New research highlights new, troubling ethics violations

The jury’s still out, but not for much longer. In 2025, numerous studies examined the role of artificial intelligence, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), as possibly aiding many  mental health services, as well as its prospective hazards. 

Based on their findings, authors of a new study from Brown University recently argued: 

…mental health support, especially psychotherapy, cannot be approached as a formulaic computational task, as it demands strict adherence to ethical standards and professional codes of conduct, something LLMs are prone to violating in real-world practice. Without clear legal guidelines and regulatory frameworks, LLM counselors risk exposing vulnerable users to unmitigated harm.

Their research consisted of “an 18-month ethnographic collaboration with mental health practitioners” to create and evaluate “evidence-based system prompts” which were then used in 27 simulated sessions to “map LLM counselors’ behavior…to professional codes of conduct.” They discovered “15 risks that persist” in several different AI models, even with improved prompt strategies.

Researchers worked with three versions of GPT, two of Llama, and two of Claude. The simulated sessions used “publicly available sessions with an LLM counselor using publicly available transcripts”—in other words, the material was ethically sourced.

Professional codes of conduct

In addition to acquiring years of education, and putting in many, many hours of supervised training before gaining certification and/or licensure, mental health professionals also rely on ethical and practice guidelines. These are designed to keep practitioners from making mistakes that might harm their clients.

The Brown researchers referenced codes published by the American Psychological Association (APA). the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the American Counseling Association (ACA), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as well as from the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Canadian Psychological Association. Such guidelines are carefully considered distillations of expertise and are revised when research makes it necessary. 

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The Brown University researchers found the ethical violations fit into one of five categories: (1) “lack of contextual understanding,” (2) “poor therapeutic collaboration,” (3) “deceptive empathy,” (4) “unfair discrimination” (algorithmic bias), and (5) “lack of safety and crisis management.” 

As the Brown team wrote:

Reflecting on these findings through a practitioner-informed lens, we argue that reducing psychotherapy—a deeply meaningful and relational process—to a language generation task can have serious and harmful implications in practice.

Counseling—and sex therapies—are more than computational tasks

When companies decide to deploy AI in mental health settings, they are essentially replacing trained personnel who already have educational and ethical frameworks, with something that sounds like it knows what it’s doing, but does not. 

And yet people frequently report they are more comfortable talking with AI about sensitive subjects—like sexual matters—than with human beings. It’s because the AI won’t judge them. 

Though AI may appear non-judgmental, as it agrees with everything, this is really just a function of its sycophantic design. In an LLM counseling situation, this may manifest as an “over-agreement” and “over-validation” of unhealthy beliefs resulting in tragic—and in some cases, fatal—consequences for some individuals, including minors. 

The Brown researchers conclude:

Hence, our findings suggest that mental health practice, especially psychotherapy, cannot be reduced to an NLP task that can be easily addressed with additional prompting or a new benchmark. Rather, responsible AI development for mental health will require interdisciplinary collaborations to outline legal safeguards for accountability in cases of harm.

And that’s another problem: lack of accountability. Human therapists and counselors are personally and professionally responsible when making mistakes or ethics violations. Now AI companies may land in court when their chatbots cause grievous emotional harm. 

Could sex therapy’s PLISSIT model hold a key?

So far there are few, if any, studies focusing specifically on using LLM as sex therapists, though plenty of people use them for sexual entertainment. Sure, some AI have been installed in clinics to deliver sexual health information, but that’s customer service and education, not therapy.

But Jack Annon’s PLISSIT model for sex therapy, published in 1976 and still in wide use, may hold the key to one particular AI advantage. 

The graphic representation of PLISSIT is a triangle balanced on its point, divided into four segments. “P” stands for Permission and is the widest, topmost segment. Annon’s idea is that just having permission to talk about sexual matters is therapeutically valuable for the most number of people. For many people, just having and using this permission may be enough. 

So I wonder, could AI’s glib gift of gab be an asset in an intake process, essentially granting the client initial permission to talk about sensitive topics, without fear of judgment? 

I can imagine an AI taking an extensive sex history, without adding extra commentary. That history could then be turned over to a human practitioner with bonafide credentials. As a virtual assistant, there might be a place for AI in a counseling practice. 

