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General discussion

Male Homosexuality related to altered brain function

Nov 30, 2003 4:57AM PST

Discussion is locked

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The real question is ... what do we do with this kind of information? (part 1)
Nov 30, 2003 5:50AM PST

The question of whether homosexuality is due to 'nature' or 'nurture' is still open, since differences in metabolism may or may not be due to genetics. In the case of depressed patients the symptoms can be modified by behavioral therapy (ie, without use of drugs). I don't know whether anybody has studied the issue enough to know whether the behavior therapy normalizes the biochemical changes associated with depression but the question is intriguing. How much does our life experience affect brain metabolism? I don't think anybody knows the answer to that question yet. Furthermore, even the authors of the study admit that '... we cannot rule out
the possibility that some other factor or factors that covary with sexual orientation, and not sexual orientation itself, may have affected the SSRI response ...'

(continued)

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The more important question (part 2)
Nov 30, 2003 5:52AM PST

The more important question is whether or not sex between unmarried people is ever morally acceptable (marriage = heterosexual in this case). The answer depends on how we define morality, not on scientific research. Some of us believe that living life well is not the same as yielding to our hormonal impulses, however 'natural' they may be.

For better or for worse, many of us do not base our ethical systems on either rational science or politically correct philosophy. If morality is determined non-scientifically (e.g., revealed or determined by God) rather than concocted by mankind then scientific results like the one you cited are essentially irrelevant.

BTW: If you argue that the biochemical differences between 'straight' and 'gay' men are genetic and that they are determinants of sexual behavior then you may find yourself unable to support the feminist contention that men and women are not really different outside their reproductive roles. There are a number of differences between the neurobiochemistry of men and women that have no apparent connection to reproduction. You may also find yourself in a difficult position if future studies find that there is a correlation between, say, kleptomania and metabolic abnormalities. If it is natural for kleptomaniacs to steal then why should they be punished? Basing ethics on 'rational science' is always an iffy proposition since you don't know where the science will (mis)lead you.

If there are differences between 'normal' subjects and schizophrenic subjects does that force us to regard schizophrenic subjects as normal? I think not.

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Forget religion: use the golden rule
Nov 30, 2003 10:51AM PST

Does someone being a homosexual damage you? NO. It offends your sensibilities, but that's just your personal intolerance to anyone who doesn't 100% share your beliefs.

Does someone being a kleptomaniac hurt you? YES. The stealing of goods hurts those robbed, and also the puchase prices and insurance rates for all people.

Ian

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Re:Forget religion: use the golden rule
Nov 30, 2003 10:59AM PST

Oh, but you foget, if gays are given the right to be married, it will ruin marriage as a "sacred institution" for the rest of days mankind exists.

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Look what it did to the word "Gay".
Dec 3, 2003 3:42PM PST

.

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The damage isn't primarily to me ...
Nov 30, 2003 11:11AM PST

Since the activities in question do not directly harm me I don't advocate secular/temporal punishment for people who violate moral laws. Sexual behavior is, ultimately, a question to be addressed by the participants and their Creator. That said, there is still potential for harm depending on how moral standards generally are treated by the society as a whole. IOW the sexual activity of one pair of persons may have no impact whatsoever on me personally but the larger questions revolving around how society perceives the appropriateness or morality of the behavior do potentially have an impact on me.

The point, then, is the larger question of the nature of truth. I am not willing to base moral standards on currently fashionable interpretations of incomplete scientific data or on somebody's perception of politically correct social behavior or some ill-conceived notion of what 'tolerance' for 'diversity' should be.

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You can't divorce the 'golden' rule from 'religion'
Nov 30, 2003 11:12AM PST

The full quote in Matthew is: "Matt 7:9-12
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
NIV"

You notice the part about the Law and Prophets? Think about it.

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Re: You can't divorce the 'golden' rule from 'religion'
Nov 30, 2003 12:52PM PST

Hi, KP.

You're citing the Christian version of the "Golden Rule," but the same philosophy is shared by many different religions, and by "secular humanism" as well.
-- Dave K.
Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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but then it loses an agreed upon meaning.
Nov 30, 2003 1:43PM PST

If you aren't referring to the 'golden rule' as given by Jesus in either Matthew or Luke, then you need to say what your 'golden rule' is. It could be anything at that point.

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Ahem....
Nov 30, 2003 2:58PM PST
"If you aren't referring to the 'golden rule' as given by Jesus in either Matthew or Luke, then you need to say what your 'golden rule' is. It could be anything at that point. - Kiddpeat"

Was it Dave Konkel who started to talk about the Golden Rule? I think you should question Ian instead. Unless of course you used "you" in third person which is possible but in that case I suggest you use "one" instead since it is often misunderstood the other way.
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Re: but then it loses an agreed upon meaning -- Not really
Nov 30, 2003 8:50PM PST

Hi, KP.

Whether stated positively as in the Bible or negatively as in some other religions (don't do to others what you wouldn't want done to you), the meaning is the same -- treat others as you wish to be treated. The current pop culture version is "what goes around, comes around."
-- Dave K.
Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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Imitation is grudging praise and we Christians thank them.
Dec 3, 2003 3:54PM PST
Wink
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How much of your taxes is being spent on AIDS?
Dec 1, 2003 1:06AM PST

Yes Ian homosexual activity does have a deletrious effect on you or any other heterosexual.

