Bracelet Fad Among Middle-Schoolers Said Linked to Sex

The (Ocala) Ledger ^ | 10.14.03 | STEVEN RAY HABERLIN

[mhking]

OCALA -- Raymond Andrews had no idea that the bracelets his sixth-grade daughter purchased this summer were related to sex.

However, after speaking to other parents, he learned this new fad among middle school students was something he didn't want his kids involved with. His daughter promised to do away with the bracelets, but not before asking some pretty uncomfortable questions.

"That gets me concerned," said Andrews, whose children attend Belleview Middle School. "If they need to ban these jelly bracelets, they need to ban them."

A new trend, which has some parents and school officials concerned and may very well shock others, has surfaced in Marion County. The newest twist on Truth or Dare, the game involves wearing colored rubber bracelets, which have various meanings, some sexual.

Students break the bracelets off one another and then are supposedly entitled to specific acts, some as innocent as a hug, others sexually explicit.

The trend, which seems to exist strictly among middle school students, is a bigger problem on some campuses than others. One school banned the bracelets last month after discovering their meaning.

Plastic bracelets became the rage among teens in the 1980s with pop stars such as Madonna sporting them on their arms and ankles. In recent years, the fashion has made a comeback among young people.

Students say the bracelets, and their hidden meanings, became popular during the last school year. Inside classrooms and hallways, students -- boys and girls -- would grab at each other's bracelets, hoping to snap one off.

Though there is talk of Web sites providing codes, the various meanings behind the bracelets apparently are devised by students and have no consistency. However, some of the meanings may come as a surprise to parents. One e-mail from a teacher concerning the sixth-grade code stated that a red bracelet stands for a "lap dance" while a blue one symbolized oral sex.

"Last year, it was like a big thing for some kids," said Melissa Radley, a sixth-grader at Fort McCoy School, who no longer wears the bracelets. "I just like the fashion stuff. I said, `I'm not doing that. It's stupid.' "

The inexpensive bracelets are a top-seller at Claire's, said an employee at the Paddock Mall store, which began carrying the item this spring.

Reports of the bracelets causing controversy have surfaced in Central Florida as well as South Florida.

Officials as well as students say the bracelets are mainly a childish game, where the related acts are seldom, or ever, carried out.

But sex, researchers say, is on the minds of more and more middle school students. A recent study shows that one out of five have had sexual intercourse by age 15. One out of seven get pregnant by the same age.

Steven Ray Haberlin writes for the Star-Banner in Ocala.

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

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[Pan_Yans Wife]

Pan_Yan used to come home from a day at working in the shipyard with one or two of these black rings on his fingers.

In Navy lingo, they are called "o-rings". LOL

[Support Free Republic]

Thank you Freepers!

[Servant of the 9]

At least they are asking and granting permission first.
I think it's an improvement in civility over the average teen.

So9

[EggsAckley]

The trend, which seems to exist strictly among middle school students

Bull. I met a 34 y.o. woman this summer who was wearing them.

[ChemistCat]

A recent study shows that one out of five have had sexual intercourse by age 15. One out of seven get pregnant by the same age.

That's an interesting study. More than 3.5 out of every 7 15 year olds can't get pregnant, being male. That means, presumably, that one of every 3.5 15 year old girls gets pregnant at or before that age. Note they said only one out of five has actually had intercourse. 1/5 is a smaller number than 1/3.5.

There are a lot of camels and kings heading out all over this land....

[ChemistCat]

Oh, and most 15 year olds are in High School, not middle school.

[Khurkris]

"In Navy lingo, they are called "o-rings".

Hmmmm...the 'O Face' as in Office Space...the movie.

[Clara Lou]

Anybody got a link to a pic? I want to be on the lookout for these at my school.

[Dog Gone]

I bought two dozen of these bracelets, and they don't work.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

You are BAD!

But, I laughed! :)

[ChemistCat]

I just wanted to know what they look like, so I could forbid them intelligently. :-)

[Slings and Arrows]

That's an interesting study. More than 3.5 out of every 7 15 year olds can't get pregnant, being male. That means, presumably, that one of every 3.5 15 year old girls gets pregnant at or before that age. Note they said only one out of five has actually had intercourse. 1/5 is a smaller number than 1/3.5.

There are 3 kinds of people in the world: Those who can count, and those who can't. ;^)

[Gritty]

But sex, researchers say, is on the minds of more and more middle school students. A recent study shows that one out of five have had sexual intercourse by age 15.

It's a good thing they get all the sex education courses in school they do.

Otherwise, they might get into some sort of sexual trouble at such a young and tender age, what with all those nasty sexual temptations going on around them!

[Willie Green]

I don't know what banning bracelets is going to do.
Horny little kid's are gonna find a way to grab each other anyway.
Parental values have to be instilled looooong before that.

[null and void]

There are 3 kinds of people in the world: Those who can count, and those who can't. ;^)

There are two kinds of people in the world: Those who divide people into two kinds, and those who don't...

[jocon307]

This has nothing to do with bracelets.

[DollyCali]

Bull. I met a 34 y.o. woman this summer who was wearing them.

YIKES ! Ihope you didn't pull off her bracelet !

*G*

[goldstategop]

Must be a Svengeli Effect. Bracelets = Sex. I've never heard of plastic bracelets being an aphrodisiac before.