U.S. Government Spent $432,000 Studying Gay Hookup Apps in 2014 Because It’s Running Out Of Shit To Blow Cash On

Dillon Cheverere11 years ago

The United States’ national deficit is currently sitting at a respectable $18 trillion and some change. That’s “trillion” with a T. A trillion is a thousand billion. That’s a one, an eight, and about a hundred zeros. Granted, some of that money is spent on cool shit, like fighter jets that are invisible to radar, for example, but some of these funds are blown on real head-scratchers.

Did you know that the 2014 national budget included $432,000 earmarked for a group at Columbia University to research gay hookup apps?

From the Washington Free Beacon:

The government awarded $432,000 to Columbia University to interview gay men who use GPS dating apps and determine whether it increases their likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behavior.

“Smartphone technologies have provided a new venue for sexual partnering among men who have sex with men (MSM),” the grant for the project states. “Indeed, there are a rapidly growing number of smartphone applications designed to facilitate sexual partnering among MSM.”

The study suggests that gay men are hooking up more frequently due to apps such as Grindr, which uses GPS technology to locate other men.

Exactly, Martha. And?

It’s unclear exactly why this study was conducted. The data — which is common sense stuff that shouldn’t require a dime to determine — tells us these apps are hooking gay guys up at a higher rate, but the linked article doesn’t reveal why exactly this data was needed, or why the federal government chose to study homosexuals as opposed to the general population.

In the whole scheme of things, 432 grand is a drop in the bucket in terms of the U.S. national budget, but, uh, people we elected into office legitimately signed off on allocating this money to research apps that are designed for gay dudes to hook up and share boner pics. It seems rather frivolous and is no different than budgeting funds to study why those cheeky swimsuit bottoms are so hot right now, or why boobs are good, or the direct correlation between the level of crazy and the number of selfies a girl takes per day.

“So, what’d you guys find?”

“Whole lotta dicks.”

Just spend money on more useful stuff. I don’t know..

[via The Washington Free Beacon]

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