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Is Homosexuality A Choice?

Is Homosexuality A Choice?

  • Yes

    Votes: 33 15.9%

  • No

    Votes: 136 65.7%

  • Maybe/Don't Know

    Votes: 38 18.4%
  • Total voters
    207
Ikari said:
Why for important things like math or science or philosophy, not to make bigoted distinctions between other humans. I mean, I know we do it a lot, but we don't need to. There's no purpose to asking "why" in this case, human is human.
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What is important is a matter of opinion and thus each person sees what's important differently as well as having different reasons as to why any given matter is important. Searching for the answer to something that seems trivial now may lead to an answer that is important in some other aspect of life. Silly Putty was discovered by an accident in the pursuit of something else. Now you may dismis that, but in the end it improved the lives of many, not in and of itself but in the fact that its production and demand produced many jobs directly and indirectly.

For such as this topic, who knows what it might bring about in learning the many ways in which human or even animal sexual orientation is established. All knowledge can be used of both good and ill, so there is no such thing as useless or bad knowledge. Simply knowledge that is useless to a given purpose, or used in a wrong manner.
 
maquiscat said:
What is important is a matter of opinion and thus each person sees what's important differently as well as having different reasons as to why any given matter is important. Searching for the answer to something that seems trivial now may lead to an answer that is important in some other aspect of life. Silly Putty was discovered by an accident in the pursuit of something else. Now you may dismis that, but in the end it improved the lives of many, not in and of itself but in the fact that its production and demand produced many jobs directly and indirectly.

For such as this topic, who knows what it might bring about in learning the many ways in which human or even animal sexual orientation is established. All knowledge can be used of both good and ill, so there is no such thing as useless or bad knowledge. Simply knowledge that is useless to a given purpose, or used in a wrong manner.
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There is no functional application. Choice or biology, the outcome is the same. You cannot infringe upon the rights of others or prevent them contract along those lines. And it's likely not so easy and probably is an add mixture of environment, genes, and chemicals. The problem isn't knowledge for knowledge sake, but for the reason why this question is often asked in the first place. As excuse then to set up law and distinction between humans. In terms of society or government, it doesn't matter why one is homosexual, laws cannot properly speak to that nor can government intervention rightfully be used against free exercise of right because of it.
 
MaggieD said:
Sometimes I think it is, especially in young people. Being gay and/or bi-sexual has become the new Mohawk.
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No it's not, not even by a long shot.
 
maquiscat said:
Let's look again at what you said:


When you added that "but" in there you indicated that the subjected in the line, those what have no choice, are doing so by their choice. Did you possibly mean to write "...but others do so by their own choice."?
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Everyone may not have the choice in the sexual orientation, but its still the choice of the individual to accept it, even if they are powerless to change it. Its like being tall or short isnt a something that you can change you either make the choice to accept that reality or you refuse to accept it. That choice is up to the individual. Thats what I meant by adding at the end of the sentence this: but do so by their choice.



I see no contradiction to the concept that there are 4 basic ways to be born sexual orientation wise: Heterosexual, Bi-sexual, Homosexual, and Asexual



I agree with you that if indeed you are one of those who can change your orientation then fine by all means do so. But that doesn't mean that all can, any more than it means that none can choose. The issue is not in whether or not any given individual can choose, but in that those who would suppress homosexuality and bi-sexuality claim that all can choose and thus should not be allowed to choose.
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I never claimed that everyone could choose their sexual orientation (in fact also making it clear that those that can are a small minority), and have gone out of my way trying to make that clear. Im sorry that you missed that.


This is a problem point with me as well. I find it so sad and ironic that there are those in the homosexual community cannot accept the very existence of the bi-sexual community. But do not paint the homosexual community with that broad brush. For if indeed they all felt that way there would not be a LBGT movement. Although for the life of me I still don't see how the T fits in with the LBG save that they face many similar problems.
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The LBGT movement isnt the representation of all alternative lifestyles. Depending the local membership LBGT groups marginalize other members.and their is infighting. Some lesbians get along great with gays but some cant stand gays at all and vice versa.

Basically people are people and they behave like people. Some straights dont like gays but some do, some dont care one way or another. But right now it seems that most homosexuals wont accept anyone who claims that they can ,make their own decisions when it comes to their sexual orientation. And I dont think that is the right message because even the smallest minority matters.
 
When I first began gaining gay friends (if you don't have any, you should, gay culture is uber fun) I asked one of them about it. I had always been under the impression that being gay was not a choice for the same reason as lot of people (I didn't choose to be straight, I simiply don't find men sexualy attractive), but I wanted his perspective. The answer he gave was this:

"Why would I choose this? Half the people out there hate me that haven't even met me. My life would be a lot easier if was straight, but hey, I love ****."

