So, my views are low, it's time for a sex talk! Actually, I'm not posting this because my views are low. I'm posting about it because I realize that my sex life has actually changed for the first time in a long time. Here are five developments.

1. I don't cyber anymore. That's right, the king of cyber has abdicated the throne. You know, there was a time when I said that I would always do it. I never find anything wrong with it morally, and I don't think I ever will. It's empty anyway. It's is indirect mutual masturbation. But then, why the big reversal? Because it's just a fucking pain in the ass to do it now. First of all, it's hard to find a girl that's even interested in that, not one that is actually sane. Second of all, it takes an incredible amount of internet time. 45 minutes to an hour to find a partner, maybe longer if you want to on your instant messenger of choice. Two, three hours to do it, more if you can't cut right to the chase. And chances are she isn't that good at it, or is only doing it to impress, because she's neurotic (read: clingy) enough to actually want me after two hours of talking to me. It's completely sophomoric. I'm not patient enough for this anymore. Better yet, I'm online enough for this shit anymore. I forgot something important. If I want a "network" of girls to cyber with, I have to be able to talk to them normally sometimes too. It looks really bad if I contact some girl that I haven't talked to in a month to do that. It's rude, and I refuse to do it. So, I think that phase of my life is over.


2. Porn doesn't interest me that much. When it comes to the various methods of achieving of an orgasm, porn is the "fast food" of orgasm. Sure, it's fast, easy, and it feels pretty good. But are you filled up? Not really. It just reminds you of the sex that you're not having. But then you remember, nobody is really having sex. You can practically hear the camera man breathing, the black guy still has his shoes on, and the two girls kiss like it's their first kiss. Like I really want to see fucking tongue. That's totally hot. Don't tell me that I shouldn't watch it, though. I'm aware of the pervasive effects of it, and I think that being aware of these effects will prevent me from ever developing thoughts that degrade women. I love women too much, they can be so beautiful sometimes.

3. Now that I've got you reading again, I'll tell you that I've currently a big fan of the friends with benefits relationship. Don't criticize me for it, I get it enough. Anyone that knows about widely pans me for it, telling me that I'm putting friendships in jeopardy, and that the girls are certainly attached, and that if I keep playing with fire, I'm going to get burned. But I have a fireproof suit, okay? Actually, I just pick girls that are a) nymphomaniacs and b) mature. And yes, they really have a mature attitude about sex. A fwb that I have stops doing anything sexual with me when a relationship is going on. There is no romantic tension. We talk like friends wheIn we're not doing the deed. It works out, but it isn't easy. It takes a solid, open minded friendship with a mature woman.

4. Even casual sex isn't what it used to be. The taboo effect has worn off. My parents don't care. My peers don't care. It can just be a huge pain. Usually, a discussion for casual sex is something like this. Me: "When are you free?" Girl: "Saturday after 9, and maybe Sunday". Me: "Oh, that's when I'm working/entertaining 50 friends, I can't." Yes, to have casual sex, I have to make sure I'm not working, not at school, and I can manage to get my friends out of the house. Luckily, one is going out of town soon. I might as well take advantage of the opportunity.

5. If you know me, you know the deep dark secret that is number 5. ;]

I left you with a cliffhanger. Yeah, I went there.

I've planned to go to therapy so many times. Believe it or not, I have a lot of work to do on myself. I blame too much on myself. I don't stand up to my friends well. I'm self-conscious, anxious, and glum. Recently, I've learned how to control some of these afflictions. Oddly, it has been without the intervention of a professional. I've done it all by myself. I understand a lot about depression, being a student of psychology. There is no reason why I can't apply certain theories to myself. There is no reason why I can't improve my explanatory style. If I stop blaming everything on me, and displace that place to external sources, I'll feel better about my life without a doubt. There is no reason why I can't use the social psychology principles of effective communication to stand up to my friends. I've started to show emotion when they offend me. I was successful in getting my friends to stop making fun of me about my ex-girlfriend, though I admit that it was partially through being a douchebag. I guess my friends understand that if I'm being a douchebag, maybe they're doing something wrong. I've also worked well to decrease anxiety. I can't control all of the problems in my everyday life, but I can use meditation, reflection, relaxation, and appreciate to melt away the stress. I try to tell myself that I do have a lot to appreciate in life. I'm special to many people. Not many people have a blog that's at least mildly influential. Not many people have had the same best friend for four years. Not many people have friends that want to be around them all the time. Currently, I'm trying to "elevate" above life's stressors. I realize that life is absurd, and that often, I have no control over all the stress that is thrown my way. I realize that people are stupid, and all I can do is simply allow them to be stupid. I can't make a huge difference, I can't change the world, and I can't stop people from being foolish. And that's liberating, it truly is. All I have is my mind, and the friends that will help me. All I can do is just keep living life, and just hope that something great comes my way someday.

