I love innovation. That's actually the meaning behind my provocative account name on steemit. Technology fascinates and attracts me, and I believe that technological innovation helps make our lives better and will continue to do so. But that is not always the case. Some applications of innovative technologies are, in my opinion, doing the opposite; they are using technology to (unintentionally) try and make our lives worse.
One such example that I've recently come across (HT to @didic) is LegalFling.io , a service that dubs itself as "the first blockchain based app to verify explicit consent before having sex". Technically, it's an app that works on Live Contract tokens on the Waves platform and kind-of lets people save their sexual consent on the blockchain in an attempt to give some kind of legal protection to the participants in sexual activities.
I find this utterly ridiculous and possibly dangerous.
Why Sex Cannot Be Regulated
Consent is a tricky thing. It has borders that can be flexible according to situation. For example, you might agree to anal penetration but change your mind as soon as you see how big my strap-on is. At this point, instead of just saying "no, that will not fit" you need to pull out your mobile phone and update your contract record on the blockchain. If that doesn't kill the mood, I don't know what can.
The way I see it, the only advantage to such a tool is its ability to enforce mindfulness. For example, when given the time to think and consider (and enter it into the blockchain), I might decide I am not that interested in the dude I just met at the party if I really need to think hard about what I want and do not want to be doing with them when I get home. The commitment of it makes me reconsider.
(Source: ~~~ embed:951181937753944064) twitter metadata:THV4QWxwdHJhdW18fGh0dHBzOi8vdHdpdHRlci5jb20vTHV4QWxwdHJhdW0vc3RhdHVzLzk1MTE4MTkzNzc1Mzk0NDA2NCl8 ~~~
And then there's the whole legal side of things, that creates an absurd situation when one's change of heart must be entered into the blockchain.
So going back to the above example, if you use the app to agree to BDSM and anal sex, and we sign our little Live Contract, and you then change your mind? Technically, there's nothing to stop me from raping you. Legally, you've given consent so you're obligated to your side of the deal. It's on the blockchain. So if you find yourself with a torn sphincter at the hospital - I have proof you wanted the buttsex.
The problem here is obvious. But that's not the only problem I see when looking at the app from a broader perspective.
The Legalification of Human Interaction
Consent, when it comes to sexual activities, is not something someone can turn into a legal contract. Sure, some countries (like Sweden) are even trying to make it legally required to get explicit consent before committing a sexual act. But any attempt to make consent a legally binding "yes or no" agreement is bound to fail because that's not how consent works.
The issue here isn't so much technological as it is psychological. Pseudo-legal agreements on the blockchain as part of foreplay cannot replace a human conversation about boundaries mutual activities planned. Sex and sexuality don't work that way. As much as some people might want to it.
(Source: LegalFling.io)
And this isn't only about consent. It's about putting legal contracts on human interaction.
Here's an example:
Let's say I've signed this type of blockchain agreement that forbids me from using explicit language in bed. Weird, but I'll go with it. I get up to the bathroom and stub my toe on the edge of the bed, which causes me to yell out a number of expletives. Can the dude sue me now, for breaking the contract?
And then there's the idea of ticking on and off a preference for BDSM activities. Saying yes or no to BDSM as a whole is ridiculous. While some consider BDSM light spanking and the odd costume on occasion, others have much more extreme desires. How in the world are we meant to put agreement on THOSE in legal terms, tokenized and forever sealed on the blockchain?
Consent is an ongoing, ever-changing state that cannot be tokenized. It is a process, rather than a contract. Unlike most contracts, where the people involved are legally bound to the mutually agreed-upon terms, in intercourse we conduct a physical and verbal exchange of desires, preferences and boundaries in real-time. An app simply cannot do that.
Why does this app even exist?
In my opinion this app was conceived because developers just aren't psychologists. If they were, they would understand that the blockchain is hardly the place for such contracts. Perhaps they would see that with all of its abilities and advantages, technology will never be able to replace the human interaction necessary for the continuous and true expression of explicit consent.
Edit: Some people theorized that this app is nothing but a hoax to attract attention to the Live Contracts ICO. This is quite possible, but I don't see how this brings positive attention to a serious startup (that doesn't even list the app on their website). Especially one with 2 female members on a team of 6.
-=-=-
From where I am sitting, this seems more like a way for those who really want to sue someone to create ambiguity to clog the courts... while those who truly want to be protected will get exploited. Trying to legislate something that's largely about how you feel moment to moment strikes me as folly, at the best of times.
