Templeton
Wooster Lake is many things. Relaxing, serene, quiet. It’s a place for one to gather one’s thoughts or perhaps do a bit of reading. And apparently, it’s also an aphrodisiac.
One evening last fall, I was out and about on campus taking night photos for my photojournalism class. On my way across the Wooster Lake bridge I spotted a ballsy couple doing the nasty on the banks between the Memorial Union and Morse Hall. At first, I thought perhaps they were simply making out and dry humping. Upon further inspection, I found that they were, indeed, bumping uglies. Like any good photojournalist, I tried to snap a picture, but I was too unskilled and it was too dark. Plus I felt like total pervert.
Oddly enough, I wasn’t entirely shocked. Could it be because in today’s social fabric, sex in public has become a common occurrence? Are we desensitized to it? In part, I think yes, we are. I’m not exactly a bar fly or club hopper, but I’ve been to such places. I’ve seen things. I’ve been witness to and participant of the alcohol and hormone-induced dance craze that is “bump n’ grind,” and the only thing preventing full on penetration is a wee bit of fabric between your partner’s crotch and your behind.
So it’s not entirely surprising that PDFs (Public Displays of Fornication) have become less of a sexual taboo or anomaly. In this particular instance, I found myself both amused and concerned, mainly because I was worried about the mechanics of the whole thing. For instance, the couple in question weren’t laying on a blanket or anything of the sort, so how was the woman keeping grass, twigs and other debris out of her privates? The whole thing just seemed hazardous.
What if I had been a campus officer? While I couldn’t find any specific policies explicitly about sex in public in either the Student Code of Conduct or the Residential Hall Handbook, a couple found doing it in public could be charged with anything from indecent exposure to becoming a registered sex offender.
Let me make one thing clear – I have never personally engaged in a PDF, but I have many good friends who have. From what I gather, there’s a certain thrill that accompanies public sex. Many times it’s unplanned. It is this spontaneity that makes it so alluring. It’s also supposedly a real turn-on to know that you could be caught at any moment.
While I’ve never experienced the erotic thrill myself, I have to agree that the passion which accompanies sex in public places is probably pretty damn potent. And if you’re so hot and bothered that you can’t wait until you’re back at your apartment or dorm room to rip each other’s clothes off and go at it, you’re more than likely about to experience some of the most erotic sex of your life.
But some who have sex in public might actually want to be caught. Some people find sexual gratification in exposing their genitals to an unsuspecting stranger. This is called exhibitionism, and perhaps those who engage in PDFs bare some semblance to this type of sexual indulgence, especially if you’re in it for the thrill factor.
However, let’s not forget one very crucial aspect, that public sex is also, in a word, straight up skanky. Call me old-fashioned, but I tend to agree that any sexual act, whether you’re simply hooking up or legitimately making love, should be something you engage in privately. No one wants to happen upon your sweaty, naked bodies writhing against each other in the moonlight, unless they are also into voyeurism.
Perhaps my own disdain for PDFs is rooted in the countless experiences I’ve had with friends having sex while I was in the room, car, hot tub, etc. It’s awkward, people.
That being said, I’m not one to “knock it” before I try it. While I don’t plan on boinking anyone beside Wooster Lake or behind the couch in the lobby of Morse Hall any time soon, I’m not above the occasional kiss at a house party or a friendly ass grab. In fact, I encourage it.
But if you are looking to get your rocks off in a public place, at least try to use a little discretion and some good ‘ol common sense. No hanky panky is worth permanent designation as a sex offender. Also, be careful not to get debris in your crotchal region.
It’s not just skanky, it’s illegal. Having sex in public can count as sexual abuse, because it counts as “unwanted sexual attention” towards the unsuspecting viewer.