Homosexuality:Honest Opinion Needed
Hey guys, i am presently conducting a study in the form of case studies and surveys in an effort to prove a theory based on homosexuality. My theory is based on the fact that we as human beings may tend to disagree with the topic and nature of homosexuality not because we truly disbelieve in it but because we are born in a society where rules tend to dominate our lives. Therefore, instead of us giving our honest opinion, we are forced to arrive at a conclusion that satisfies the rules in question. A perfect example would be someone, who when asked about their opinion regarding the topic of homosexuality, points to a religious text by stating that "the bible says." Hence, this may lead one to question the fact regarding whether it was the respondent's honest opinion or was he/she forced to that opinion.
The second half of my study also relates to exploring why people attracted to the same sex are who they are. This part does not only seeks to explain the "what" but tries to explore the "why" in an effort to shed some light and educate people about the topic. The results of these two studies will be combined to shed some light on the same topic.
You may add your opinion but please people, lets keep it intellectual. Keep out the childishness, hatred or bias and keep it fair. Anyone interested in fulling up a questionaire or if you have an opinion that you would like to be as part of the study, you may contact me at [email protected] or [email protected].
Thanking You,
Sayyad
|
My opinion is this: The social stigma relating to Homosexuality was born of an era where most societies were very small localized communities. Homosexuality in these societies could be very harmful because it would negatively impact the population growth of such communities, and this could make the difference between a collapsing society and a prospering one. It is also my opinion that this reasoning against homosexuality was held at the sub-conscious level. So the people holding such attitudes did not completely understand the reasons for their attitude. Given that today world populations are so high homosexuality poses no threat to societal stability. Continued social stigma of homosexuality is residual, a remnant of earlier times. I do not completely agree with Bohemian's explanation mainly because I believe that homophobia comes more from less evolved humans giving in to primal fear. Primal fear, in animals, is more towards visually different things. Most animals are immediately afraid of other animals that look different. This primal fear is a defense mechanism in order to keep animals from being too curious. Curiosity killed the cat. For animals, curiosity could actually get them killed, or it could get them rewarded. Since they are less evolved, they can not rationalize whether something could get them killed or rewarded, so animals who are more prone to primal fear will not be curious. Humans are rational creatures, but our brains have still continued to develop primal fears. Since we are rational creatures, our primal fears can be controlled, or they can be rationalized. This is why we do not fear animals unless we know that they can hurt us (unless you have a phobia, of course). But, unfortunately, this new thing called "disgust" has formed, causing us to rationalize our fear of things that are different from what we are used to. This includes homosexuality. I do not know if a study has been done on the subject matter, but I would actually like to look into it (if I do research on the matter in my future... unless you steal my ideas, which is w/e since I have a bunch of ideas for research psychology), if people who are homophobic tend to view gay acts as "disgusting" and possibly "dangerous". My hypothesis is that they will mostly say yes, showing that homophobia comes more from fear. Disgust from fear. When it comes right down to it, homophobia is rationalized fear. In a culture that is mainly straight, it is easy for the people more prone to fear to be homophobic. While the more evolved humans are more likely to be afraid of things that can actually hurt them (meaning, their sense of "disgust" is limited) As for why homosexuality exists in the first place... no idea. Something that I understand also exists in the animal kingdom, and I am interested (since evolutionary psychology and sexology fascinate me), but I have not really pondered why homosexuality exist. I've always been more interested in general human behavior and emotions. Side: fear
While I may agree to some extent that a fear of things which are different may contribute to the abject treatment of homosexuals, I don't think this by itself can explain the sheer level of mistreatment of homosexuals. In some lesser developed societies homosexuality is treated as a crime, and gays are jailed or killed. I think there is more to it than simply a fear of that which is different. Many view homosexuality as an offense to them. This is why I have posited the affect of homosexuality on population growth, as the sub-conscious reason for the bigotry. Or at least one of the reasons. Although it is very possible and likely that there are many factors involved. Side: fear
I will accept that fear alone can not CAUSE homophobia, but it is, to me, the primary factor. And it being more prominent in lesser developed societies helps show that lesser evolved humans (societal evolution more than just biological) are going to be less accepting of gays. In Uganda, they pointed to the perverse sexual acts (like EAT DA POOPOO) as to why homosexuality needed to be banned and all the gays needed to be rounded up and murdered. They are resistant towards something so different from what they're used to (ordinary missionary sex and the occasional blow-job). I can not see them actually hating gays because of somewhere in the back of their mind they see how it can stunt population growth. But maybe it's because you have more hope in humanity than I do... I just think they're stupid people (in a simplified sense). Side: fear
