SOLVED. Short Story Where Talking is Taboo and Sex is Communication. [s]

[Wigs]

Hey I'm trying to remember the name of a short story I read in high school. I remember I read it in 2003 so it could not be published after that but I think it was written in the 80s or 90s. No clue but it's just a guess.

In the story, and I believe it might have revolved around students, talking was not allowed or a taboo thing in the way that sex is, and sex was the way people communicated. Essentially the roles of sex and speaking were switched. I think it was supposed to be a statement about how nobody gets to know each other anymore.

Does anyone know the name of this story or who wrote it?

[Andy]

This reminds me of Disch's "The Man Who Had No Idea" in which people needed a license in order to have conversations with other people; probably not the same story though

[Wigs]

Yea, it's not the same, but thanks for the suggestion!

[Cheryl]

What an intriguing story. I wonder, though, if it was written specifically for students, and never got wider circulation.

In any case, we can try! Please bump this thread every month or two so more people who might know can see it.

[Cheryl]

Oh, and, for a link to Andy's suggestion: The Man Who Had No Idea

[Wigs]

It's possible it's a student oriented story however I found out about it because my friend had told me about it one time during gym class, and I looked it up online when I got home and read a pdf of the story. I know it exists online somewhere I just wish I remembered the keywords I used to look it up ten years ago!

[Cheryl]

Ah - ok, then try www.isfdb.org. :)

[Lorna]

Sounds like "Do You Want My Opinion?" by M.E. Kerr.

[Wigs]

Perfect! You solved it :) it always got me that the teacher kisses the student in class :0

[Andy]

It's in Sixteen: Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults

[Michele]

"Do you want my opinion?" is also available online.