Furtopia | Family Friendly Furry Forum and IRC Chat!
not-so-furry discussion => debate forum => Topic started by: Kobuk on September 05, 2012, 12:57:34 pm
-
I've often wondered the following: What makes a person gay? Why do people become gay and are attracted to the same sex?
Does it have to do with any of the following?
* The way we were brought up/raised?
* Genetics, Hormonal imbalance, or other medical condition?
* Appearence/Personality of another person?
* Are we afraid to be with another person of the opposite sex because we feel we may be rejected by them in some way? Do people feel like there isn't anybody "special" out there for them of the opposite sex who wouldn't understand you, love you, etc.?
Or anything else?
Post your thoughts and discuss.
-
It is a hormonal inbalance for some. Others just like the personality. Only a few are afraid of the oppisite sex.
-
Well, my two best friends are gay. And, I have asked them the same question. They always say they were born that way. That they have always found the opposite sex appealing in some way or another. So, in my opinion I think that it's just in their blood. Like the way some furries feel extremely connected to their fursona animal. I don't think it has anything to do with how you were raised. My best friend was raised in an extremley "manly" home where everyone went hunting and grew enormous beards. :o So, it's just something they were born with I believe.
-
I agree :D Ok... Am I the only person in history on this site to have a gay furry?
-
I have gay chars, lots of us are gay.
But, to answer Kobuk, I think it is a combo of birth and upbringing. I have heard of twins who were both gay, or one is gay and the other isn't. Imho, I think we are all able to be attracted to anyone of any gender at birth. But over time most of us choose. others, like me, don't or can't because, at least for me, I just can't stop it.
-
OMG thank god! lol I am a twin! :) My brother isn't gay :o.
I wanted to know if you could roleplay on my thread? It is the one Going to College...
-
MattJF15 - It's more rare I found to find a straight furry than a gay one. (: I am often the odd ball out between my furry friends because almost all of them are gay/bi/trans/whatever. That's alright though. Gay people are more fun anywho. ;)
As for Kobuk's question. I believe, whether we like it or not, sexual attraction is driven by an internal animal instinct. That thing that tells a dog it's the right time to make puppies is a good way of putting it. For instance, I am attracted to woman. Plain and simple. I am not capable of actually being attracted to a guy sexually. I don't think it's the way you're raised because most people raised by a gay couple turn out straight, but with an understanding for gays. I think it is similar to the breakdown of how you are attracted to someone. Like some guys are attracted to the hips whilst others look towards the chest. It's sort of like that, but maybe more ingrained into you. This may be a result of the formation of chemicals in your brain. Not an imbalance, but a different arrangement so to speak.
-
My two cents, I think genetics puts the potential there and life experience does the rest. (http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/098/e/e/ee8e1b3adc96fa9966daa4141c32c51e.gif)
-
I agree. :D lol this explains why im gay...
-
As a Christian, it is sinful to engage in homosexual practices. Homosexuality is not genetic, you are not born with it. It is a byproduct of sin and the deception of Satan. The deception is that it makes people think homosexuality is natural, and innocent, but really, it's not. People are not built to have sex with members of the same gender, and the whole purpose of sex is to make a baby. You cannot make a baby with two men or two females.
Some of you might say "you cannot resist being gay. If you are than you are." well, that's not entirely true. No, you can't choose whether you have feelings for members of the same sex, but you can control whether you act upon those feelings or if you want to work hard enough to end them. I've met people who were gay for years, up to 20 even, who now have wives.
This is basically it in a nutshell... I could keep going, but I can already tell that I'm going to get attention for this. They are my beliefs. If you are apposed to them, sorry, I'm probably apposed to yours, too. but I do not hate. God does not hate.. He loves us all so much, we just have to love Him back.
So again, don't hate on me.
-
NO! I never said anything bout sex... I only meant like... i can feel for boys. To be honest. I am a Christian. I have a girlfriend! I am happy. I am just saying it does happen. And... I feel you should roleplay on my thread lol.