I fully support your argument and as a matter of fact that is the assumption upon which my hypothesis rests. When someone gives you their opinion on homosexuality, they may do so because of fear of rejection, bully, or even becoming an outcast to a group. However, my study is a little different. Is your opinion really your opinion or are you forced to that conclusion because of mitigating factors? Side: fear
It really is what I truly believe. The best way to get rid of this fear is to make gay culture a part of normal culture. This includes exposure (media portrayal), satire (making fun of it), and acceptance (comparing homosexual lifestyles to straight, showing similarities). All this is achieved through freedom of speech and letting the media be the media. Side: fear
2
points
Conducting a study in the form of case studies and surveys on subjects such as this is really pointless. You are gathering information on people’s opinions, nothing more. And because people lie and/or don’t convey their true beliefs, theory’s and actual decision making process clearly, all of this is a waste of time. Example….. A girl fall’s in love with a guy…… the relationship turns out bad and they break up. She then finds another guy she loves. She loves this man so much she then decides to say that this is true love and that she was never actually in love with the first guy. Now if while dating the first guy, she was interviewed/survey, and asked if she was “in love”, she would have replied yes. And, at the time thought she was. So does the fact that she dismisses the first love affect the interview/ survey? It all comes down to opinion. And opinion is never right or wrong, or is that an opinion…lol? We can sit here all day and split hairs to weather or not she loved both guys or not…. End the end the girl herself might not really even know. What am I trying to say here? I believe that all people like different things for different reasons. Some people might like doing those things for a short while, and other forever. It might be gay sex, it might be religion, or it might be spending a shit load of money on your dog every month. In the end people need to explore the avenues for themselves, and other people need to leave them alone. Tolerance, and acceptance is the key no matter the subject!!! Side: Waste of time
I do agree with most of it, but that does not mean that opinions must be ignored or not accepted. Opinions always survive, and they make a huge difference. That girl might have been in love previously but her opinion after the break up mattered if she still loved him and after she found a new guy. If her opinion earlier is compared with her opinion now. It shows the passage of events, the loss of love, the changes in time and etc. She might not know who she loves really.. But, she knows why she loves another man. All I'm trying to say is that opinions are not surface. They change and how and why is what matters. Side: fear
True, but in this case, the study will be varied, meaning that different age groups, religious backgrounds, geographic regions, race, and more other factors. The responses gained in this category will then compared to other responses to establish a relationship of similarity. You are drawing a hasty conclusion. You have no idea on how far this survey focuses on. This study focuses on the past that leads to the present. Thus, there is a difference. And we focus on specific questions that will help us to draw a conclusion. If somebody's opinion changes in the future, then that's different but we want to understand why the past lead to the present and how did this came about. And what is the source of this belief. Side: fear
Homosexuality? Honestly speaking used to drive me crazy just a few years back. I found it Bizarre, unacceptable, an idea that didn't suit my thoughts. But, as I've grown I've come to realize that there are certain aspects that people cannot ignore, cannot give up or stray from being perhaps happening. I would today not have a problem with it. But, I don't see that I have a right to call it right. Neither the right to call it wrong! But, It is unignorable that people...a lot of people dislike it, hate it and despise it. No one has a right to that either. But, they do. And there are reasons for it. None scientific but social. Of'course there is scientific relevance. But, harmless... The social norms are the biggest barriers and they are just out of the hand today. Side: fear
1
point
Its a combination of cultural and biological factors which leads to any kind of sexuality. Numerous biological variables can lead to various levels of lust for the same sex, with various levels of social factors leading to different ways of acting on that lust. I would bet that most people have had such drives, probably during youth, but didn't find it enjoyable so repressed it. while a few did find it enjoyable, or found it irrepressible. My guess of why people dislike homosexuals is because it is a difference which can be used to strengthen the "in-group", by creating a common(and yet usually harmless) enemy, while not alienating most of the members of the group by targeting what may be their friends or family. If a few members do have homosexual friends or families, their numbers are small and are thus acceptable as collateral damage. Also, homosexuals used to be too integrated into a society which rejected them, with little opportunity to organize, and thus they were unlikely to put up a major resistance. This is starting to change with the internet and other avenues, and thus you are seeing more "gay pride" and organizations for the acceptance of homosexuality. Soon, homosexuals will be seen by society as your long time friend, the friendly guy next door etc, not as the sinful, likely Pedro, creepy guy to condemn and make fun of. This is because they have/will switched the enemy from homosexuals and homosexuality, to something like bigotry, or another thing which is more inclusive. Its beneficial to the group to have a common enemy, homosexuality was just an easy one. Side: Group Dynamics
