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Author Topic:   Homosexuality and Natural Selection.
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 8 of 243 (346981)
09-06-2006 1:25 PM
Reply to: Message 4 by riVeRraT
09-06-2006 8:20 AM


riverrat writes:
What I don't understand is, just how is the faith-based group using evolution to suit their agenda?
That's easy. If you put a bunch of gay men on an island, they'll eventually die out. But if you put a bunch of straight men and women on an island, evolution has insured us that the chances of them dying out is a lot less due to our ability to procreate and sex drive.
I think I actually worded it better than you did

This message is a reply to:
 Message 4 by riVeRraT, posted 09-06-2006 8:20 AM riVeRraT has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 12 by riVeRraT, posted 09-06-2006 5:52 PM Taz has replied
 Message 14 by jar, posted 09-06-2006 6:00 PM Taz has not replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 28 of 243 (347177)
09-07-2006 12:14 AM


Has it occurred to anyone here that whether or not homosexuality is advantageous or disadvantageous in evolutionary terms has absolutely no bearing on whether it is A-OK to be gay or not?
What I have seen so far is a hardcore creationist or two who have repeatedly claimed that the theory of evolution is just bullock using in this thread the theory itself to attempt to indirectly bash gay people. Isn't it time you people try to be more "christ-like"?

Replies to this message:
 Message 31 by CDarwin, posted 09-07-2006 2:48 AM Taz has replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 34 of 243 (347278)
09-07-2006 12:13 PM
Reply to: Message 31 by CDarwin
09-07-2006 2:48 AM


I wasn't referring to you.

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 Message 31 by CDarwin, posted 09-07-2006 2:48 AM CDarwin has not replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 47 of 243 (347644)
09-08-2006 9:40 PM
Reply to: Message 45 by riVeRraT
09-08-2006 8:58 PM


Riverrat, even though I realize that questioning one's credentials violates some kind of forum rules, but I really must ask after you asked this question.
riverrat writes:
There really is no way that the gay population could increase through natural selection, is there?
Where do you get your knowledge in biology from: school, the press, popular culture, your local preacher, or common sense?
The reason I ask is because just about everything you say seems to have come straight from thin air. Even your questions demonstrate lack of understanding of what you are talking about.
Edited by gasby, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 45 by riVeRraT, posted 09-08-2006 8:58 PM riVeRraT has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 48 by riVeRraT, posted 09-08-2006 11:14 PM Taz has not replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 82 of 243 (348732)
09-13-2006 11:48 AM
Reply to: Message 81 by Silent H
09-13-2006 9:54 AM


Re: RiverRat: They're here, They're queer, and so are the rest of us.
And yet there are still hundreds upon hundreds of millions upon millions of christians, muslims, and the likes around the world.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 81 by Silent H, posted 09-13-2006 9:54 AM Silent H has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 83 by Silent H, posted 09-13-2006 3:06 PM Taz has replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 86 of 243 (349056)
09-14-2006 1:05 PM
Reply to: Message 83 by Silent H
09-13-2006 3:06 PM


Re: RiverRat: They're here, They're queer, and so are the rest of us.
holmes writes:
Either way I stand by my claim that racing a car at 200mph is more likely to get a person laid than merely trying to fulfill a god's demands about forcing other people to live correctly.
Joking aside, I don't think that's true at all. When I was younger I used to attend these religious youth things. You'd be amazed to find out how much sex goes on after each ceremony.
Added by edit...
All of which had taken a vow of abstinence until marriage. Always amazed me how that works.
Edited by gasby, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 83 by Silent H, posted 09-13-2006 3:06 PM Silent H has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 88 by riVeRraT, posted 09-14-2006 7:10 PM Taz has not replied
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Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 87 of 243 (349091)
09-14-2006 4:05 PM
Reply to: Message 12 by riVeRraT
09-06-2006 5:52 PM


riverrat writes:
I feel there is truth in that statement, but to be fair, if you put a bunch of heterosexuals on the island, who were born with the inability to procreate, they would also die out.
I just noticed this post.
You've taken your words out of context. Try to think back where you made such a comment and in what context you were commenting on to who. Hint: It was a great debate thread.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 12 by riVeRraT, posted 09-06-2006 5:52 PM riVeRraT has not replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 136 of 243 (391735)
03-27-2007 2:54 AM
Reply to: Message 123 by Hyroglyphx
12-08-2006 4:37 PM