I love controversy. I've tried to hide my controversial tendencies at my new school. But today, we started talking about politics in class, and I still have a hard-on. I just loved shooting down the moronic pro-life arguments, the moronic pro-death-penalty arguments, and just loved shooting down my ignorant classmates in general. It really makes me certain that I don't want to return to Wayne State. Even though it's cheap and isn't far from home, and even though many people hold the same intellectual stances that I do, they have no fucking clue why they hold those stances. And that's just absurd.

Let's admit - the music industry is pretty fucked up. Give me something more screwed up than the music industry (Congress nonwithstanding), and I'll give you a prize! No, really. Turn on the radio. Tell me that there is not absolute crap on there. The radio sort of assumes a one sized fit all model to music - that you always want to listen to pop, rap, or really popular or commercialized rock. Sure, Drake is a pretty good rapper, and I'd go as far as saying he's a bright spot in the industry right now. But his music has no sentimental, or emotional value. I'm going to bet that in three years, nobody will remember more than one song by him. He's like the new T-Pain. Or Lil Jon. Entertaining, and on every track for a while, but ultimately has no staying power. Basically, when it comes to rap, Kid Cudi, Common, old Eminem, and Nas have a monopoly on "meaningful" rap.

What about rock music? Terrible. I haven't enjoyed anything since the last album by Three Days Grace. The sun is setting on emo, the sun has set on punk, and even "hardcore" music has started to lose the widespread appeal that it had (thankfully, scene is even dead!). Metal isn't popular, so it isn't that easy to find. Myspace is in a coffin, 10 feet under the ground. So it isn't as easy as it used to be to find music on there. Sure, there will be some classic rock songs that will always be worth listening to. But the only new stuff that is coming out is uninspired, boring, and has truly been done before. I think it's only a matter of time before Lil Wayne starts rapping on some of these rockers songs, so at least someone will be listening. Speaking of Wayne, I admit that he's the best ever. He's a shit person though. He doesn't write ANY of his own shit, he's a fake gang banger, and wasted his intelligence on a hip hop career. Yes, that's right, Lil Wayne was a straight A student at school. But he's the best ever. Nobody has his body of work. Nobody will ever do hardcore rap at 14 years old, probably ever again. That's besides the point. Rock music, that's the topic. Hmm... At least there's indie. As long as there's indie, there will always be something out there. But, unfortunately, it's so hit and miss. Without the pressure of commercial success, a lot of indie bands try something different each album. And that usually doesn't end well.

Electronic music is great and all, but where does one really find it? Few artists have reached the success of Moby or Zero 7 (And with no Sia Furler, Zero 7 is basically useless now). Without that success, where are you going to find new songs? The radio, MTV, and even  Sure, there's always internet radio. But then try finding some of the songs that you discover on iTunes, or on an (illegal) p2p program. Good luck, you won't find any of them.

I'm not even going to say much about country, besides the fact that Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood have turned it in its mainstream into an offshoot of pop. I'm not a fan of country, but I feel sorry that the fans of it are experiencing it transforming into a music that only needs slutty dance moves and an electronic beat to turn into pop music.

It's no wonder I've had the same songs on my iPod for a while. Music just isn't what it used to be.

For many reasons, I used to say that I would never ever date a theist. But now, I realize that theism itself isn't really what bothers me. I just get pissed at someone that thinks that they can prove that their god of choice is the "real one". I just can't date someone that doesn't understand that religion is socially constructed. When and where a person was born is the biggest determinant of one's religion. Someone born in 1640 in Saudi Arabia is very likely to be Muslim. In fact, it was almost imperative, I bet someone that wouldn't publicly pronounce the Shahadah would probably be eliminated. Someone born in 1990 in the southern US would probably be a Protestant - perhaps a Baptist or Methodist. But Ryan! What about my friend that was born in America and converted to Buddhism? How can you say that they were socialized? Very easily. Someone had to get the message of Buddhism out of them. Somewhere in society , someone had to expose them to Buddhism. Someone out there wrote that pamphlet or designed that website that introduced your friend to Muslim. Society's information flow was the socializing agent.

Shit, even personal religious experiences are closed tied with social construction. A follow of Christ isn't going to see visions of Allah or Zeus when they're having a "transcendental experience". Why? Because society sets the script for what someone is going to see in these visions. Of course, it doesn't apply to specifics. I can't explain why some people see a high mountain when they "see God" and why others see a lake. But the context set by society is why they're seeing the Christian God rather than Mithra.

Well, I've brought up something controversial, so I somewhat expect debate. So, let's get the comments going.