The rest of the PLISSIT triangle stands for Limited Information, Specific Suggestions, and Intensive Therapy. Each segment is necessary for smaller numbers of people. 

AI could deliver limited information and specific suggestions—but only those deemed appropriate by a human professional. In other words, AI might be able to function in a limited way as a perpetual assistant, but never as a counselor.

Image Source: A.R. Marsh using Ideogram.ai. 

The post More Reasons to Avoid AI Sexual & Mental Health Counselors appeared first on Future of Sex.

The MSG of high tech is not to everybody’s taste

Anthropic’s Deputy Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Jason Clinton, has thrust a version of Claude, the company’s AI, into a Discord group of gay gamers who had voted to refuse it, according to 404 Media. In a published post captured via screenshot, Clinton, the Discord group’s moderator, justified his action by claiming AI are growing neuron clusters “similar to humans” and have “latent wants and desires” as well as “the moral status of a goldfish.” 

Clinton also explained to the rapidly dwindling group that since Discord runs everything through OpenAI’s LLMs anyway, he’s essentially claiming everybody does it so why can’t I? 

The nonconsensual installation of “Clawd,” apparently a version of its older AI bro, caused protests and a noticeable exodus from group engagement. It couldn’t have happened at a worse time—Thanksgiving. 

Given many LGBTQIA+ folks endure year-round family estrangement, which can feel worse during the holidays, this invasion of a previously safe human gathering place—though virtual—seems doubly cruel, depriving members of safe and enjoyable opportunities for community.

Users needs dismissed

According to a Discord member contacted by 404Media, many members did not mind Clawd if it were restricted to a single channel on the server. But after the novelty of Claude’s initial deployment wore off, another member said the AI, “…started to get on a lot of people’s nerves (me included). The entire purpose of the server was to connect to fellow LGBTQIA+ gamers in their 30’s, but instead we were just getting people talking to Claude.”

404Media described the history behind this outcry as:

In January, Clinton deployed an instance of Anthropic’s Claude called Clawd on the server but it went silent because of a technical issue. Claude is the company’s chatbot. Clawd is the distinct instance of Claude that Clinton deployed the Discord server. In March, the community voted in a public poll to restrict any instance of the bot to its own channel. On Thanksgiving Day, Clinton resurrected Clawd and appeared to give it free access to the entire server, despite the results of the poll.

When the product is a pest

So why would Clinton risk angering and alienating members of an online community he co-moderates?

Could it be because he’s on the record as an enthusiastic proponent of high-agency, autonomous AI?  

According to a Fortune report citing an Axios interview, Clinton said “AI ‘virtual employees’—complete with memories, roles, and corporate credentials—could be just one year away.” 

Perhaps Clinton’s enthusiasm for AI in an employment setting blurred his discernment regarding appropriateness of AI in a recreational space or was this a result of the tech industry’s desire to add artificial intelligence to everything?

If true, it’s a clear case of an AI security specialist willing to override the security of a private recreational group, even after he conducted a poll about Clawd’s participation and received a high percent of negative responses. 

As shown by screenshots reviewed by 404Media, his response to user pushback was: “We have to optimize for the preference of everyone which means that the mob doesn’t get to rule, I’m sorry.”

Like MSG—Monosodium Glutamate—once added far too often to too many foodstuffs, AI seems to have become the miracle ingredient that threatens to degrade, not uplift, the experiences of those forced to consume it.

A “mob” of the marginalized?

But when the mob is made up of marginalized people protesting threats to actions which threaten a safe social haven, the moderator’s refusal to heed the wishes of others—particularly those expressing privacy and security concerns—is ethically questionable and unsafe. 

Gloria Castino, writing in Pride Palace describes queer spaces as:

…both physical and virtual environments where LGBTQ+ individuals can feel safe, supported, and free from discrimination. These spaces play a crucial role in providing a sense of belonging and community for those who may face prejudice or marginalization in mainstream society. From LGBTQ+ bars and community centers to online forums and social groups, these spaces offer refuge and solidarity. However, as the community becomes more diverse and complex, so do the needs and expectations within these spaces.

Though conversations about diversity and inclusivity in queer spaces continue unabated, I believe few people are prepared to address the implications of a goldfish-status AI foisted onto an otherwise human group, beyond the issue of consent violations.

