Philosophy | University of Northern Colorado
Philosophy | University of Northern Colorado
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Members | Search | FAQ
Username:
 Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Class Forums - Spring 2007
 MIND 293 - Play as a Route to Insight, etc.
 Play and Sex		  Forum Locked
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

Amanda Lucas
Fledgling

5 Posts
Posted - Apr 30 2007 :  8:21:12 PM  Show Profile
A couple days ago Trelogan asked the class if we could think of other forms of play that Huizinga did not mention.

Can sex be a form of play?

When you think about, sexual relationships are a big part of our lives. Dating, masturbating, sex. We wouldn't do any of these things if they did not produce some kind of enjoyment or pleasure. Besides pleasure, and continuing the human race (serious play), are there any other purposes to having sex?

Any thoughts or am I the only one who has thought about this?
(I hope this doesn't make me seem creepy or anything along those lines because I really am not).

Chris Wheeler
Fledgling

11 Posts
Posted - May 02 2007 :  12:30:27 PM  Show Profile
Interesting. I'm taking a Human Sexuality course this semester, so I think I can kind of see where you are coming from here.

First, there is courting. All it is, is a game of cat and mouse between two people. We are trying out different people to see what kind of person we like, and what kind of people we don’t like. I’m sure most of us have heard talk of “the game of love,” so are we all players in this game then?

As for the pleasure aspect of it, obviously this is a big part of sex. It’s supposed to be enjoyable, and when things go wrong we spend a lot of money on therapy to set it right. A healthy sex life is important in a relationship.

But, there are other aspects, such as abuse, prostitution, etc. that I’m not sure we would look at as play.

Interesting topic, I'll have to think about it more. I’d be curious to hear what other people think.

[Lightly edited to improve readability —TKT]
Go to Top of Page

Patti Haight
Fledgling

13 Posts
Posted - May 04 2007 :  09:47:37 AM  Show Profile
I think you’re on to something and I agree with you. I think sex is a huge play form in our world, and yet no one has mentioned it before. I think because is serves a purpose—to reproduce—it is all too often overlooked.

[Lightly edited to improve readability —TKT]
Go to Top of Page

Shane White
Newcomer

2 Posts
Posted - May 04 2007 :  10:24:38 AM  Show Profile
If we look at Schiller's whole balance of compulsion idea where the external motivation has to match the internal, then I think that sex is play. Especially if you’re not having sex in order to reproduce. Let’s think. Your libido could be your internal compulsion, your want and desire to have sex. Connecting yourself and strengthening your relationship with your partner might be the external. I'm not exactly sure what I mean, but am I on to something?

[Lightly edited to improve readability —TKT]
Go to Top of Page

Kit Peterson
Fledgling

14 Posts
Posted - May 04 2007 :  1:32:17 PM  Show Profile
I would say that those who rape, abuse, etc. would be those who “don’t play by the rules” in the game of sex. I agree, that sex is play, and I think Schiller would agree with me, that it is also something beautiful. So I agree with you, Shane: I really think you’re onto something there.

[Lightly edited to improve readability —TKT]
Go to Top of Page

Eric Martinez
Newcomer

3 Posts
Posted - May 08 2007 :  05:39:48 AM  Show Profile
I agree that sex is a form of play, and I’d say the same thing about relationships. We accept this form of play because we have grown accustomed to it. We play around with others to try to find our “soulmates.” Furthermore, if you are having sex, but you don’t want children, you once agian are playing in a sense. Play can be tied into pretty much anything and certainly this is true of relationships and sex.

[Lightly edited to improve readability —TKT]
Go to Top of Page

Tina Golovanoff
Fledgling

12 Posts
Posted - May 08 2007 :  1:08:59 PM  Show Profile
Oh, sex is definitely play...all the proof you need lies in Ft. Collins at Dr. Johns...not to be gross, but it is completely true. I believe that everyone, at least once in his or her life (ok—assuming you have actually had sex), has made a game out of sex—it is very playful and light-hearted sometimes, and “play” may be a stress reliever, and so is doing the deed. They have more than enough in common.

[Lightly edited to improve readability —TKT]
Go to Top of Page

Kit Peterson
Fledgling

14 Posts
Posted - May 08 2007 :  2:22:04 PM  Show Profile
I also think that the actions that lead up to sex can be seen as play. A whole relationship may be a game, and the act of dating is certainly a game. Marriage is a game, and a very hard one at that, and they don't call it foreplay for nothing, you know (hehe)! So I would say that not only is sex play, but love as a whole is play.

[Lightly edited to improve readability —TKT]
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 Forum Locked
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Philosophy | University of Northern Colorado © 2004 tkt Go To Top Of Page
This page was generated in 0.11 seconds. Snitz Forums 2000