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Re: How much of your taxes is being spent on AIDS?
Dec 1, 2003 12:18PM PST

Hi, Ed.

You persist in propagating the myth that the majority of AIDS is transmitted homosexually. While homosexual transmission may now be responsible for barely a majority of new American AIDS cases -- 20% is now in females, 20% due to contaminated needles in addicts, and a few percent due to female-to-male heterosexual transmission and pediatric AIDS from infected mothers -- it was never true world-wide, and will no longer be true in this country by the end of the decade. There's no single document that gives all the AIDS stats, but you can find the stats for other than male homosexual transmission in various fact sheets at the CDC AIDS fact sheet site and subtract the totals from 100.
-- Dave K.
Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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Fact sheets?
Dec 1, 2003 10:55PM PST

What do facts have to do with homophobia?

Dan

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If either YOU or Dave actually READ them...
Dec 2, 2003 12:46AM PST

you would know and not have to ask what they have to do with the very real spread of disease by the homosexual.

If someone is concerned with the spread of malaria, Yellow Fever or West Nile are you going to try to label them Culicidaephoebic? How about Ixodidaephoebic if concerned about the spread of Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

I do not care for homosexuals but then again neither do I fear them so your emotive attempt to denigrate and demonize falls a bit short Dan (or should I use homoparamour or homoafficionado or homobuff or homodevotee?)

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Thought, Edward...
Dec 2, 2003 1:13AM PST

Thought, Edward. Would it be appropriate to refer to constantly labeling things with which you disagree as "homophobia" to be labeled as "heterophobia"? (grin)

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It would indeed J...
Dec 2, 2003 1:47AM PST

of course they would immediately accuse one of unconscionable tactics...

unconscionable
Progressive Liberal Definition -- 1. We can do it as a normal part of our argument as an attempt to emotionalize things but not you because it isn't fair to respond in kind. 2. Only fair when we do it.

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Re:Thought, Edward...
Dec 2, 2003 2:11AM PST

Heterophobia is fear of the opposite sex. While that was a problem for me in the past, it's lessened greatly since high school.

Thanks,

Dan

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The problem, Dan....
Dec 2, 2003 3:59AM PST

Dan, what would you call a woman who had been raped and as a result developed a fear of all men? Would you say that she had homophobia?
The problem is re-defination of a medical term to a social/political one to be used as a label. If you do it for one side of the coin and call it justified, is it logical to say that doing the same to the other side of the coin is improper based on that original medical definition?

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you sure about that Dan?
Dec 2, 2003 10:27AM PST
"Heterophobia is fear of the opposite sex."

Hetero simply means different or or other or other than usual.

Heterophobia would be a fear of difference, NOT opposite sex.

Heterosexual means different sexes, not girl sexual or boy sexual.

nice try though.
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Yes
Dec 2, 2003 10:00PM PST

.

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Re:Yes
Dec 2, 2003 10:40PM PST

Your response makes everything else you are "sure about" suspect--that's the way it works.

You obviously don't bother researching for accuracy in your comments (homobuff rather than the "more logical but incorrect" heterophobia should have provided you a hint).

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Buff, yes. Homobuff? What's that?
Dec 2, 2003 1:52AM PST

Try American as a description. That covers the freedom loving and equality minded very nicely, thanks. I care about homosexuals, but I also care about those who don't. I care about those who know that sexuality is not spread like a disease and for those who don't.

Dan

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Re:Buff, yes. Homobuff? What's that? You are one Dan.
Dec 2, 2003 2:27AM PST

You are a devotee and fan therefor a buff.

Since you desire American as a description I am happy to comply.

You Dan are an American homobuff.

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Hmmm...Not really.
Dec 2, 2003 2:42AM PST

As much as the narrow minded and bigoted would like to belive in a black or white world, that is not the world we live in. I don't have to be a devotee to let them live their lives. I don't have to be a fan to mind my own business. Reserve devotee and fan for my feelings for the Yankees. For groups of people defined by their sexual activities among consenting adults use acceptance, patience, tolerance, (is there a word for minding my own damn business?). But American includes all this too, so I'm still covered.

Dan

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yes, really. you don't have to be...
Dec 2, 2003 3:07AM PST

as you state but your posts show that you are indeed a fan. Ipso facto you are an American homobuff.

NonFLIBBERTIGIBBET might be what you are looking for of possibly BAVARDAGEPHOEBIC.

You are welcome

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uhhh...Let us know when you get back from wherever you are.
Dec 2, 2003 3:21AM PST

.

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I never left, but in your wonderings...
Dec 2, 2003 5:28AM PST

you likely missed that fact.

Just because you don't appear to respond well to being a rabid fan of homosexuality doesn't alter your membership in the fan club.

You asked, I answered.

You made statements, I associated those statements in a less than pleasing format as you had done previously in a purposely emotive context.

Did that help get your feet back on the ground and reassociate you with reality?

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Welcome back! How was your escape?
Dec 2, 2003 6:18AM PST

I haven't said anything on this board that would indicate I'm anything but a rabid fan of individual liberty and the desire to be free of arbitrary government intrusion. If you mistakenly interpret those feelings as anything else my sadness for you grows.

Dan