Scott Alexander analyzes SSC survey data on sexual roles, finding strong gender and orientation influences, but no connection to self-sabotaging behaviors or altruism. Longer summary

Scott Alexander analyzes survey data on sexual roles (dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism) from the SSC survey. He initially hypothesizes a connection between sexual masochism and self-sabotaging behaviors but finds no evidence for this. The analysis reveals that BDSM preferences are heavily gendered and influenced by sexual orientation. Among straight cis men, factors like good social skills, high risk-taking, ambition, and conservative political values correlate with a preference for dominance. Submissive men reported lower sex drive and fewer relationships. The post also briefly touches on sadism vs. masochism, noting similar patterns to dominance vs. submission. Two mildly interesting findings are mentioned: men with OCD are less likely to be sadists, and men who grew up poor reported higher rates of sexual sadism. The data showed no connection between sexual roles and prosocial behaviors like charitable giving. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander uses survey data to challenge claims that polyamory leads to a few men monopolizing women, showing these criticisms don't match reality in practice. Longer summary

Scott Alexander addresses criticisms of polyamory from both conservative and pickup artist perspectives, which claim it leads to a few high-status men monopolizing women. Using survey data from the Less Wrong community, he shows these criticisms don't match reality. The data suggests poly women have more partners on average than poly men, and poly men are less likely to be single than monogamous men. Scott acknowledges potential biases in the data but argues it still contradicts the critics' theories. He invites critics to suggest what data would convince them in future surveys. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander explores the complex ethical and legal issues surrounding sexual consent for institutionalized and intellectually disabled individuals, arguing for a nuanced approach that balances protection and autonomy. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the complex issue of consent for institutionalized and intellectually disabled individuals, particularly regarding sexual activity. He explores the tension between protecting vulnerable people from abuse and respecting their autonomy and human desires. The post examines current practices in mental hospitals, long-term care facilities, and legal cases involving disabled individuals. Scott argues that while strict legal protections are necessary, there may be ethical grounds for a more nuanced approach in certain situations, allowing for non-verbal forms of consent and considering the overall well-being of the individuals involved. He critiques both overly restrictive policies and potentially exploitative ones, advocating for a careful, case-by-case consideration of these sensitive issues. Shorter summary

Ozy responds to Spandrell's article on sexual deviancy, refuting claims about homosexuality, female paraphilias, and transgender experiences. Longer summary

This post is a response to Spandrell's article on sexual deviancy. Ozy argues against Spandrell's points on homosexuality, female paraphilias, and transgender women. They discuss animal homosexuality, the role of environment in sexual orientation, women's tendency to underreport sexual behaviors, and the existence of female paraphilias in erotic literature. Ozy also critiques Spandrell's understanding of autogynephilia and transgender experiences, arguing that autogynephilia is simply ordinary female sexuality. The post ends with Ozy addressing Spandrell's misconceptions about their own gender identity and sexual preferences. Shorter summary

Ozy Frantz provides a detailed critique of common 'manosphere' beliefs, particularly those of blogger Heartiste, using scientific studies and logical arguments to counter claims about human sexuality and dating. Longer summary

This post is a detailed rebuttal of many common beliefs within the 'manosphere', particularly focusing on the blogger Heartiste. The author, Ozy Frantz, argues against Heartiste's views on human sexual interaction, beauty standards, gender differences, and dating strategies. They provide counterarguments supported by scientific studies and logical reasoning, addressing topics such as physical attractiveness, femininity, sluttiness, and 'game' techniques. The post also touches on issues of evolutionary psychology, societal norms, and the nature of human sexuality. Throughout, Ozy maintains a skeptical stance towards many manosphere claims while acknowledging some gender differences do exist. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander analyzes the complex relationship between contraception and abortion rates, concluding that in societies where contraceptives are already legal, increasing access likely decreases abortion rates. Longer summary

Scott Alexander examines the complex relationship between contraception use and abortion rates. He first presents arguments suggesting contraception might increase abortion rates, including the Peltzman effect where safety measures lead to riskier behavior. He then explores evidence that contraception decreases abortion rates, including historical data and controlled studies. Scott concludes that while legalizing contraceptives in a society might initially increase abortion rates as part of a broader cultural shift, in societies where contraceptives are already legal, increasing access likely decreases abortion rates. He especially emphasizes that highly effective contraceptives like implants or RISUG are very likely to reduce abortions when they replace less effective methods. Shorter summary