What is the 'cause' of homsexuality?

[Nehustan]

As a result of another thread I am posing this question, with accompanying poll....

(excuse typos!!!)

 

[Jaymes]

I think it's a combination of environment and genetic predisposition. I can tell your hormones certainly do factor in, though

 

[standing_alone]

Oh crap, I don't know if "genetic mutation" is what I meant! Well, here's what I believe, I think it's similar to Jensa. I believe that some are born with a predisposition for homosexuality (perhaps in their genes, I don't know, I don't know the first thing about this stuff) and that the environment can further shape this. I don't know. Maybe it's a combination of the whole nature v. nurture. I think it's both nature and nurture - they complement one another.

 

[Nehustan]

Well this is a massive presumption on my part, as I only have 'emic' heterosexual anecdotal psychological data available (i.e my life!!!) to ponder my heterosexuality, but I think that it's psychological/environmental. I'd love to have an open debate here about this without people using this thread to make judgements or make people feel guilty about who they are.

 

[St0ne]

I have no idea but I do think enviroment has something to do with it.

 

[Nehustan]

I'm fairly sure that no locus/locii have been identified as causal in homosexuality (which by no means indicates that it is not genetic). My genetics professor at University was a lesbian, and I'm sure she would have let us know if it was...mind you her 'field' was plants.....

 

[Nehustan]

I'm presuming that Jensa and Standing_alone are lesbian. I may be about to shoot myself in the foot, but hey I've never asked these questions before so...

1.) What do you find attractive about women
a.) Physically
b.) Emotionally
c.) Intellectually

and subsequently

2.) What do you find unattractive about men
a.) Physically
b.) Emotionally
c.) Intellectually

apologies in advance for asking you to treat 'women' and 'men' as groups.....

 

[Bishka]

I really don't know, there are so many factors in it. Personally I don't think people are born that way, but I think they grow into it.

 

[Jaymes]

Yay, surveys!

1.
a. Their bodies are more appealing to me than men. I enjoy looking at curves... just seems softer and prettier, somehow.
b. Same thing I find attractive about anyone else... compassion, sensitivity, honesty... these aren't just female traits, I know, since some women would as soon backbite as help you :areyoucra
c. I'm not really sure how to respond to this one... I try to not ask mountains of a person intellectually, beyond being able to respect my religious beliefs. And, if possible, carry on an interesting conversation.

2.
a. Aigh, I hate penises! They're just... hideous. No offense to guys intended, but it gives me the willies looking at them. And... they smell bad. Even with deodorant, sometimes.
b. This is probably more due to social conditioning than male nature, but it really turns me off of someone if they're hyper-macho. The few guys I have liked look either very androgynous or female (and actually have a decent personality).
c. Same as above, I suppose.

 

[Sunstone]

I think whatever causes homosexuality, whether it's genetic or environmental or both, causes homosexuality before a person is born or soon afterwards. And I don't think any conscious choice is involved in the causal process.

 

[Nehustan]

Yay, surveys!

1.
a. Their bodies are more appealing to me than men. I enjoy looking at curves... just seems softer and prettier, somehow.
b. Same thing I find attractive about anyone else... compassion, sensitivity, honesty... these aren't just female traits, I know, since some women would as soon backbite as help you :areyoucra
c. I'm not really sure how to respond to this one... I try to not ask mountains of a person intellectually, beyond being able to respect my religious beliefs. And, if possible, carry on an interesting conversation.

2.
a. Aigh, I hate penises! They're just... hideous. No offense to guys intended, but it gives me the willies looking at them. And... they smell bad. Even with deodorant, sometimes.
b. This is probably more due to social conditioning than male nature, but it really turns me off of someone if they're hyper-macho. The few guys I have liked look either very androgynous or female (and actually have a decent personality).
c. Same as above, I suppose.

You'll get no argument from me on your answers to question 1 (and subsections). As regarding question 2, I'll have to take your word on their smell (tho I might tell you a funny story one day!!!!), but can I ask are your answers to 2a and 2b in anyway related??? i.e. do you associate the stated negative attributes of men to their 'prize possession'???

(P.S. sorry about the 'formal' questions...eeeekkkk.... can you tell I'm an anthropologist :sarcastic )

 

[standing_alone]

I'm presuming that Jensa and Standing_alone are lesbian. I may be about to shoot myself in the foot, but hey I've never asked these questions before so...

1.) What do you find attractive about women
a.) Physically
b.) Emotionally
c.) Intellectually

and subsequently

2.) What do you find unattractive about men
a.) Physically
b.) Emotionally
c.) Intellectually

apologies in advance for asking you to treat 'women' and 'men' as groups.....

Actually, I consider myself bisexual, but I'm way more one the "lesbian" side, so I guess it's okay if I answer.

What do I find attractive about women:
1. Physically: Hmm. I really don't know. The one thing I usually notice are eyes and the face, but that goes for males, too. Just find female features more attractive, I suppose. If a girl has a nice figure, I suppose I find that attractive, too. Shucks, wish I could explain.
2. Emotionally: I guess I've just found women to be more sensitive and caring (and more affectionate) than men. More understanding and empathetic, I guess, too.
3. Intellectually: I don't know, I just look for intelligence in anyone, regardless of gender. I can't stand being around people who are shallow, superficial, ignorant, and just plain dumb - male or female.

