Would you go to a club that required STD Testing

[VegasLee]

Would you attend a club that required everyone that came there to be STD tested and the results would be disclosed to the Owner/Manager of the club?

You would have to bare the expense of the test and you would have to be retested every 30 days.

[Chicup]

I voted no but it could be yes based on a few circumstances.

1. - If the people in the club were worth it.

If it was a club with 'real' swingers who we were attracted to as a whole, then it might be worth it. In that case the question would be 'Would you be willing to put up with STD testing for a really great club'. I'd vote yes there.

2. - If the testing was done on site. I'm just far to lazy to go every 30 days for an STD test, or anything like that.

[LikeMinds321]

Why? So that we can THINK we'd have less chance of getting cooties? So that we can FEEL better about fucking people because THE CLUB has now made our choices consist of a "cleaner lot" to choose from?

I can just see a club attendee getting a cootie from someone at the club and suing the club over it. The ole "I'm not responsible for myself" thing. People would think the club is somehow responsible for their health.

You could show me your clean test results acquired within the past thirty days but I have no idea who you fucked since getting the test. That's why this type of club would never make sense. It doesn't protect anyone. And I know you know that Lee. I think when people are new to swinging this type of club may sound comforting...like a security blanket...since STDs are usually a big fear for newbies, but a club like this would not be practical.

I can also see this type of club dividing swingers and getting few patrons.

LM

[SecretAsianMan]

I totally agree... it's a nice theory but totally impractical as a functional club (unless you somehow could monitor everyone's activities from the moment they took these tests 'til the time they walked into the door of the club)

[Chicup]

Originally Posted by LikeMinds321

You could show me your clean test results acquired within the past thirty days but I have no idea who you fucked since getting the test.

While I don't think a club like that could ever work, I can't say I agree with the logic here.

Any thinking person knows an STD test does not guarantee someone does not have an STD, but if you took a random group of people who never had an STD test and a group who had a clean STD test 30 days ago, which group would you say has a higher probability of having an STD?

[JustAskJulie]

My first thoughts pretty well echoed Chicup. I'd have to know in advance who else was gonna be there and know for a fact that they were worth the effort... and even then I'm not going to go out of my way (ie to the drs office) every month to get said test.

But, then LikeMinds321's post... well I have to agree with that as well.

[fun4Ds]

How much are we talking expence wise, for the test ?

[good times]

Well, since the cases where testing actually worked required 80-90% of the population effected to be tested for it to work, I would have to say, no, it wouldn't be worth the effort. Because even if one club in town decided to do it, it would still only be a very small segment of the swinging population in that town. So unless these club attendees decided they would play exclusively with people at that club, it would pretty much be a useless waste of time, in my opinion.

[LikeMinds321]

Originally Posted by Chicup

While I don't think a club like that could ever work, I can't say I agree with the logic here.

Any thinking person knows an STD test does not guarantee someone does not have an STD, but if you took a random group of people who never had an STD test and a group who had a clean STD test 30 days ago, which group would you say has a higher probability of having an STD?

The point I was trying to make is that club patrons who don't think may consider a policy like this one as a guarantee of safety.

You mention that "Any thinking person knows an STD test does not guarantee someone does not have an STD..." I see "thinking" is key here. Thinkers are aware of this and don't have to be told (by a club) to get tested if it's important to them. And if who they play with also needs to be tested, they can ask for the papers. But how many really do this?

I wouldn't want to be a club owner and have to tell my good buddy, who occasionally handles security for me, that I won't let him in tonight because he didn't get himself tested last month...

or maybe I'd say, "Just this once."

LM

[two4youinswva]

Tests? They said there wouldn't be any tests!


I don't know. I guess I would have to echo most of the other sentiments. If the members were players and not just watchers. If the testing was convenient, since I am a lazy bastard at times (well, not lazy, just preoccupied). If I got a free lollipop after getting tested, then yeah, we'd probably do that.

I think most would be interested in a club like this in theory. I just think the hassle of the testing logistics would create a big obstacle to success.

[jdavisauto]

No, I vote no. The club would not stay open for long. People are just not ready to take STD's test every 30 days just so they can go to a club. Even so what about the person you have sex with on day 5 or day 15? STD's are very low in swingers lifestyle, lower then they are anywhere else. No I could not belong to a club like that.

[Pepper & Drew]

I think the theory appeals to people, but the actual logistics are enough to render it not a good idea. When you think of the time and money to get the testing every 30 days, the club's administrative nightmare of keeping up with the information and checking ID's, and quite frankly, I'm not really sure I want a swinger club to have my medical information floating around somewhere, the idea loses its appeal pretty quickly.

I wouldn't go.

Pepper

[two4youinswva]

Originally Posted by Pepper & Drew

I'm not really sure I want a swinger club to have my medical information floating around somewhere, the idea loses its appeal pretty quickly.

Good point. I would imagine there may be some HIPAA considerations as well. That opens up a whole new angle on the whole concept.

[JustAskJulie]

Originally Posted by two4youinswva

Good point. I would imagine there may be some HIPAA considerations as well. That opens up a whole new angle on the whole concept.

When you consider that most don't even want a club to have their real name/ copy of their DL on file... I definately can't see them wanting a club to have medical info on file for them.

And LM (I think it was) had a great point as well... who's going to police the club owners and make sure that they are actually enforcing the rules on EVERYONE including themselves? Short of everyone walking around the club with their paper in hand there is still no real guarantee, not that there really is anyway.

I know I'm taking a risk, but I know the risk I'm taking. I tend to agree that those who believe that asking for tests from their play partners puts them at less risk are decieving themselves. Unless as someone pointed out EVERYONE who played got tested. But that's not going to happen, because even if there become some swinger union and everyone who went to a club had to get tested, there are many swingers who play outside of clubs or even who play with people who don't consider themselves swingers... or who pick up single guys at a vanilla bar, or whatever they choose to do. All of those others who were not in the "swinger union" would not be getting tested regularly, so all it takes is one couple to hook up with one of those and hit the club a few nights later before anything shows up on a test.

Then you go back to the fact that not all STDs can be tested for if there are not symptoms present and you have another conundrum.

Would it reduce risk, maybe? But only on a surface level. In the end I think it would provide too many people with a false sense of security.

[cplnuswing]

No, we wouldn't go. 1) We know what risks are involved and are comfortable with our approach in that regard. A 30 day old test that you are trusting someone else to administer and enforce the results of doesn't change anything on that. 2) Privacy issues. Don't like the drivers license stuff but can live with it. Medical information, no way. 3) Cost. If I am going to have to pay for it, why wouldn't I just go somewhere (dr office, clinic) that at least somewhat resolves issues 1 & 2.

When they get it down to you swipe your finger across a keypad and if you come back clean, the door buzzes and unlocks, fine. But, wouldn't be selecting for that club even then or trusting the handy STD finger scanner to keep me safe.