Condoms You Scan to 'Check-In' During Sex Aren't as Wacky as They Sound
When people first started using Foursquare and Facebook to "check-in" (at the gym, at the library, at their own homes), I was baffled. Why would you want everyone -- perhaps even strangers -- knowing where you were? Now, I sort of get it (because I do use Foursquare to get coupons and it's fun to wrack up points). But does that mean I would ever want to "check-in" ... in bed??? Uh, no thanks! When and where I'm going for an O is my BF's and my biz, no one else's -- especially not an entire social network's!
But there are people who feel differently. Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest recently distributed 55K condoms with scannable QR-codes (barcodes). The idea is that you can scan the code on the condom wrapper with your smartphone and report the location of where you're having sex to wheredidyouwearit.com. It's supposed to be like "Foursquare for people who don't want STDs."
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Yes -- to clarify and paraphrase a Twitter trend -- this is real life.
As wacky and counterintuitive as it seems -- uh, doesn't checking in take the intimacy out of "getting intimate"??? -- it's caught on. People have already checked in from 48 states and six continents. Wow! The site also offers the option of rating the quality of your sexual encounter on a five-point scale (it starts at "Things can only improve from here" to "Ah-maz-ing -- Rainbows exploded and mountains trembled!").
I gotta say, I'm a little sad that something like this actually exists. To me, checking in after (or geeze, during?!) sex takes the idea of "social networking" too far. And how much of a turn-on is it really to look over and see your partner busily scanning his condoms? Also, couldn't this also backfire when some scumbag uses it to brag about the hook-up? Clearly, I would be completely opposed to the concept if it wasn't for just one thing ... If it means more people are having safe sex, well, then -- more power to 'em!
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And how's this for the icing: You can also check out an interactive map that pinpoints exactly where (down to the city and state at least) people are safely getting frisky. To some, this might be TMI ... To others, well, it's kinda hot, I guess. At the very least to know so many people are having sex -- safely!
What do you think about "checking in" when you have sex?
Written by Maressa Brown on CafeMom's blog, The Stir.
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