flea says what I was thinking. It's hard for someone inclined to use the word "slut" to really consider whether those numbers consist of guys that were well-chosen. The denotation is lots of guys. The connotation is indiscriminate.

"He's a slut for new technology,"

I would take it as "he would do anything for new technology, even sleep with the whole department if necessary".

I agree that it's primarily used to describe women - otherwise "male" is appended. I've neve heard he term "female slut," and it feels redundant. Also, the woman in question may not have even had sex a all; her peers may just not like who she flirts with and want to ruin her reputation. I do not use the word.

eta uggh, iPhone typing.

What everyone else said on the slut thing. Some of it also not about the persons they sleep with but the circumstances? Like, it's not that she sleeps with skanky losers or jerks or whatever, but Luke, has one night stands or sleeps with someone after not knowing them long? For ita's "indiscriminate" category.

And in this scenario, does it mean he uses a lot of new technology, or that he'll use any old new technology, and not apply much discretion to it?

Not as familiar with this use, but I'd interpret as "buying any and every new gadget that comes on the market, regardless of whether he needs it or even has a use for it."

In the sexual sense, I usually interpret as "has had more partners or is less discriminating in choice of partners than the speaker approves." So I see use of the word in that sense as a commentary on the speaker at least as much as on the person spoken about. But that's just me, and I suspect a minority view.

I do think indiscriminate and "a lot" in general run together - presumably it's pretty hard to have sex with 100 people and be discriminating?

Yeah, this. I actually think "slut" implies a lack of choosiness more than a lot of sex partners.

A bookstore that sells one book.

Although I have usually seen slut applied to women, I don't think I've encountered (or not notably) "male slut" or similar modifiers. It's just not used to refer to men as much in my experience.

I actually think "slut" implies a lack of choosiness more than a lot of sex partners.

That's pretty much where I am with it, but having read a recent article, some people were just referring to quantity.

And, yeah, I might be a slut for sleeping with the right guy if I sleep with him after only knowing him for ten minutes, and perfectly cromulent if I wait until the third date or whatever.

When I think about reclaiming, I prefer the adjective, not the noun -- sleeping with a guy after knowing him for ten minutes might be slutty, but it doesn't make you A Slut. I guess. Especially if it's a numbers game -- maybe you only have sex every five years, but each time it's with someone you just met.

Oh, for the love of god, no.

maybe you only have sex every five years, but each time it's with someone you just met.

No, I think I'm still a slut.

Oh, god, my head hurts and I just want to expire.