-
hmm.....i was gay for a couple months,but im celibate now....hormonal imbalance i guess? but i still feel strong emotions for either sex,but its love, not sexual desire
-
I'm with Neofur on this, and am of the opinion it is a lot to do with genetics and life experience. For what it's worth, I identify as pan. I've had a lot of bad experiences with men, so over the years I have become a lot more attracted to women as they have not caused me as much hurt, but that attraction to the same sex has always been there for as long as I can remember. Over the years, I have met transexuals and androgynous individuals, and they are often some of the nicest people I have met as they know what it is like to go through a tough time and try to help others.
My partner is a man, but I would be just as content if he were a woman, transexual or androgynous. Gender identity or genetic gender doesn't matter to me. I love the person, not the gender.
-
I was... kinda surprised to see this thread. Sexual preference is still a very sensitive topic and will probably remain that way for many years. But I wish it wasn't.
What makes a person gay?
I think the question should instead be: Why are some people gay? Asking what makes a person gay sounds like it can directly controlled or influenced.
Sexual selection (the way we choose a mate) is very complicated and influenced by numerous factors. For humans this is doubley so because of our elaborate social structures. Scientists are still only scratching the surface on this topic, so my honest answer is - I don't know.
The way I see it is that there are 7 billion humans running about this planet. Our species is so abundant that we don't all need to popping out babbies, so naturally there is more variation in sexual preference (not just gay and bi, but trans and asexual as well) (:
-
As a Christian, it is sinful to engage in homosexual practices. Homosexuality is not genetic, you are not born with it. It is a byproduct of sin and the deception of Satan. The deception is that it makes people think homosexuality is natural, and innocent, but really, it's not.People are not built to have sex with members of the same gender, and the whole purpose of sex is to make a baby. You cannot make a baby with two men or two females.
Some of you might say "you cannot resist being gay. If you are than you are." well, that's not entirely true. No, you can't choose whether you have feelings for members of the same sex, but you can control whether you act upon those feelings or if you want to work hard enough to end them. I've met people who were gay for years, up to 20 even, who now have wives.
This is basically it in a nutshell... I could keep going, but I can already tell that I'm going to get attention for this. They are my beliefs. If you are apposed to them, sorry, I'm probably apposed to yours, too. but I do not hate. God does not hate.. He loves us all so much, we just have to love Him back.
So again, don't hate on me.
Homosexual behavior in animals> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexual_behavior_in_animals#Genetic_and_physiological_basis
-
I'm not trying to offend people here o___o Ihope I'm not >.> just saying :P. GAH, Matt, im writing my intro post don't worry. I might message you btw >.>
@Neofur: your point?
-
lol i under stand I AM IMPATIENT XD
-
NO! I never said anything bout sex... I only meant like... i can feel for boys. To be honest. I am a Christian. I have a girlfriend! I am happy. I am just saying it does happen. And... I feel you should roleplay on my thread lol.
lol i under stand I AM IMPATIENT XD
Can you please not derail this thread about RP's. Please take it to PM's. Thanks.
-
I'm gay. I was born gay, have been gay since then, never felt an ounce of attraction towards women, and I will die gay. There was no event that made me gay, I was not molested as a child or anything like that. I am simply gay. I've spent time in a christain re-education camp where they starved me and made me read the bible day in and day out, and thrust the idea of eternal hellfire on me if I never decided to start cowering and hode who I truely am. I left, still gay, and I plan to stay gay, just as I truely am and always will be.
-
I'm gay. I was born gay, have been gay since then, never felt an ounce of attraction towards women, and I will die gay. There was no event that made me gay, I was not molested as a child or anything like that. I am simply gay. I've spent time in a christain re-education camp where they starved me and made me read the bible day in and day out, and thrust the idea of eternal hellfire on me if I never decided to start cowering and hode who I truely am. I left, still gay, and I plan to stay gay, just as I truely am and always will be.
GOOD FOR YOU! That's awesome that you stick with your beliefs!
