Dogging craze sex disease risk

'Dogging' craze sex disease risk
The internet and text messaging are fuelling a practice which involves unprotected sex with strangers in public parks.

Health chiefs in Kent have taken to posting messages on sites promoting "dogging" - warning of a rise in sexually-transmitted diseases.

They say the craze may be partially responsible for rises in chlamydia, HIV, syphilis and hepatitis.

More than 20,000 people are registered with one UK "dogging" newsgroup.

Dogging is an extension of "swinging" parties - and involves exhibitionist sex in semi-secluded locations such as car parks or country parks.

The location of dogging "events" is now frequently advertised on websites or communicated via mobile phone text message.

Those attracted by these messages may simply act as voyeurs - or be invited to participate.

Disease rise

The NHS Health Promotion team covering the Medway area in Kent noticed that the number of cases of hepatitis rose towards the end of 2002, and some patients said they had probably contracted the illness as a result of dogging.

They decided to post messages on the dogging sites warning of the risks of unprotected sex.
We've talked to people who do this - they are having unprotected sex with nine or more people in a week
Dr Richard Byrne, Harper Adams University College

One reads: "Avoid the sex lottery for yourselves and your associates." It recommends NHS-sponsored safe sex websites.

One academic who has carried out a study into dogging suggests that modern technology is leading to a swift rise in the numbers taking part.

Dr Richard Byrne, from the Rural Affairs and Environment Group at Harper Adams University College in Newport, carried out a survey of country park rangers asking them about "anti-social behaviour" in their parks.

He expected their prime concern to be vandalism and fly-tipping, but found that many complained about the rise in the use of their park as a venue for sex.

He said: "One newsgroup about dogging has more than 22,000 registered users - and one we saw which set itself up only a few weeks ago already has almost 700.

"It's a nationwide activity and in the last four or five years it really has grown."

Many partners

He said that the health threat should not be underestimated: "We've talked to people who do this - they are having unprotected sex with nine or more people in a week.

"The issue of sexual health is a big one."

Legally, the issue of dogging is a grey area - "doggers" are committing no offence unless they are witnessed by a member of the public who can be defined as "outraged" in the eyes of the law.

A new sexual offences Bill currently moving through Parliament may give the police more options to tackle the issue, particularly if it takes place in a location where it is likely that an unwitting member of the public is likely to witness it.

However, ministers say it is not their intention to criminalise outdoor sex in a public place that is sufficiently isolated as to make witnessing unlikely.

And while voyeurism on unknowing subjects is likely to become an offence, if there is consent, there is no offence committed.

Other dangers

Dr Byrne said that because dogging operated at the "fringes of legality and social acceptability", those taking part were at risk.

He said: "There is the potential for younger and more vulnerable people to be drawn in - certainly there is heavy use of alcohol associated with these events, and there is anecdotal evidence of rohypnol (a "date-rape" drug).

"There are concerns that prostitutes will be drawn to areas where dogging is common, and that other types of crime will increase."

He said that, in country parks at least, changes to the design of car parks might help curb their use as venues.

However, he added: "You can't simply increase the amount of lighting - that just makes it easier to make videos or take pictures."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3119024.stm

I'm really shocked how short-sighted human behaviour can get.
Have they already forgotten about existence of HIV and hepatitis?
Africa will die out because of AIDS.Europe seems to ask for the same fate.

Looks like the time of worldwide epidemies is just behind the corner:
http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/wiadomosc.html?kat=1356&wid=9161293&rfbawp=1188434049.030&ticaid=145f2&_ticrsn=3

You just stereotyped what people say about Africa.
The whole of Africa is doing quite well, regardless of what they say.
Just take it for granted.

Doggism is sth different. It's not a worldwide problem we face. It's just people who do stupid things out of stupid reasons. They tried make it illegal, they failed, and say it's a worldwide problem. All of a sudden it became worldwide-like?

You want to say people lived in a blissful conviction all along the way?
They didn't know what's gonna to be? They did. Why didn't they do sth do tackle the problem? What could they do really? AIDS isn't just a problem.
When a kid takes his first spliff, you will can him?
WHat if they did this out of pure pleasure, sex ain't a crime?
It's hard to draw the line really, cuz you never know when it's the side you are free to cross or not.

