Halo: Combat Evolved: Difference between revisions

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'''''Halo: Combat Evolved''''' is a video game in the [[First Person Shooter]] (FPS) genre, created by the [[Microsoft]]-owned [[Bungie Studios]]. It was released for the [[Xbox]] game console on November 15, 2001 and is backwards-compatible with [[Xbox 360]]. It is one of the most popular video games for the Xbox, with over five million copies sold, its sheer sales numbers are rivaled only by its sequel, [[Halo 2]].
'''Anal sex''' or '''anal intercourse''' is a form of [[human sexual behavior]]. While there are many sexual acts involving the [[anus]], anal cavity, sphincter valve and/or [[rectum]], the term "anal sex" is often used to mean the [[sexual intercourse|insertion]] of the [[penis]] into the rectum. It is a form of sexual intercourse considered to be particularly risky, for a number of reasons related to the vulnerability of the tissues and the septic nature of the anus.<ref>"Most of the time, condoms work well.  However, condoms are more likely to break during anal sex than during vaginal sex. Thus, even with a condom, anal sex can be very risky. A person should use generous amounts of water-based lubricant in addition to the condom to reduce the chances of the condom breaking." [http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/qa22.htm Center for Disease Control; "Can I get HIV from anal sex?"]</ref>


'''Spoiler warning''': Plot and ending details follow.
Such relations have been documented in a wide range of cultures, from earliest times. Where they involved two males, they have also been controversial and sometimes condemned since antiquity. Anal sex is encountered among people of all sexual identities and orientations. While it is reported more frequently among [[homosexuality|male couples]], in absolute numbers more [[heterosexuality|heterosexual couples]] have anal sex.<ref>" There is a common misconception that anal sex is practised almost exclusively by gay men, but this is not true. It is thought that an estimated one third of male couples do not include anal intercourse in their lovemaking. About one third of heterosexual couples try it from time to time. It is thought that about 10 per cent of heterosexual couples have anal intercourse as a regular feature of their lovemaking. In absolute numbers, it is hypothesized that more heterosexual couples have anal sex than homosexual couples.[http://www.tiscali.co.uk/lifestyle/healthfitness/health_advice/netdoctor/archive/000594.html Tiscali.lifestyle: anal sex]</ref>


==Gameplay==
== Penile-anal sex ==
{{realworld}}
===Summary===


''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay is characterized by several features which set it apart from less acclaimed [[first-person shooter]] games:
===Female receptive===
In several cultures female receptive anal intercourse in a heterosexual context is widely accepted, especially as there is lower risk of unwanted [[human pregnancy|pregnancy]] via unprotected anal intercourse (though this is not an absolute guarantee, since semen can leak from the anus, across the [[perineum]], and enter the [[vagina]]).  Anal sex is even sometimes seen as preserving female [[virginity]], because it leaves the [[hymen]] intact. Another reason is that the anus is considered to be "tighter" than the vagina (especially right after a [[childbirth|delivery]]), therefore yielding more tactile pleasure for the penis. The Renaissance poet [[Pietro Aretino]] strongly recommended the practice of anal sex in his ''Sonetti Lussuriosi'' (Lust Sonnets).<ref>Daileader, Celia R. "Back Door Sex: Renaissance Gynosodomy, Aretino, and the Exotic"
''English Literary History'', Volume 69, Number 2, Summer 2002, pp. 303-334 </ref>


* '''Storyline execution:''' ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay and storyline have been known to be tightly interwoven, and delivered in a convincing manner which is consistent with the flow of the game.   
The taboo surrounding anal sex is likely to do with hygiene but also may have its roots in supposed psychoses (deemed responsible for such "deviation"). It has been argued {{Fact|date=February 2007}} that a male heterosexual attraction to the practice has a basis in patriarchal mythologies surrounding a fear of the vagina and suspicion of women's sexual enjoyment and appetites (see [[succubus]]). Additionally, it is argued that the appeal of anal sex to many male heterosexuals is a [[Sexual fetishism|fetish]] of the taboo, sometimes associated with feces and human waste, as well as of violence and domination, as anal sex practices can result in the bruising and tearing of tissue. Moreover, there have been arguments that the ''avoidance'' of the anus is essentially human [[escapism]], a facade whereby man denies his excretory functions, and that, ergo, the practice of the act is merely a form of disillusionment (cf. [[Ernest Becker]]'s ''[[The Denial of Death]]''). Moreover, the social taboo surrounding anal sex could potentially be seen as an example of political and religious dogma affecting modern culture, whereby the taboo itself is materialized through initial observance of religious [[morals]], for example those held by some branches of [[Christianity]] or [[Islam]].   


* '''Vehicles:''' ''Halo'' incorporates many vehicles into its single and multiplayer games, including flying ones.  
A curious pornographic film from about 1980, entitled ''The Last Days of Sodom and Gomorrah'', posits that the 'cities on the plain" were plagued by over-population and threatened with famine. Accordingly, the city fathers made [[vaginal sex]] a crime and anal sex a sacrament. Eventually, things went for the worse for the cities and the city fathers.


* '''Weapons system:''' ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s weapons system is unusual in two respects.  First, it allows one to carry only two weapons at any given time, forcing the player to switch weapons often and make trade-offs when choosing which weapons to carry. Second, ''Halo'' has an independent button for throwing [[grenade|grenades]].
From a utilitarian perspective it is also argued by some that the anus is a highly sensitive area with erogenous potential, providing ample opportunity for sexual arousal; that anal sex is a natural permutation of human sexuality, little different from [[oral sex]] or other noncoital contact; and that women can derive as much pleasure from the violation of taboos against non-traditional sexual practices as men can. Studies such as that done by Kinsey have suggested that approximately 35-40% of women who have experienced anal sex find it pleasurable, though this figure may vary depending on many factors.


* '''Artificial intelligence:''' ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s AI was quite sophisticated for its time. For example, the more cowardly types of enemies would panic when one of their superiors was killed. If a speeding vehicle came at them, they could dive out of the way, and they could take cover from explosives or suppressive fire.
====Frequency====


===Movement and aiming===
[[Edward O. Laumann]]'s ''The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States'' found that about 20% of heterosexuals have engaged in anal sex, and sex researcher [[Alfred Kinsey]] found that number to be closer to 40%.  More recently, a researcher from the [[University of British Columbia]] (quoted in the [[May 5]] [[2005]] issue of ''[[The Georgia Straight]]'') puts the number of heterosexuals who regularly practice anal sex at between 30% and 50%. A French survey of five hundred female respondents concluded that a total of 29% had practiced anal sex, though only one third of these claimed to have enjoyed the experience.<ref>Survey carried out by TNS/Sofres in a representative sample of 500 women from 18 to 65 years of age, in April and May,  2002. [http://www.tns-sofres.com/etudes/pol/030701_sexualite_r.htm sondage TNS/Sofres sexualité] de 2001</ref> Most recently, a 2006 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control determined that the incidence of anal relations in the heterosexual population is on the increase. The survey showed that 38.2 percent of men between 20 and 39 and 32.6 percent of women ages 18 to 44 engage in heterosexual anal sex. In 1992 a similiar survey found that only 25.6 percent of men 18 to 59 and 20.4 percent of women 18 to 59 practiced it.<ref>http://nymag.com/nightlife/mating/25988/index.html?imw=Y</ref>


Movement in ''Halo'' is similar to other first-person shooters, allowing the player to move forwards, backwards, and strafe left and right independently of their aim. On the Xbox, moving and aiming are normally separated between the two joysticks; and on the PC, between the mouse and the keyboard.
===Male receptive===


''Halo'' also allows the player to crouch and jump, although jumping from a high ledge will often result in death. Damage from falling can be reduced or negated entirely with a well-timed crouch, right as one lands.
Among gay male couples who have anal sex, some comprise a true [[top (sex)|top]] and [[bottom (sex)|bottom]], but this is not always the case: many men in such couples have anal sex as both top and bottom at different times, also known as "versatile" or "[[switch (sex)|switch]]."


===Damage system===
As with virtually any homosexual sex, in certain contexts male-male anal intercourse between males who otherwise identify as heterosexual is seen as a temporary behaviour to which they resort when confined in single-sex environments. Currently, such a situation is most likely to be found in [[prison sexuality|prisons]]  (see ''[[situational sexual behavior]]''). Some men [[Men who have sex with men|have sex with men]] without categorizing themselves as homosexual or bisexual.
{{main|Health}}
* '''[[Health]]:''' The player in ''Halo'' has a finite, non self-regenerating health which can be fully restored by picking up health-packs. Running completely out of health will result in death, but having lower health does not impede player actions. A player's health can only be reduced if his shields have failed. If the player's health has one bar left (full health has 8 bars), he will hear his own heartbeat.