Thumbs down.
Or the devs are just trolling or helplessly naive and dumb. I like to go with the easy and simple explanation.
Legit, the only women who will be okay with this are those who are not of sound mind or too young and naive to see what it truly means. This app is definitely dangerous.
As for why? Lets be real-- it was made by dudes who think of sex as a contract. They probably have money and power and can actually get some ppl to sogn this. The perfect example is Aziz Ansari incident. Being an independant, self actualized and confident women is still going against the grain in society. Most women will try to be polite to get out of something, including aggreeing to oral sex in a contract. Cuz, its somehow not as bad...
One other problem to note, is that the only use-case for this is to prove consent was given.
If consent was given on the blockchain, and then given in person, and nobody was hurt - No different than without the blockchain.
If consent was given on the blockchain, but then retracted in person - bad.
If consent was given, and then someone is falsely accused of rape - The only real use case.
False accusations are so ridiculously rare compared to rape, that having an entire ecosystem meant to protect men from being falsely accused of rape is not only a waste of time, but actually bad for the fight against rape being so ubiquitous.
What about a person simply stealing the private keys. What then? I seriously think that the devs are trolling or just released some random fun project they cooked up. If somebody get your crypto wallet you simply loose funds. If you get hacked with this app, you are getting gang raped and hackers will get away with serial gang rape. Probably a perfect scenario for a Black Mirror episode.
I hope some SJW won't pick this up and take the whole thing seriously. I don't want to see the real world become a superficial dystopia.
Why would SJWs like this app? I actually want them to take this seriously and burn it like the awful idea that it is.
They have a tendency to pick the awful and senseless ideas. Give them a good idea and they'll reject. Give them a bad one and they'll consider. It's sad but it's true.
Problem is it didn't even help in the false accusation case. Someone gives their consent then one party starts getting violent, or one party for any reason decides the deal is off (change of heart does happen you know) how does that work? So you wear a "I don't consent" emergency button to cancel the contract?
Oh my God....this is so...surreal (?) !!! Resteemed.......!
I was really hoping it was a hoax, but this was on pretty much every major news outlet online last week, including Forbes. Where is our species going? Srsly, people.
I can't add anything, you put it awesomely! 'Where is our species going?' Indeed....... :/
This is nothing more than a cheap attempt to capitalize on blockchain hype and fear of real problems with society. I can't see this ever being used by someone who isn't a socially awkward blockchain enthusiast...
I seriously don't know what else to say than that this app idea is just really stupid.
what's next? I can't even imagine..
Lol, I agree with you to an extent but some people find it hard to control their sex lives and when they finally do it they get angry with their partners for not doing somethings or for doing some, so the best thing is to give them something that tells others what exactly they want to avoid issues.
I feel the next would be choosing the kind of sperm they want to receive
lol..
"Some ppl find it hard to control their sex lives"
Who is "some ppl" ?
Lol some people could be anyone out there who loves sex more than themselves.. Its not much of a bad thing though but i'm not a fan of it.
God knew sex was good for us that's why he created us with sex gadget, you know what i mean :) so this privilege should not be abused.
Lol... You just called us humans sex toys also, if I get you correctly.
thats not true :(
Alright if you say so...
I said it's more of a You post than a Me post, and I was SO RIGHT.
This just in... In the least shocking twist of all time, the devs behind LegalFling.io revealed to be virgins.
This is one of the worst ideas of all time, and I'm not entirely sure any one on this team as even spoken to, or possibly been in the same room as a woman. If there is one thing women love, it's having their sexual agreements permanently inscribed on a block chain. I'm pretty sure 100% of the guys in that room thing the whole feminist movement is meant to destroy men.
Dudes, it's not that hard. If you want women to agree to sex, be fuckable. Get enthusiastic consent. I promise sex is better when the person you are on top of is engaged in the act and not crying.
I think I was wrong a while back when I said the use cases for the blockchain are limitless. I change my mind, some things in life are meant for human interaction, for everything else, there's the blockchain.
p.s. I might have stolen the jingle from a credit card company
Great post ! It's a fucking stupid idea I can't believe it's a serious business plan... Like if a guy rapes a girl and forces her to sign her consent on the blockchain, and then she ends up no being able to sue him. That would be fucked up... This most probably won't work out, I'm not buying and I'll never have sex with someone that wants to make me sign a legal contract.
