Homosexuality: Chosen or Genetic?

Originally posted by FeceMan
That is inaccurate. The prefix and suffix of the word don't work like that. They just don't. A phobia is NOT a discrimination or contempt or whatever the hell you want to call it--it is a FEAR.

Homo--same.
Phobos--fear.

Homophobia--fear of the same. In this case, "fear of individuals who have same-sex attraction".

(By the way, nice job altering the definition to suit your needs.)

You see, the problem is that the public uses the phrase "homophobe" incorrectly. If I wanted to see the slang definition of a word, I'd go to urbandictionary.com. It's similar to the way everyone slaps -itis onto a word if they want it to be sound like a medical term.

More specifically, "senioritis". "Inflammation of the senior"? Give me a break.

If I want the actual definition, I will open a dictionary and examine the roots, prefixes, and suffixes of the word.

The meaning of a word as it is defined in a dictionary is lexical as it relates to the vocabulary, words, or morphemes of a language. Lexical definitions do not statically conform to grammatical rules but change as the usage of the word changes. Like it or not, the word "homophobe" is defined as "One who holds contempt for lesbians and gay men." If you disagree with this definition, take it up with lexicographers who define the word this way.

ho·mo·pho·bi·a n.
1. Fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men.
2. Behavior based on such a feeling.

There's the definition in its entirety if anyone else was too lazy to look it up.

However, I refuse to acknowledge that homophobia means anything other than the fear of homosexuals. I don't care how much you argue or debate it--I'm taking the word at its face value.

...

Does this mean that arachnophobes hold contempt for spiders?

Originally posted by FeceMan
[b]ho·mo·pho·bi·a n.
1. Fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men.
2. Behavior based on such a feeling.

There's the definition in its entirety if anyone else was too lazy to look it up.[/b]

I can clearly see how the definition you posted is drastically different than the one posted from my dictionary.

Originally posted by FeceMan
However, I refuse to acknowledge that homophobia means anything other than the fear of homosexuals. I don't care how much you argue or debate it--I'm taking the word at its face value.

The word is defined as it is regardless of whether or not you choose to accept it.

Originally posted by FeceMan
Does this mean that arachnophobes hold contempt for spiders?

Ask a lexicographer who determines the meanings of words based on their common usage.

I can clearly see how the definition you posted is drastically different than the one posted from my dictionary.

This is an extremely trivial, petty debate--shouldn't we get back to the main issue of this thread?

Ok, why are people even defining words ? That has nothing to do with anything wether homosexuality is chosen or genetic.

As well as this thread not having anything to do with philosophy. So moving to GDF.

😆

I've said this before and I'll say it again....

Chosen or Genetic is too broad.
You don't either Choose it or its genetic, There are different factors that influence this, Chemicals in the brain. Neurons firing differently, not all of them are geneticly linked.
Saying "Is homosexuality Genetic?" Is liek saying "Is personality Genetic?"
DNA is used for Physical features, Not for emotional or personality.
Im not sure what exactly determines that, but I'll bet Sexuality is tied to that.

BUT! everyone's different. THe point in Us being Sentient (Recognizing our existance and such, making us superior to other animals) allows us to go against our 'Instincts' or whatever. We can Change our personality, we can change how we think, how we analyze. Or we can at least think we can....
That is where sexuality comes in.
You can Disguise it, but the underlying instinct is gonna be the same.
Id doesn't matter what color you dye your hair, Underneath it, It will always be brown (or blond or whatever)

I hope I made SOME sence...

Genetic...........just as being straight is genetic. I know I never conciously made a choice, "hmmm.......I believe I'll like girls".........I was just born to be straight.

I have an 8 year old nephew..........who I'm sure will be gay. He's always acted femenine......always. He was 2 years old and I told my sister he is going to be gay........it's not something he learned......I'm sure he wasn't sneaking and watching Will & Grace learning what gay is..........he just is, he just won't know it until he is old enough to be gay with someone else.

If you don't learn it........and you are gay from the age of 2........long before you have ever even heard the term "gay" or anything of the subject matter.............I have no choice but to conclude that it is genetic.

Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Ok, why are people even defining words ? That has nothing to do with anything wether homosexuality is chosen or genetic.

As well as this thread not having anything to do with philosophy. So moving to GDF.

LOL..I was wondering when someone was going to pick up on that. 50 pages later I guess.

Originally posted by Evil Dead
Genetic...........just as being straight is genetic. I know I never conciously made a choice, "hmmm.......I believe I'll like girls".........I was just born to be straight.

I have an 8 year old nephew..........who I'm sure will be gay. He's always acted femenine......always. He was 2 years old and I told my sister he is going to be gay........it's not something he learned......I'm sure he wasn't sneaking and watching Will & Grace learning what gay is..........he just is, he just won't know it until he is old enough to be gay with someone else.

If you don't learn it........and you are gay from the age of 2........long before you have ever even heard the term "gay" or anything of the subject matter.............I have no choice but to conclude that it is genetic.

My only issue with your post is that your nephew acting feminine doesn't mean he'll be gay. The two aren't dependant on each other. I know lots of gay men that don't act feminine at all. Granted, the other side of the argument is that there aren't that many men that act feminie that don't turn out to be gay, but I have seen it before.

That's actually a seperate debate. I've never really understood really efiminate gay men, or drag queens for that matter. I mean, I've always thought that being gay meant you liked men. In the case of drag queens, it's so bizarre, because they dress like women and then they wonder why they never have a date. Trust me, I've listened to more than my fair share of drag queens bitching because they can't find a man. Duh? Because, you dress like a woman, you hang out in gay bars, when there are men, looking for other men.

It is about time this thread been moved.It fits better here.JM

My only issue with your post is that your nephew acting feminine doesn't mean he'll be gay.

true. 100% correct.......It's soly my opinion for the time being.......but I bet dollars to donuts he is............he's already starting to talk with a lisp.

true. 100% correct.......It's soly my opinion for the time being.......but I bet dollars to donuts he is............he's already starting to talk with a lisp.

I can't believe that this stupid thread is still going.It is a choice thing.You are not born with it.If you think you are.You are just making an excuse so people like you guy can feel sorry for them.JM

jm... piss off if you havent got a decent argument and stop stating things like they are a fact, co there not.

honestly , what kind of person would choose to be gay? with the amount of shit they would go through? think about it.

Who the hell wants someone to feel sorry for them?

When it comes down to "deciding" what orientation you are, given there is no scientific evidence to prove either way if homosexuality is learned or inherited, I believe it can be both.

It's a little more complex than that though, but not. You can't help whom you fall in love with, and that's something a lot of people tend to forget. Why are Bisexuals always left out of the equation? They are even more a mystery than full on homo/hetero people!

As for "chosing" to be gay, you can't, because like I said, love is blind. If I fell in love with a guy, and I was happy, I wouldn't deny myself that.

Homosexuals do have a chose that directly effects both their outlook on life and they way they are viewed in the public eye, and that would be the "pride" issue and how they visually carry themselves and their orientations culture.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being proud to be gay, however, when you preach about "equality" and being treated fairly, why would you continually subject yourself to criticism? Why host outlandish celebrations? Why submit yourself to all the stereotypes?

Were lesbians "born" to wear mullets, or wear your hair short? Were you "born" to talk with an effeminate lisp? Of course not, so, if you're fighting for fair and equal treatment, why try so hard to be different, which is ironically what everyone else is doing? It's not "celebrating your individuality" if you're copying everyone else, now is it? It's like Christianity. You don't have to go to church to be a Christian. You don't have to go to the Million Man March to be a proud African American. You don't have to have rainbow stickers to be a proud, practicing homosexuality. Celebrating your life to the fullest PERSONALLY and INTIMATELY with the person you LOVE is the absolute best way to show your freedom of choice.

So, until they find that gay gene, keep an open mind. 😉

Yo te conozco bacalao, aunque vengas en disfrutao...

I am open mined.But I still think it is a chosen thing never the less.JM

Can I be the Prince of Eternia next week?