* '''[[Shields]]:''' The player carries a shield which protects all parts of his body from damage. The shield will decrease in strength every time it is hit by a weapon, and will fail after taking enough hits, but will quickly regenerate if it is not hit for a period of time.  The shield represents a marked departure from most first-person shooters, in which one's health bar is basically augmented by picking up "armor," and it is entirely possible, in the single-player campaign at least, to simply not have enough health points to survive the next section of gameplay.  ''Halo'' players, on the other hand, have a more-or-less permanent buffer of health at their disposal (assuming they manage to find time to regenerate the shield), making it less of a disaster to take hits in combat.
====Frequency====


===Powerups===
In modern times in Western cultures, anal sex has been popularly associated with [[Homosexuality|homosexual]] or [[Bi-sexuality|bisexual]] men. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, many gay men went to [[Gay bathhouse|bathhouse]]s to meet other men and have sex with them. Anal sex was common in these venues, as was reported by [[Randy Shilts]] in [[And the Band Played On]]. After the [[AIDS]] epidemic was well established, these bathhouses become controversial; in many cities, they were shut down by public-health authorities. 


There are three types of powerups available in ''Halo'':
The occurrence of the practice, however, has varied widely; furthermore, the numbers in sexual surveys tend to reflect whether those surveyed have ever had anal sex or have had anal sex in the last year, instead of distinguishing between men who have simply tried it and men who regularly engage in it. In the 1950s in the United Kingdom, it was thought that only about fifteen percent of male homosexuals practiced the method, a number believed to be lower than that among heterosexuals.<ref>H. Montgomery Hyde, The Love That Dared not Speak its Name; pp.6-7</ref> The Gay Urban Men's Study (P.I. Stall, UCSF) and the Young Men's Study (YMS, PI Osmond/Catania, UCSF), indicate that 50% of men surveyed engage in anal sex. The Laumann study claims that 80% of homosexual men practice it, while the remaining 20% never engage in it at all.


* '''[[Health Pack]]:''' Fully restores the [[health]] of the player.
====Anatomical homologies====
* '''[[Active Camouflage]]:''' Drastically reduces the player's visibility for approximately 45 seconds, making all but a faint outline of him transparent. This effect is reduced if the player is hit by weapons fire or if he or she fires a weapon. The player looks very similar to the [[List of fiction thought to have inspired Halo|Predator]] from the movies.
* '''[[Overshield]]:''' An enhanced, non-regenerating shield which is three times the strength of the normal one. The overshield functions on top of the regular shield - when it is active, the normal shield does not take damage. In the single player game, the overshield is reduced only when the player is hit, while in the multiplayer game, it also weakens gradually with time.


===Enemies===
Though women can enjoy receptive anal intercourse, or even insertive anal intercourse for that matter, only men have penises and fully developed [[prostate]]s, also known as "male G-spots" <ref>www.askmen.com/love/vanessa/23_love_secrets.html</ref>, "P-spots" or  "A-spots".<ref>http://www.talksexwithsue.com/Aspot.html</ref> The prostate is located near men's rectums and is the larger, more fully formed male [[homology (biology)|homologue]] to the [[Skene's glands]], also known as the "G-spot" <ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992495]]</ref> or "female prostate"<ref>{{cite journal | author = Zaviacic M, Jakubovská V, Belosovic M, Breza J | title = Ultrastructure of the normal adult human female prostate gland (Skene's gland). | journal = Anat Embryol (Berl) | volume = 201 | issue = 1 | pages = 51-61 | year = 2000 | id = PMID 10603093}}</ref>
, which are located near women's vaginas.


Three factions of enemies are encountered on Halo:
==Other types of anal sexuality==
Although anal sex is traditionally achieved through penetration via penile insertion, it does not have to be the case. When the active partner is a female or a male who does not wish to use his [[penis]], he or she might utilize other appendages, including but not limited to [[fingering (sexual act)#anal fingering|fingering]] and [[fisting]]. [[Anal-oral contact]] (the manipulation of the anus by the mouth and tongue) is also common, either by itself or in tandem with other acts intended to produce physical arousal and climax.


* '''[[The Covenant]]:''' The Covenant whose Fleet of Particular Justice was led by the Supreme Commander, the future [[Arbiter]], are an alliance of different species, including the cowardly [[Grunt|Grunts]], the weak [[Jackals]] with their [[Jackal Personal Arm Shield|visible energy shields]], the [[Elites]] with their [[Elite Personal Energy Shield|personal energy shields]], and the huge, tough [[Hunters]] with strong armor. The Covenant mostly carry plasma weapons of varying power. They also make extensive use of vehicles.
Such individuals might also choose to employ an artificial apparatus, primarily phallic reproductions ([[strap-on dildo]]s), of which a diverse selection of style and manufacturer exists.  Other accoutrements of a similar design are also often employed: these are generally engineered specifically for anal penetration ([[butt plug]]s). When the female is the penetrator and the receiver is a male, it is referred to as [[pegging (sexual practice)|pegging]].


* '''[[The Flood]]:''' The parasitic Flood are encountered in 3 forms: the lowly [[Infection Form|parasitic spores]] themselves, which usually die from a single shot; combat forms of [[Combat Form|former humans and Covenant]] whose nervous systems have been taken over by the parasite, which are tough and may carry either human or Covenant weapons; and exploding [[Carrier Form|carriers]], which cause splash damage and release spores.
==Hygiene==
Anal sex can be extremely messy - many people assume that it is necessarily so. But [[Nina Hartley]], in ''Nina Hartley's Guide to Anal Sex'', points out that anal sex is not necessarily messy, because the rectum is usually empty: it only contains a significant amount of feces at the point when it needs to be emptied. Once the rectum is emptied normally, it contains only trace amounts of [[feces]]: an enema could be used by the squeamish, but it is not mandatory.


* '''[[Forerunner]] [[Sentinels]]:''' Part of Halo's defense system, the Sentinels, led by the [[Monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark]], are hovering robotic drones, and will attack Flood, Covenant, and (after the level [[Two Betrayals]]) the [[John-117|Master Chief]]. Although possessing a powerful [[Sentinel Beam|beam weapon]], they are not particularly resistant to damage.
==Risks and protective measures==
Anal sex exposes the participants to hazards of two kinds: infections, due to the high number of infectious [[microorganisms]] not found elsewhere on the body, and physical damage to the anus and the rectum due to their vulnerability. Inexperienced people can also find it painful.<ref>[http://www.student.com/sexguide_a.php?id=45]</ref>


===Weapons===
If a female conducts a self anal sex, it is still possible to spread bacteria from her own anus to her vagina, so precautions are still required.
{{main|Weapons}}
All usable weapons in ''Halo'' belong to either the Covenant or the UNSC (humans).  The player can only carry two weapons at a time, in addition to up to 8 grenades (four [[Frag Grenade|fragmentation grenades]] and four [[Plasma Grenade|plasma grenades]]).


Covenant weapons are better suited for reducing shields, and typically fire faster than their human counterparts.  With the exception of the ''needler'', they do not require ammunition or reloading; instead, each weapon comes with its own battery. Once this battery is depleted, the weapon must be discarded. Covenant weapons can also overheat (except the needler) if fired too often, after which, they must be given time to cool down before they can be used again.
===Infectious diseases===
Among the diseases with which anal sex is associated are HIV,<ref>[http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/?article=faq&refid=125]</ref> anal cancer,<ref>[http://www.lgbthealthchannel.com/msmcancer/]</ref> typhoid fever<ref>"In August 2000, the Ohio Department of Health reported a cluster of men with typhoid fever who denied having traveled abroad. To determine the cause and the extent of the outbreak, an epidemiological investigation was initiated in which 7 persons in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana with culture-confirmed Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi infection and 2 persons with probable typhoid fever were evaluated; all were men, and all but one reported having had sex with 1 asymptomatic male S. Typhi carrier." [http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/resolve?id=doi:10.1086/375590&erFrom=-3765596048411440117Guest]</ref> and various diseases associated with the infectious nature of fecal matter or sexual intercourse in general. Among these are:  [[Amoebiasis]]; [[Chlamydia]]; [[Cryptosporidiosis]]; [[Giardiasis]]; [[Gonorrhea]]; [[Hepatitis A]]; [[Hepatitis B]]; [[Hepatitis C]]; [[Herpes simplex]]; [[Human papillomavirus]]; [[Lymphogranuloma venereum]];  [[Pubic lice]];  [[Salmonellosis]]; [[Shigella]];  [[Syphilis]];  [[Tuberculosis]].<ref>[http://www.sexualhealthchannel.com/analhealth/]</ref><ref>[http://health.ivillage.com/sexualhealth/sxsafe/0,,6d85,00.html][http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tuberculosis/DS00372/DSECTION=3]</ref>


