Four;  the number of times I have been cruised by slovenly, unshaven, apparently desperate male senior citizens whilst on a local park jogging path here on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Ok, for starters I am a highly hygienic, reasonably fit, well coiffed man so there’s that, so please… Look, I take no issue with being hit on, but seriously fellas, clean yourselves up, take a shave… I don’t know, join a gym, buy some threads with sleeves.  Yes, let’s take this moment to ask all men over fifty to leave the tank tops and sleeveless shirts home, irrespective of conditioning and especially in absence thereof.  Take it from the guy who’s tried almost everything, if I were to take a swing, pallid, unkempt and desperate ain’t getting you into club Dave.

The fore referenced pallor and obvious lack of personal awareness is likely the result of spending too much time acting as if one has a dirty little secret to keep; maybe too much time at the filthy keyboard of a Windows 98 computer at the retirement villa? One guy followed me to the urinal in a public restroom; perhaps his idea of getting out?  Not to be confused with coming out.  Yes it’s sad, as most folks are so past it, which begs the question; what’s going on in this day and age that has these relecs cruising for sex?

These desperate, lonely, unevolved men may indeed get a thrill from skulking around in secrecy. The all too human penchant to be driven around by our defiant nature is very common, and manifests most deviant behavior. (Another essay forthcoming)   I refer here to ‘cruising’ as deviant, not homosexuality.  Cruising for sex is dangerous, and is an assault on decency.  This is particularly disturbing at a recreation area used by families and tourists.  Civilized folks do not impugn nor take issue with anyone’s sexual orientation, as such nor do I.  This essay is about what factor may be driving uncivilized behavior, just so we’re clear.

It hit me, what about those computers and the internet?  Wasn’t a certain ‘list’ the manifold gateway to hook up with those nearby interested in ‘casual encounters’?  Of course there are apps for that, but I am to understand they are more sophisticated and social in nature, aimed at those more contented with their lifestyle and momentary impulses.  So… not one to rant without doing my research, I jumped onto the ‘list’.  Low and behold, ‘casual encounters’ has went the wayside due to regulatory interference by the authorities.

I write because words mean things.

The most destructive words currently used in our republic are, “Something’s got to be done about… add fear here.”  And so it is… now, ‘Sex Trafficking’ is the ubiquitous catchphrase used, I submit dubiously,  to legislate against any sexual dalliance those sitting behind their questionably pristine keyboards disapprove of, be it consensual or not.  I submit those wayward dotards who traffic themselves in the park show up partly as the result of overreach by the authorities which quashed a tool of anonymity once used by those desperate relecs to have their purient desires met. Ideally they’d do so with like minded, consenting individuals and in all likelyhood, elsewhere.  Or maybe it really is as simple as no one told ’em, “There’s an app for that.”

Peace,

DLS