 What does the author mean when stating: "And the people were grateful"?
Deb and I have what seems to us to be a perfectly fine amorous life, yet everywhere I turn the culture tells me--almost mocks me-- you can do better! What would happen to our sex life then, if Deb (who participated in this story because she loves me and because she has tenure) and I tried for the first time to make something happen to it? Which sort of works--the only sexual thrill I got from the visit was knowing that Microsoft just bought a cock ring. A woman I know says women's magazines are the best places in America to find sex tips. You're much more likely to land on "Try phone sex, dirty notes, porn videos, fantasy games and sex in new places. ...
 Since Americans are having considerably less sex than was generally thought, people were relieved for the opportunity to openly speak of sexual matters.
 Serious-minded people enjoyed the opportunity to discuss sexual matters because they wanted to investigate why the average American adult is sexually deprived.  People like to gossip about other people's private sexual lives.  President Clinton's approval ratings stayed up because people love sex scandals and found themselves justified in openly speaking of these matters.  Since Americans are having considerably less sex than was generally thought, people were relieved for the opportunity to openly speak of sexual matters.