Human weapons, on the other hand, require both ammunition and constant reloading.  They are better suited to reducing health, and do not overheat. However, on easy, and normal difficulty level settings, the difference is often negligible.
====HIV/AIDS====
The high concentration of white blood cells around the rectum, together with the risk of cuts to the rectum and that one of the functions of the rectum is to absorb fluid, increases the risk of HIV transmission because the HIV retrovirus reproduces within the immune system's T-cells/CD4 cells. Use of [[condom]]s and other precautions are a medically recommended way to lessen risk of infections. Unprotected receptive anal sex is the most risky sexual behavior in terms of HIV transmission.<ref>[http://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5338a1.htm]</ref><ref>[http://aids.about.com/od/hivaidsstats/f/infectionrisk.htm]</ref><ref>[http://www.planetout.com/health/hiv/?sernum=1900]</ref>


====Human Weapons====
===Physical damage===
Physical damage to the rectum and anus can manifest as generalized ano-rectal trauma, [[hemorrhoid]]s, [[anal fissure]]s,<ref>[http://www.lgbthealthchannel.com/analhealth/]</ref> anal [[fistula]] and [[rectal prolapse]]. Damage is more likely if anal sex is done without consent, if alcohol or other drugs have dulled sensitivity, if communication is poor, or if technique is clumsy.


*[[Pistol|M6D Pistol]]
===Incontinence===
*[[MA5B ICWS Assault Rifle|MA5B Assault Rifle]]
[[Fecal incontinence|Incontinence]] has also been reported; the result of the anal sphincter losing its tonus.<ref>Net Doctor - Sex and Relationships [http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/sexandrelationships/sex/200700.html]</ref> A 1993 study published in the ''Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine'' found that out of a sample of forty individuals receiving anal intercourse, fourteen experienced episodes of frequent anal incontinence.<ref>"Effect of anoreceptive intercourse on anorectal function" AJ Miles, TG Allen-Mersh and C Wastell, Department of Surgery, Westminster Hospital, London; in ''Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine'' Vol 86, Issue 3 144-147; 1993 [http://www.jrsm.org/cgi/content/abstract/86/3/144]</ref> Though this study has been used by some to impute incontinence as a characteristic of male homosexuals, this is held to be a mistaken interpretation, as the conclusions of the study were contingent on the activity rather than on sexual orientation.<ref>All Experts - Fecal Incontinence[http://experts.about.com/e/f/fe/fecal_incontinence.htm]</ref>
*[[Shotgun|M90 Shotgun]]
*[[Sniper Rifle|S2 AM Sniper Rifle]] (SRS99C)
*[[Rocket Launcher|M19 SSM Rocket Launcher]]
*[[M9 HE-DP Grenade]]
*[[M41 LAAG|Warthog's AA/chain gun]]


====Covenant Weapons====
As [[Tristan Taormino]] pointed out in her book ''[[The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women]]'', "Having anal sex does not mean that you will end up in adult diapers." This can happen in cases of rape (which is a violent act) and it can happen if alcohol or other drugs are used to excess (causing lack of bodily awareness); it doesn't happen if the participants use proper technique, communicate clearly, and are both consenting adults.


*[[Plasma Pistol]]
===Protective measures===
*[[Plasma Rifle]]
As the [[anus]] has no natural lubrication, [[personal lubricant|artificial lubrication]] is most often required or preferred when using such devices.
*[[Needler]]
*[[Shade]]
*[[Plasma Grenade]]
*[[Fuel Rod Gun]]


===Vehicles===
Because the [[vagina|vaginal opening]] is located so closely to the [[anus]], without [[safe sex|proper precautions]] it is not uncommon for sexual partners to spread bacteria from the anus into the vagina, as well as the urethra, the repercussions of which can include [[urinary tract infection]] (UTI), which can lead to infection of the kidneys. This is why many people who engage in anal sex use latex gloves (for their hands), or condoms (for dildos). It is also possible to take acceptable measures separate from such protection, which include (but are not limited to) hand washing and being conscious and wary of where one's hands and devices are placed.


The vehicles available to the player are listed below:
[[Condom]]s are alleged to be less effective and more prone to burst or slip during anal sex than vaginal sex. While one study estimates that condoms fail anywhere from 10% - 32% of the time during anal sex,<ref name="silverman1997">{{cite journal| last=Silverman| first= B G| coauthors= et al| title=Use and Effectiveness of Condoms During Anal Intercourse| journal=Sexually Transmitted Diseases| volume=24| issue=1| month=January| year=1997| pages=14}}</ref> [[SIECUS]]  indicates a much lower failure rate of 0.5 to 12%.<ref>[http://www.siecus.org/pubs/fact/fact0011.html]</ref>


*[[Warthog]] - UNSC Light Reconnaissance Vehicle
Some manufacturers offer "extra strong" condoms designed specifically for anal intercourse. These condoms, while stronger, are usually not coated with [[spermicide]] and so offer less protection against pregnancy should semen enter a woman's vagina, but will lessen the chance of irritation to the sensitive anus area.
*[[Scorpion Tank|Scorpion]] - UNSC Battle tank
*[[Ghost]] - Covenant Reconnaissance and Rapid Attack Vehicle
*[[Banshee]] - Covenant Aerial Assault Aircraft


Note that the Banshee is unavailable in multiplayer in the Xbox version.
In a 1998 joint conference of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, Jack Morin recommended [[Kegel]] exercises for people interested in anal sex to eliminate the possibility of loss of muscle tone, though he claimed he'd never observed muscle loosening himself and the comment was primarily concerned with insertion of fists and large objects.<ref>http://www.sexuality.org/morin98.html</ref>


There are also several vehicles that are not player controllable, like the UNSC [[Pelican|Pelican dropship]], and the Covenant [[Spirit]] dropship. The only tactically interesting of these vehicles is the Covenant [[Wraith|Wraith Mortar tank]], which fires large 'plasma bombs' in parabolic arcs towards its enemies. These bombs, if they score a direct hit, will often destroy vehicles or kill if the [[spartan]] is not equipped with an [[overshield]]. They can be taken down most effectively with explosive weapons such as the [[Scorpion Tank|Scorpion's]] main cannon, the [[Rocket Launcher|rocket launcher]], or the [[Banshee|Banshee's]] [[Fuel Rod Cannon|fuel rod cannon]].
The danger of cancer may be partially alleviated through the use of a new vaccine. According to Dr Anne Szarewski, "Men who have sex with men are at a much higher risk than average of anal cancer and genital warts, particularly if they are HIV-positive," and this population may also benefit from the     human papillomavirus vaccine, presently licensed for use in children.<ref>Michelle Roberts
BBC News health reporter, ''Gay men seek 'female cancer' jab'' [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6342105.stm]</ref>


===Environments===
==Legal issues==
{{main|Sodomy law}}


''Halo'' features a wide variety of environments in which combat occurs, including the human starship ''[[Pillar of Autumn Level|Pillar of Autumn]]'', the Covenant ship ''[[Truth and Reconciliation Level|Truth and Reconciliation]]'' and the Flood-infested version of that same ship in ''Keyes'', ancient buildings on Halo itself, and vast outdoor expanses of varying climates, including the temperate lands of the levels ''[[Silent Cartographer Level|The Silent Cartographer]]'' and ''[[Halo Level|Halo]]'', the desert in the first half of the level ''[[Truth and Reconciliation Level|Truth and Reconciliation]]'', the winter wasteland of the levels ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]'' and ''[[Two Betrayals]]'', and the spooky forests and swamps of the level ''[[343 Guilty Spark (Level)|343 Guilty Spark]]''. Six of the ten levels feature a substantial amount of combat outdoors.
The legal status of anal sex varies greatly between jurisdictions. From being completely open and legal, to being illegal for male to male participation, to only being legal in marriage or even totally outlawed. In some areas where anal sex may otherwise be legal and the participants are above the general [[age of consent]] there exists a higher age of consent for anal sex.