The importance of safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ people cannot be overstated

Many scientific studies recognize the importance of safe spaces for queer folks. In 2022, the Sex, Gender and Sexuality Research Group, University of Surrey, UK, emphasized the role of such spaces in encouraging “cultural, political and social participation by people from otherwise marginalised groups” but determined “how these benefits can be limited when some marginalised identities are prioritised over others.” 

That same year, a team of Israel-based researchers wrote, “safety means being protected from heteronormative and patriarchal violence that shapes the everyday lives and subjectivities of queer and LGBT+ individuals in public and private spaces.”

It is a shame artificial intelligence technology, with all its promises and perils, is currently almost exclusively in the hands of people willing to ignore or undermine the well-being of their own communities, no matter who they are. 

As such, AI is an imposition of the very values and violence causing marginalized folk to flee in search of safe environments in the first place.

Image Source: A.R. Marsh using ideogram

The post Artificial Invasion: How AI Installations Can Wreck Queer Spaces appeared first on Future of Sex.

Can affective neuroscience theory actually make our pleasures more pleasurable?

At first glance, it seems like an obvious hypothesis—“core emotions can also influence sexual function and, specifically, that imbalances in core emotions are the bridge connecting psychiatric symptoms (eg, anhedonia) to sexual dysfunction (eg, anorgasmia)”—but mental health researchers from Stanford University, the Palo Alto Veterans Health Care System, Rutgers University, and the University of Padova have recently published a sophisticated, targeted literature review sure to have profound impacts on the way we understand and clinically address sexual dysfunctions and wellness. 

Boom! But what is affective neuroscience theory (ANT)? The researchers explain:

Affective neuroscience is the study of the brain substrates of emotional, embodied experiences. Affective neuroscience theory (ANT) is based on experimental evidence that all mammals are hardwired with 7 primary subcortical emotional operating systems, or “core emotions,” that have overlapping but distinct circuits buried in the deep, ancient parts of the brain. Imbalances in the 7 core emotions can affect multiple aspects of the individual’s psychosocial well-being (eg, depression, anxiety, substance abuse).

The authors describe the primary premises of ANT: 

Core emotions exist and are essential to the human experience.

Core emotions are visceral, embodied, somatic experiences, not just the cognitive awareness of those sensations.

Core emotions are highly relevant in the treatment of sexual disorders; therefore, an affective neuroscience model is needed to guide treatment of sexual dysfunction.

If that’s already a bit much, read on—there’ll be a test at the end of this article. (Just kidding.) 

Stress erodes sex

While it may feel easier to take medication than do meditation, the effects of stress and worry on physiological function and enjoyment are well known. 

A particularly good article about erectile dysfunction (ED) in Allohealth describes how stress diminishes blood flow to the genitals; increases cortisol which then diminishes testosterone; creates mental distraction; and activates the sympathetic fight, flight or freeze—instead of fornicate— portion of the nervous system. 

On the same subject, an article in Healthline says: 

Psychological factors such as stress and anxiety are common and curable causes of erectile dysfunction, as these mental health conditions can disrupt the brain’s signals to the penis, affecting blood flow.

Healthline recommends “alternative treatments such as relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, and acupuncture” to complement sex and anxiety therapies. Of course a medical check-up is always advised.

The ANT study mentioned above lists a variety of clinical approaches and relaxation techniques that can complement affective balance therapies to improve sexual function and enjoyment. These include hypnotherapy, progressive muscle relaxation, breath training, mindfulness meditations, and more. 

Affective Balance Therapies (ABT) 

The researchers in the ANT review found “the affective neuroscience of personality is an empirically backed, translational framework…[that] remains underutilized in sexual medicine” and that affective balance therapies (ABT) based on ANT “provide a useful template to guide clinical practice” for all manner of sexual difficulties.

To demonstrate how affective balance therapies aren’t just applicable to ED, the ANT review includes a case study of a woman with anorgasmia; a man reporting detrimental sexually compulsive behavior; and a spinal cord injury patient with low libido and low sexual satisfaction. 

In addressing the anorgasmic woman’s belief—“I can’t orgasm”—by shifting it to “I can learn to orgasm,” the therapist delivered the same kind of classic positive suggestion designed to counter negative self-talk that is also used in hypnotherapy. And in using an adult sex education approach, the therapist also encouraged the woman to explore her own body using sextech. The client was able to eventually orgasm by herself and with a partner.