NO! I never said anything bout sex... I only meant like... i can feel for boys. To be honest. I am a Christian. I have a girlfriend! I am happy. I am just saying it does happen. And... I feel you should roleplay on my thread lol.
lol i under stand I AM IMPATIENT XD
Can you please not derail this thread about RP's. Please take it to PM's. Thanks.
Um... we talked abou tthis, I said i wasn't talking about my roleplay any more >.>
-
For those people who say they were "born" gay, I don't believe that. Nobody is born gay. There's no medical test or ultrasound, etc. that can determine if a baby is gay before it is born. :P
-
And wheres your proof that everyone is born perfectly strait?
-
And wheres your proof that everyone is born perfectly strait?
God.
-
Wasn't aware you could call into question beings that may or may not exist.
-
Yes and no... God isn't Scientifically proven... :P BUT he is real. God loves everyone. He doesn't care if you are gay. Homosexuality is a forgivable sin.
-
im going with kobuk on this....for example,my dad.....hes very masculine.but while i may not be so manly myself,genetics are certainly not what caused me to be gay for a while.
-
Wasn't aware you could call into question beings that may or may not exist.
Well, when you believe God exists, you can do that. What else would I say? He's my answer :)
@Neofur: are you comparing us to animals? I don't recal humans being caged and treated like animals, do you? Animals have clean spirits anyway, they cannot sin.
Yes and no... God isn't Scientifically proven... :P BUT he is real. God loves everyone. He doesn't care if you are gay. Homosexuality is a forgivable sin.
Very true, but you must want that sin forgiven, and resolve to never commit it again, or try your best not to sin again.
-
I grew up in a perfectly normal christain household. I had a mother and a father, and I have had tests done on me. I do NOT have a hormone imbalance. I am NOT Satan's evil minion. I didn't even had anything bad happen to me until my dad left when I was 12... I guess that would lead to it... If I didn't start noticing boys at ten. Well, I guess that's enough of this forum. see you everyone, the time we had was short but sweet. Maybe I can find some non-offencive ones.
-
@ Jayme: theres no reason to leave man,its a debative thread,there are going to be some things said that hurt your feelings,but its your life and you can do what you want with it,there are some things on here i dont like,but im not gonna give up,peoples feelings might get hurt,but just keep moving on
-
Yes and no... God isn't Scientifically proven... :P BUT he is real. God loves everyone. He doesn't care if you are gay. Homosexuality is a forgivable sin.
I think you just contradicted yourself there. You say he can't be real, but then you say he is.
-
@ Jayme: theres no reason to leave man,its a debative thread,there are going to be some things said that hurt your feelings,but its your life and you can do what you want with it,there are some things on here i dont like,but im not gonna give up,peoples feelings might get hurt,but just keep moving on
I joined this forum to hopefully find some place where I ould feel equal for once. To feel like I had a nice, safe place to be myself. So I'm not staying here. Sorry to the people who were nice to me but I'll find somewhere nicer for a change.
-
@Neofur: are you comparing us to animals? I don't recal humans being caged and treated like animals, do you? Animals have clean spirits anyway, they cannot sin.
I really shouldn't get into this, and I almost hate myself for doing so, but animals don't have a soul. They can't sin because they dont have a soul, according to religion at least. And Humans are animals, whether being caged or treated as such. We seem to forget that having the capacity to override instinct and having thumbs isn't ground to being unrelated to animals. Basically, a Human is an animal like any other, just that we feel we are in some way better than animals and thus can't be associated as such.
And I sort of feel this is slightly one sided against gays. Could just be me. But I feel they are ok, not a sin, and I feel very bad for those gays who force themselves into a life of marriage with a woman they can't help but find revolting. Carter, the main point of sex is babies. It is still used for other purposes by both straight and gay. This eliminates that as a reason gay is wrong. Also, you are correct, God (if he does exist) does love everyone, including gays. The problem is, humans don't love easily. You may love everyone, but the majority of religious people (not just your religion) hate others that go against their religion. It's a sad thing to see and I wish it to stop, but the fact is, we are Human. And Human's are animals of sin. :P
-
This thread is becoming a bit too controversial, I think.
