Recently - I’ve found myself discussing the topic of body counts with tons of people in real life and on the bird app, and I realized it’s about time I did a deep dive on this subject.
As all of you know, the topic of body counts is such a controversial topic.
In fact, some of the wildest takes I’ve seen in the RP Community/Manosphere revolve around the concept of body counts.
The same guys that tell you that you’re not man enough if you aren’t fucking hundreds of women, are the same dudes that tell you that any woman that is not a virgin is an unforgivable WHORE.
Dudes telling you it’s haram for women to be attracted to other men are telling you that it’s fine for men to have multiple women.
The double standards are overwhelming, and it’s time we discussed this from an honest place that involves nuance.
Social and Cultural Perspectives on Body Counts
It's obvious that our perspectives on body counts are massively shaped by the society and culture we're part of. Across the globe, diverse cultural norms and societal standards have created an array of views on this delicate subject. For some, the notion of body counts is non-existent or trivial; for others, it's deeply rooted in societal structures, religious principles, or moral codes.
Take traditional societies, like the Middle East or Asia, where cultural norms often link sexual experiences to moral purity. In many such societies, high body counts can be stigmatized and attached to character judgments. In some extreme cases, body counts can even determine a person's social standing or their perceived 'worth' as a partner.
On the flip side, you've got more liberal societies, like in the West, that embrace sexual freedom and individuality. Here, a person's body count is seen as their own business – a personal matter not up for public debate or judgment. Sex is considered an aspect of personal expression, and one's number of partners, a result of personal choice.
Of course, this is a little reductionist, since our world is very interconnected, and over time through the growth of technology, ideas and values change constantly. Traditional societies can harbor progressive pockets, while liberal societies can still struggle with deep-seated prejudices and judgments.
On top of that is the topic of religion, which adds another layer of complexity. Depending on the doctrine, religious beliefs can greatly influence one's views on body counts, shaping perceptions of sexual behavior and 'acceptability'.
Christianity and Islam have similar perspective on this topic, and although I’m not an expert on the subject, my impression is that eastern religions might not emphasize this as much.
A special note should be made about how different religions like Islam and Mormonism historically permit polygamy, which goes to show not all religions see things the same way.
Realize that these perspectives are also modern interpretations of the concept, and that cultural values have varied over time as well.
Our views are a result of cultural conditioning and personal beliefs, often more complex than we'd like to admit. Most of the time, they are deeply personal, and what makes sense for you may not make sense for somebody else.
That is fine.
Using nuance, I suggest you develop your own perspectives based on how you want to live your life, and then forget all of the other noise.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Love and Lust to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.