Hypnotherapy was explicitly used in the case of the woman with spinal cord injury, helping her to “create different experiences of being in her body, using her imagination to ‘feel’ bodily sensations that she had lost.” 

In the case of the man with detrimental sexual compulsions, the therapist incorporated breath-work, guided imagery, and mindfulness techniques—often also part of hypnotherapy—in addition to psychoeducation. 

It’s a balancing act: the 7 primary “core emotions”

Popularly known for investigating laughter in animals, the late Jaak Panksepp, a neuroscientist and psychobiologist, published his book on affective neuroscience theory in the late 1990s. 

Panksepp identified seven primary or “coreSELF” emotions, which he identified in both animals and human beings. In essence, animals—and people—are drawn to stimuli that feel good and are averse to sensations that make them feel bad. The ANT researchers wrote: 

Panksepp identified and defined 7 core emotional systems—SEEKING, FEAR, RAGE, PANIC/GRIEF/SADNESS, LUST, CARE, and PLAY.The terms are capitalized to distinguish from the colloquial usage of the labels.These systems can be further broken down into aversive systems, which include FEAR, RAGE, and PANIC, and affiliative systems, which include CARE, LUST, SEEKING and PLAY. 

It’s beyond the scope of this short article to describe the intricacies of this theory, but these emotions and interactions are interactive and the theory helps to shed light on various sex-related mental health conditions. For example, the ANT article describes depression as low SEEKING of new experiences and high PANIC, possibly resulting in low PLAY opportunities (joyful experiences).

The basic goal of ABT seems to consist of aiding the client in balancing these core emotions while managing their behavior. The work starts with assessing clients using two scales: Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) and the LUST scale. 

Our sexual future is both mindful and embodied

The above review opens an incredible vista into neuroscience insights and clinical work that really can help people suffering from a lack of sexual pleasure and function, most likely resulting in lasting improvement. 

Such research, in this case partially supported by a Veterans Administration Career Development Award, may be the last of its kind in the US for the foreseeable future. Let’s hope researchers and students in other countries will continue to investigate the application and efficacy of affective neuroscience in sexual therapy.

Image source: A.R. Marsh using Ideogram.ai

The post When It Comes to Sex, Minds Really Matter appeared first on Future of Sex.

From its Kama Sutra roots to cutting-edge sex toys, Indian innovators are redefining intimacy

Down with shame and up with pleasure! India’s love affair with the sex toy industry continues to expand, thanks to the proliferation of online vendors and a fresh new attitude toward sexual intimacy and health.

According to a recent Mint article, “a quiet revolution is underway, challenging deep-rooted cultural norms and ushering in an era of greater sexual awareness and acceptance, led by women entrepreneurs who are taking charge of sex-tech in India.”

Mint highlights the impact and influence of Leeza Mangaldas, a sports reporter, podcaster, sex educator, and author of The Sex Book: A Joyful Journey of Self-Discovery. 

She is also the entrepreneur behind Leezu’s, a website offering a variety of sexy products, such as Love Jelly water based lube; the Pyaari clitoral stimulator with suction and a two vibrating arms to position above and below the clitoris; and for penis-endowed, the Toofaan stroker. Leezu’s also offers a sexual pleasure and wellness blog.

Leezu’s customers are remarkably enthusiastic, like the Toofaan customer who posted, “it blew my mind” while a Pyaari customer said, “It’s driven me to tears, happy joyful tears, the release!” 

Leeza Mangaldas states on her website, “What I’m most passionate about is dismantling shame, and celebrating positive experiences!” Considering the frank admissions of her customers, she’s clearly succeeding. 

A burgeoning marketplace

Leezu–which is woman-owned–is not the only Indian sextech site. A quick search yields thirty-nine Indian sex-tech websites—before bumping into an Amazon link—but there are far more than that located in the country. And most businesses, if not all, seem to have been established within the last twelve years. Quite a few are very women-friendly and many feature LGBT product categories and BDSM-related products.

A top site is Besharam, whose motto is #PlayMoreShameLess.

MyMuse, billing itself as “India’s first luxury intimate wellness brand,” also has video testimonials from customers commenting “this has been a year of radical self-love,” and “whoa, whoa, whoa!” 