-
And wheres your proof that everyone is born perfectly strait?
We are human not machines.
But let me divert to a more secular argument; First I can not believe not scientifically proven the complexity of the human mind and behavior is a slave to genetics or biology. While genetics or biology may have a factor I do not see all in all as a cause for homosexuality or heterosexuality. People do jump between Homosexuality, Bisexuality and Heterosexuality all the time. Secondly from a secular philosophical view of free will, to say on on hand one is the captain of one's own ship on the other a slave to genetics is a contradiction. Man doesn't like to believe one is a hopeless slave to fate. (..._ thing Beethoven's 5th fate knocking at ones door). I love to see when reasoning with a non believer, who rejects my Christian beliefs, say I will not submit to your God but I will submit to my genes.
I will confess my argument from the secular is more arguing "the devils advocate" (i am not a secular humanist but can use their arguments) Now as a Christian I am more closer to carter; we are in sin, but I see Christ changes us.
-
This thread is becoming a bit too controversial, I think.
Agreed, when you get into gay = good/bad stuff it usually turns to religion and that ends badly. Both in conversation and the physical realm. :(
-
Everybody calm down, please!
Please keep in mind the following:
http://forums.furtopia.org/index.php?topic=31932.0
-
This thread is becoming a bit too controversial, I think.
Agreed, when you get into gay = good/bad stuff it usually turns to religion and that ends badly. Both in conversation and the physical realm. :(
perhaps it need to be move to daebate
-
It could be an evolutionary tactic to ward off overpopulation while still satisfying the needs of the population as a whole. I don't really know.
But saying that would mean it's God's will to make people gay to ward off overpopulation, and that doesn't sit well with a Christian. So unfortunately, that idea was tossed ages ago. I don't doubt that could be the case though.
Now as a Christian I am more closer to carter; we are in sin, but I see Christ changes us.
But one could see it from the other side. That Christ changes nothing and we chose to change or remain the same upon our own free will. One can view it in the way they wish, but neither is wrong in their own right.
-
Moved to the Debate forum as this thread appears to be getting a bit "hot".
Members who wish to reply and have access to the Debate forum should read here:
http://forums.furtopia.org/index.php?topic=36687.0
-
It could be an evolutionary tactic to ward off overpopulation while still satisfying the needs of the population as a whole. I don't really know.
But saying that would mean it's God's will to make people gay to ward off overpopulation, and that doesn't sit well with a Christian. So unfortunately, that idea was tossed ages ago. I don't doubt that could be the case though.
Now as a Christian I am more closer to carter; we are in sin, but I see Christ changes us.
But one could see it from the other side. That Christ changes nothing and we chose to change or remain the same upon our own free will. One can view it in the way they wish, but neither is wrong in their own right.
I was being a bit verbose; I wanted to focus on the argument of once gay always gay rather than side tracking on religious beliefs. I could go into as a Christian who we are dead in our sin sin but Christ this his on the cross died to my sin and made me a new creation.
-
Honestly, "What makes a person gay?" is not stating the question very well as phased that way could lead to potentially biased answers. It would be better to ask "what factors effect a person's sexual orientation?" or something like that.
For those people who say they were "born" gay, I don't believe that. Nobody is born gay. There's no medical test or ultrasound, etc. that can determine if a baby is gay before it is born. :P
Then do you also believe no-one is born straight?
In a sense, you could say everyone is born asexual, but to do so misses the point. The point is that research on the subject indicates that an individual's sexual orientation (which manifests as the individual matures) is in most cases influenced heavily by factors that are genetic and/or that occur in very early staged such as in the womb.
-
For those people who say they were "born" gay, I don't believe that. Nobody is born gay.
Yeah I think that should be cleared up. Every child is born 'N/A' in terms of sexual preference. That's quite simple to think about, you don't have a sexual preference until you reach puberty (aka sexual maturity - the time at which you are medically considered an adult).
