Anal obsession

[voyeurdude]

While I have enjoyed the many great stories on this site over the years, I have noticed an all to often trend. Why do so many writers insist on injecting anal sex into every thing they write, regardless of the category? There is a special place for these stories on this site, just as there is a special place for what ever interests the reader may have. In the real world, most straight people find anal sex unapealing at best, and disgusting at worst. My point is that I have been disappointed many times while reading a great story, only to have it suddenly become what is to me a huge buzz killer. The vast majority of women I have been involved with did not want any part of anal activity. Interjecting it in an otherwise great story only makes it that much more unbelievable to most readers.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

While I have enjoyed the many great stories on this site over the years, I have noticed an all to often trend. Why do so many writers insist on injecting anal sex into every thing they write, regardless of the category? There is a special place for these stories on this site, just as there is a special place for what ever interests the reader may have. In the real world, most straight people find anal sex unapealing at best, and disgusting at worst. My point is that I have been disappointed many times while reading a great story, only to have it suddenly become what is to me a huge buzz killer. The vast majority of women I have been involved with did not want any part of anal activity. Interjecting it in an otherwise great story only makes it that much more unbelievable to most readers.

There are several reasons why anal sex shows up in stories posted outside the anal sex category.

The most obvious reason is that the categories are generalized collections of stories centered around a single theme. Most stories will touch on several themes. In fact, it is quite difficult to write an original, interesting story that addresses a single thematic category. Why bother trying? Most people have varied sexual interests. Who actually enjoys one--and only one--type of sex in any given sexual encounter?

Secondly, your premise is wrong. According to a recent study, Findings from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, published in the October 2010 issue of THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, anal sex is more popoular than ever.

Summaries of some of the surveys' findings are found here http://www.slate.com/id/2269951/, and here http://www.slate.com/id/2270622/pagenum/all/#p2.

The author notes:

"Anal sex. Here's the big story. In 1992, 16 percent of women aged 18-24 said they'd tried anal sex. Now 20 percent of women aged 18-19 say they've done it, and by ages 20-24, the number is 40 percent. In 1992, the highest percentage of women in any age group who admitted to anal sex was 33. In 2002, it was 35. Now it's 46.

The last time I looked at the anal sex data, I figured that most women who reported having done it meant they'd tried it just once. I was wrong. If you push these women beyond the "have you ever" question, the numbers stay surprisingly high, and they're getting higher. In 1992, the percentage of women in their 20s and 30s who said they'd had anal sex in the past year was around 10 percent. Now that number has doubled to more than 20 percent, and one-third of these women say they've done it in the last month. Among all women surveyed, the number who reported anal sex in their most recent sexual encounter was 3 percent to 4 percent.

That's a lot of butt sex. And remember, this is what women are reporting. If anything, they're probably understating the truth."

In the follow up piece, the author added:

"Last week, I tried to figure out why more women are having anal sex and why it correlates so highly with orgasms. Since 1992, the percentage of women aged 20-24 who say they've tried anal sex has doubled to 40 percent. The percentage of women aged 20-39 who say they've done it in the past year has doubled to more than 20 percent. And 94 percent of women who received anal sex in their last encounter said they reached orgasm—a higher rate of orgasm than was reported by women who had vaginal intercourse or received oral sex.

Why? For obvious reasons—anatomical, evolutionary, and aesthetic—anal sex should, on average, be less attractive and satisfying than vaginal or oral sex. In last week's column, based on new survey data, I inferred that female orgasms caused anal sex rather than the other way around. The other acts reported by women who engaged in anal sex—vaginal intercourse, cunnilingus, partnered masturbation—delivered the orgasms. In turn, these women indulged their male partners' requests for anal sex.

Well, shame on me. Not for talking about sodomy—that taboo seems to be fading fast—but for doubting that women love it. These women are now coming forward to affirm that they're into it for their own pleasure, thank you very much. And they aren't alone. Bloggers, blog readers, and Slate commenters are offering lots of other theories to explain the orgasm data.

I should start with a confession: I understated the mainstreaming of anal sex. I relied on data tables that reported how many women had done it at least once (around 40 percent), in the last year (around 20 percent), or in the last month (around 7 percent). I missed a different table (Table 4, page 284) that isolated women who were "partnered" and asked about their activities over a 90-day period. Among partnered women aged 18-24, 20 percent said they'd had anal sex in the preceding three months. Among those aged 30-39, 16 percent had done it. Among women aged 30-39 who were cohabiting but unmarried, 30 percent had done it. So we're talking about something that a significant minority of partnered women does at least several times a year."