===Multiplayer===
===United States===
Until [[2003]], the status of whether anal sex was a crime varied from state to state.  In some states, the practice was illegal. New York,<ref>New York: ''[[People v. Onofre]]'', [[case citation|415 N.E.2d 936]] (N.Y. 1980)</ref> Montana,<ref>Montana: ''[[Gryczan v. Montana]]'', [[case citation|942 P.2d 112]] (1997)</ref> Kentucky,<ref>Kentucky: ''[[Commonwealth v. Wasson]]'', [[case citation|842 S.W.2d 487]] (1992)</ref> Pennsylvania,<ref>Pennsylvania: ''[[Commonwealth v. Bonadio]]'', [[case citation|490 Pa. 91, 415 A.2d 47]] (Pa. 1980)</ref> and Georgia<ref>Georgia: ''[[Powell v. Georgia]]'', [[case citation|270 Ga. 327, 510 S.E. 2d 18]] (1998)</ref> had their anti-sodomy laws challenged and struck down by state supreme court decisions, but other states, including Texas,<ref>Texas' appeals court upholds its anti-sodomy statute: ''[[Baker v. Wade]]'', [[553 F. Supp. 1121]] (N.D.Tex. 1982)</ref> upheld their state's laws criminalizing such conduct.


Up to 16 players can play together in one ''Halo'' game over a [[wikipedia:LAN|local area network]], using four Xbox's that have been connected through a [[wikipedia:ethernet|Ethernet]] hub, but also can be played on xbox connect which is a way of tunneling a connection via a pc. The game's seamless support for this type of play, as well as a few large maps that can comfortably hold up to 16 combatants, is a first for console games. The PC version of ''Halo'' officially adds online play and also new vehicles (the [[Banshee]] which previously only featured in single-player, and a version of the [[Warthog]] which features a tri-barrel rocket launcher) and weapons (the [[Fuel Rod Cannon]], sported by the spec-ops grunts on the last level, and the never seen before [[Flamethrower]]) for multiplayer.
The [[United States Supreme Court]], in [[1986]], decided the case of ''[[Bowers v. Hardwick]]'', [[case citation|478 U.S. 186]]. It decided there was no constitutional right to privacy with respect to acts of anal sex performed in the privacy of one's home. A Georgia law criminalizing consensual sodomy in the privacy of one's home was therefore found not to be unconstitutional. The [[Supreme Court of Georgia (U.S. state)|Supreme Court of Georgia]], in the case of ''[[Powell v. Georgia]]'' [[case citation|270 Ga. 327, 510 S.E. 2d 18]] (1998), however, later found that statute inconsistent with the Georgia state constitution.


'''[[Blood Gulch]]''' is one of the most commonly played multiplayer levels. The level contains two buildings at either end of the level, with open desert in between. Some of the features include a cave, in which experienced players may store vehicles, and cliffs that players can use to snipe their opponents. This level is also the location for the situation comedy [[Red vs Blue]]. A revamped version of [[Blood Gulch]] reappears in the sequel, [[Halo 2]] under the name [[Coagulation]], and there are some similarities, but the general map size is increased, with added use of caves, and the inclusion of the Banshee.
In 2003, the Supreme Court revisited ''Bowers'' in the case of ''[[Lawrence v. Texas]]'', [[case citation|539 U.S. 558]], and found the Texas law against consensual sodomy to be unconstitutional. This invalidated all statutes in the United States that would make consensual sodomy illegal.  The principle has also been held applicable in other cases; the [[Supreme Court of Virginia]] decided in ''[[Martin v. Ziherl]]'', [[case citation|607 S.E.2d 367]] (Va. 2005), that the generally unenforced law against [[fornication]] was unconstitutional based on ''Lawrence''.


==Storyline==
==Cultural issues==
Historically, a number of cultures have recorded the practice of male-male anal intercourse. The males who participated in such [[homosexuality|homosexual]] relationships often did not do so exclusively, as participation in these male-male relationships did not preclude sex with women. Such relations have also been documented as taking place in houses of prostitution, which provided youths or young men.


''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s storyline is linear; there is only one ending (in contrast to other first person shooters such as ''[[wikipedia:Deus Ex|Deus Ex]]'').  It is presented to the player through an instruction manual, scripted events and conversations during the game, and a number of cut-scenes rendered using the game's graphics engine. This method of storyline delivery is common among modern video games.  
===Ancient cultures===
[[Image:Halo.gif|thumb|Halo Art]]
The term "Greek love" has long been used to refer to the practice, and in modern times, "Doing it the Greek way" is sometimes used as [[slang]] for anal sex. However, the view that homosexual anal sex was a universally accepted practice in Ancient Greece may be misleading. In [[Ancient Greece]] the practice was the butt of jokes in surviving comedies. [[Aristophanes]] mockingly alludes to the practice, claiming that "Most citizens are europroktoi (wide-arsed) now."<ref>[http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Eleven-Comediesx46527.html]</ref> While [[Pederasty in ancient Greece|pedagogic pederasty]] was an important part of society, these relationships were not necessarily sexual. There are very few works of pottery and other art that display anal sex between older men and boys, or even adult men. There are many more such works depicting [[intercrural sex]], which was not condemned for feminizing the boys. Other sources make it clear that the practice was criticized as shameful.<ref>[[Aesop]], "Zeus and Shame" (Perry 109, Chambry 118, Gibbs 528), in ''Fables''</ref>
===Brief summary===


''Halo'', like previous Bungie releases such as the ''[[Marathon]]'' series, has an intricate plot.
Anal sex was considered permissible only with youths who had attained the proper age, but had not yet become adults. Seducing children into the practice was considered very shameful for the adult, and having such relations with a male who was no longer adolescent was considered more shameful for the male than for the one mounting him. Greek courtesans, or [[Hetaera|hetaerae]], are said to have frequently practiced heterosexual anal intercourse as a means of preventing pregnancy, a matter in dispute.{{Fact|date=January 2007}} How acceptable anal sex was may also have varied with the time-period and the location, as Ancient Greece spanned a long time and stretched over three continents and two major seas.  


The "Halo" in the title refers to an enormous artificial space habitat similar to a [[wikipedia:Culture Orbital|Culture Orbital]] discovered by the warship ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]'', which the central character, Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, is aboard. With the help of his fellow marines and the ship's [[artificial intelligence]], Cortana, the Master Chief discovers some of the secrets of Halo while fighting off members of [[The Covenant]], archenemies of humanity who, presumably, wish to find Halo's secrets for themselves.
For a male citizen to take the passive role in anal intercourse was (traditionally) frowned upon in Rome, while playing the active role with a young slave was more likely to be ignored. In fact the Romans thought of anal sex as something particularly "Greek".<ref>Quignard, Pascal (1996) ''Le Sexe et l'effroi''</ref> 


===Backstory===
[[Image:Suzuki Harunobu Shunga.jpg|thumb|Japanese [[shunga]]-style print]]


The events which transpire in ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay must be understood in the context of its backstory, created by Bungie and elaborated in several novels written after the release of the game.  A summary of this backstory is presented below.
In Japan, records (including detailed [[shunga]]) leave no question that at least some male-male couples did engage in penetrative anal intercourse.


====Early Conflicts====
Evidence suggestive of widespread heterosexual anal intercourse in a pre-modern culture can be found in the erotic vases, or stirrup-spout pots, made by the [[Moche]] people of Peru; in a survey<ref>Rafael Larco Hoyle and Dr. Francisco Guerra, quoted in Tannahill, Reay (1992) ''Sex in History'', p. 297-298</ref> of a collection of these pots, it was found that 31 percent of them depicted heterosexual anal intercourse, more by far than any other sex act.
{{main|United Nations Space Command}}
2160-2200: This is a period of brutal unrest in Human history in which Governments and Factions fight for control of Earth and its colonies.


As overpopulation and unrest mounted on Earth, a number of new political movements were formed including the left wing '''Koslovics''' led by Vladimir Koslov and the neofascist Jovian '''Frieden''' (which attacked the UN Colonial Advisors on the moon) and UN-sponsored military forces begin a pattern of massive buildups which culminated in the first Interplanetary and Rain Forest Wars of the Jovian Moons Campaign. After the successful Marine attack on Mars, recruitment drives and propaganda tactics strongly bolstered UNSC forces. They defeat the Koslovics and the Frieden on Earth and crush their remnants throughout the Solar System: both factions were defeated in the face of massive, unified UN military.
The 19th century anthropologist [[Richard Francis Burton]] has theorized that there is a geographical [[Sotadic zone]] wherein male/male penetrative intercourse is particularly prevalent and accepted; moreover he was one of the first writers to advance the premise that such an orientation is biologically determined.<ref name="burton1885">{{cite web| url=http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/burton-te.html| first=Sir Richard Francis| last=Burton| work="Terminal Essay", from his translation of The Arabian Nights| title=Section D: Pederasty| year=1885| accessdate=2006-04-03}}</ref>


