The Terms:

Some terminology first: Celibates choose to live a life without sex. Usually ever. Abstinents are waiting for The Man They Will Marry, and refuse to date vicariously. Born-again virgins, the most popular of the movement, differ from abstinents in the way that they want a very serious relationship but on their terms only.

Why Revirginize?

The arguments for re-virginizing are compelling and slightly convincing. The women doing this aren’t using it as an excuse of why they’re single. They’re not frumpy un-datables. These are attractive women with healthy incomes that want to get rid of the distraction of sex, to focus on other things. Work. Emotional focus (especially after a bad relationship). Simply tired of the dating scene and the meaningless sex that’s involved. STDs have also had a hand in helping women just say no. The descriptions of women who don’t- ‘tease,’ ‘prude,’ ‘frigid,’ are no longer applicable today. Obviously, it doesn’t apply to the majority of women- but the numbers are steadily increasing.

Dating in the Future:

What does this mean for men? For the serial daters and womanizers out there, a smaller playing field. Or a less palatable one. By making this choice, it could very well be that men will soon be desperately seeking any Susan to date. Are men are partially to blame? The stigma of being a tramp if you put out has been dampened, but not fully. Ironically, the main group of women that are vehemently against the born-again virgins are the feminists. They believe women should celebrate their sexuality as an empowerment tool. As for the argument it’s natural, celibates reply it’s not- and it’s unnecessary. That raging hormones don’t make the man, choices do. It could also modify the dating arena in the way that dating itself is seen as a serious commitment.

I find it a little charming that women are going back to the days of holding out for a ring, or admirable that it’s a complete focus of women on themselves, rather than ranting about the latest man-tragedy. It’s refreshing. It’s also something I don’t plan on doing anytime soon. I wouldn’t want to re-write my past, present or future- intellectually, emotionally or sexually. But then again, looking at renewed virginity, there’s twice in a lifetime to change my mind.

Naysayers call it ‘blogging on amphetamines,’ but there are some benefits.  Staying in touch with and meeting people seems to rank highest on the list.  In other words, you’re never alone nor are you lonely.  While a lot of social sites are good for daily contact, Twitter is minute-by-minute.  For relationships, it’s a way to spend consistent time with your love when you’re apart.  With a new romance, it’s similar to speed dating, but sped up.  In business, those that Twitter have an edge on those who don’t.  Bloggers report an increase in visits, since the Twitter messages are so short,  leaving readers curious for more information.

There are many advocates for Twitter, but the drawbacks are plenty.  Yes, you might actually stay in touch with your family on a more regular basis, but you can also find yourself suffering from cravings or depression if no one contacts you.  Twitter addiction could destroy your relationship.  Look at Jen Aniston and Jon Mayer.  How romantic, going on a date with someone who’s describing their feelings to the world, instead of telling the person across from them.  That lack of personal connection increases the chances of a break-up.

How is this affecting communication?  Compiling all of your thoughts into 140 symbols, every time you think, is good for self-expression.  Sacrificing your realities, however, into sound-bytes isn’t.  As if we weren’t dumbed down enough by abbreviations and lack of real contact, we have less space and time.  There’s also the fact that social networking sites were already hotbeds for opening the cheating door.  Twitter doubles the speed, doubles the fun.  It allows for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it transgression.  And don’t forget that the details can be publicized after, to entire communities of people.  Quadrupled humiliation in a fraction of a moment.

Twitter might be the little black dress of gadgetry at the moment, but it won’t be long before someone comes up with even shorter, faster communication.  Perhaps one day soon it’ll be the freshest, hottest trend to just send electronic grunts, reverting back to caveman speech.  Via technology.