The bottom line is that anal sex is not so taboo as you think.

Finally, I should point out that Lit. allows authors to add story tags that allow easier searching of stories. Most authors who use tags will add one indicating anal sex is included in the story, if appropriate. My advice to you is before you start reading a story, check the end of the story and see if there is a tag describing any material that you find offensive. If so, hit the back button and you can avoid disgusting content.

 

[sr71plt]

In the real world, most straight people find anal sex unapealing at best, and disgusting at worst.

You took a comprehensive head count, I assume?

Did you perhaps miss the fantasy element of erotica? Obviously it's a turn on for a lot of authors at least if you are reading so much of it here.

 

[favoritesgoddess]

I'm thinking people that write porn probably put anal sex in because they like it. And if it's in "every story," then it stands to reason that anal sex figures into a lot of fantasies out there. Maybe there are less people that find it unappealing or disgusting than you think.

Also, you should consider that perhaps the vast majority of women you have been with weren't turned off by anal so much as they just didn't want your dick in their ass.

 

[PacoFear]

Sorry voyeur, but as soffie points out, booty love has crept its way into the mainstream. There's just no fighting it. Fifty years ago they were probably saying the same thing about oral. I wonder what'll be next. Bellybutton sex?

FWIW, I'll offer one writer's perspective: I reserve Lit's anal category for stories centered on anal sex, mostly because the readers that go there seem to want to read about butt sex and lots of it. This means that if I put together a story that just happens to include a measure of anal among other sexual frolicking, it's probably better to post it in some other category like "erotic coupling" rather than risk disappointing the anal category readers.

So here's what's happening: the more conservative folks like yourself want the existence of the anal category here on Lit to be your personal assurance that you won't stumble over butt sex when you read stories from Lit's other categories. For you, the anal category would be a sort of darker back room further behind the dark room you're perving in, one where the things you don't like can be shuffled off to. Trouble is, the anal devotees, the folks living in that back room, want their room reserved for non-stop sphincter stretching bonanzas. Stories that merely touch on anal are getting booed back into your room.

Writers sensitive to the plight of folks like you use the story tags or, even better, provide a quickie warning about touchy subject matter in an author's note up front. The point is, we're doing what we can, but we're playing the Lit game the best way we can.

Cheers,

-PF

 

[sr71plt]

PacoFear has a good point. If there is anal sex (in a straight story), that should appear in the tags where a reader can see it before reading the story. If it's not there (for straight stories), then I think there's a legitimate complaint.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Oh, goodness. Paco and sr, put your sanctimonious hats down or we''ll relegate you to 'Loving Wives.

Just coming from the other side of the chromosome equation, anal sex hangs about there in the mainstream, and why not?

From the other side of the divide, between love and erotica, any gay guy must understand the emotion, surely.

PS to add: How do you pair understand what women think?

 

[PacoFear]

Oh, goodness. Paco and sr, put your sanctimonious hats down or we''ll relegate you to 'Loving Wives.

No sanctimony. Just offering my theory on how more and more casual anal is filtering into Lit's other categories.

Just coming from the other side of the chromosome equation, anal sex hangs about there in the mainstream, and why not?

Ummm, I like anal and I don't mind it being part of the mainstream.

PS to add: How do you pair understand what women think?

Didn't say I did. Neither did sr.

e_o, are you reading the same thread I'm in, girlie?

 

[sr71plt]

Oh, goodness. Paco and sr, put your sanctimonious hats down or we''ll relegate you to 'Loving Wives.

Just coming from the other side of the chromosome equation, anal sex hangs about there in the mainstream, and why not?

From the other side of the divide, between love and erotica, any gay guy must understand the emotion, surely.

PS to add: How do you pair understand what women think?

Starting drinking this early in the morning, Elfin?

If there's any point to your posting (which I assume is the result of not clearly reading the posts on the threads), it certainly escapes me.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

I may have hurried things but I think there is a female inquisitiveness about anal that is not reflected in Lit stories, or the comments on this thread.

Gotta rush now but can we debate this tomorrow?

 

[sr71plt]

I may have hurried things but I think there is a female inquisitiveness about anal that is not reflected in Lit stories, or the comments on this thread.

Gotta rush now but can we debate this tomorrow?

There's nothing to debate. I don't know what you think PacoFear and I were posting--but you were way off base in understanding what it was, because it didn't have anything to do what whatever you were posting.