The question is whether your strap on is part of the contract and going to be placed on the blockchain forever? I wonder it is on the EOS blockchain, a pic could be included.
Why does this app exist? Hell I am still trying to figure out the entire Pokemon deal so one thing at a time.
People will subscribe to anything. You bring up valid points that few, I bet, are taking the time to consider. What is next, we put our trips to the bathroom on the blockchain too.
I guess this is all part of the growing pains. There were a lot of bonehead websites and ideas in the late 1990s when the Internet was really starting to take off. So, we will have to sift through the stupid and absurd before we get things right.
Good point that you’re not just gonna take out the app and revoke consent like that...well you could but yeah talk about mood killer.
There are few things in life as personal, intimate and vulnerable as sex. It's subtle and very subjective. Technology will never be able to help with the consent part of it. Maybe if we ever arrive in a world where every move and interaction is filmed and tied to your actual thoughts and feelings and a green light will appear above someone's head saying 'Yes, I give consent'.
I think you nailed it although maybe it was because the devs are men? They are thinking, how can we men not risk being taken to court every time we have sex. Especially if we are or soon to be crypto millionaires fearing every drunk hookup will result in extortion.
Or they aren't psychologists, or smart enough to hire them, or even just, you know women who have a clue. The examples in app kind of speak volumes to hire little thought went into it. Seriously someone is going to consent to photos and video but no explicit language? Ummmmkay. Okay it was just an example but why are those things even on there?
To me the time for this is after... If you just had sex and you can't even get someone to indicate it was consensual you clearly have a problem. Obviously that has to be done in conditions that clearly show it was without duress. No gun been pointed or a big pile of cash nearby. I'm not sure that can really be certainly decided but it raises the bar.
In many of the sexual harassment cases that have come to light there seems to be reports like "well I apologized afterwards and she accepted". Seems like memories may be a little fuzzy here, I reckon what guys think of acceptance may be rather loosely defined. Having AC post coitus declaration might help things a little. Indeed having people make somewhat binding declarations might help even though as I indicated it's really hard to be sure something was above board even if the party signs something. How many witnesses get badgered into signing a completely false concession? Then how bad does that look and might end them up wrongly in jail.
Maybe if you want real evidence then the whole hookup is recorded but neither party can access that without both parties consent. If it goes to court that will be contingent on releasing the recording. That's what the pre coitus agreement should be about. So it becomes would you agree to hookup with a blockchain as our witness?
Guy could refuse to release his key and take the fifth but how bad will that look? Or it could be a two of three key and the court or some other party has that third key. That would solve the problem of one party no longer being able to consent - maybe because he/she is dead. That requires more trust... You could make it require a court order witnessed on the blockchain for the third party key to be released. So a lot of hurdles but possible.
I do think the blockchain has uses to record legally binding contracts between parties along with A/V records to indicate parties understood the terms and it at least had the notion of not being coerced to the limits that is possible. No violence, no altered states of mind that kind of thing.
Now there is a place for blockchain to help out with sexual relations... Thats for sex workers dealing with payment and reputation issues. And there are solutions to that being built already (see intimate.io and Rendevu). But these are much more business focused and not casual hookup.
I thought something like that could only see it in 50 shades of Grey. Reaally crazy and dangerous.
Writen contracts are often used in bdsm scenes. Not only in the movies. They are mainly there that both parties know what is allowed and what is not.
Didn´t know, thank you for explaining to me, very friendly
https://www.bustle.com/articles/65251-bdsm-contracts-really-exist-im-a-sexual-submissive-and-heres-how-fifty-shades-got-them
Here is one if you happen find this interesting. Like i said before these "contracts" are there mainly to help both parties know what other person likes etc (hard and soft limits, safe words etc). I think most people don't really use them, they discuss these things verbally, but writing it down also help you to really think about it.
It surprises me time and time again how hard to understand the concept of consent seems to be to many people. Not just sex, but also simple things like "don't just touch my hair without asking".
Apps like this are kind of bullshit, for all the reasons you detailed and probably more. It might make people even more unable to properly communicate their needs and wants.
People need to accept that they own they bodies period! That means that they are responsible for their interactions with others and trying to keep them positive and safe.
This does nothing but turn positive into negative while creating a false sense of security. No one likes reading or signing contracts. What a mood killer!