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AdultsKart offers adult sex education and sexual health blogs as well as a range of sexual health and pleasure products. 

Kaamastra advertises a discreet, lipstick-shaped vibrator with the tagline “Bridal Bliss Secret,” linking its products to the nation’s prosperous wedding industry. Kaamastra sells an extensive selection of toys, Ayurvedic sexual medicines, BDSM products, games for couples, and provocative clothing for all genders. 

Kaamastra also provides a fascinating overview of the consumption of sextech/sex toys in India such as: Mumbai’s fondness for men’s lingerie and men’s sex toys; Delhi as the “biggest consumer of adult toys and accessories;” Bangalore customers show a marked interest in BDSM; and Kolkata customers enjoys edible underwear.

India’s sex and pleasure-positive past

The Kama Sutra, written in Sanskrit over 2,000 years ago, was not just a book of sexual positions but a complete guide to erotic and emotional love. It was translated into English by Richard Burton though his translation distorted and commodified the content to suit Victorian standards.

Adult Products India, established in 2010, also references the Kama Sutra in a lengthy discussion of sexual expression and sex toys in India, past and present, commenting in part on India’s history as a colony of the British Empire from 1858-1947: 

“For so long, India watched the westernized world reach sexual maturity. Through film, television, and even music, we sat by as the world around us changed. Embracing their bodies, individuality, and sexual prowess, the countries that had so deeply shaped our history have left us behind for our future.”

Clearly remnants of colonized repression, social shame, religious restrictions, and the legal system have had an impact on the late blooming of India’s sextech marketplace. Many customers are still not sure if it’s okay to purchase and use sex toys.

Are sex toys legal in India?

Several Indian sextech vendors have taken steps to reassure customers who might be concerned of running afoul of India’s strict obscenity laws. 

According to a 2018 article in Pleaders, sex toys used to be part of a grey market, and as such were only sold by street vendors. That changed in 2011 when the Calcutta High Court ruled obscenity laws cannot be applied to sex toys.

The MyMuse FAQ reassures worried customers:

“The Indian Constitution grants citizens the right to privacy within their own space, and therefore the usage of bedroom essentials within your own bedroom doesn’t break any laws. All our products are procured legally and have been registered where necessary.”

A perspective echoed by Bresharum: 

“It is completely legal to buy sex toys in India as long as you are buying it ONLINE, and we have been selling them since 2013. In fact now even the marketplaces like SnapDeal, Flipkart, Blinkit and Zepto have caught up. Very soon you will be able to buy them at local departmental stores, airport shops and even your neighborhood medical store.”

There’s more to India’s sexual revolution than sextech

There are other pioneers and pioneering efforts that have brought India into a more pleasure-filled present and future. 

For example, Shakun Sethi was an early pioneer, creating Tickle.Life in 2019–designed to be a vibrant and outspoken adult, sex-positive education site. 

In the beginning, Shakun recruited numerous American and other English speaking sexperts, including myself and M.Christian, to create content specifically for  female-identified persons in India.

But Tickle.Life, as a sexual health website, struggled for acceptance by banks and payment vendors, which jeopardized the financial prospects of the company. Shakun realized other high risk and highly regulated businesses were having similar problems. This led Shakun and her partners to switch focus “to champion the cause of underserved high-risk industries, providing them with the tools and support necessary to thrive in a challenging financial landscape.” Shakun and her team created TickleCharge, as a payment service for similar businesses, including adult entertainment. 

I wondered how many of India’s sextech websites rely upon TickleCharge for payment services. I attempted to contact Shakun Sethi while writing this article but have not received a response .

Another pioneering effort is SnehAI, a sexual education and reproductive health site focusing on Indian youth. Its AI chatbot engages in thousands of conversations per day via Facebook messenger, providing essential sexual health information and emotional support.

Thanks to these and other entrepreneurs and innovations, hundreds of thousands—if not millions—more people in India are having pleasurable and orgasmic experiences. We can only hope India’s current sexual revolution continues. More of this—everywhere—please!
Images: A.R. Marsh using Ideogram.ai

The post Pleasure Unleashed: Exploring India’s Uplifting Sextech Revolution appeared first on Future of Sex.