 

[alwayswantedto]

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[Dual_Triode]

In the real world, most straight people find anal sex unapealing at best, and disgusting at worst.

In my straight corner of the real world, this is simply not true. My own limited, non-random, unscientific sampling of the world's population of females indicates widespread curiosity about anal sex. I have found that most women, meaning more than half, have expressed some interest in anal sex; enough interest to try it at least once. Far fewer women have shown enough interest to initiate it because they enjoy it.

I may have hurried things but I think there is a female inquisitiveness about anal that is not reflected in Lit stories, or the comments on this thread.

I think that there is a natural curiosity about anal stimulation, among both males and females. After all, there are a lot of nerve endings signaling the brain that something is happening back there. Using proper hygiene and modest stimulation can enhance the sexual experience. Rough handling and rectum-filling penetration, however, can be uncomfortable and downright painful.

~Dual

 

[sr71plt]

In terms of Literotica stories, I think it's natural to have this explored quite a bit. Erotica pushes the limits to increase the stimulation. Anal sex is beyond the norm, so it's a natural subject for erotica fantasy.

And going back to the OP, a contradiction was being expressed. You can't both have no interest in the practice and have a lot of stories posted here on the practice at the same time. The posting of the stories exhibits the level of interest.

 

[voyeurdude]

I stand corrected (and flamed!)

Thank you Paco, your post makes a great deal of sense and explains why many writers will include anal (and other) variations of sexual activity in stories across the board. I especially appreciate your reluctance to flame me as a hopeless prude as some here seem to think. I prefer to think of myself as simply uninformed and somewhat behind the times. I stand corrected. I visit this site for erotic stimulation. I hope I wont offend anyone if I simply skip over the parts of your stories that turn me off.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

Thank you Paco, your post makes a great deal of sense and explains why many writers will include anal (and other) variations of sexual activity in stories across the board. I especially appreciate your reluctance to flame me as a hopeless prude as some here seem to think. I prefer to think of myself as simply uninformed and somewhat behind the times. I stand corrected. I visit this site for erotic stimulation. I hope I wont offend anyone if I simply skip over the parts of your stories that turn me off.

I don't think anyone flamed you (ok, favoritesgoddess was a little harsh). Try asking this question on the general board, or ask any political question on the author's hangout and you will find out what constitutes being flamed.

In any case, look at the tags and skip stories or parts of stories you find offensive. Hell, I skip entire categories of stories that I find offensive.

 

[bumlicker]

haberdash.......

this is all hogwash!! there in all the stories cause MOST not all guys fantasize about fucking there womens ass

 

[elfin_odalisque]

All right, I may have had a bit of a hissy fit but I do have a problem.

sr is ridiculous, but understandable. He will never understand female reactions to anal sex. Why he posts here is a mystery.

 

[sr71plt]

All right, I may have had a bit of a hissy fit but I do have a problem.

sr is ridiculous, but understandable. He will never understand female reactions to anal sex. Why he posts here is a mystery.

Have your hissy fit. And while you are at it, please cite where I have said anything whatsoever about female reactions to anal sex here.

Still drinking?

What I have posted here is that there obviously is interest here in anal sex because, even as the OP points out, there are a lot of stories posted about anal sex in the straight categories--so at least all those authors are interested in it.

I separated straight anal sex from gay male anal sex, because anal sex is pretty much the norm in GM sex, so of course there would be a lot of those stories here. Duh.

So I was looking at the "straight" category anal sex story file.

Please put your bourbon glass down and tell me why you are having a hissy fit over issues I didn't post. (Although I don't really give a rat's ass if you have a hissy fit or not. )

I post here because this is the story feedback board (and because you pretend that I don't give any story feedback--when I do. )

I also post here because I know a hell of a lot more about writing erotica and do a hell of a lot more writing of erotica and posting it to Lit. than you do, hon.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Still drinking?

What I have posted here is that there obviously is interest here in anal sex because, even as the OP points out, there are a lot of stories posted about anal sex in the straight categories--so at least all those authors are interested in it.

I separated straight anal sex from gay male anal sex, because anal sex is pretty much the norm in GM sex, so of course there would be a lot of those stories here. Duh.

So I was looking at the "straight" category anal sex story file.

I also post here because I know a hell of a lot more about writing erotica and do a hell of a lot more writing of erotica and posting it to Lit. than you do, hon.

I won't start a 'mine is bigger than yours' contest as I know physiologically you have already won it.

