help but look at it from the opposite perspective. Whatever underlaying issues there may be in people who prefer NSA sex, I think thier main defense is that, for them, it works. So I agree that generally one nighters and FWB situations don't work for the average. However, we live in a diversified world where no one is alike. - 2 months ago
A-R-Norman I agree with yah Mango--but I do think that people who are mature, caring and loving enough to make
it work are rare as the human animal appears to be very survivalistic and out for self most times...just my observation... - 2 months ago
ariellew I also disagree. I havea FWB and we are really close, always have been. After all that we do together, we still love each other no matter what, and we tell each other that. I agree with vortexofdoom.. it can be meaningful. just like mine is. and its amazing if you try it.. and a lot of fun. - 4 days ago
 
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