Degrading to who? If it's two people who want nothing more than sex then its simply mutual fulfillment.

As the old saying goes; 'women can fake orgasms, men can fake whole relationships'. I know plenty of men (and a few women) who have kept up the pretense of a relationship even though they wanted nothing more than sex.

I'm not anti-relationship (just very jaded about the subject), but surely its better for everyone concerned if they're honest about what they want? So long as nobody gets hurt its the perfect arrangement in my eyes.

Everyone would love that 'happily ever after' scenario, but lets face it; for most it'll never happen. We so easily fall into relationships because they're convenient at the time, then wonder why we're so unhappy a few weeks/months/years down the line. At least this way the easiest, most basic need is fulfilled, and who knows, it might even go the distance. It's not that uncommon.

(Just saw your last reply Cheeky before I hit the button, but I'll post anyway. I just want to make myself a bit clearer on this. I'm not having a go.)

hey chik... everyone to their own - I'm not judging anyone

All you can ask of a person when starting a casual sex relationship is that they enter into it with no ulterior motive. If people do find themselves emotionally attracted, mutually or otherwise, that's just life.
Relationships are not static. A sexual relationship can develop into an emotional one just as an emotional relationship can become purely sexual. There's no reason to go any further out of your way to try and avoid romantic involvment than with any other relationship, be it friendship, professional, or otherwise.
If you find yourself wanting a deeper relationship with someone in this situation you should just approach it as you would if sex wern't a factor. If they don't reciprocate your feelings, then you just move on. If the sex is a problem after this for you or the other person, end that relationship.

In short; keep an open mind to the possibilities in any relationship, but be sensible and realise that because someone's fucking you they are not obliged to become anything more.

Personally I couldn't share my body with someone I didn't love.

I think they can be good for satisfying some mutual needs and, as long as both of you are clear that it's just for fun and there is no further obligation/expectation, then you should go for it. If you're not able to separate sex from intimacy, though, it is best avoided.

(which I'm pretty sure is an echo of several posts above)

Rabbit is very good in paella. But they're also cute and fuzzy and pet-able.

i agree!

Some people (and it would appear to be the majority) can't separate sex from a relationship, and if you can't then you probably won't, nor should you (for your own sake), get involved in anything 'casual'. Thankfully there are people out there who can enjoy it for what it is.

People are very quick to take the moral high ground on this. The usual argument being that treating sex in such a 'casual' (I really hate that word in this context) manner somehow demeans the act, and that if there is no emotional basis the whole thing is a pale imitation of any sex you'd have in a relationship. In my experience this is about as wrong as you can possibly get.

For one, there is no arbitrary checklist that some apply to sex; you must wait x until you can do y, eg 'I'm no slut. Tits first' or 'I don't do that the first time.'. Really, if you want to sap every last ounce of passion and spontaneity out of the occasion then thats the way forward.

Secondly, it's not as sacred as everyone makes it out to be. See Jeremy Kyle and his menagerie of illegitimate scratchcard toting freaks for details. Sex can be special, but having someone suck you like a malfunctioning Dyson until you look like Sir Patrick Moore feels the same whether you love them or not.

The way I look at is that everyone has needs as far as sex is concerned. If you can at least fulfil the physical aspect then you're keeping yourself psychologically sound so that, should the situation arise, you can tackle the emotional aspect with a clear head and not make any rash decisions based purely out of desperation (or thinking with your reproductive organs) that will only hurt you (and them) in the long run.

In short; if we collectively took the stick out of our ass regarding the simple act of procreation then maybe we'd all be better off emotionally. But thats just me.

"The way I look at is that everyone has needs as far as sex is concerned. If you can at least fulfil the physical aspect then you're keeping yourself psychologically sound so that, should the situation arise, you can tackle the emotional aspect with a clear head and not make any rash decisions based purely out of desperation (or thinking with your reproductive organs) that will only hurt you (and them) in the long run".

I totally respect your point of view there, but I don't agree. A lot of people have religious reasons for abstaining, others have other non-religious reasons for abstaining. Whatever the reasons, a lot of people *choose* to abstain, either altogether or from 'casual encounters' and I think that is fine.
Nobody *needs* sex if they are not intending to procreate, biologically/scientifically speaking, so it's got to be a matter of desire and thought?
In response to your second sentence, I don't need sex to keep me psychologically sound!

Fair play to those that abstain, but in my experience piety is a poisoned chalice. Whether you're a believer or not. Use it or lose it imho.

(There are sound neurochemical reasons for maintaining a healthy sex life, but thats for another post.)

Wouldn't we be a bunch of boring old farts if we all agreed with everything all the time? heehee.

I would never deem to take the moral high ground, nor do I have a horse high or otherwise to get up on, but I used to be a sex health worker and i will say why i do not agree with casual sex.
Most people do not use condoms properly and the risk of disease is endless, and even when they *are* used properly....HIV, gonorrhea, herpes, crabs, unwanted pregnancy, chlamidia, Hep B, Hep C...and then there's oral sex.....herpes, gingivitis, Hep B, Hep C.....
The rate of heterosexuals contracting Hep B, Hep C and HIV is accelerating at an alarming rate in this country (HIV being mostly young girls aged 15-25) and so is unwanted pregnancies and abortions.
As I said, I am *not* on a crusade here, I totally respect that everyone has the right to be/do what they want - and take away the risk factors maybe I might not be so "anti" - it occurred to me my post here might be in the wrong place, although it is my opinion on the thread, but I am quite surprised that no one as yet has raised the topic of the risks involved.