(GLOBE AND MAIL) 18 July 2007:

Researchers at the University of Texas have studied the reasons why people have sex. Apparently there are some 237 different possible ones. Love and attraction figured largely, but other responses were in order to gain a promotion, in order to get closer to God, revenge, to get rid of a headache or simply to get warm. One reason offered, that it burns calories, is certainly true, but surely there are better justifications than “overcoming boredom”?

There were no great differences is reasons offered by men and women: the real surprise is that no one seems to have mentioned the most obvious reason: it’s fun.