cheers ! to the end of the world !

[Deks]

Originally Posted by Tovette

I think sexual deviancy, if you want to call it that since it's all subjective to the culture anyway, is a result of human creativity. You don't see zebras using whips and and scented jellies because they are not sentient. Humans are curious and creative creatures and those traits spill into everything, even our sexual activities. It's the doctrine of a culture that decrees what's morally below the line.

Pretty much.
A definition of anything will be perceived individually and therefore in a different capacity.
Universal rules as such do not exist in my opinion and anything people do actually can be considered 'natural' regardless of how extreme or mild it may seem.
Making up generalizing rules will always alienate people who are different.

Religion is a concept made up by humans to explain things which they don't understand.
And many people fail to realize how some things that seem even more bigger/powerful/wonderful than them are not a part of anything supernatural/religious/whatnot.
It's merely different.

As for 'sexual deviancy' being the doom of human society as we know it ...
Not now, not ever.
Societies crumble due to different aspects such as hypocrisy/greed/power/corruption/money/etc.

Also to state how monogamy is the only 'true' way isn't viable.
If people were educated, actually tolerant, open their minds and took responsibility for their actions, then we'd have much less problems.
I find it interesting that a lot of people still perceive HIV as 'homosexual disease' and heterosexual couples in large numbers only use condoms in order to prevent pregnancy while hardly concerning themselves with STI's.
It's also interesting to note that about 60% of females are infected with HPV virus and are transmitting it to their male partners for example without a condom (even a condom is not an effective preventive measure).
Also, about 60% of heterosexual males end up finding out they are HIV positive or have some kind of STI at mid range of their lifespan if not earlier due to their lack of medical checkups before and various unprotected sex.

I'd say society is very hypocritical and the media like to blame minorities for most of the problems (because it's easier) while the majority sits back with a 'clean conscience' ... only to end up sorely wrong later in life.
Well, thankfully, not EVERYONE are like that.

Also, any disease which is man-made can be destroyed or eradicated by man.
Sadly, we live in a world where cures for HIV and similar illnesses would never really see the light of day (and I'm willing to bet it was developed long ago) because the pharmaceutical companies would lose tremendous amount of money.

[juanxer]

Originally Posted by spudmonkey

Actually, when the end is near, sex drive would be lower due to increased stress and worry

Isn't it the other way around, usually? I thought wars produced "baby booms" .

Relative sexual liberalism as an indicator is an interesting idea (relaxation of belief against competing stronger/stricter cultures), but I guess it would be just one among many. Also, would that work for non-Christian/Muslim/jewish-based ones, too?

(Most ideas of "end of a modern empire" seem to pay more attention to strategic overreach thinning military strength and damaging the economy, I think.)

[Ares Blackmane]

That's what happens after the war.

Story tells of a Finnish soldier, who was asked by a reporter what he's going to do first when the war'd be over.
- Have sex with my wife.
- Hmm. (We may have to edit this.) Ok, what do you do second?
- I'll have sex with her again.
- Alright alright, but what then?
- Have sex for third time.
- Grr... what are you going to do when you'll done having sex?
- I'll take off my skis and rucksack.

[chrono]

Originally Posted by spudmonkey

Decadence is a result of increased wealth and growth, not a symptom of decline.

Yes decadence is a sign of increased wealth/growth/power, but it's also a sign societal decay because the core that grew that society is weakened by the continued decadence for the remaining length of it's existence. It's not a sudden weakness, but one that is a gradient where each generation becomes more decayed and weakened. This is why you see historically spikes in nationalism, religion, ethic's, and the occasional positive cultural revolution/restoration. This is a clear sign of the societies attempt to "self-correct".

But seriously leave it for one of the more depressed nations to bring up Doom saying!

[Martocticvs]

Seeing as the civilisation we live in today is for all intents and purposes that which was created by the ancient Greeks (with modifications aplenty over the centuries), and we have been through numerous cycles of decadence and depravity in that time, I think it is fairly safe to say that there is no correlation between the fall of civilisations and social tolerance towards sex. Kingdoms and Empires may have fallen by the wayside in all this time, but the civilisation itself remains.

[chrono]

Somewhat true Martocticvs, but it was only patterned on the Greek design it's far away from being a continuance of "civilization". The people continue, but the civilization dies. So far no civilization has withstood extremes either on the political level or the social level without widespread decay. The more modern cultures have hundreds of laws in place in the attempt to provide a long term stable social core for their civi's.

I only agree that social tolerance towards sex is a minor, minor indicator and often it comes from other more predominate indicators.