The question then is "Are children 'fated' to be gay/ straight/ whatever?". In terms of genetics it is still very unclear what the case is. But there is an important ethical question as to whether we should be doing research into this at all. I mean why does the gender of the partner we choose matter? Would research into the genetic components of sexual orientation ultimately lead to greater discrimination in our societies?
-
HAY GUISE
It is chemically related; this has been proven via the creation of a chemical a year or two ago which has been shown in experiments to alter the orientations of various animals (the standard lab creatures, starting with fruit flys, moving on up). No experiments on humans yet (afaik). Likely this can be attributed thus to epigenetic and genetic factors (thus environmental and hereditary for the former, and almost purely hereditary for the latter).
-
Homosexuality is not genetic, you are not born with it.
Your qualifications in this field are where?
-
Homosexuality is a sin according to Leviticus, who also didn't like people mixing their cloth fibres amongst many blatantly stupid things that I bet NONE of you observe, because they're ridiculous.
BUT one must also accept that there was a much smaller population and less medicine to deal with STDs during the time of Christ (Personally, I think Jeebus would've been fine with homosexuals) and his flunkies, so it makes sense that someone would want to encourage breeding by telling everyone it was wrong, and discourage casual pleasure. However, we're in a new age and I personally believe we need to move on. We don't ~Need~ to populate, in fact, it would be better if we worked on reducing the population. We also live longer, lesbian couples can have children that are biologically theirs, gays can have surrogates and there's protections and medical support for many STIs.
But onto the topic at hand, Avan, you're wonderful. I agree that it is mostly chemical, many things can affect the chemicals in the brain so some is hereditary, but there's also plenty of environmental factors that could influence sexuality, food, weight, health, medications, etc. Hormones are variable, so it's understandable that if they affect sexuality then natural fluctuations would be expected especially during puberty. Then, as Loc pointed out, there's also the behavioural part. Naturally we want to avoid things that make us unhappy (Bad experiences with the opposite gender) and want things that make us feel good (Interactions with the same gender that may be more understanding, kinder, or just feel good) So it would make sense to want to be with whoever suits you better and what activates the pleasure centres in the brain and whatnot.
Being whateverthehellIam Trans/Pan? Bi? maybe, who knows. Could be from experience or hormonal or nothing at all. I've never been forced into the straight box by my parents, and I've been encouraged to do what makes me happy, and be myself. But I have always been squiffy and yes, before puberty I was exploring my sexuality, my childhood plushies were always gay males and often cross-dressed if that counts for anything, I spent most of my younger years with boys, playing with cars and actionmen. Then from 13 to 17 mainly spent time with girls, acting openly 'gay' with them, but I was always treated like a male, and related more with males (Not as a tomboy, more metrosexual, womanising sleazebag). Sexually, these days I lean more towards being fond of females but I personally can't tell if it's an emotional or sexual desire.
That being said, my personal views, based on sexuality being so fluid and rarely black and white, that I find it hard to say sexuality and gender exists at all outside of societal pressure. Yes, we've all got those things between our legs, but they don't have to determine who we are and what we like, and I don't intend on having mine choose for me. And I have to say, it feels natural, I'm not forcing myself to like males because I have the matching part, I'm going to go after what brings me the most happiness.
Some people juggle geese.
-
I want to comment, but I need time to cool down... But I agree with Saloonka.
-
The point is that research on the subject indicates that an individual's sexual orientation (which manifests as the individual matures) is in most cases influenced heavily by factors that are genetic and/or that occur in very early staged such as in the womb.
And your evidence is........what?
Remember the following, folks:
If you intend to make any sort of scientific, political, religious, etc. "claim" in a controversial topic, then please be prepared to back up that claim with proof of facts, figures, statistics, percentages, etc. with links to well documented references/resources.
And just as a reminder: This topic is now in the Debate forum, which means the rules for posting and having a debate are a bit more strict. Keep it civil, please. If someone or something bothers you, then don't post. Just walk away or take it to PM.
