That was the title of a pamphlet distributed in New York 37 years ago. The epidemic in question had only recently been identified as a common epidemic, and the focus was on men getting it from men, but it didn’t take long to figure out what the virus that caused it was. No one bothers to ask how someone was identified, or, for that matter, what gender they were. I was a college student when the year 2000 came along. It changed the rest of my life in more ways than I can count. As we enter a new century, we face a new epidemic that is culturally different in many ways. However, concerns have already been raised about whether people are at higher risk of contracting the new coronavirus, and many are wondering whether the disease is also contagious. In general. Oh, Anthony Fauci is still here, trying to deal with the relentless disease and the government. What is clear so far is that Porn tube videos are not the main or only way we get infected through sex. Therefore, it is not a Porn tube transmitted disease in the usual sense. However, it does not allow us to escape the rules of social distancing when we take off our pants. First, I want to clarify this because it is a new disease, and we do not know everything yet. At this point, it does not seem to be blood-borne, like HIV or hepatitis. It is not assumed that it can be transmitted through the vaginal mucosa, for example. (Could it show up in bodily fluids? It probably is present in the stool of at least some coronavirus-infected people, so we may not be able to rule out the possibility that it’s present in other bodily fluids, but it’s not appropriate to say it could.) The primary transmission route of the virus is the same as its relative, the cold, and its more distant relative, the flu. It’s an upper respiratory tract illness that spreads through droplets that fly from the nose and mouth when sneezing, coughing, and even talking. But that means that the cold and flu could, in some sense, be considered common contagious diseases. It is tough to avoid contracting these viruses when having physical sex. In this way, you can be infected through sexual activity. (Masturbating together on opposite sides of the room? You could probably pass that on. As I write this, Health has come to the same conclusion! So first of all, no matter how upset you or your new online friend are (or your old sex friend or your spouse), if you have any upper respiratory symptoms or an elevated temperature, keep your pants and face mask on and stay at home or in a separate bedroom. Can you use internet-enabled toys with this person? In any case! Can you video chat, start the show, and tell them? Please do! Can you fantasize about them and watch yourself until you’re exhausted? Yes, you can! There are plenty of options to have fun… not just the option of meeting in person and breathing the same air. Oh, and what if they don’t have any of these symptoms? Could they still be carrying the coronavirus? A certain percentage of infected people are asymptomatic carriers. If you are not yet masturbating joyfully and unashamedly, I have some homework for you. Explore your arousal potential, figure out how you like to orgasm, buy a toy if you want to try and forget that lube doesn’t work. Then you have options: Get through your home quarantine like an excited introvert. Or: Wash your hands, get out the hand sanitizer (not to be confused with lube), stay at least 6 feet away from your new or existing partner, and put on a show. In other words, if you want to connect with another person, explore different levels of intimacy in ways that don’t involve direct physical contact. In all romantic/intimate/enthusiastic cases, talking, seeing, and being seen is safer than touching. This can be hard since, for many people, touching is practically synonymous with romance and romance. But think of it as a more personal or intimate creative practice. According to therapists (and psychologists like me), getting into this creative zone is also a way couples can avoid personal boredom. It’s also great for people dating or currently in a relationship, as it improves your communication and self-knowledge process, not to mention your ability to negotiate your boundaries and desires. If you haven’t had a chance to explain your boundaries (or even just understand them), this is your chance to practice this handy personal skill. So, regardless of your level of intimacy, I encourage you to move your communication into the digital and phone space. From getting-to-know-you conversations to Porn tube videos on phones and computers, technology offers us ways to curb isolation while staying safe. It also offers erotic options, like Porn tube toys (including those that can connect via Bluetooth), erotic stories, and masturbating together when we’re apart. Thinking about relationship spaces that don’t require intimacy or physical contact is a way to protect dates and significant others alike.