It seems that this is trying to provide a service for people lacking the courage to discuss things with your partner(s) and it is a terrible idea. Nothing can replace healthy dialog
Pretty sure this is trolling. That's really all I can say on the subject.
I absolutely hope you're right and this is just a PR hoax for the Live Contracts ICO.
אילנה!!!
נו נו נו!!!!
לשלוח לך תמונה, כפרעליך? כי יש לי בשלוף
:D
יש לי מלא באינטרנט בשלוף ;)
חח
I said it before on a post of yours, but lordy knows how long ago.
It's about trust. And unless I trust someone, there's no naughty bits of mine, touching other naughty bits of anyone and everyone else, period...
I guess the App just ain't gonna be wired for Bluetooth with my iPenis.
There is an app and blockchain for everything.
Does a tinder blockchain exists already?
I should have time and invent it.. I would be rich..
I posted it here already.. Slow poke :)
https://steemit.com/blockchainsex/@isnochys/sex-on-with-in-against-the-blockchain
Heh, well, I didn't come across it but heard about it from @didic
keep posting
I really like posting @techslut.
Good post
Semoga rejeki anda lancar kawan
wow awesome post
speechless post you wrote superb,i have no words for saying
Its good information.
Keep writting great
Stuff and Stay Blessed!
Thank you for sharing bro 👏 👍
...
Nice comment my sista!!🌈💥❤️
Probably created to protect against false accusations (which happens more often then we would like). Won't matter anyways; people would say they were impaired while sending the token.
lol really?? These false accusations could be intentional you know..
I see it as something that tells people what their partners would not tell them, because most humans are so difficult they wont tell you what exactly they want and when you make few mistakes, they flare up and its over.
I feel sending wrong emotional signals are part of why sex cannot be regulated.
In theory, at a high level, I get why the app was conceived. To protect people (mainly men I'd assume) from being wrongfully accused. So sure, in general, fine idea. But in reality, for every reason you listed, it's absolutely absurd.
If human mind is unpredictable then none of technologies will be able to register the agreements we are talking about… but in fact human mind is predictable completely, yeah, for now it sounds like a fantastic scenario. I think it won’t take long and Intelligent Mind will move on further than to make blood gene analysis… the breakthrough will be decoding our behave which is predictable today for psychology, being aware of our preferences in any changing terms and situations…
It is amazing to what extent blockchain technology will be put to use in future. You can imagine my consternation when I read about "the first blockchain based app to verify explicit consent before having sex." Like you @techslut expressed, it is 'utterly ridiculous and possibly dangerous.'
I say this because it does amount to regulating sex. Hahahahahaha. How does that happen? Perhaps I need more enlightenment. Any help?
LOL! I was just thinking this. lol MANKIND HOW DID WE COME TO THIS! lol now who you had sex with will be locked in cyberspace foreverrrrrrr lololol.
This app.example makes my bad dreams about new thechnogies more tangible and frightening...that we are moving to a cold world.
Wow, I have no words. Just very stupid app.
Totally with you on that. I remember hearing Slavoj Zizek mention a couple of times that he spoke with American college students in some of the more 'liberal' institutions. They had to sign a consent form that is not only embarrassing but also DETAILED. then students told him they still managed to have sex, but only because the didn't take the administrators demand seriously- and so the cynical referral to the form turned into some kind of sexual play.
postingan anda sangat menarik..
Oh my dog, I can't beleive this thing was really created :P
So incredibly ridiculous and dangerous in so many freaking ways!
Are there people out there really using that shit?
When you say "no" - what do you mean?
What happens if you say no and your cellphone is out of power? Problem!
techslut thank you for the amazing post keep it up
And yet many people would try this out of pure curiosity or for fun. At this time and age, the more weirder it is the more people are drawn to it
guter Beitrag
I really do not understand the existence of such an application, why not use the blockchain technology in coherent and really important things?
i can't understand why are you posting such kind of information? isn't it for your own consent. this is just like you're inviting others through this article.. this app really seems stupid to me, to be very honest .
Well really interesting article... I think you are right.. Sex have nothing to do with some legal agreements.. What if sometime a person signs an agreement on blockchain and then after a while she is not in mood to do something then how will she stop the other person? or will she say wait wait I want to change the agreement... and then she is in mood to do something the BF will say wait you should change the agreement to yes... Human behaviors and moods change every second...
lol
wall i did not gat this