1
point
You could say that, or you could say that people were ‘born to hate gay’s and others’ that are different, so why fight the hate instinct if gays don’t need to fight their instincts…if we all born this way why fight it... ? This will be argued until the end of time….lol….. The people that do hate gays, or at least say they do, more than likely hate, or at least say they hate, pedafiles, polygamy, s and m, orgies, porn, masturbation, insets, bestiality, and so forth……. My point is that it is sex. Still one of the greatest taboos…… and people that are openly gay will get hammered for this. People who practice the other sexual interests typically are not open about it. If they are open about it, they are in their ‘group of friends or family’. They don’t broadcast it to the world due to the sensitive nature of the subject. And yes, these people can use all the same arguments as ‘gays’ for their ‘interests’, or ‘activities’……”They were born this way…”….”I just like it”…… We as people have a little more tolerance for drugs, music, even racial social mixing, because these are not that great of a taboo any more….. and soon sex will not be either. We will talk about it and all the ‘sick’ things with it. We will still judge others based on what we think is right, but will have more tolerance for it….. live and let live with time….. Side: Waste of time
1
point
I think that society plays a role in peoples views of homosexuality however, religious views aside, I believe that homosexuality goes against the laws of nature. As humans have an ability others in the animal kingdom don't have, the ability to reason. A reasonable person can look at nature and observe that the purpose of sexual intercourse is to procreate and further the population of the species, although it is quite pleasurable at the same time. Naturally that cannot happen with male to male or female to female intercourse; the species cannot be furthered. This is where reason and logic play a role because it's usually here where people try to say that homosexuality occurs within other species so therefore it must me natural. Some animals practice incest and by that logic incest could be seen as natural but they would agree that it isn't natural. That excuse holds no water because us as humans have the ability to reason and and use logic. Simply because something attracts us and feels good doesn't necessarily mean that it is the right thing to do or natural. There are many who admit to having homosexual tendencies or desires but acknowledge that this goes against the natural order of things and do not act upon them. Some would say that they are living a lie. I however would say that they are more noble for recognizing the natural order the world around us. Regardless of what causes one to have homosexual tendencies the individual has a choice in the matter. Some claim that they do not have choice in who they are attracted to or who they love. This is partly true as no, they do not have a choice in who they are attracted to but they do have a choice as to whether or not they will ignore the natural order of things and act on those feelings. There in lies the choice. I am not saying that people shouldn't be allowed to love who they wish. I am wish people would stop trying to justify the act of homosexuality by claiming it is natural. Side: Waste of time
There seems to be both a social and genetic component to homosexuality. Sources: http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/ http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/ There is no gay gene While probably true, there are other factors such as androgen levels during early growth stages which may influence sexual orientation. Source: Side: Waste of time
So how come people are born heterosexual? While there is no gay gene, our genetic make up can influence whether one acts as a boy or girl and too much of either can lead one to act in either way a little too much which can further increase the chance of one doing things that the other group would. Side: Waste of time
1
point
It may be like people’s choice in music. Why do some people love country and others love rap? Are they born liking their choices in music? Some people would say yes. That it’s genetic and compare them to somebody else in their family who also loves that music. Then you would have people saying that due to their cultural surroundings and the way they were raised is why they like that music. Even the people who like the music will give their two cents. “I’ve liked country ever since I could walk….and nobody’s going to change that!” …….or……. “I have always ‘secretly’ loved country, but because my family and friends were always against it, I would have to listen to it in my ‘closet’……. But now I am ready to admit that I love country music!!!”……..or……. “I love country music and always will, but I want to try something deferent, who knows I might like rap better….. I have always kind of been attracted to it……. In the end, nobody will ever really know...... Side: Waste of time
1
point
Is sexuality a result of chemical processes? If yes, then why is only heterosexual sexuality such according to you? Homosexuality being "unnatural" only begs the question. Human behavior and desire are never as simple as a single gene. A "gay gene" is a simplification, as is a "straight gene". All human choices are made with respect to desires resulting from chemical processes. To claim that homosexuality has no relationship to the biology of a homosexual creature is to claim its own desire results not as a inherent chemical process, but as something outside of it, as something not it. that a magical connection between a human being and another thing was made to cause some homosexual thoughts/actions. I suppose homosexuality is the work of the devil eh? Side: Waste of time
|
