This is awesome. It is actually a thread I've contemplated starting, so I'm glad you did. I'm conflicted in my opinion. Here's my thinking. I understand that when someone states they are not a virgin, it is automatically assumed that they have had intercourse. I don't know that I feel that is right because it's kind of misleading. At my age, I doubt it will be an issue but take a younger, straight couple, just for instance. They hook up, she claims she's not a virgin because she's been sexually active.....in other ways. Then all of a sudden....or even after the fact, it comes out that it's her first time. Potentially an awkward as well as big step. Now this is where my confliction comes in. You have an individual who claims status as a virgin. Yet they give blowjobs, handjobs, if it's a girl, or even a guy, they may allow fingering. To me virginity also insinuates innocence, or as you stated, being pure. Inexperience, I guess. So I ask, how can someone go around doing everything else and still claim that innocence? I had a friend who claimed to be a virgin, and did it ALL- even anal but she had not been penetrated vaginally. To her, that was losing her virginity. My roommate says hand jobs and blowjobs don't count, because they aren't real sex. I say they are. I guarantee when he's dating someone, if they commit one of those SEXUAL ACTS behind his back with someone else, they'll be real sex. He'll lose his mind, because they cheated. I don't know. I say if you get involved in sexual activity, you are not a virgin. However, communicating what you have or have not exprienced can probably be a good idea, if you're planning to cross into new territory.