Hard to say, eh? You gotta make it public to make it illegal. If it hasn't ever crossed the line, would it be legal? Or shall I say, illegal in a sense?

Long after would we go and nothing would happen to be what it seems. It only appears to be bad when wrongly used. What's that got to do with sex?
Is sex bad thing to do even in a park ? If so, why do we always say, that full of pleasure words every time we do it? :)

>Europe seems to ask for the same.
Oh really, so the UK ain't in Europe?
Interestingly, the UK is not only one place "doggers" are meeting. Notice! They are all over different places. They are noticed by those who look for them.
Why do they? Out of curiosity maybe? Or just to make sth controversial, what in their eyes appear to be.

If you don't wanna get into trouble don't peep-bo them, that's all.
You would probably never find out they do such things, but for one snooper or meddler who did that.

You know what-before you write something about epidemiology get some knowledge about it first.
Not based on your admiration of total sexual freedom but on scientifical research ok?
WHO statistics are avaiable on the net.Latest news about tropical diseases transmitted from animals to humans which are likley to reach the form which can be transmitted directly between humans as well.Asi will be a fertile source of such completely new virues within the next 15 years.Some of them will cause at least local epidemies.
I don't take anything for granted.
I know a lot about biology and the latest scientifical discoveries.
I know that in Africa more than a half of new born babies is infected with HIV, most of them will not live up till their 16 birthday.Majority of them doesn't have any close realtives.They live in villages of orphans, very often starving.
In some African countries people suffering from AIDS are being burried alive by their own families.
And honestly speaking-I've overestimated you.
Such way of thinking is extremly primitive.
HIV isn't the only problem we have.
Dogging and other forms of risky sexual behaviour will increase hepatitis infections first because this is the most commonly sexually transmitted virus.
It will also increase cases of cervix cancer and throat cancer among women (why to use condoms during oral sex? most people don't see the need).
We almost erased syphilis from Europe and now a lot of young women is UK is being diagnosed with this 15 years ago almost extinct disease.
I haven't said anything bad about sex in general, sexual initation,or masturbation. You mentioned very important problem of risky sexual behaviours.
Risky not from a sexual but from the medical point of view.
It's your private problem what you do.But promoting such behaviours as completely harmless fun for teens is just a hypocrisy.
Teens want to experiment with sex but don't care about using condoms.
And this is the problem.
As for taking pleasure in taking risk -this is nothing new or strange.
Some people do it due to defective dopamine receptors in brain.
The fact that it gives them pleasure doesn't make such behaviour less dangerous.
And read something about Africa because what wrote has nothing in common with reality.

correction :Asia not Asi will be a fertile source

What people can do? Educate other people, especially kids.
Vaccination isn't the best way of preventing a disease.The best is credible knowledge.
As for a source of credible knowledge about HIV, Africa, avian flu and other diseases you can read here:

http://www.who.int/en/

It is really good to think outside the box.
It pays off to verify your personal convictions and confront them with reality.
It makes human survival possible.
Fearless and arogant people usually die young.

You mentioned many important aspects about Africa, though you didn't take into consideration my words at all. I said that things in abstract. I knew things you were talking about, but now and again, Blighty ain't just one country people have sex. Africa ain't means to use condoms. That's the problem indeed. But it refers to their culture, rituals and many other things, not mentioned here.

Don't worry, I read loads of things, and have a smattering of what's new or recently appeared to be. Only to be in swing of news, is to google sth :D

Be up and keep things real. AIDS is as if a passe, no one spokes about it, cause everyone knows it exists. Since there's no cure for it, what preventive things would you advise, if they can't afford any?

Everyone has his liberty right - sex is the one among them.
I-was-overestimated-by-you? In what sense?

If you don't take anything for granted, then how come, you know Africa suffer such misery. Any ideas how to lift them out of such a hopleess plight?

Maybe you should try "doggism" to experience fuckin' intolarable behaviour of that sneaky snoopers, eh?

No wonder, people fight and pose threat to those who go too far. Mind your own buisness, one would say, and let's it be as it is.

Cheers.