Is it in the Genes?

[maebach]

get out of the house. is any body a doctor here? they should have a better explenation.

[Busyman]

If you want to stir up trouble at a party-or better still, a bar-try bringing up the question of whether homosexuality is something people are born with or something they choose.

But it is refuted by those-generally on the religious right-who have a stake in believing that homosexuality is a personal choice rather than an inborn trait.

It's neither.

[bigboab]

If you want to stir up trouble at a party-or better still, a bar-try bringing up the question of whether homosexuality is something people are born with or something they choose.

But it is refuted by those-generally on the religious right-who have a stake in believing that homosexuality is a personal choice rather than an inborn trait.

It's neither.

If it is neither, then what is it?

[JPaul]

If you want to stir up trouble at a party-or better still, a bar-try bringing up the question of whether homosexuality is something people are born with or something they choose.

But it is refuted by those-generally on the religious right-who have a stake in believing that homosexuality is a personal choice rather than an inborn trait.

It's neither.

Or both, plus other factors, possibly.

[Busyman]

It's neither.

If it is neither, then what is it?

Prove why your favorite color is what it is.

[Busyman]

It's neither.

Or both, plus other factors, possibly.

You can't choose attraction.

You can choose to act on it.

[JPaul]

Or both, plus other factors, possibly.

You can't choose attraction.

You can choose to act on it.

Exactly.

Tho' I tend to think attraction is the product, to a certain extent, of environmental conditioning.

One only has to look at how things have changed over the years, from the models of Reuben to the modern super model.



It may be a case of life reflecting art. We are told what is attractive and we come to accept it.

I can see no genetic or chemical reason for this, ergo it is based on conditioning.

[Busyman]

You can't choose attraction.

You can choose to act on it.

Exactly.

Tho' I tend to think attraction is the product, to a certain extent, of environmental conditioning.

One only has to look at how things have changed over the years, from the models of Reuben to the modern super model.



It may be a case of life reflecting art. We are told what is attractive and we come to accept it.

I can see no genetic or chemical reason for this, ergo it is based on conditioning.

The thing is those that believe it's genetic/chemical have conveniently drawn the line at the gender.

I believe ANYONE under the right circumstance could be/could have been homosexual/bisexual.

I believe what one finds attractive/unattractive now, could change.

[JPaul]

Which is why I believe it is a combination of factors.

Genetics, nurturing by parents, environmental conditioning.

I do not know if everyone is potentially homosexual / bisexual. However I think there are three main aspects to be considered

1. Whether a person is potentially homosexual / bisexual and in your scenario (where you beleive everyone is) to what extent the person is pre-disposed.

2. Whether the persons upbringing tends to make that aspect of their personality come to the fore.

3. Whether the person accepts this and lives the lifestyle, or fights it and does not accept their real self.

[hobbes]

The perception of what is beautiful varies from culture to culture and changes over time.

Both men and women are beautiful and this can be appreciated by both genders. That is the realm of aesthetics.

Asthetics are rather a non-issue in regard to nature. We are machines programmed to do one thing- procreate. This is what we call a "selected" trait. If you can't make insulin, your gene pool dies. If you don't procreate, your gene pool dies.

So attraction toward a gender which allows your genes to prosper is of paramount importance and therefore fundamentally different than your favorite color. Nature doesn't care what color you like, just as long as you make babies.

Color preference is NOT inherited. It is influenced by life experiences and aesthetics. My Indian co-workers definitely choose different colors to dress themselves in as these colors are more flattering to their skin color. We all, to some degree, have a concept of color coordination. If we don't, other people let us know. My favorite color is navy blue, because that is the color that attracts the most positive response from females. When I was a child, my favorite color was green, because that is the color of money. If I get a good tan, my favorite color is white.

So one choice effects the propagation of our gene pool, which is what we were made to do. The other has no bearing on survival or procreation, whatsoever, and if we think about, we CAN actually come up with a reason for why we chose a favorite color.

It is important to look at the big picture. We think that someone living to 90 is old, but what is that in relation to 10,000 years. Why do we die? The truth is that our genomes shut us down. We kill ourselves. This shut down mode starts as soon as our reproductive capabilities slow down.


Arousal is the distinquishing element. Your taste in women may change, but it will always be women, and never men, unless you are homosexual or bisexual.

I would go so far as to say that if you engage in sex with men simply for the orgasm, but are not aroused by them, you are not gay, you are kinda gross though. It is more like social masturbation. If you want to lay around on the couch and cuddle with men and watch a movie, you are definitely gay.

I may change what I find most attractive, but I won't change the gender.

I think extreme early trauma can alter a child, such a molestation by a trusted family member, but this is rather a "learned aversion" type situation.

I think children brought up in a culture that scorns heterosexual behavior, will just create a lot of conflicted children. Why do I feel this way when everyone says it's wrong. Why do I go against the grain. I don't want to feel the way I do.

And that is what we see with our gay population. They ARE gay despite not wanting to be. Despite execution in some societies, despite becoming a family outcast, despite being ostracized in the community. Some do cave in to society and get married, they want to be straight, they want to be normal. Then 10 years down the road they come out of the closet. They say that they have always been gay.

A choice, a decision to be like a "mom" they admire? Seems to me most people are kicking and screaming against this lifestyle. As jpol says some people just accept it and live comfortably, others live a secret life and others are riddled with guilt.