-
And your evidence is........what?
Nice dodge of the question there. Again:
Do you also believe no-one is born straight?
Incidentally, for more reading on the topic, this wikipedia page is probably a good place to start. It covers the topic in far more detail than I could. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biology_and_sexual_orientation
-
Biology and sexual orientation is the subject of research into the role of biology in the development of human sexual orientation. No simple, single cause for sexual orientation has been conclusively demonstrated. Various studies point to different, even conflicting positions, such as a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences,[1] with biological factors involving a complex interplay of genetic factors and the early uterine environment,[2] or no genetic influence.[3]
End of debate then I guess? ;) They were the first 3 sentences taken from the link Vararam posted. I think that everyone will agree that there there is no simple or single cause for sexual orientation. What seems to be in contention is the degree to which the various factors contribute towards sexual orientation.
With that said please could we restrict the debate to discussing what determines sexual orientation and not the morality of homosexuality. :)
-
THANK YOU... getting uncomfortable here
-
Biology and sexual orientation is the subject of research into the role of biology in the development of human sexual orientation. No simple, single cause for sexual orientation has been conclusively demonstrated. Various studies point to different, even conflicting positions, such as a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences,[1] with biological factors involving a complex interplay of genetic factors and the early uterine environment,[2] or no genetic influence.[3]
End of debate then I guess? ;) They were the first 3 sentences taken from the link Vararam posted. I think that everyone will agree that there there is no simple or single cause for sexual orientation. What seems to be in contention is the degree to which the various factors contribute towards sexual orientation.
With that said please could we restrict the debate to discussing what determines sexual orientation and not the morality of homosexuality. :)
But wouldn't that make the debate over? Now it's just a matter of science rather than opinion.
-
But wouldn't that make the debate over? Now it's just a matter of science rather than opinion.
As of yet there is no conclusive scientific explanation, so you can still discuss any thoughts and theories and explain why you think that way (be it from personal experience or articles that you have read).
-
Debates are not a matter of 'opinion'. Opinions can be pulled out of thin air, and are by definition purely subjective statements such as "I like pie". Saying something that cannot be proved such as 'there exists an elementary particle that interacts with nothing thus cannot be detected by any means' is NOT an opinion, it is an unsubstantiated claim.
Proper debates are over various hypothesis ('educated guesses' - based on VALID evidence); not opinions (except in very specific contexts, such as debating what flavor pie to get in which certain opinions actually rightly carry weight in the conclusion), and definitely not unsubstantiated claims.
-
I have a gay relative. His parents divorced. His Dad was rather distant and his Mom was a dominant influence in his upbringing. She is married to her third husband btw.
Some claim to be gay because it seems like the cool thing to do.
-
What makes a person gay?
A combonation of biology, society, and idvidual experience.
For those people who say they were "born" gay, I don't believe that. Nobody is born gay.
Then you would be somewhat mistaken, because the the state of a sexual orientation requires biological compenents that developed before birth. With out with out those certain biological predetermination, nothing could develop from the choices and other factors that cause some people to blossom.
My two cents, I think genetics puts the potential there and life experience does the rest.
Just like that.
-
Agree with above
-
For those people who say they were "born" gay, I don't believe that. Nobody is born gay. There's no medical test or ultrasound, etc. that can determine if a baby is gay before it is born. :P
Nor do we have a test for things like schizophrenia, but we know there is a very large genetic correlation involved. Frankly, we only have genetic testing available like that for a small number of the disorders and conditions that we know are genetically linked.
A good link covering gene testing rather quickly: http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=403
I also point out that if we do go down the path of if sexuality is genetically influenced or now we have to take into mind that most of genetics (past very simple traits and biomechanical pathway disorders) are not that simple. Many genes also rely on other factors to create the seen phenotype - they require certain triggers or accomplices which may be chemical and /or environmental in nature. And many many genetically linked traits and the like are linked to not one gene but several!