nj writes:
And consider this as well. If this sexuality were really about love, then it shouldn't matter what sex anyone is, right? Therefore, if you remove the will to procreate, but only have homosexual sex as being measured strictly for sexual gratification, then where does love fit in? I don't understand that.
If you want to put it in terms of love, then shouldn't it be the case that whether or not the other person is of opposite sex or not you'd want to marry him/her? In fact, throughout my life I've had many great male friends as best buddies. I should have married one of them, then? We did, after all, do everything together.
Yes, but finding ways around nature doesn't help the evolutionary argument for why homosexuality exists at all. Yes, you could be artificially inseminated, you could adopt, you could have sex with a member of the opposite sex, but I'm talking about nature. Why would such a thing be selected for. Why would nature subvert itself? That makes no sense to me.
Despite the fact that this has been explained a kazillion times on here, you still manages to miss it.
Evolution and Natural Selection does not necessarily mean the pumping out of as many offspring as you possibly can. Having a gay uncle helping to raise you up does have its advantages. I am reminded of the grandmother hypothesis.
No. Because the answer is obvious. They 'want' different colored eyes, not that its natural. Perhaps we could make the same argument for homosexuality.
Oh, sure. It is entirely possible that there is a world wide conspiracy where humans and animal alike decide to be homosexuals and try to pass it as not having a choice about it. Those gay ducks, penguins, apes, etc. as well as my gay friends sat in a dark room together and consciously decided to be gay.
..... There it is. There is nothing left to discuss. Homosexuality is either a choice, directed by societal influence, or nature is in confusion which undermines the basic principles of evolution. The two are incompatible.
What about gay ducks, penguins, apes, cats, and a myriad other animal species that have homosexual members? Are they, too, influenced by the liberal agenda?
You can only fast for so long. My point is, if nature gives us instinct for a reason, what reason is there to select homosexuality?
How about to take care of your siblings' children?
And how far down does the rabbit hole go as far as what we get to decide is instinctual and what is societally induced?
Again, were gay ducks under some kind of duck societal pressure to be gay?
Couldn't we make the argument that old men desiring fertile, pubescent females is merely an instinct to procreate with the healthiest stock? And yet, we have a moral aversion towards pedophilia. Again, couldn't we make excuses for rape as some evolutionary basis? Just how far down the does the rabbit hole go? Where is the line drawn in the sand?
Again, you are trying to pass off the argument of making a comparason between sex between 2 or more consenting adults and rape as somehow valid.
I have. And if you read the OP's points, he has met homosexuals that have said the same thing. In other words, they are inventing reasons for why they are a-okay with nature and that they are actually beneficial. Sounds like purpose to me.
It's all in your head. Nobody is trying to convince you that it's a-okay. I certainly am under no obligation to try to convince you that my right handedness is a-okay. My wife is under no obligation to try to convince you that her left handedness is a-okay.
You seem to start out a priori that there is something wrong with homosexuality and that the rest of us have to somehow convince you that it's a-okay. You should be aware that I am under no moral or legal obligation to convince you that I should be able to have sex with Steve or any other consenting male adult in the population.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 123 by Hyroglyphx, posted 12-08-2006 4:37 PM Hyroglyphx has not replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 141 of 243 (391881)
03-27-2007 8:53 PM
Reply to: Message 138 by Fosdick
03-27-2007 7:45 PM


Re: How does homosexuality evade natural selection?
Hoot Mon writes:
But in the absence of a genetic explanation for homosexuality, the role of person choice seems to become more important.
Do you at all remember our conversation on this just a couple or so months ago where I referenced a research that led to a "cure" of animal homosexuality? Surely, if the trait can be cured via experimental procedures then wouldn't this be an indication of it being more than just a personal choice?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 138 by Fosdick, posted 03-27-2007 7:45 PM Fosdick has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 142 by Fosdick, posted 03-27-2007 9:10 PM Taz has replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 143 of 243 (392009)
03-28-2007 3:47 PM
Reply to: Message 142 by Fosdick
03-27-2007 9:10 PM


Re: How does homosexuality evade natural selection?
Hoot Mon writes:
And I suppose, then, that you would have to agree with this: When they invent a "cure" for homosexuality in humans, being homosexual certainly will be a matter of choice.
We could also look at it from the other standpoint. When they do invent a "cure", being heterosexual certainly will be a matter of choice also.

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Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 147 of 243 (414071)
08-02-2007 3:52 PM
Reply to: Message 144 by MartinV
08-02-2007 12:17 PM


Re: How selfish is a gene for homosexuality?
MartinV writes:
In this case homosexuality gene is not as much a problem for Darwin's theory but for Dawkins "selfish gene" hypothetical concept. Dawkins equate darwinism with his "selfish gene" hypothesis to avert attack and to put resposibility of "selfish gene" to darwinism. Because homosexuality gene obviously cannot pass and replicate itself however selfish it is.
This is like the twightlight zone where things that we have been repeating for years somehow get lost while on their way to your brain.

Disclaimer:
Occasionally, owing to the deficiency of the English language, I have used he/him/his meaning he or she/him or her/his or her in order to avoid awkwardness of style.
He, him, and his are not intended as exclusively masculine pronouns. They may refer to either sex or to both sexes!

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 Message 144 by MartinV, posted 08-02-2007 12:17 PM MartinV has not replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 149 of 243 (414141)
08-02-2007 11:12 PM
Reply to: Message 148 by pelican
08-02-2007 9:00 PM


Re: bull shit
Who are you responding to? If you are responding to multiple people, could you name a few? For now, I'm not sure how to respond to your question.

