Re: boys views requested please
LD, really disappointed you brought Islam into this.
Anyway, the question is Dealing with the past. Any 'intelligent' person would know that when you and your potential mate has a past, you should talk and sort things out with honesty. There are certain things you can do to avoid misconceptions; like avoid generaliztions means do not think everyone is same and stop judging people with the same yard-stick. Remember things that can't kill you will make you stronger. Do not go into any preception of 'I am way too strong'. A lesson lived is a lesson learned, we learn from past experiences. Relationships, regardless of sexual or non-sexual, teaches us something about ourselves and others. Last but not least, follow your instincts, if you think that the person is bad or will hurt you, which by the way most of the people know before going into ANY relationship, just do go stupid! Understand that there is no one important than you and you are the only one who can take care of yourself better.
The worst thing is to take things to the extreme meaning being way to soft to let people walk all over you to becoming macho and stiff that no one has a chance to enter into your heart and soul. Just show moderation and try to put the past behind.