Intimacies

I’m delighted to announce that I’ve been invited to host a Core Conversation at the SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin, Tx in March 13-17, 2009  (date and time of the event, TBA).  The topic will be “Sex Ed Online: How Teens Self Savvy,” and joining me in presenting this hour-long conversation will be Karen Rayne, PhD. She is an expert in adolescent development and education who teaches workshops and counsels parents and teens on human sexuality.

Some of the questions I’ll be asking Karen:

1. What do teens want to know about sex?
2. How do they use the Internet to find answers?
3. Which social media tools provide the best sexual education?
4. What positive or negative impact can the Web have on teen sexuality?
5. At what ages should online use by children and teens be monitored?
6. Are parents abdicating their roles as sex educators to the Internet?
7. Does online info encourage or discourage sexual experimentation by teens?
8. What role does the Internet play in educating youth about sex?
9. Can the government regulate online sex education and should it?
10. Can online sex info be trusted for accuracy?

Thanks to everyone who commented on the SXSW panel picker in support of my proposal. They  received more than 1300 panel proposals for the 2009 South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival. Most of these ideas are extremely impressive in their analysis of current (and future!) issues in the new media landscape. In lieu of a panel, I was invited to host a more intimate Core Conversation. This will have a format much like the monthly meetings I host at BookPeople. At a SXSW Core Conversation, there’ll be 30-50 people seated and standing around a round table with one or two presenters. I’m excited that Karen Rayne and I will have the opportunity to talk on this personal topic with the  web developers and digital creatives who attend this conference.

Now I’m very challenged to learn more about the subject. Please share your thoughts and insights into how the Web is changing how and what adolecents know about sex and sexuality.

Sitting on my desk in artfully designed shiny foil wrappers are chocolate-, grape- and banana-flavored condoms. They were gifts from the good folk at Planned Parenthood, where I recently met with a group of sex-health educators. Since condoms are the most reliable available and reliable protection against unwanted pregnancy and STDs, Planned Parenthood is running a campaign to change the image of the rubber. It got me thinking…

What are the various was in which people can have fun with contraceptives? Must contraceptives be seen as a turn-off, however necessary, or are the part of the collection of toys in your pleasure chest? I’m collecting real-life anecdotes and suggestions, and I welcome yours. The compiled results will likely show up in a future “Intimacies” column I’ll write in The Good Life (names may be withheld on request). What memorable experiences have you had with any form of contraception?

Frank Butterfield was my special guest at BookPeople, talking about “Attracting Love” with the Law of Attraction.

Some of the crowd that turned out for the event. As the host, I stand in the middle, in front of Frank.

I just got an email from A. Michael Johnson, Ph.D., who was my special guest at BookPeople last March. We had a fascinating conversation about satisfying the libido.

He’s now pleased to announce the dates of this season’s Workshops for Sexually Compulsive and Addicted Men.  These workshops are designed for men new to recovery, men struggling to maintain sexual sobriety, or men undecided as to whether they are sexually addicted.  It may benefit your clients, patients or others you know who struggle with out of control and destructive sexual behavior.  This is the eighth year of this program.

The dates for these 3-day workshops are:
November      14-16 - 2008
March              6- 8 -  2009

A printable flyer may be downloaded from  www.sexual-addict.com/Flyer2008-2009a.pdf .

The workshops are held in beautiful, historic, downtown Austin, Texas.

To learn more about the workshops or sexual addiction go to www.sexual-addict.com.

Contact Dr. Michael Johnson directly at 512 928 4357 or doctor@sexual-addict.com.

For those in the Austin area, Dr. Johnson offers Ongoing, Process Group for Sexually Compulsive and Addicted Men.

www.sexual-addict.com
Austin, Texas
512 928 4357

I haven’t a clue about how many men out there are sexually addicted, but I suspect it’s widespread and highly closeted. If this speaks to you or someone you know, please take action or pass it on.