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The Downside Of Such Modern Day Progressive Endeavours.
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@ummmm
//My youngest son is gay.//
On one level, you could view that as contradicting any idea of a 'gay gene' necause his siblings are not that way inclined.
But it could be akim to the way that you need two copies of a gene to have blue eyes, or red/ginger hair and that can only happen when both parents are carriers.
But it could be way more complex than this. Did anyone see that Horizon programme, the other week, about whether we had male or female brains, regardless of our physical gender?
The genetic basis for how our brains are wired up and, hence, what our preferences end up becoming could entail hundreds of genes. That would make inheritance of the trait so complex as to require studying large numbers of families. All highly intrusive and unlikely to happen.
If I have a stance it is only that the children seem to have no choice over who brings them up. What if sex-Ed teaches them about homosexuality first and that is when they twig that other kids families do not consist of two women? Will it make them feel self-conscious and/or "abnormal"?
//My youngest son is gay.//
On one level, you could view that as contradicting any idea of a 'gay gene' necause his siblings are not that way inclined.
But it could be akim to the way that you need two copies of a gene to have blue eyes, or red/ginger hair and that can only happen when both parents are carriers.
But it could be way more complex than this. Did anyone see that Horizon programme, the other week, about whether we had male or female brains, regardless of our physical gender?
The genetic basis for how our brains are wired up and, hence, what our preferences end up becoming could entail hundreds of genes. That would make inheritance of the trait so complex as to require studying large numbers of families. All highly intrusive and unlikely to happen.
If I have a stance it is only that the children seem to have no choice over who brings them up. What if sex-Ed teaches them about homosexuality first and that is when they twig that other kids families do not consist of two women? Will it make them feel self-conscious and/or "abnormal"?
@Svejk
//Quite recently a couple were turned down because they were UKIP supporters.//
Let's call it "The Alf Garnett hypothesis": the belief that the offspring or, in this case the adoptive child(ren) of Alf will end up with the same reactionary views as him, after having to listen to him ranting for a dozen years or so.
If that is thought to be an absurd claim, then so is the rent-an-opinion idea I snuck into my posts whereby the behaviours and attitudes of gay parents are taken on by their children, regardless of their inherited preferences because that is what everyone has to do, in order to 'fit in' with their family environment.
//Quite recently a couple were turned down because they were UKIP supporters.//
Let's call it "The Alf Garnett hypothesis": the belief that the offspring or, in this case the adoptive child(ren) of Alf will end up with the same reactionary views as him, after having to listen to him ranting for a dozen years or so.
If that is thought to be an absurd claim, then so is the rent-an-opinion idea I snuck into my posts whereby the behaviours and attitudes of gay parents are taken on by their children, regardless of their inherited preferences because that is what everyone has to do, in order to 'fit in' with their family environment.
Hypognosis
You wrote:
"But, in this case, both mother and father are gay so, if there is any heritable factor whatsoever, they are going to receive it, are they not?"
Gay parents will not not necessarily produce gay kids.
It's the same as straight parents with gay kids.
You can pass on your skin colour, male pattern baldness, height etc...but you don't pass on your sexuality.
It simply doesn't work like that.
You wrote:
"But, in this case, both mother and father are gay so, if there is any heritable factor whatsoever, they are going to receive it, are they not?"
Gay parents will not not necessarily produce gay kids.
It's the same as straight parents with gay kids.
You can pass on your skin colour, male pattern baldness, height etc...but you don't pass on your sexuality.
It simply doesn't work like that.
@sp
So, you seem to be of the opinion that this 'gay gene' hypothesis is all hogwash then?
You probably guessed it was a leading question and phase II is for me to suggest that this can only leave "lifestyle choice" as the cause?
It's either that or it's the upbringing - not just the parenting but the whole family environment, siblings, cousins, uncles and aunts and beyond. Influences on a person come from all angles and there's no knowing the results. Neural networks arrive at a decision dependent on manifold inputs and I suspect that is what is behind each person's choice.
So, you seem to be of the opinion that this 'gay gene' hypothesis is all hogwash then?
You probably guessed it was a leading question and phase II is for me to suggest that this can only leave "lifestyle choice" as the cause?
It's either that or it's the upbringing - not just the parenting but the whole family environment, siblings, cousins, uncles and aunts and beyond. Influences on a person come from all angles and there's no knowing the results. Neural networks arrive at a decision dependent on manifold inputs and I suspect that is what is behind each person's choice.
@ummm
What we like or dislike is, imho, determined by how our brains are wired up. Some things please us, others repel us. Sexual preference runs along similar lines, I reckon.
Our genes compel us to reproduce so it has always puzzled me how it could be thought to be a genetically-based trait. Unless it is a response to over-population?
What we like or dislike is, imho, determined by how our brains are wired up. Some things please us, others repel us. Sexual preference runs along similar lines, I reckon.
Our genes compel us to reproduce so it has always puzzled me how it could be thought to be a genetically-based trait. Unless it is a response to over-population?
@jno
I didn't say they -couldn't-, I was suggesting that their preference works against the likelihood of success.
Historically, society and 'morals' have forced them into heterosexual marriages so they have reproduced for many generations. Technology means they can continue to do so and sidestep the loveless marriage part. Happiness all round.
:o)
I didn't say they -couldn't-, I was suggesting that their preference works against the likelihood of success.
Historically, society and 'morals' have forced them into heterosexual marriages so they have reproduced for many generations. Technology means they can continue to do so and sidestep the loveless marriage part. Happiness all round.
:o)
Okay, to recap,
sp1814 stated that no 'gay gene' has been discovered yet and that they 'just know' which way they are
Ummm says that people don't choose to be gay
If not genetic AND not by choice then what remains as the causative factor?
It has to be environment and upbringing. All the persons and things the child is exposed to, on the way to their "just knew" moment.
Therefore, a child who might have taken the hetero preference in a hetero family could develop the gay preference just by being adopted into the gay family. They have no choice in the matter at that early stage of their life. I don't think this is fair.
I have no objections whatsoever to them adopting children who can converse, who "just know" that they are gay and are not afraid to express this out loud.
sp1814 stated that no 'gay gene' has been discovered yet and that they 'just know' which way they are
Ummm says that people don't choose to be gay
If not genetic AND not by choice then what remains as the causative factor?
It has to be environment and upbringing. All the persons and things the child is exposed to, on the way to their "just knew" moment.
Therefore, a child who might have taken the hetero preference in a hetero family could develop the gay preference just by being adopted into the gay family. They have no choice in the matter at that early stage of their life. I don't think this is fair.
I have no objections whatsoever to them adopting children who can converse, who "just know" that they are gay and are not afraid to express this out loud.
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