To suggest that sexual orientation is a choice you are not only saying someone chooses who they are attracted to, but also who they ARE NOT attracted to. None of my gay friends want to bumb uglies with the opposite sex at all. Most of them have, but as I can imagine, it would be about as uncomfortable as me "trying out" sex with another man.

I don't need anyone to give me any scientific evidence that being gay is innate. I believe my friends when they tell me, as I can't fathom a reason for them to lie.
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
You'd have to have knowledge on this topic to teach. You don't, as proven by this and many other threads, so you can't.
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Someone being slow on comprehension is not on me
 
Rocketman said:
Someone being slow on comprehension is not on me
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We have already established that you are uneducated on this topic. Heck, in this thread alone you have proven this.
 
Does it really matter?
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
We have already established that you are uneducated on this topic. Heck, in this thread alone you have proven this.
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Lying does not make you look good, knock it off
 
Lakryte said:
What I am asking is this: If you see a woman that you find incredibly unattractive right now in this moment, can you choose to be attracted to her? You say yes, it seems. Really, how?
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Concentration. Making the conscious effort to ignore my previous ideas about how-a-woman-should-look. Not so that I am attracted to HER (this ugly girl) specifically. Rather, re-writing the "rules" I follow regarding attraction in general. For example, I can consciously decide that acne and an asymmetrical face are OK. Those are just value-based judgments anyway. Values can change. Then, seeing this chic as not-ugly will be easier. Do you agree thus far?

The only limitations that I can think of, are the will/desire and mental power to pull off such a stunt. But given the accomplishments of the human race to date, I think it is possible. How about you?

I want to suggest to those that think that orientation/attraction is unchangeable, possibly only think so b/c they have not considered the power of concentration and the ease with replacing one value-based judgment with another.

(When I say concentration, I don't mean an image of a buddhist monk trekking to a mountain and making an ice-cold towel on his bareback so hot that it releases steam. Have you seen that discovery channel special? No. I mean just sitting in your recliner and casually thinking about the "other gender" in such a way that it is arousing. Not giving up too soon. If the will to do so is not there, it won't happen. But that doesn't mean its impossible. If the will is there, but it doesn't happen, why can't the reason be something other than: Well it must just be impossible. ?
 
Lakryte said:
That's call bisexual, and you can't chose to be bisexual either. Sexuality is not chosen, and there is zero reason to believe it is.
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Lakryte, are you still saying that anyone who claims to be able to change orientation must be a bisexual? Circular logic.
 
RabidAlpaca said:
The strongest argument is that homosexuality is very common in the animal kingdom. Animals are much more driven by instinct and less by rational decision making.

This suggests they likely are just following their instincts and basic urgers, not making a decision to be different.
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I do not think it is wise to use animals to prove something about humans. I agree that humans are animals too and have a multitude of similarities with different animals. Still, saying that something about humans must be true because the animals do it too just doesn't sound like an infallible argument. I'm not saying you are wrong.
 
USNavySquid said:
Lakryte, are you still saying that anyone who claims to be able to change orientation must be a bisexual? Circular logic.
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You aren't changing your orientation. Either you were experimenting with the opposite or same sex, or you are bisexual. I don't think you can change your orientation.
 
CLAX1911 said:
You are doing a very poor job of making that point because you know why you didn't like black people or the basement. Fears are simple to understand, fear sevres a purpose.

Sexual orientation isn't a preference that is why you are having difficulty explaining. Nothing In or psyche compares to it.
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Not all fears are known. Not all are understood. I don't think all fears are simple to understand, for everyone.
 
Nightrider said:
This isn't about whether one is for or against gay marriage.....

Simply vote and discuss whether you believe that homosexuals have a choice in the matter, or were simply born that way, with no choice whatsoever.

Please be courteous - thanks in advance.
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The fact is no one knows for sure.
 
CLAX1911 said:
You aren't changing your orientation. Either you were experimenting with the opposite or same sex, or you are bisexual. I don't think you can change your orientation.
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That's the focal point of our disagreement. I think it can change. You think it can't. If there was conclusive evidence either way, one or both of us would have stopped debating this after only a few posts (depending on how fast the conclusive evidence was brought into the thread.)
 
USNavySquid said:
That's the focal point of our disagreement. I think it can change. You think it can't. If there was conclusive evidence either way, one or both of us would have stopped debating this after only a few posts (depending on how fast the conclusive evidence was brought into the thread.)
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The fact that gays can change says they are not born that way...Black and Hispanics can't change..Gays can.
 
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