Homosexuality - nature or nurture?!

[immense]

I think people generally go with the argument that it's nature now? What do you think causes people to be gay? Is it something that is genetic / at birth or is it do with their upbringing?

Edited by HotelUser (Forum Moderator): Thread moved from "Discuss Anything" as I feel it's more suited here.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Obviously it is genetic, I thought of a great example that i've used in the past last night and now i've forgot it - if it comes to me i'll post.

Genetics I feel affect your personality basically (to an extent).

[Special]

i think 90 parts born with it 10 parts environment. if you are gay for attention then you're an idiot

nature?? well i think your born with it so in that aspect it is nature however it is natural for man & woman to be together so i think it's a mix

[Panda]

nurture. i believe it's your surroundings and circumstances, like just tiny lil things in your life that can shape you, so why not your sexuality? sexuality is mostly a teen/adult thing, so i don't think you're born with something that doesn't come into play until you grow older

[FlyingJesus]

Most people don't suggest that you have a genetic predisposition to prefer the company of certain types of people or to be close/distant with family or whether one enjoys or is troubled by intimacy, so why should sexual preference be a genetic phenomenon? In case you're slow and don't get the connection, I'm talking about different types of relationships

[-:Undertaker:-]

Most people don't suggest that you have a genetic predisposition to prefer the company of certain types of people or to be close/distant with family or whether one enjoys or is troubled by intimacy, so why should sexual preference be a genetic phenomenon? In case you're slow and don't get the connection, I'm talking about different types of relationships

Because sexual preference is more automatic rather than choice.

[Deak]

I think its just how a person feels and how they live rather than being generic

[FlyingJesus]

Because sexual preference is more automatic rather than choice.

As are all of the things I mentioned, I never once suggested that being gay is a choice and the nurture argument has nothing to do with conscious decision-making

[Bun]

personally i believe it's down to nurture and deep down you control it (yeah i know flame me not bothered rly lol) HOWEVER i cannot say this for sure because i'm not homosexualllll

[Eoin247]

It pains me to see our society still be so homophobic even to this day. In my school for example i know for a fact two of my friends are gay. I suspected it of them for a while and it took a lot of persuading (telling them i'll still think of them the same etc) on my part to get them to admit. They are too afraid to even tell their parents, gay jokes in schools are very common(at least in mine).

My freinds live in fear of others finding out every day and this to me is very sad.

I say let people do and be whatever they want, as long as it doesn't affect others in a negative way it's ok.

[immense]

personally i believe it's down to nurture and deep down you control it (yeah i know flame me not bothered rly lol) HOWEVER i cannot say this for sure because i'm not homosexualllll

You control your heterosexuality!

[Bun]

You control your heterosexuality!

sorry was that a interrogative or a declarative? im confused :P

[immense]

it can be both

[Bun]

it can be both

yes i know thats that's why im confused jake :(

[immense]

answer both then

[Misawa]

Definitely genetic. Have a few friends who are gay and they all say the same.

[Bun]

i'm not arguing here (seriously cba with that im gng to watch a movie now so peace) but i dno why i just THINK homosexuals in general would prefer the view that it's genetic over nuture/influences. maybe thats just me being a cynical little bar stool idk :(

[FlyingJesus]

It pains me to see our society still be so homophobic even to this day. In my school for example i know for a fact two of my friends are gay. I suspected it of them for a while and it took a lot of persuading (telling them i'll still think of them the same etc) on my part to get them to admit. They are too afraid to even tell their parents, gay jokes in schools are very common(at least in mine).

My freinds live in fear of others finding out every day and this to me is very sad.

I say let people do and be whatever they want, as long as it doesn't affect others in a negative way it's ok.

So do you have an answer or what


Definitely genetic. Have a few friends who are gay and they all say the same.

I have plenty of gay friends who laugh at the implausibility of it being a genetic thing, so being gay seems to not actually mean you have access to secret cult knowledge of the human psyche. Shocking, I know.

[Eoin247]

So do you have an answer or what.

No i don't have a solution if thats what your asking. I was just commenting, but hopefully in the future people can be who they really are without fear of others as our society becomes more informed and reasonable.

[immense]

I think it's nurture. Obviously, I don't think this thread will have any sort of conclusion because if any of us had a definite answer we would have answered one of the many unanswered questions in the world we live in. I think this because I start with the belief that we are shaped by things that happen in our life. For example, we might become religious because a loved one dies. I have heard tales (maybe that's all they are) of people changing their sexuality because of a really bad experience. That isn't one of my reasons though because yeah :P I think when you're young you learn to talk, learn to walk, learn to do everything and I think your sexuality is defined pretty early from your surroundings.

[FlyingJesus]

No i don't have a solution if thats what your asking. I was just commenting, but hopefully in the future people can be who they really are without fear of others as our society becomes more informed and reasonable.

A nice sentiment and yes it would be nice if we could all get along like we used to in middle school... I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat it and be happy but yeah that's not what the thread's actually about :P

[Casanova]

being honest I don't know. I wish I did it'd make things so easy and clear.

If it was a choice, I'd choose to be straight. Hands down. Not because I'm not happy, it'd just make other things so much easier.

I believe that if it was a choice, then evidently I'm straight and all straight people are gay then? Answer that...

[Shar]

Nurture. You're not born gay..it depends on the environment, surroundings etc.