Quote:
Originally Posted by BiloxiCouple  How do you really know? |
Quote:
Originally Posted by JustAskJulie Exactly. Even if someone says they normally use protection, you don't really KNOW what they do. It is up to each of us to take responsibility for our own safety, you can't expect anyone else to do it for you. |
Exactly to both. I don't care how much you like other partners, how much you think you can trust someone or how much information you disclose to your partners - there is absolutely no guarantee than anyone is being 100% honest with you or is going to disclose their history and test results, etc., so that you can make an informed decision.
It's just easier to protect yourself - get the facts, mull those over and decide for yourself what your comfort level is, no matter what the end decision is.
I've figured out its a bit easier to require condoms for the time being, because I just can't trust the "I'm very selective" or the "I use condoms with everyone" rationales. Trusting that rationale is just asking to be burned because "selective" is subjective and "I use condoms with strangers or everyone" has great potential to be a big fat lie.
Could my particular stance change? Perhaps. At this point, I don't have a lot of faith in people or STD stats; I only have faith in myself and my particular safer sex practices are chosen in an attempt to be responsible to myself.