My first post was meant to be a tease that you and Paco sounded like tweed encased Harvard professors puffing on their pipes arguing about whether anal sex on a smut site fits more in the Byronic or Romantic hero oeuvre. I took the P-F barometer to judge I got the sarcasm wrong.

BTW, I never drink when I'm working but ,if you're buying, I'll pass on the bourbon and take a Silver martini.

But I still think you are taking things too seriously. Despite my enjoyment of it, I don't propose to put 'unhealthy interest in mucky stories' on my resume when I reach the Pearly Gates. (can't go to the other side, they demand virgins).

Yes, I don't think you look at anal sex in a fun and sexy way. The progress we've made in my lifetime to remove taboos on anal sex - both MM and MF (even FF) show that your narrow differentiation between hetero- and homosexual sex is out of date. We've moved on.

 

[voyeurdude]

A gift for the Goddess

My my goddess. A little bitchy today are we? I am sending you a virtual case of mydol. Hope it helps

 

[sr71plt]

My first post was meant to be a tease that you and Paco sounded like tweed encased Harvard professors puffing on their pipes arguing about whether anal sex on a smut site fits more in the Byronic or Romantic hero oeuvre.

My point was that you had your head up your twat on this thought to begin with. Neither PacoFear or I were doing anything of the sort.

Yes, I don't think you look at anal sex in a fun and sexy way. The progress we've made in my lifetime to remove taboos on anal sex - both MM and MF (even FF) show that your narrow differentiation between hetero- and homosexual sex is out of date. We've moved on.

And your head is still where it don't shine because there's nothing in what I've posted on this thread that has anything to do with this either.

You've moved on from to where that has anything at all to do with anything I've posted here?

You are one sterling silver dingaling.

 

[CWatson]

this is all hogwash!! there in all the stories cause MOST not all guys fantasize about fucking there womens ass

..."Haberdash"? I believe you mean "balderdash". A haberdasher is a person who makes and sells hats for a living.


As to the OP:
Speaking only for myself, I've only written one story where anal sex figures into it whatsoever, and the couple in question found out it didn't work right for them. I'm discovering, personally, that I'm the same way--though, to be fair, the only two times my girlfriend has invited anal attention, there was... matter there to interact with. Definitely a buzzkill. If it pleases my girlfriend, I'm happy to try it (and she's expressed that she really loves anal, so I imagine it'll come back at some point), but I can't claim it's my own predilection. (And I'm going to request that she, err, empty herself first.)

Having said that, voyeurdude, your original premise is wrong. You can't really claim that you know what "Most people" like or don't like. Sure, maybe most of the people you have met feel that way--and, yes, you are entitled to your own opinion; and who says you're wrong about them anyhow. What I question is whether "most of the people you know" is the same as "most people, ever".

If you are, for example, a person similar to me in temperament and predilection, then you tend to circulate with people who have not spent a lot of time exploring their sex lives. They don't have much drive to it. I was the last of my friends to lose my virginity (20 days ago, to be precise), but all of us were well past the average-American age of 17 when we did so. And I'm getting pulled along by my girlfriend, but my friends... I'm sure there's a fair amount of stuff they don't try, simply because it doesn't bother or interest them. They're not adventurous.

The end result is that, if I use them as a polling sample, my results are going to be biased. Why? Because I used my friends as a polling sample--and because I don't make friends with just anyone. The kind of people I get along with tend to be sexually inhibited, or at least uncurious, to one degree or another. They cannot provide an unbiased opinion. So I know things that are true about people who are similar to me... but not about All Human Beings, Total. That's a little harder to get a grip on.

Please be aware of the biases in your own thinking. It's no shame to have them--our brains are programmed to be that way. It just means we have to think harder if we're going to know anything in the way of real truth.

 

[sr71plt]

You can't really claim that you know what "Most people" like or don't like. Sure, maybe most of the people you have met feel that way--and, yes, you are entitled to your own opinion; and who says you're wrong about them anyhow.

In keeping with your first sentence here, you can't even go as far as the second sentence does. The OP may be able to say what "most people" answered when posed the question, but the OP can't say what those people really feel about anything--just what they were willing to say they felt about it. Quite often in the real world these aren't the same things at all (as you say in your first sentence).

One of my points was that ipso facto a lot of people like to fantacize about it, because, even as the OP claims, there are a lot of story authors on Lit. doing just that.

But my guess here is that it was just one of those sweeping generalizations made without polling the OP's friends and acquaintenances at all--especially since it was contradictory.

 

[alwayswantedto]

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