Pushing the envelope with Durex

A date has gone extremely well and the lady has agreed to go with you to your house to check out the “painting” you were telling her about, or to allow you to play her some tunes from that rare jazz album you were bragging about at dinner.

The premise is not really that important, but the plot is, er, pregnant with possibilities. Foremost in some minds, along with questions about if your house is neat enough to accommodate this calibre of late night visitor, is the question of whether or not you have condoms. More precisely, do you have the best protection for the occasion or not?

Depending when your next paycheck is due, Government-distributed Choice condoms might have to suffice if you’re out of Featherlite Ultras. And if you can afford brand condoms, there is still the problem of coming up with a valid excuse to stop at a garage at 11pm to consider, especially if you don’t smoke. This is a delicate procedure and there remains no way to buy condoms in the presence of a new lady without making them feel like they are considered “easy”.

On the other hand, practicing safe sex is imperative and no matter the awkwardness involved, it is better to be safe than sorry. Well, that’s what common sense dictates, but the perspectives of a new generation of lovers are often absurd and shocking, as disovered at the recent Durex What’s Your Position On Safe Sex campaign at various universities in Johannesburg.

Foremost on the minds of young students was trying to see if they could get free condoms. To be eligible for that, they had to write or illustrate a message about safe sex on a miniature chalk board. While most wrote funny and creative messages, some admitted to not engaging in safe sex.

“I’m protected most of the time, but sometimes things happen and you run out of condoms,” said Antonio Maluleke.

Another student’s response to his safe sex habits revealed a harsh truth about the general attitude towards sex.

“I practice safe sex 80% of the time but the skin has to touch skin from time to time,” he said, opting to remain anonymous.

It was not all doom and gloom as some boards exhibited a maturity and openness about sex. Some boards read: “Be wild and trust Durex,” or, less formally, “Don’t be a loner, cover your boner” and the independent view, “Ladies, own your sexuality, buy your own condoms”.

Many of those in attendance were really concerned about the lax attitude towards safe sex that some of their peers displayed.

“Durex Love Guru looks to encourage young people to seriously consider the choices they make with regards to their sex life and be in a position to make informed choices, says Bevan Lewis, Category Manager, Durex, Reckitt Benckiser SA.