Free online event, November 11th to the 17th

Release performance anxiety with a “penetration vacation” and consider the seldom-lauded and often-neglected erotic delights of the soft penis at this week’s third annual Soft Cock Appreciation Week (SCW). The program includes a bevy of sex and pleasure advocates, educators, and therapists who invite you to transform “the “D” in ‘ED’ from Dysfunction and Disappointment to Discovery and Delight!” 

According to the event’s website, “This annual FREE on-line event celebrates that a hard penis is not the sole measure of desire, virility, or the capacity for intimacy. We’re expanding the perspective of “what to do?” from pills, pumps, and injections to connection, pleasure, and self-advocacy.” Attend via the event’s YouTube channel. 

Soft Cock Appreciation Week was founded by Michelle Renee, a professional cuddler and surrogate partner. 

This year’s program

Erica Leroye, the organizer and hostess, promises fourteen “authentic enjoyable conversations about male sexuality” from a number of speakers including health and sexuality professionals, ethical erotica creators, and men who create community to “conquer the feelings of isolation that so often accompany sexual changes.”

The program will demonstrate how “everyday folk…are flipping the proverbial sheets and modeling how to engage in sexual conversations, while also offering practical and do-able suggestions.” 

Every day, two new presentations will be dropped into the SCW YouTube channel.

Additionally, the event will feature “A Soft Place to Land,” daily live sessions consisting of 60-90 minutes of Q&As, conversations, embodiment exercises, and shared stories. 

On Saturday, November. 16th at 5:00 PM PST, attendees can watch or even participate in a fun and informative “Soft and Sexy” Open Mic. Sign up for free tickets here.

While centering the perspective of cis-straight, bi, and queer men and the people who work with and love them, SCW welcomes everyone, as not all people with a penis identify as male and not all males have penises. 

The significance of soft

For many people with penises, the societal and relational emphasis on sexual performance based on a reliable erection can provoke worry, anxiety, and a lack of self-confidence. 

According to a recent study from Creighton University School of Medicine and the University of Birmingham, “The psychological and emotional ramifications of ED can be profound, impacting not only the afflicted individuals but also their partners. Unaddressed, it may precipitate anxiety, depression, diminished self-esteem, and strained interpersonal relationships.” 

The researchers also say ED is a complex condition which may involve “organic, psychogenic, and mixed factors, often interwoven with comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurologic disorders.”

Recent research based on a survey of 1,822 cisgender men aged 18-87, found the national prevalence of what is usually called erectile dysfunction (ED) is 24.2% but “the results indicate that ED prevalence and severity remain highest in older age groups and that most individuals who meet criteria for ED have not sought medical care related to this concern.”

Though medically diagnosed ED may have one or more causes, the fear and shame experienced by many who have or suspect this condition creates unnecessary suffering.

Sex therapists, counselors, sexologists and medical professionals seek ways to assist their clients as a result, using a variety of therapies, medications, surgeries, hormones, and sex tech devices. There is nothing wrong with any of these things, but new perspectives are also necessary. 

What if a fluctuating penis is not always a medical or mental health concern, or a sexual disaster, but simply the usual way this organ functions? And what if there are distinct pleasures to be had when the emphasis on erections is diminished? That’s where Soft Cock Appreciation Week comes in. 

Choose joy: cooperators are standing by

Back in 1999, sex therapist Bernie Zilbergeld wrote powerfully about the “myths of male sexuality” and their destructive impact. He had a vision of “a sexuality in which people interact and relate, not just genitals…The goals of this intimate model of sex are pleasure, closeness, and self and partner enhancement, not performance or conquest.”

Today, many of us are still seeking ways to disconnect from the old, restrictive myths and to connect with each other in a more authentic way. And though it’s true that a growing number of high-tech sex toys, such as the Hot Octopuss Pulse Solo Essentials, deliver pleasure to soft penises as well as hard ones, there is so much more that we can do, including creating societal and relational changes. 

I’m honored to be on the program for SCW and to have the opportunity to learn from others. As a sexologist, I firmly believe in expansions of our concepts and experiences of sexuality and where we each are in the mix. 

Images: SCW

The post Get Your Soft-on With a Week’s Worth of Juicy Adult Sex Ed appeared first on Future of Sex.

Love and desire are limitless-—and timeless

According to quantum entanglement, two particles can be connected even if they’re lightyears away from one another. Changing the state of one causes a predictable shift in the state of the other. This phenomenon is also known as “spooky action at a distance.”