====The Human Colonization of the Orion Arm====
===Western cultures===
{{main|United Nations Space Command}}
In many Western countries, anal sex has generally been thought [[taboo]] since the [[Middle Ages]] when [[Christian heresy|heretical]] movements were sometimes slandered by rumours that their members practiced anal sex among themselves. At that time the mainstream [[Christianity|Christian]] [[clergy]] was not celibate, but the highest orders of some heretical sects were, leading to rumours that their celibacy was a sign of their attraction to members of the same sex. The term ''[[buggery]]'' originated in [[medieval]] [[Europe]] as an insult used to describe the rumoured same-sex sexual practices of the heretics from the Buggre sect. This sect originated in medieval [[Bulgaria]], where its followers were called ''[[bogomil]]s'', but when they spread out of the country they were called ''buggres'' (from the [[ethnonym]] ''Bulgars''). Another term for the practice, more archaic, is "pedicate" from the [[Latin language|Latin]] ''pedicare,'' with the same meaning.<ref>"I have derived the word pedicate from the Latin paedicare or pedicare, meaning "to penetrate anally." in "The Warren Cup: homoerotic love and symposial rhetoric in silver," Note 6;''The Art Bulletin,'' March, 1999 by John Pollini [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0422/is_1_81/ai_54517307/pg_30]</ref>
In the year 2291, the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) successfully develop humanity's first [[Slipspace]] drive, the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine. For the first time in history, the rapid colonization of other worlds is made possible.  By 2390, 210 worlds have been occupied by humans, and are being actively terraformed to suit man's needs.  These worlds are to become known as the Inner Colonies. By 2490, the UNSC's fledging interstellar empire has expanded to over 800 planets throughout the [[wikipedia:orion arm|Orion Arm]] of the [[wikipedia:milky way galaxy|Milky Way Galaxy]].  During this period, the planet Reach becomes the headquarters of the UNSC military, and is destined to become the most heavily fortified world under human control.


====The Fall of the Outer Colonies====
While men who engaged in homosexual relationships were generally suspected of sodomy, many such individuals did not engage in the practice. Among these, in recent times, have been [[André Gide]], who for that reason was said to have been the pope of a religion to which he did not belong; [[Oscar Wilde]], who despite of being accused of being a "sodomite" by [[Lord Alfred Douglas]]' father actually was not; and [[Noel Coward]], who had a horror of disease, and asserted when young that "I'd never do anything - well the disgusting thing they do - because I know I could get something wrong with me."<ref>Philip Hoare, ''Noel Coward: A Biography'' p.18</ref>
{{main|United Nations Space Command}}
Cole's fleet manages a victory at Harvest, but at a high cost - two thirds of his ships are destroyed.  Despite significant tactical brilliance on the part of Human commanders, Covenant technology guarantees a four to one kill/loss ratio in most battles.  One by one, the Outer Colonies fall below the onslaught, and by 2535, virtually all have been destroyed.


====The Spartan Project====
===In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam===
{{main|Spartans}}
[[Image:Sodoma_-_Elluin.jpg|thumb|[[François Elluin]], ''Sodomites provoking divine wrath'', from ''Le pot-pourri'' ([[1781]])]]
By 2517, several years before contact with the Covenant was made, the UNSC military embarked on a secret project to create a group of elite soldiers that would deal with occasional unrest in the Colonies.  Codenamed SPARTANs, these [[Spartans#Augmentation_Procedures|genetically enhanced]] troops were trained from the age of 6 into a life of battle, and became a great asset against the Covenant. While humans suffered defeat after defeat in space, they could almost always prevail with the help of the SPARTANs in ground engagements.  The main character of ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay, the Master Chief, is a veteran SPARTAN. All SPARTANS were given special armor designated MJOLNIR, which can increase their strength and speed. They were the only ones who could wear it as those without special genetic enhancements (like the SPARTAN upgrades) killed themselves with strength enhanced convulsions.
This prohibition of the Abrahamic religions against anal sex has been promulgated under the rubric of "[[sodomy]]," which includes various other transgressions of a sexual nature, whether with men, women or animals, or, according to some, as "not supporting the poor and the needy." This idea is vividly brought to life in the popular interpretation of the story of Sodom, where the people were prone to sexual immorality, and as a result were destroyed.


====The Battle of Reach====
Orthodox Judaism teaches that sodomy is homosexual anal sex, and so, a sin and toevah, based on the Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. The [[Hebrew Bible]] injunction "Do not lie with a man the lyings of a woman; it is abhorrent." has led rabbinical scholars to conclude "these verses to prohibit anal sex between men without any exception."<ref>[http://www.rabbinevins.org/HHH%20Dorff%20Nevins%20Reisner%20Final2.pdf]</ref> However Judaism permits heterosexual anal sex, and the conservative, reform and reconstructionist branches of Judaism are accepting of homosexuality, but less so of sodomy.<ref>{{cite web
{{main|The Battle of Reach}}
  | last = Silver
By 2552, many of Humanity's Inner Colonies have been destroyed by the Covenant.  In a move of desperation, UNSC orders a secret plan to capture a Covenant ship using a SPARTAN task force and find the coordinates of their home planet.  A group of SPARTANs, led by the Master Chief, are chosen for this mission, and board a specially outfitted ship known as the ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]'' (under the command of Captain Jacob Keyes). This plan, however, is interrupted when the Covenant launch a surprise attack on the fortress world of Reach.
  | first = Ian
  | authorlink =
  | coauthors =
  | title = Homosexuality And Judaism
  | work =
  | publisher = ReligionFacts
  | date =  1995
  | url = http://www.betham.org/kulanu/iansilver.html
  | format =
  | doi =
  | accessdate = 2006-09-09 }}
</ref>


During this battle, Reach is overrun and glassed, and the human fleet is obliterated.  Worse still, the Master Chief thinks that all of the SPARTANs but himself are killed on the surface of the planet.  The (supposedly) last remaining SPARTAN, the Master Chief, escapes with the ''Pillar of Autumn''.  In accordance with the [[Cole Protocol]], the ''Autumn'' makes a blind slipspace jump, and emerges in the vicinity of an unexplored and remarkable world.
In Christian countries it has often been referred to euphemistically as the ''peccatum contra naturam'' (the sin against nature, after Thomas Aquinas) or ''Sodomitica luxuria'' (sodomitical lusts, in one of Charlemagne's ordinances), or ''peccatum illud horribile, inter christianos non nominandum'' (that horrible sin that among Christians is not named).


====Arrival at Halo====
Although some Christian denominations disapprove of anal sex, some believe it to be an acceptable part of human sexuality. A number of Christian churches confirm the importance of accepting and welcoming homosexuals into their communities, and protecting their civil rights - although the Catholic church preaches abstinence.  
{{main|Alpha Halo}}
The [[Pillar of Autumn]] exits [[slipspace]] to find a mysterious ring shaped space station orbiting a [[Threshold|gas giant]].  The ring, quickly named "Halo", is obviously artificial and teeming with life.  A [[Covenant]] fleet, however, is also present, and a subsequent battle heavily damages the [[Pillar of Autumn]].  [[Captain Keyes]] initiates the Cole protocol - all records of Earth's location are erased, and the Autumn is crash landed onto Halo.  The ship's [[AI]] construct, [[Cortana]], leaves the ''Autumn'' with the [[John-117|Master Chief]] in a [[Bumblebee]] escape pod which also crash lands on Halo. 
 
Gameplay begins in earnest with the Master Chief's escape from the ''Autumn'', and continues upon landing.  The player will soon discover the origins and purpose of this world - and uncover a threat that forces even the Covenant into retreat.
 
As a literary sidenote, the ring, "Halo", borrows heavily from the [[Ringworld]] of [[wikipedia:Larry Niven|Larry Niven]] and the [[wikipedia:Culture Orbital|Culture Orbital]]s of [[wikipedia:Iain M. Banks|Iain M. Banks]].
 
===Main Characters===
{{main|Characters}}
* The '''[[John-117|Master Chief]]:''' The only [[SPARTAN-II]] thought to have survived the battle of [[Reach]].  He is the character the player assumes during gameplay.
 
* '''[[Cortana]]:''' The [[Pillar of Autumn|Pillar of Autumn's]] [[AI]] construct, removed from the ship by the Master Chief in accordance with the [[Cole Protocol]].  During most of the game, Cortana is connected directly to the Master Chief's neural interface, and acts to deliver tactical information and mission objectives.
 
* '''[[Captain Keyes|Captain Jacob Keyes]]:''' The distinguished Captain of the ''Pillar of Autumn'', renowned for his tactical brilliance in key battles prior to the fall of Reach. He was also part of the expedition to find candidates for the SPARTAN project, the first of which was the Master Chief, subject/candidate 117.
 
* '''[[343 Guilty Spark]]:''' The [[Monitor]] of [[Installation 04]].
 
