What does Abstinence mean to you?

[Romp Time Rob]

I think anything that can give you an STD counts as sex.

[Chris MX]

I don't think abstinence necessarily means to abstain from sex until marriage, I think it should be to abstain from sex until you're comfortable with the idea of having it and are (physically and mentally) ready for it and the consequences if something goes wrong (like pregnancy or STD's). I've heard many married couples have problems with sex because they're either uncomfortable with it or were not completely ready for it.

[Daniela]

[quote=Xero;17327]I linked the video if you wish to watch it. It came out July 22, 2009

I wanted to share my view of it and everyone else view on it.

So my question, is the same as theirs: What does Abstinence mean to you?

My definition:
To me I view it to be not having Oral Anal or Vaginal sex until marriage. Mutual masturbation I consider to be 3rd base and not sex, as long as the mouth does not come into play.

[/Q
To me, abstinence means one does not allow or refrains from having sex for health, moral or religious reasons.
I think that this issue goes beyond staying a virgin until marriage. There may be different stages in a person[s life when he or she practises abstinence. However, I think it may be looked at from different perspectives.

[priya in india]

I'd say abstinence is to not have any form of sex.
I dont think anyone today would just simply stop with mutual masturbation so abstinence would mean not doing anything that would/could lead to sex.

[JEBB2201]

to me it means pretty much what you said. allthough i'm not sure about the oral sex part, cuz i mean even if there's mouth there's still no vaginal penetration, but i kinda get why your point of view is so.
it also means that if you are away from the person you love, that you won't do anything with anyone else, well at least that's a meaning i've seen among people.
i guess it depends on what you both want you know. if the 2 of you prefer to wait, that perfectly fine. if you prefer to do it whenever you both feel ready, and before marriage it's great. if you prefer to marry first, it's also perfectly fine.
the important thing is that you make a fair desition. no one can force the other to do something the don't want or they don't feel ready, so as long as there exist agreement between the couple, it's up to them.

[Xero]

I recently asked my girlfriend what she believed abstinence to be.

She stated that having Oral Anal or Vaginal sex is all considered sex and that if it was preformed you are no longer a virgin.

Yet she included another thing in her own definition. She includes fingering as having sex. So when someone has been fingered I'm assuming this can go for a male or female you are no longer considered a virgin. I discussed with her my view and belief and she still believes in her view. I dont have a problem with it but just found it strikingly odd.

[CallMeCurious]

Abstinence is not solely related to sex, it is just the act that most people associate it with. I take the word literally, abstinence is refraining from allowing oneself to indulge in something. Basically, being innocent from the experience one gains from participating in any act, whether sexual or not. You should abstain from cheating... practice abstinence rather than sex... Once you do try something, however, that abstinence idea is broken; you've tried it, you now know what previously you were clean from experiencing.

Same concept for being a virgin: once you try it, you're no longer a virgin in that sense. Whether it be fingering or fucking, you can no longer hold the V card once the deed is done. My opinion.

[Love]

Means:
That I am not thinking clearly and have chosen to drive myself insane....lol

On a more serious side though, I see abstinence as more of a kind of commitment to oneself to disavow all practice and even thought of sex. If your not physically having sex, yet it is constantly on your mind I think it defeats the purpose of the committed decision. I think that if a person were unable to achieve the mental state of a "sexless" mind that its possible (in theory) they could create a problem for themselves. I dont want to be around someone who cant be normal upstairs because of "sex on the brain syndrome"...lol.....but then I confess, I am ignorant to this topic and have no authority on this matter....Its all theory.
In my opinion ..abstinence is not natural and goes against human nature, I know there are people out there that like to tout that sort of thing but personally, I think I get much more out of embracing all of my human qualities instead of trying to separate, lock up and store them......I dont believe kids should be having sex so young though because they are ignorant to the ramifications of those actions, in this case abstinence is temporary until maturity...again, this is natural.
Just my thoughts...

V/r..Love

[Ellie in brooklyn park]

i think mutual masterbation would be okay, but any kind of intercours violates abstenence.