Genetics, in reality, is rarely as simple as high school bio class makes it seem. It gets extremely complicated.
So, regardless of having a known and found genetic linkage, it could still be there. And it is highly likely that it results in a specific sexual proclivity ONLY when many conditions [environmental, chemical, etc] are met in a certain way - which is to say, it is likely not purely any one factor.
tl;dr: it is very likely that sexual orientation (straight, gay, bi, whatever) is a result of both nature and nurture - in varying degrees depending on person.
-
Well from a religious standpoint, I have never read a bible that states "And he/she who loveth another man/woman shall be sent to everlasting torment." Or anything even vaugely like that. And also, while I dont worship god, if he does exist (and I am fairly ceartin he does), and he loves mankind so much, why would he punish someone for finding someone they enjoyed being with. Love is blind. How can it be sinfull to find pleasure in being with another person? As for why people become gay, I really think it is sort of a random factor. You cant tell if a baby will grow up to be gay. You dont bump into a gay guy, or a lesbian, and wake up the next morning a homosexual. I am bi, with slightly more gay leanings, but the reason I feel equal attraction for both genders, is because I was brought up taught that there is nothing wrong with that. My aunt is a firm beleiver that gays are going to hell, but both of my parents are fine with it. I have meet a couple gay people, and a lesbian or two, and there is nothing different about them then about us/you. We learn the same, can do the same things, and are exactly like you, just they like people of the same gender.
-
My last college class actually touched on this a little bit. The book states that religion, culture/society, genetics, nature and nurture all play part in whether or not a person will be homosexual or heterosexual. I agree with that. There are so many different factors to take in to consideration and the fact that you cannot, absolutely cannot, turn a straight person gay or gay person straight, unless they have been giving false information and lying to themselves, but that's different. If a person has been passing themself off as straight, but are not sure with their sexuality then that person never really has been straight. They just have not had the nerve or opportunity to experiment with their sexuality. And it's not so black and white, there are tons of grey areas, which would be bisexual. But I'm getting off topic.
Yes, there are many different factors which will effect a person's orientation. I believe the strongest influences are their own mind, which could also be genetics, and their family. I do not believe religion is such a large factor because I have met many gay Christians and have heard of a few gay Muslims. There is one famous Muslim lady, her name I cannot remember though. Also, I do not think culture is such a large part because I look at what is going on in Africa. Men and women are being murdered for their orientation. But there will also be those who are lying and claiming to be straight so they do not die.
So many loop holes, so many people who are afraid to "come out" and so many who are in denial or just do not know. The studies may actually get somewhere if no one judged another based simply on this.
-
I brought this up because I also want to know. Can a homosexual man still love a woman? In the future, or even today, is sexual attraction (this kind of love) so mutual and unique that it must lead to a relationship of love, to marriage? When one is attracted to another person, is one only motivated by a subtle liking or a desire to have intercourse? Must a relationship have intercourse, or is there a difference between a sexual relationship and a non-sexual relationship (when involving couples). Will it ever be accepted in the future to separate the sexual and non-sexual parts of one's love into two different relationships, or two different processes? When our minds become less enclosed by societal traditions, will we discover and accept even more radical ideas than what we hear today?
It really all comes down to this. What is sexuality and what is love? What creative ways will we discover in the future that allow us to express the two, whether together or separated?
One theory relating to this actually surfaces very quickly if you look into the asexual community. As you suggest, this model splits the physical attraction apart from the emotional attraction. It pretty much means that if you try to describe your overall orientation, it's going to be in two parts. So you might be a heteroromantic-heterosexual (typical straight), or homoromantic-homosexual (typical gay). In the case of asexuality, one might still be emotionally attracted to one of the two sexes. They could also be bi-romantic or aromantic (not to be confused with aromatic :P).
In some sort of attempt at a segue back to the topic...
I actually identify as AA (aromantic-asexual). I can only assume in my case that I've been this way my entire life. It almost feels like I just kinda skipped that part of my mental development or something like that. It didn't really dawn on me at the time, but looking back, I realize that when everybody at school started showing interest in dating, I just... didn't. It didn't click for me, and I've never really felt a need or desire to form relationships beyond friendship to this day.