* '''[[Marine|The Marines]]:''' The Marines of the [[UNSC]] are the best, but are struggling and fighting a losing war against the [[Covenant]]. The marines are your allies in the game.
 
*'''[[Sergeant Johnson]] :''' Sergent Johnson commands [[Marines]] during the game. He also provides comic relief and is the only human besides the Master Chief who makes it back to Earth alive.
 
===In-game plot===
 
The first levels of the game deal with an attempt to reach Halo's control center to uncover its purpose. It is soon discovered that the Covenant have accidentally released [[The Flood]], a parasitic race which gets its name from the way it devastates potential hosts with sheer numbers. The Flood then sweep across Halo and devastate human and Covenant forces positioned on it. The release of the Flood prompts [[343 Guilty Spark]], an eccentric Artificial Intelligence, to try to activate Halo's defense system, a pulse weapon that, when fired, would wipe out all life in the galaxy large enough to be hosts for the Flood. Technically, that installation only has a maximum effective radius of 25,000 light years, but the pulse would trigger other installations as well, effectively killing all life in the galaxy. This system is designed to stop the Flood from spreading through the universe if they escape confinement from Halo by the only way possible: starving the Flood of any life source large enough to sustain them.
 
Naturally, this would wipe out Humanity as well, and so the final levels of the game revolve around the Master Chief's attempts to destroy Halo before it fires.
 
The game leaves the story open to further developments, with the revelation that there are several Halo ringworlds in the galaxy, due to Halo being numbered "Installation 04" by [[343 Guilty Spark]], the [[Monitor]] of the installation. It is revealed in [[Halo 2]] that there were seven (Bungie's [[List of "Seven" references in Halo|favorite number]]) Halos before [[Installation 04]]'s destruction.
 
==[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]==
[[Image:HaloSoundtrackCover.jpg|right|thumb|Cover Art]]
Halo Original Soundtrack, composed and produced by [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]] for the video game Halo: Combat Evolved, is one CD comprising 26 tracks. Some editions include a bonus DVD with game trailers for Halo 2. Most of the music from Halo: Combat Evolved is present on the CD, although some songs are remixed and some tracks are intermixed with others in medley form. It was released in 2001.
 
==Future developments==
 
The next episode in the ''Halo'' story, ''[[Halo 2]]'', was released on November 9, 2004. [http://www.bungie.net/News/Story.aspx?link=5B522E9E-A265-409E-9267-EB2EDCFD50B4] Like the previous fan-beloved ''[[Marathon]]'', ''Halo 2'' has a return of old characters and new technology in attempt to further a complicated plot line, the object of which is to be deciphered by the end.
 
A free [[wikipedia:modification|mod]] for the computer game series [[wikipedia:Battlefield 1942|Battlefield 1942]]/[[wikipedia:Battlefield Vietnam|Vietnam]] called [[wikipedia:Homefront (game)|Homefront]] features ''Halo''-esque and original content for online multiplayer games with up to 64 players. [http://www.planetbattlefield.com/homefront/]
 
Not only this mod, but many, can be found at various sites on the Internet at places like [http://www.halomods.com halomods.com], [http://www.halocity.org halocity.org] and more.  The customizable map option has become quite popular with the downloadable custom edition of the PC version, many maps can be found on these sites, ready to be opened and played.  These maps can be made with 3D Studio MAX and the Halo Editing Kit.
 
==Trailers==
In 2000 at E3, Bungie showed off a trailer of the upcoming game to the public. This trailer featured [[Marines]] along with the [[John-117|Master Chief]] scouting out a [[Forerunner]] structure and the [[Covenant]] fighting them. This trailer was before the conversion to the Xbox as an FPS. Originally the game was to be a RTS as a computer game.
 
*[[Halo E3 2000 Trailer]]
 
==Trivia==
The game was codenamed "[[Blam]]!" This phrase is now used to censor swear words on the [[Bungie]] forums. It was used to replace the original codename, "monkey nuts," which was used to ensure that the working name was not the name for the final game. "Blam" was used because project lead, [[Jason Jones]], couldn't say "monkey nuts" to his mother.


==Related Links==
==Related Links==

Revision as of 20:00, February 27, 2007

Template:ExceptionalArticle

Halo: Combat Evolved
File:Halo Cover.jpg
Developer: Bungie Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Release date: November 11, 2001
Genre: First-person shooter
Game modes: Campaign Mode, multiplayer
ESRB rating: Mature (M)
Platform: Xbox, PC, Mac
Media: CD, DVD

Anal sex or anal intercourse is a form of human sexual behavior. While there are many sexual acts involving the anus, anal cavity, sphincter valve and/or rectum, the term "anal sex" is often used to mean the insertion of the penis into the rectum. It is a form of sexual intercourse considered to be particularly risky, for a number of reasons related to the vulnerability of the tissues and the septic nature of the anus.[1]

Such relations have been documented in a wide range of cultures, from earliest times. Where they involved two males, they have also been controversial and sometimes condemned since antiquity. Anal sex is encountered among people of all sexual identities and orientations. While it is reported more frequently among male couples, in absolute numbers more heterosexual couples have anal sex.[2]

Penile-anal sex

Female receptive

In several cultures female receptive anal intercourse in a heterosexual context is widely accepted, especially as there is lower risk of unwanted pregnancy via unprotected anal intercourse (though this is not an absolute guarantee, since semen can leak from the anus, across the perineum, and enter the vagina). Anal sex is even sometimes seen as preserving female virginity, because it leaves the hymen intact. Another reason is that the anus is considered to be "tighter" than the vagina (especially right after a delivery), therefore yielding more tactile pleasure for the penis. The Renaissance poet Pietro Aretino strongly recommended the practice of anal sex in his Sonetti Lussuriosi (Lust Sonnets).[3]

The taboo surrounding anal sex is likely to do with hygiene but also may have its roots in supposed psychoses (deemed responsible for such "deviation"). It has been argued Template:Fact that a male heterosexual attraction to the practice has a basis in patriarchal mythologies surrounding a fear of the vagina and suspicion of women's sexual enjoyment and appetites (see succubus). Additionally, it is argued that the appeal of anal sex to many male heterosexuals is a fetish of the taboo, sometimes associated with feces and human waste, as well as of violence and domination, as anal sex practices can result in the bruising and tearing of tissue. Moreover, there have been arguments that the avoidance of the anus is essentially human escapism, a facade whereby man denies his excretory functions, and that, ergo, the practice of the act is merely a form of disillusionment (cf. Ernest Becker's The Denial of Death). Moreover, the social taboo surrounding anal sex could potentially be seen as an example of political and religious dogma affecting modern culture, whereby the taboo itself is materialized through initial observance of religious morals, for example those held by some branches of Christianity or Islam.

A curious pornographic film from about 1980, entitled The Last Days of Sodom and Gomorrah, posits that the 'cities on the plain" were plagued by over-population and threatened with famine. Accordingly, the city fathers made vaginal sex a crime and anal sex a sacrament. Eventually, things went for the worse for the cities and the city fathers.

From a utilitarian perspective it is also argued by some that the anus is a highly sensitive area with erogenous potential, providing ample opportunity for sexual arousal; that anal sex is a natural permutation of human sexuality, little different from oral sex or other noncoital contact; and that women can derive as much pleasure from the violation of taboos against non-traditional sexual practices as men can. Studies such as that done by Kinsey have suggested that approximately 35-40% of women who have experienced anal sex find it pleasurable, though this figure may vary depending on many factors.

Frequency

Edward O. Laumann's The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States found that about 20% of heterosexuals have engaged in anal sex, and sex researcher Alfred Kinsey found that number to be closer to 40%. More recently, a researcher from the University of British Columbia (quoted in the May 5 2005 issue of The Georgia Straight) puts the number of heterosexuals who regularly practice anal sex at between 30% and 50%. A French survey of five hundred female respondents concluded that a total of 29% had practiced anal sex, though only one third of these claimed to have enjoyed the experience.[4] Most recently, a 2006 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control determined that the incidence of anal relations in the heterosexual population is on the increase. The survey showed that 38.2 percent of men between 20 and 39 and 32.6 percent of women ages 18 to 44 engage in heterosexual anal sex. In 1992 a similiar survey found that only 25.6 percent of men 18 to 59 and 20.4 percent of women 18 to 59 practiced it.[5]

Male receptive

Among gay male couples who have anal sex, some comprise a true top and bottom, but this is not always the case: many men in such couples have anal sex as both top and bottom at different times, also known as "versatile" or "switch."