Disclaimer:
Occasionally, owing to the deficiency of the English language, I have used he/him/his meaning he or she/him or her/his or her in order to avoid awkwardness of style.
He, him, and his are not intended as exclusively masculine pronouns. They may refer to either sex or to both sexes!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 148 by pelican, posted 08-02-2007 9:00 PM pelican has not replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 190 of 243 (414719)
08-05-2007 9:19 PM
Reply to: Message 159 by Nuggin
08-03-2007 4:00 AM


Re: Why even ask...
Nuggin writes:
If, in fact, homosexuality is something someone is born with like hair color, it leaves them very little room for argument.
But this is not what it really is all about! It doesn't matter if homosexuality is a choice or not. I would hate to limit someone's rights just because he "chose" to be in a same-sex relationship.
I see our conversations here about the genetics and whatnot of homosexuality as purely (1) entertainment, (2) educational, and (3) for its own sake.
If we really want to base our legislations on whether something is a choice or not, where does it stop? Should people born with some sort of genetic mutation that makes them more prone to murder be allowed to get away with murder?
I'm just saying that the argument that gay people should have the rights they deserve simply they were born that way is a bullshit argument. There are a lot more at stake here, mainly our rights to choose.

Disclaimer:
Occasionally, owing to the deficiency of the English language, I have used he/him/his meaning he or she/him or her/his or her in order to avoid awkwardness of style.
He, him, and his are not intended as exclusively masculine pronouns. They may refer to either sex or to both sexes!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 159 by Nuggin, posted 08-03-2007 4:00 AM Nuggin has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 203 by Nuggin, posted 08-06-2007 12:21 AM Taz has not replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 192 of 243 (414725)
08-05-2007 10:12 PM
Reply to: Message 187 by Hyroglyphx
08-05-2007 6:09 PM


Re: Arguments from science, not emotion
Nemesis, I feel like you live in the twightlight zone or something where words in our messages to you just disappear while on their way to your brain. The answers to your specific questions have been answered at least a dozen times in this thread alone. And yet, you keep repeating your same argument... is there a miniature blackhole between your computer monitor and your eyes?
For starter, you can take a look at my message 136 in this thread. Allow me to quote myself.
moi writes:
Evolution and Natural Selection does not necessarily mean the pumping out of as many offspring as you possibly can. Having a gay uncle helping to raise you up does have its advantages. I am reminded of the grandmother hypothesis.
Past studies have shown, particularly in apes, that having a gay uncle does give a baby ape better chances of a safe childhood as well as a healthy upbringing.
Even though noone has been able to find any single "gay gene" yet, just the mere fact that animal can be "cured" of their homosexuality via experimental procedures should be at least a small clue that it CAN be not a choice.

Disclaimer:
Occasionally, owing to the deficiency of the English language, I have used he/him/his meaning he or she/him or her/his or her in order to avoid awkwardness of style.
He, him, and his are not intended as exclusively masculine pronouns. They may refer to either sex or to both sexes!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 187 by Hyroglyphx, posted 08-05-2007 6:09 PM Hyroglyphx has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 194 by anastasia, posted 08-05-2007 10:22 PM Taz has replied
 Message 198 by Hyroglyphx, posted 08-05-2007 11:25 PM Taz has replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3321 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 195 of 243 (414728)
08-05-2007 10:26 PM
Reply to: Message 189 by pelican
08-05-2007 8:46 PM


Re: who is trying to control who?
The only motive that has been offered for this line of enquiry was to prove to dangerous fundamentalists that homosexuality is normal.
I would argue that trying to "prove" that homosexuality is normal would hurt not only your cause but also mine. Normalcy by what standard? If we are talking about comparason to the majority, homosexuality is far from normal... and neither is redheadedness. If we are talking about normalcy in the sense of nature versus nurture, this is exactly what we are debating.
Can anyone tell me the nature of this discussion?
That's easy. The nature of this discussion is purely for entertainment, education, and its own sake.
Dameeva, I noticed that you live in australia. I was swearing up and down, left and right, and in and out when I found out Australia passed a gay marriage ban a few years back. From what I read as well as my contacts in Australia, there were christian fundamentalists screaming hate speeches and christian children holding signs of condemnation of gays (we're talking about 5 year olds here so I doubt they actually knew what they were doing) before and after the law was passed right out in public in your capitol. Was all those commotions what prompted you to be so sensitive about our debate here?
BTW, has that very christian-like law been overturned yet?

Disclaimer:
Occasionally, owing to the deficiency of the English language, I have used he/him/his meaning he or she/him or her/his or her in order to avoid awkwardness of style.
He, him, and his are not intended as exclusively masculine pronouns. They may refer to either sex or to both sexes!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 189 by pelican, posted 08-05-2007 8:46 PM pelican has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 197 by pelican, posted 08-05-2007 11:24 PM Taz has not replied

  
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