So based off my experience, I'm left feeling like a large part of it is a born trait. Or perhaps you could call it a born pre-disposition. I do believe that environment plays a role, because it's difficult for it not to have an impact in some way or another. But I really don't think it's something that can be learned or conditioned without the person already being pre-disposed at birth.
-
[Kaira]
Ziel - it gets even more fun when the relationship is between two identity clusters (legal entities/summative minds that contain multiple dissociated identities) who both pretty much all identify as demiasexual/demisexual to fully asexual, varying by identity, and don't even acknowledge the shared body as being any of theirs, ie, being fully species-dysphoric. Our avatar-bodies are direct expressions of our identities, artistically created yet also engineered works that show and express who we are, and in that context 'what we are'; however we also acknowledge that we are actually just identities, data encoded into neural states and whatnot as well, ie, we are anchored in the reality of what we actually are.
As far as we are concerned, Love is purely something that stems from Emotional Intimacy - the capacity to completely open one's self up to another, to care for their well being and perpetuated existence as a discrete identity, and sacrifice for the sake of the others. Sexuality does not enter into it.
Quite simply, we don't need sex, the promise of sex, or even the desire for sex, in order to have our relationship. It can be used as one of many possible expressions of love, but in no way, shape or form is our relationship founded, driven by, or otherwise contingent on sex or sexuality. In fact, the very notion of "love" that is contingent on sex or sexuality to us (the Kairavan cluster at least) is both incomprehensible and repulsive. Its insincere - from our perspective, its A LIE, plain and simple. Because its not truly and completely about the other person. For the other cluster, its more painful than repulsive, but still as much a lie, because they've been hurt many times in the past by people falling in 'love' with them only to leave them when they discovered they were not going to be able to sexually love them back.
On top of that, given our identity-driven detachment from our shared bodies, our identity-genders or lack thereof may completely not align with the shared body's as well, let alone species (no alignment in any cases here - heck, our Thavdyn is a machine for crying out loud). AND EVEN THEN we have no preferences.
And although we have plans to live together, its not about sex at all, rather about being able to look out for and care for each other. Heck, um, to be entirely honest, human bodies at least for me.. especially this one (for I guess obvious reasons), are.. a little disturbing...
And... our relationship is even more atypical to those in your society, but I think I've rambled on enough for now..
-
I have always thought that almost all of your personality has to do with life experience and upbringing, whether you are homosexual, heterosexual or bisexual, whether you are good or bad, your political views etc... if you strip it to the base, it all boils down to your experiences. For example if you are brought up in a gay household, you may be gay because it is what you are used to or you may be straight because you want to be different. Hope that made sense.
-
nope; there are a LOT of ways that personality can be influenced by genetics and chemical structure:
Look at higher functioning autism spectrum individuals, and people who are under the influence of psychoactive pharmaceuticals, if you want some examples that can be shown here - there is someone here i know rather well who can attest to psychoactive pharmaceuticals causing a lot of changes in personality
-
I believe it can be a mixture of all of those factors stated at the title of the thread. It's supposedly probable to be the genetics, but I don't believe that the answer will be as clear-cut as genetics or social situations or fear of the opposite sex.
It was a mystery since the first recorded case, it's a mystery now, and it will likely be a mystery in the future.
And overall, it'll likely be A) Unexplainable or B) Some mixture.
-
As a scientist i agree with the genetics as well, but pharmaceuticals are more of an external factor.
-
Whats the significance of it being an external factor vs. an internal one?
Oh, and 'old news', but some scientists discovered some chemicals that directly control sexuality.
Not exactly [/thread], but, it does narrow it down a lot to 'what causes said chemical variation?' - genetics? external chemical exposure? not sure yet...
-
I think its safe to say that most mental "things" (if not all) are caused by chemicals. I mean, genetics is just code for what chemicals get used and made.