As with virtually any homosexual sex, in certain contexts male-male anal intercourse between males who otherwise identify as heterosexual is seen as a temporary behaviour to which they resort when confined in single-sex environments. Currently, such a situation is most likely to be found in prisons (see situational sexual behavior). Some men have sex with men without categorizing themselves as homosexual or bisexual.

Frequency

In modern times in Western cultures, anal sex has been popularly associated with homosexual or bisexual men. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, many gay men went to bathhouses to meet other men and have sex with them. Anal sex was common in these venues, as was reported by Randy Shilts in And the Band Played On. After the AIDS epidemic was well established, these bathhouses become controversial; in many cities, they were shut down by public-health authorities.

The occurrence of the practice, however, has varied widely; furthermore, the numbers in sexual surveys tend to reflect whether those surveyed have ever had anal sex or have had anal sex in the last year, instead of distinguishing between men who have simply tried it and men who regularly engage in it. In the 1950s in the United Kingdom, it was thought that only about fifteen percent of male homosexuals practiced the method, a number believed to be lower than that among heterosexuals.[6] The Gay Urban Men's Study (P.I. Stall, UCSF) and the Young Men's Study (YMS, PI Osmond/Catania, UCSF), indicate that 50% of men surveyed engage in anal sex. The Laumann study claims that 80% of homosexual men practice it, while the remaining 20% never engage in it at all.

Anatomical homologies

Though women can enjoy receptive anal intercourse, or even insertive anal intercourse for that matter, only men have penises and fully developed prostates, also known as "male G-spots" [7], "P-spots" or "A-spots".[8] The prostate is located near men's rectums and is the larger, more fully formed male homologue to the Skene's glands, also known as the "G-spot" [9] or "female prostate"[10] , which are located near women's vaginas.

Other types of anal sexuality

Although anal sex is traditionally achieved through penetration via penile insertion, it does not have to be the case. When the active partner is a female or a male who does not wish to use his penis, he or she might utilize other appendages, including but not limited to fingering and fisting. Anal-oral contact (the manipulation of the anus by the mouth and tongue) is also common, either by itself or in tandem with other acts intended to produce physical arousal and climax.

Such individuals might also choose to employ an artificial apparatus, primarily phallic reproductions (strap-on dildos), of which a diverse selection of style and manufacturer exists. Other accoutrements of a similar design are also often employed: these are generally engineered specifically for anal penetration (butt plugs). When the female is the penetrator and the receiver is a male, it is referred to as pegging.

Hygiene

Anal sex can be extremely messy - many people assume that it is necessarily so. But Nina Hartley, in Nina Hartley's Guide to Anal Sex, points out that anal sex is not necessarily messy, because the rectum is usually empty: it only contains a significant amount of feces at the point when it needs to be emptied. Once the rectum is emptied normally, it contains only trace amounts of feces: an enema could be used by the squeamish, but it is not mandatory.

Risks and protective measures

Anal sex exposes the participants to hazards of two kinds: infections, due to the high number of infectious microorganisms not found elsewhere on the body, and physical damage to the anus and the rectum due to their vulnerability. Inexperienced people can also find it painful.[11]

If a female conducts a self anal sex, it is still possible to spread bacteria from her own anus to her vagina, so precautions are still required.

Infectious diseases

Among the diseases with which anal sex is associated are HIV,[12] anal cancer,[13] typhoid fever[14] and various diseases associated with the infectious nature of fecal matter or sexual intercourse in general. Among these are: Amoebiasis; Chlamydia; Cryptosporidiosis; Giardiasis; Gonorrhea; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Herpes simplex; Human papillomavirus; Lymphogranuloma venereum; Pubic lice; Salmonellosis; Shigella; Syphilis; Tuberculosis.[15][16]

HIV/AIDS

The high concentration of white blood cells around the rectum, together with the risk of cuts to the rectum and that one of the functions of the rectum is to absorb fluid, increases the risk of HIV transmission because the HIV retrovirus reproduces within the immune system's T-cells/CD4 cells. Use of condoms and other precautions are a medically recommended way to lessen risk of infections. Unprotected receptive anal sex is the most risky sexual behavior in terms of HIV transmission.[17][18][19]

Physical damage

Physical damage to the rectum and anus can manifest as generalized ano-rectal trauma, hemorrhoids, anal fissures,[20] anal fistula and rectal prolapse. Damage is more likely if anal sex is done without consent, if alcohol or other drugs have dulled sensitivity, if communication is poor, or if technique is clumsy.

Incontinence

Incontinence has also been reported; the result of the anal sphincter losing its tonus.[21] A 1993 study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine found that out of a sample of forty individuals receiving anal intercourse, fourteen experienced episodes of frequent anal incontinence.[22] Though this study has been used by some to impute incontinence as a characteristic of male homosexuals, this is held to be a mistaken interpretation, as the conclusions of the study were contingent on the activity rather than on sexual orientation.[23]

As Tristan Taormino pointed out in her book The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women, "Having anal sex does not mean that you will end up in adult diapers." This can happen in cases of rape (which is a violent act) and it can happen if alcohol or other drugs are used to excess (causing lack of bodily awareness); it doesn't happen if the participants use proper technique, communicate clearly, and are both consenting adults.

Protective measures

As the anus has no natural lubrication, artificial lubrication is most often required or preferred when using such devices.

Because the vaginal opening is located so closely to the anus, without proper precautions it is not uncommon for sexual partners to spread bacteria from the anus into the vagina, as well as the urethra, the repercussions of which can include urinary tract infection (UTI), which can lead to infection of the kidneys. This is why many people who engage in anal sex use latex gloves (for their hands), or condoms (for dildos). It is also possible to take acceptable measures separate from such protection, which include (but are not limited to) hand washing and being conscious and wary of where one's hands and devices are placed.

Condoms are alleged to be less effective and more prone to burst or slip during anal sex than vaginal sex. While one study estimates that condoms fail anywhere from 10% - 32% of the time during anal sex,[24] SIECUS indicates a much lower failure rate of 0.5 to 12%.[25]

Some manufacturers offer "extra strong" condoms designed specifically for anal intercourse. These condoms, while stronger, are usually not coated with spermicide and so offer less protection against pregnancy should semen enter a woman's vagina, but will lessen the chance of irritation to the sensitive anus area.

In a 1998 joint conference of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, Jack Morin recommended Kegel exercises for people interested in anal sex to eliminate the possibility of loss of muscle tone, though he claimed he'd never observed muscle loosening himself and the comment was primarily concerned with insertion of fists and large objects.[26]

The danger of cancer may be partially alleviated through the use of a new vaccine. According to Dr Anne Szarewski, "Men who have sex with men are at a much higher risk than average of anal cancer and genital warts, particularly if they are HIV-positive," and this population may also benefit from the human papillomavirus vaccine, presently licensed for use in children.[27]

Legal issues

Main article: Sodomy law

The legal status of anal sex varies greatly between jurisdictions. From being completely open and legal, to being illegal for male to male participation, to only being legal in marriage or even totally outlawed. In some areas where anal sex may otherwise be legal and the participants are above the general age of consent there exists a higher age of consent for anal sex.

United States

Until 2003, the status of whether anal sex was a crime varied from state to state. In some states, the practice was illegal. New York,[28] Montana,[29] Kentucky,[30] Pennsylvania,[31] and Georgia[32] had their anti-sodomy laws challenged and struck down by state supreme court decisions, but other states, including Texas,[33] upheld their state's laws criminalizing such conduct.

The United States Supreme Court, in 1986, decided the case of Bowers v. Hardwick, 478 U.S. 186. It decided there was no constitutional right to privacy with respect to acts of anal sex performed in the privacy of one's home. A Georgia law criminalizing consensual sodomy in the privacy of one's home was therefore found not to be unconstitutional. The Supreme Court of Georgia, in the case of Powell v. Georgia 270 Ga. 327, 510 S.E. 2d 18 (1998), however, later found that statute inconsistent with the Georgia state constitution.

In 2003, the Supreme Court revisited Bowers in the case of Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558, and found the Texas law against consensual sodomy to be unconstitutional. This invalidated all statutes in the United States that would make consensual sodomy illegal. The principle has also been held applicable in other cases; the Supreme Court of Virginia decided in Martin v. Ziherl, 607 S.E.2d 367 (Va. 2005), that the generally unenforced law against fornication was unconstitutional based on Lawrence.

Cultural issues

Historically, a number of cultures have recorded the practice of male-male anal intercourse. The males who participated in such homosexual relationships often did not do so exclusively, as participation in these male-male relationships did not preclude sex with women. Such relations have also been documented as taking place in houses of prostitution, which provided youths or young men.

