Anyone's "number" is no one else's business. The only thing anyone has a right to know is if you've got any STDs. Or stalkers. Or outstanding warrants that might get them shot inadvertently.

I don't need to know how many sexual partners someone has had before I came into the picture.
I appreciate experience and do not care where they got it.

Fairly certain I would not answer such a question either.

Sometimes, I think my answer should be "enough," but the reality is that my answer is "not enough."

You know, since I'd like to have sex again at some point. And it's not likely I'd return to a former partner, so... yeah.

The old rule of thumb used to be however many partners a man said divide by five and you'll be closer to the truth and if it was a woman multiply by ten.
A friends husband of many years and six kids once felt he had to do the grand confession and admitted to having had 6 or 8 partners before they'd met and she didn't say a word went white as a sheet, so he apologized profusely and she told him it was alright. What he didn't realise is the reason she went as white as a sheet was because she was afraid he was going to ask her how many she'd had, the number was far larger.

"Have you been tested recently" might be a better question.

It's not important but it is interesting to know. I wouldn't push the question early on in a relationship if my girlfriend was embarrassed to answer ... if we stayed together then I'm sure it would come out, or at least we'd talk about it at some time. I've had very few sexual partners - just never found dating easy so filled my life with fun hobbies and kept busy at work, hoping a nice girl would find me. When I did find a girl we were together a long time before breaking up, and we still chat regularly.

I'm just curious is all. I liked to know what I was getting onto--er, into...

Its more concerning to me if you've have 0 partners than if you've had 100*.

If you don't want to tell me it's cool. I don't have any shame about my number, though. Girls these days have more sexual partners by their sophomore year of HS than I've had my whole life. Whatevs.

• All necessary sexual health stuff aside

I'm just nosey. LOL

Sometimes I just blurt it out myself if I am with open-minded company. I find it humorous so I talk about it when the crowd is right. If they have to ask, they are gonna get embarrassed. I will answer, "Including your mom and your sister?" That'll get em.

I always talk sexual history at the beginning of a relationship, but it isn't remotely about the number of partners. It's all about assessing risk of infection. As far as I'm concerned, their most recent negative STI screening sets the counter back to zero. I'm interested only in the risks that they have taken since that test.

So the actual number, I'd consider none of my business. Their sexual history, very much so.

Once the lids off this kind of box there's no getting it Back on ... I can foresee big problems ....

I wouldn't ask. I'm 58. I first had sex when I was 13. I don't think I've had loads of partners but i certainly can't remember everyone, so at best I could only give a guesstimate

If you ask ,there is a good possibility they are going to give you the answer you want to hear and not the truth so why ask in the first place

Gee, I can see it having a chilling effect, but I don't think it is an unfair question.

Not sure why it would matter, but I am asked it kind of often. I never inquire about their total, as it truly makes no difference. My answer does not take my dick out of any past partners, or remove the ones they have had inside them. Only the insecure want to know

I like to know, just for risk analysis. I don't mind if I am asked. I guess it could be offensive if the person was judgmental or jealous about it.

Did you ever see "Don Juan Dimarco" with Johnny Depp ????

If they are currently seeing those partners it's a slightly different matter. That's a subject for negotiation between the parties involved.

The real question is, why do you want to know?

That question is just a reflection of the degree of intimacy. There is nothing negative about a high or low number so why not share? It can be a turn-on to talk about.

No good can come from the answer.

i see most folks seem its not appropriate ,,I feel it is and not a big deal.. well I guess I'm an open book ...lol

I am interested in knowing just out of sheer curiosity...but I also know that it's none of my business. If we are having a conversation about partners or something relayed, I might ask. I am not offended if they would rather not say.

I know my wife slept with a few men before we met. I don't think it's any of my business, and I don't really want to know who, or how many.

I am 64 and Latino that had lived all over half the creation. Do you want to ask me that question? I wouldn't and I had never asked that question to any one I ever met.