What do I find unattractive about men:
1. Physically: Don't know. I don't know what I find physically attractive (or unattractive) in anyone - male or female - until I see it. Sorry.
2: Emotionally: I've found men to be less caring, affectionate, empathetic, and sensitive. Doesn't mean all are. Don't know if this goes here, but I find arrogance unattractive, but that goes for both genders.
3. Intellectually: It's not that I find anything unattractive about a man's intelligence. If a man is intelligent (not ignorant, just plain stupid, etc.) I'm cool with that, if he's an idiot, well, then I find it unattractive.

Sorry, but my attraction isn't limited to gender specificity. It is just that I tend to be sexually attracted to women more than men and that I prefer romantic relationships with women over men. I can't really explain, it's just the way I am. But I can be attracted to people for friendship purposes as well. Guess I just prefer to form closer bonds with women. That's what makes me more lesbian, I suppose. And I don't know why that is the case, I just know it is the case.

Now, if you want to know why I consider myself bisexual, I do more often than not, find myself sexually attracted to women, but there is the occasional male I find sexually attractive. I don't know, maybe I'm just a basket-case.

 

[Jaymes]

I don't think I consciously associate negative attributes to penises... I just consider them nasty-looking and... I can't find the words for the distaste I have for them. :biglaugh:

In relation to the poll: Do you mean hormones in the womb or hormones the person produces after they hit puberty?

 

[standing_alone]

Aigh, I hate penises! They're just... hideous. No offense to guys intended, but it gives me the willies looking at them

Heh heh... Penises give you the willies. :biglaugh:

 

[Nehustan]

Sorry, but my attraction isn't limited to gender specificity.

cool answers which is why I said...

apologies in advance for asking you to treat 'women' and 'men' as groups.....

and

In relation to the poll: Do you mean hormones in the womb or hormones the person produces after they hit puberty?

I hadn't actually thought about in the womb, I had meant after puberty....

 

[Nehustan]

I don't think I consciously associate negative attributes to penises... I just consider them nasty-looking and... I can't find the words for the distaste I have for them.

Now this IS a leading question....do you find penises....

a.) more distasteful than the sometimes macho wankers attached to them?

b.) less distasteful than the sometimes macho wankers attached to them?

c.) equally distasteful as the sometimes macho wankers attached to them?

(as you are revealing things about yourself I'll tell you that funny story in a minute!!!)

 

[Jaymes]

Probably equally distasteful. Both are pretty obnoxiously disgusting things, and I wouldn't want to put up with either.

 

[standing_alone]

cool answers which is why I said...

apologies in advance for asking you to treat 'women' and 'men' as groups.....

Oh, sorry. I must've missed that. I can be so stupid at times. :banghead3 So stupid!

 

[Nehustan]

Ok, thanks for the honest answers to my nosey questions...and here's my funny story....

I was out with some friends years ago. Some had just come back from South America (say no more), and we all went out to party. They all partied on hard, but I did not wish to join in. So I thought dang...what a bore...what can I do. Fatal mistake, I decided to drink (which I gave up in my teens as it didn't agree with me). So I order a double jack and coke, and knock it back thinking...pahhh....thats nothing...another please bartender!!!! This continued for some time, till we quit the bar and went back to a friends house who is a fashion photographer (vogue etc...you can see where this is going can't you!!!!!). I decided to leave and walk the short distance through Notting Hill to my flat, but everyone was saying nooo don't go party on, 'have a straightener', you can't leave. Eventually the photographer friend convinces me to sleep it off on his bed, which I do....drifting off to a spinning room. Sometime later...in my drunken state, I hear the words 'I think you're gorgeous' and feel someone from within my dream state start to kiss my neck. A little time later (minutes not hours!!!) I am in a deep embrace, passionately kissing, but still very very drunk. Illustrating what an 'old tart' I am, I do not open my eyes, but eventually...how can one say this....go for the honey pot (call me winnie the pooh) only to find out this 'clit' is about 6" long and its owner is XY as opposed to XX. Well I sobre up pretty fast, jumping up saying 'what are you doing.....I'm straight!!!!' The blurred person replies 'So am I' (he was even there with his girlfriend). I think as I staggered out of the room I muttered something along the lines of 'I think your definition of straight, and my definition are some distance apart.....'

Needless to say I walked around the for the next month pyschologically torturing myself with the intellectual ping pong of 'You enjoyed that!!!!' 'But I didn't know it was a man!!!!' 'But you still enjoyed it until you knew!!!!!' 'But I DIDN'T know!!!!!!' 'Maybe you did!!!!!' etc.....round and round in my head day after day. The irony is that I have had many gay friends, stayed over at their house, lived with them etc. then some guy who thinks he's straight makes a pass at me....classic.

 

[Sunstone]

I was once seduced by a cat under similar circumstances. Got drunk, slept if off in a strange house, woke up to erotic dreams, found said cat licking my ear. Talk about a disappointed morning! Those dreams were good!