Ancient cultures

The term "Greek love" has long been used to refer to the practice, and in modern times, "Doing it the Greek way" is sometimes used as slang for anal sex. However, the view that homosexual anal sex was a universally accepted practice in Ancient Greece may be misleading. In Ancient Greece the practice was the butt of jokes in surviving comedies. Aristophanes mockingly alludes to the practice, claiming that "Most citizens are europroktoi (wide-arsed) now."[34] While pedagogic pederasty was an important part of society, these relationships were not necessarily sexual. There are very few works of pottery and other art that display anal sex between older men and boys, or even adult men. There are many more such works depicting intercrural sex, which was not condemned for feminizing the boys. Other sources make it clear that the practice was criticized as shameful.[35]

Anal sex was considered permissible only with youths who had attained the proper age, but had not yet become adults. Seducing children into the practice was considered very shameful for the adult, and having such relations with a male who was no longer adolescent was considered more shameful for the male than for the one mounting him. Greek courtesans, or hetaerae, are said to have frequently practiced heterosexual anal intercourse as a means of preventing pregnancy, a matter in dispute.Template:Fact How acceptable anal sex was may also have varied with the time-period and the location, as Ancient Greece spanned a long time and stretched over three continents and two major seas.

For a male citizen to take the passive role in anal intercourse was (traditionally) frowned upon in Rome, while playing the active role with a young slave was more likely to be ignored. In fact the Romans thought of anal sex as something particularly "Greek".[36]

File:Suzuki Harunobu Shunga.jpg
Japanese shunga-style print

In Japan, records (including detailed shunga) leave no question that at least some male-male couples did engage in penetrative anal intercourse.

Evidence suggestive of widespread heterosexual anal intercourse in a pre-modern culture can be found in the erotic vases, or stirrup-spout pots, made by the Moche people of Peru; in a survey[37] of a collection of these pots, it was found that 31 percent of them depicted heterosexual anal intercourse, more by far than any other sex act.

The 19th century anthropologist Richard Francis Burton has theorized that there is a geographical Sotadic zone wherein male/male penetrative intercourse is particularly prevalent and accepted; moreover he was one of the first writers to advance the premise that such an orientation is biologically determined.[38]

Western cultures

In many Western countries, anal sex has generally been thought taboo since the Middle Ages when heretical movements were sometimes slandered by rumours that their members practiced anal sex among themselves. At that time the mainstream Christian clergy was not celibate, but the highest orders of some heretical sects were, leading to rumours that their celibacy was a sign of their attraction to members of the same sex. The term buggery originated in medieval Europe as an insult used to describe the rumoured same-sex sexual practices of the heretics from the Buggre sect. This sect originated in medieval Bulgaria, where its followers were called bogomils, but when they spread out of the country they were called buggres (from the ethnonym Bulgars). Another term for the practice, more archaic, is "pedicate" from the Latin pedicare, with the same meaning.[39]

While men who engaged in homosexual relationships were generally suspected of sodomy, many such individuals did not engage in the practice. Among these, in recent times, have been André Gide, who for that reason was said to have been the pope of a religion to which he did not belong; Oscar Wilde, who despite of being accused of being a "sodomite" by Lord Alfred Douglas' father actually was not; and Noel Coward, who had a horror of disease, and asserted when young that "I'd never do anything - well the disgusting thing they do - because I know I could get something wrong with me."[40]

In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

File:Sodoma - Elluin.jpg
François Elluin, Sodomites provoking divine wrath, from Le pot-pourri (1781)

This prohibition of the Abrahamic religions against anal sex has been promulgated under the rubric of "sodomy," which includes various other transgressions of a sexual nature, whether with men, women or animals, or, according to some, as "not supporting the poor and the needy." This idea is vividly brought to life in the popular interpretation of the story of Sodom, where the people were prone to sexual immorality, and as a result were destroyed.

Orthodox Judaism teaches that sodomy is homosexual anal sex, and so, a sin and toevah, based on the Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. The Hebrew Bible injunction "Do not lie with a man the lyings of a woman; it is abhorrent." has led rabbinical scholars to conclude "these verses to prohibit anal sex between men without any exception."[41] However Judaism permits heterosexual anal sex, and the conservative, reform and reconstructionist branches of Judaism are accepting of homosexuality, but less so of sodomy.[42]

In Christian countries it has often been referred to euphemistically as the peccatum contra naturam (the sin against nature, after Thomas Aquinas) or Sodomitica luxuria (sodomitical lusts, in one of Charlemagne's ordinances), or peccatum illud horribile, inter christianos non nominandum (that horrible sin that among Christians is not named).

Although some Christian denominations disapprove of anal sex, some believe it to be an acceptable part of human sexuality. A number of Christian churches confirm the importance of accepting and welcoming homosexuals into their communities, and protecting their civil rights - although the Catholic church preaches abstinence.

Related Links

Internal

External

  1. ^ "Most of the time, condoms work well. However, condoms are more likely to break during anal sex than during vaginal sex. Thus, even with a condom, anal sex can be very risky. A person should use generous amounts of water-based lubricant in addition to the condom to reduce the chances of the condom breaking." Center for Disease Control; "Can I get HIV from anal sex?"
  2. ^ " There is a common misconception that anal sex is practised almost exclusively by gay men, but this is not true. It is thought that an estimated one third of male couples do not include anal intercourse in their lovemaking. About one third of heterosexual couples try it from time to time. It is thought that about 10 per cent of heterosexual couples have anal intercourse as a regular feature of their lovemaking. In absolute numbers, it is hypothesized that more heterosexual couples have anal sex than homosexual couples.Tiscali.lifestyle: anal sex
  3. ^ Daileader, Celia R. "Back Door Sex: Renaissance Gynosodomy, Aretino, and the Exotic" English Literary History, Volume 69, Number 2, Summer 2002, pp. 303-334
  4. ^ Survey carried out by TNS/Sofres in a representative sample of 500 women from 18 to 65 years of age, in April and May, 2002. sondage TNS/Sofres sexualité de 2001
  5. ^ http://nymag.com/nightlife/mating/25988/index.html?imw=Y
  6. ^ H. Montgomery Hyde, The Love That Dared not Speak its Name; pp.6-7
  7. ^ www.askmen.com/love/vanessa/23_love_secrets.html
  8. ^ http://www.talksexwithsue.com/Aspot.html
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  14. ^ "In August 2000, the Ohio Department of Health reported a cluster of men with typhoid fever who denied having traveled abroad. To determine the cause and the extent of the outbreak, an epidemiological investigation was initiated in which 7 persons in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana with culture-confirmed Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi infection and 2 persons with probable typhoid fever were evaluated; all were men, and all but one reported having had sex with 1 asymptomatic male S. Typhi carrier." [5]
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  21. ^ Net Doctor - Sex and Relationships [13]
  22. ^ "Effect of anoreceptive intercourse on anorectal function" AJ Miles, TG Allen-Mersh and C Wastell, Department of Surgery, Westminster Hospital, London; in Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Vol 86, Issue 3 144-147; 1993 [14]
  23. ^ All Experts - Fecal Incontinence[15]
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  26. ^ http://www.sexuality.org/morin98.html
  27. ^ Michelle Roberts BBC News health reporter, Gay men seek 'female cancer' jab [17]
  28. ^ New York: People v. Onofre, 415 N.E.2d 936 (N.Y. 1980)
  29. ^ Montana: Gryczan v. Montana, 942 P.2d 112 (1997)
  30. ^ Kentucky: Commonwealth v. Wasson, 842 S.W.2d 487 (1992)
  31. ^ Pennsylvania: Commonwealth v. Bonadio, 490 Pa. 91, 415 A.2d 47 (Pa. 1980)
  32. ^ Georgia: Powell v. Georgia, 270 Ga. 327, 510 S.E. 2d 18 (1998)
  33. ^ Texas' appeals court upholds its anti-sodomy statute: Baker v. Wade, 553 F. Supp. 1121 (N.D.Tex. 1982)
  34. ^ [18]
  35. ^ Aesop, "Zeus and Shame" (Perry 109, Chambry 118, Gibbs 528), in Fables
  36. ^ Quignard, Pascal (1996) Le Sexe et l'effroi
  37. ^ Rafael Larco Hoyle and Dr. Francisco Guerra, quoted in Tannahill, Reay (1992) Sex in History, p. 297-298
  38. ^ Template:Cite web
  39. ^ "I have derived the word pedicate from the Latin paedicare or pedicare, meaning "to penetrate anally." in "The Warren Cup: homoerotic love and symposial rhetoric in silver," Note 6;The Art Bulletin, March, 1999 by John Pollini [19]
  40. ^ Philip Hoare, Noel Coward: A Biography p.18
  41. ^ [20]
  42. ^ Template:Cite web
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