Ranking hanky panky

Recently this writer made passing reference to the latest “sex flap” involving respected people in high places and mentioned my avoiding public comment because Iris and I had differing view as to whether the men, or the women, are to blame.

Sex scandals seem to make more headlines these days, but my guess is these matters are getting increased exposure due to the wide use of computers making personal hanky panky details available to all ... players, media and the public. Just think what it would have been like if Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson had been sending e-mails?

During personal deliberations on the latest “shocking” social activity, it finally dawned on me there has been serious scientific research into the possibility such proclivity may be due to a physical/psychic disorder, i.e. “disease” — beyond control of the perpetrators. For example, digging into back files revealed press release info I had carefully reported on July 22, 1987:

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Professor Eli Coleman at the University of Minnesota says his research shows there are tens of thousands of people out there who crave sex so much they will jeopardize their jobs, reputations and families ... even risk their life to get a passionate fix. The often uncontrollable drive, he said, is linked to psychological factors as much as physical.

Another professor working on a treatment thinks at least one out of every 12 Americans may be adversely affected by the ailment which causes compulsive purple passion. He did not mention any names ... including presidential candidates.

At a recent conference in Minneapolis, attended by more than 250 sexologists and mental health experts, Dr. Coleman reported that researchers are working on a program for treating sex addiction. It may be the first of its kind and has already established a sexaholic anonymous organization for those needing help.

After reading about this, I couldn’t help wondering how big the guy is who keeps order at the meetings. Can you just imagine him banging the gavel and yelling, “Hey! You people in back there. We’ll get to you in a minute so just keep your pants on.”

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That’s what I wrote 25 years ago and had somehow forgotten. Because current schedule of activities create great demands upon my time, I’ve not brought myself up to date on the current scientific research on sex addiction.

I do know national television is running thousands of exotic ads, which hinder dedicated attempts to reduce the problem. One series of “medical drug” ads ends up showing a man and a woman outdoors in romantic places, side by side in old fashioned bath tubs, without their clothes on, holding hands and looking at the moon. How in the world can social scientists make gains against such brazen sex promotions?

Regular folks, as well as high-ranking politicians and generals, cannot be blamed for back-sliding in their sexaholic anonymous classes with that kind of stuff going on. All these facts prove neither Iris or I were right as too whether men or women cause hanky-panky problems. It’s neither.

Critics should quit giggling and join in developing a worldwide program for understanding and seeking ways to help the afflicted innocents.

G. George Ostrom is a national award-winning Hungry Horse News columnist. He lives in Kalispell.