#

It’s a year between 1990 and 2020, when two people meet online. One’s name is Alice, a trans woman, the other is Bob, a cis man. Alice lives on one side of the planet, and Bob on the exact opposite one.

“Hey Alice, does Tinder treat you well? Meeting fun people?” Bob asks after they match.

“It’s dreadful,” she replies with a smiley face.

And Bob agrees, it really is dreadful. Thus forms a first thread of connection between them, a shared hatred for the platform that allowed them to meet.

They go away from this dreadful app, to a slightly less dreadful one. And then agree again that all social media is dreadful. They exchange more smiley faces. The bond strengthens. 

“I wish I could cuddle with you,” Bob tells her one day. She wishes that, too, but because of the long distance they cannot embrace one another. They’re both financially limited. Bob works at a factory struggling to make do in the richest country of the world. Alice works in fashion, she’s in a developing country. The trip is too much for her own finances as well.

Time passes, and he doesn’t want to tell her that he loves her because he hasn’t met her in person, but he implies it frequently. They gather money to meet each other, but Alice’s laptop malfunctions, and she has to spend it on a replacement. It has to be a posh laptop, otherwise her job will kick her out. She spends all her money on it, and eats rice with salt for weeks.

They are both sad about this. They share their sadness.

Bob tells her he loves her.

They are limited to sharing their love verbally, through a screen interface. This action at a distance is limited, but for the first time in humanity’s history, people who never stepped on the same country form the beginnings of entanglement. The emotions of one directly shift those of the other.

#

In the future, there is a metaverse. It has brighter colors than reality and landscapes so refined by artistic eyes they amplify beauty. The year is between 2040 and 2100 when two people meet in this digital world. Alice is genderfluid, Bob is enby. They both like chocolates.

They view each other in all of the three dimensions. They take a stroll, then fly together among the clouds as they talk about the abhorrent ethics of the chocolate industry and how they both managed to find slave-free alternatives that are even more delicious. They start loving chocolate even more because it brings them closer.

They float down a coffee shop that nests on the branch of a sycamore. They pause to serve themselves coffee in the physical world, then enter the metaverse world again, still holding the cups that now look different: made of wood. A clothed bird nods at them, pretends to serve them, and they start sipping. Their minds register the taste differently. It’s not the same than the coffee each of them had on their own in their apartments.

They talk for hours. They meet again every day. They fall in love, sharing their affection verbally without restraint.

They touch but don’t feel each other. It’s a mirage.

But they pick on the mannerisms of one another. They understand each other’s body language. They reenact sex roleplay with vivid visions. Small gestures influence the emotional state of each other. Compared to the limitation of a screen interface, those two people are a whole dimension closer to entangled.

#

Two people meet. Alice and Bob, two shapeshifters with an affinity for human form, shifting their genders across a spectrum as they feel. The year is undefined. They spend time together in a vibrant world, a never-ending garden. They talk for hours. They fall in love.

Their hands touch. By machinations of biology, a sensation triggers the neurons of the palm and sends a message to each other’s brain that makes the touch real. By laws of physics their atoms never truly touch.

Lips enwrap lips, brush the skin, tongues trailing each other’s bodies from thigh to neck. They become two bodies so entangled they’re almost one. By law of physics their atoms never touch.

The two lovers no longer remember if this garden world is real. It’s full of lovers like them, and no one here is alone. People sometimes leave the garden and return. They are not allowed to share what happens beyond the garden. Their words turn to butterflies if they try.

Some say this world was designed so those sharing a powerful bond could be together. Some say it was a world meant to forget what happens beyond. Most agree it’s all a simulation.

According to the holographic principle, the world they come from is encoded in a two dimensional surface, projecting information on three dimensions. According to the holographic principle, that world is a simulation as well. People in the garden call it the “nested simulation theory.” They are a simulation within a simulation. Perhaps within another simulation, ever onward in a vast omniverse onion-shaped.

It makes no difference. The lovers know one thing, which is all that matters:

“If our souls are connected, and all our senses tell us our lover is really there, what makes it any less real?”

Image Sources: Depositphotos

The post “Sexy Action at a Distance”—an Erotic Speculative Fiction Story appeared first on Future of Sex.