REVIEW: NET.SEX by Nancy Tamosaitis   Ziff Davis Press 1995

This title is a bit out of my normal area of review, but my contact at Ziff
Davis asked me to take a look at it.  I found it to be interesting and
somewhat informative on an aspect of Net life (and Net low-life!) that I 
have little familiarity with.  In my younger years I would have been 
eager to explore just about any avenue that might result in another fine 
sexual encounter with an attractive member of the opposite sex (my sexual 
orientation!) and have many fond memories of same. ;-)  Several years ago 
I came to the conclusion that any risk of contracting AIDS far outweighed 
the pleasures and joys of casual, recreational sex.  Fortunately I met 
and wed a fine young lady and so for me any question of extra-curricular 
sex is and hopefully will continue to be moot.

I browse some of the alt.sex.* newsgroups from time to time and the first 
thing that always comes to mind is: "How many of these posters are really 
what they claim to be?"    From what I've read browsing the various
sex and porno groups I've come to the conclusion that the intense heat of 
the flames, hatred, venom and sexual concepts as described in some of the 
exchanges often traverses my personal boundary of what I consider to be 
appropriate and in good taste for a publically accessed network.  This, and
the lack of interest in visiting the "under-belly" of the Internet are the 
main reasons I choose not to read the sexual newsgroups very often.  I'd 
prefer to walk down the streets in every German city where attractive young 
ladies display their "merchandise" seated in display windows (although not 
partake further of the "opportunities" for reasons enumerated earlier).  
As the popular song from a couple of decades ago goes: "Ain't nothing 
like the real thing!"  

Now for the book review:

There are a couple of sexual knowledge surveys to see what you don't
know about the subject.  I found this relatively boring.  However,
once past this the book got more interesting, exploring sociological 
and legal issues.  Next there are descriptions of the various sexually
oriented USENET newsgroups, excerpts from the FAQ and a list of articles
and posts found on some of the newsgroups.   This chapter is called "A
Tour Through The Usenet's Red Light District and comprises the bulk of
the book.  Finally there are chapters detailing "adult" IRC chat,
MUDs and an epilogue titled "Respect" that offers rules for online 
etiquette.  I doubt if Ms. Tamosaitis' book will bring order and civility 
to many of these forums - the subject matter is just too emotional!  

But I feel that there are opportunities for two lonely people to meet each
other when, under normal circumstances, the'd never have met.  There's a
happy story about an man in Switzerland who met a gal from Iowa.  So,
there's a positive side to this as well.  There are a lot of lonely and
people and Net access literally opens up a whole new world for them.  But
most people in this situation tend to be very trusting and vulnerable 
and so this caveat applies: beware of the frauds, crooks, deviates, kooks,
disturbed people and other bad guys lurking out in Cyberspace.  All is not 
what it may seem to be!  NET.SEX presents the facts and lets you draw 
your own informed conclusions, whether you are interested in joining the 
adult online community or in keeping your children away and safe from it.
In my opinion this is NET.SEX's value.

In summation: NET.SEX will tell you just about everything you ever wanted
to know about on-line sex...but didn't know where to ask!  


%T      Net.sex
%A      Nancy Tamosaitis
%I      Ziff Davis Press
%C      Emeryville California
%D      1995
%O      paperbound, $22.95 U.S. $31.95 Canada
%G      ISBN: 1-56276-285-0 
%P      175 pp
%K      Internet, USENET, online sex


(C) 1995
Michael Crestohl
mc@shore.net