In today’s world of texting, sexting, social media, and sexual liberation, a new trend has arisen amongst us young folk, and it’s called casual sex. So what exactly is it? We’ve defined it as the act of hooking up with people you aren’t monogamous with and doing it well, pretty often. These “people” could be anyone: friends, coworkers (gasp), or randoms you meet in a bar. The point of it is, you aren’t dating these people, and it’s okay that you’re hooking up with more than just one person. Now that you know what it means, we’re going to give you ten important pros and cons of casual sex.
The Pros.
No Strings Attached.
One of the most ideal things about casually hooking up with someone is the simple fact that it’s casual- there aren’t any strings attached. You get in, you get it on, and then you get the hell out of dodge. It’s just sex, and that’s as simple as it gets. If it starts getting more complicated than that, you’re doing something wrong.
It’s super convenient.
Relationships aren’t convenient. It takes planning, it takes work, and it takes a lot of energy. Casual sex doesn’t require any of these things. It’s as convenient as sending a text saying “I’m horny, want to come over?” You can have it when you want it, and ditch it when you don’t.
You’re having sex.
I mean, who can say this part is a con? You’re having sex, and sex is great. Sex is proven to relieve stress, burn calories, and even strengthen your immune system. Who can argue with science?
No expectations.
Since neither of you is under the impression that this is going anywhere, you can feel more comfortable while you’re hooking up. You’re not even sure you’ll see this person again, so you can get weird with it. You can be less self-conscious and more carefree in the bedroom.
You still have your freedom.
Casual sex is so common amongst college students because they don’t want the hassle of a relationship but want to hook up. You don’t date, you don’t fight, and sometimes even flirting is too much. You can still do whatever the hell you want with whoever you want.
The Cons.
STDS and unplanned pregnancies.
The above options are the worst of the worst. I think I can speak for everyone when I say no one wants the above to happen to them. If you do, you have some issues. One of the major downsides to casual sex is the chance of getting stuck with some not-so-fun consequences. To prevent these things from happening, use protection. It’s not brain surgery!
Walks of shame.
Although not the worst thing on the planet, walks of shame aren’t exactly ideal. Trekking 5-10 blocks in last night’s outfit at 9 am on a Friday is guaranteed to get some unwanted attention. Unfortunately, walks of shames are pretty inevitable with a casual fuck, so you’re just going to have to deal with this one.
Your reputation.
Now, I’m all for not caring what other people think. But if you’re in a small circle, or go to a small school, word travels pretty fast if you’re getting around. Sometimes, this can potentially tarnish your reputation, especially if you’re a girl. No one wants to be labeled as “easy” or as “a player.” To keep this sort of gossip on the down low, all you can do is be careful about not hooking up with people with big mouths.
One of you could get attached.
This is one of the worst consequences of casual sex: falling for them. Unfortunately, what usually happens is only one person wants to take it to the next level, and they get hurt when they’re rejected. This usually happens to girls, but it could happen to guys too. Things will get awkward real fast if you fall for your casual sex buddy, and they don’t feel the same way. Even worse, you could get heartbroken.
Stage five clingers.
Beware of the stage five clingers. They aren’t fun, they aren’t logical, and they aren’t easy to get rid of. No one wants to deal with 10 missed calls and 15 unread texts from someone they had casual sex with once. If you think you’re dealing with a looney, get out while you can.
