APA says sexual orientation changes from time to time

[Integritas0]

I'll get the science bit out of the way first:

Fluidity of orientation
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has stated "some people believe that sexual orientation is innate and fixed; however, sexual orientation develops across a person’s lifetime".[85] In a joint statement with other major American medical organizations, the APA says that "different people realize at different points in their lives that they are heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual".[86] A report from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health states: "For some people, sexual orientation is continuous and fixed throughout their lives. For others, sexual orientation may be fluid and change over time".[87] One study has suggested "considerable fluidity in bisexual, unlabeled, and lesbian women's attractions, behaviors, and identities".[88][89]
Gender and fluidity
In a 2004 study, the female subjects (both gay and straight women) became sexually aroused when they viewed heterosexual as well as lesbian erotic films. Among the male subjects, however, the straight men were turned on only by erotic films with women, the gay ones by those with men. The study's senior researcher said that women's sexual desire is less rigidly directed toward a particular sex, as compared with men's, and it's more changeable over time.[90]

Ref: http://anonym.to/?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality

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I would say that more and more people today are beginning to question just how fixed their sexuality is. Definitely including straight guys in this category. There is the whole biological argument on one hand, and then issues of morality/inhibition on the other. Sexuality is, I feel, very complex. So why are so many men (including gays) so fixed (or fixated) on one or the other sex?

 

[XMan101]

So why are so many men (including gays) so fixed (or fixated) on one or the other sex?

Been asking myself that question for a long time. I know from my own experience that sexuality cannot be pigeon-holed, which is why i refuse to take notice of labels and only use them for ease of conversation, but I don't really believe most people (if any) are really 100% anything. Most have a dominant side - I used to - and that tends to dictate. I realised after some time that with me I did actually fancy both pretty much equally. Although I tend to look at more gay porn , mainly because it just seems hornier but in real life I'll fancy a girl in the street as much as a guy.

Interesting post , as always

 

[Irishman25]

Integritas0 plz help my laptop is broke

 

[ritsuka]

A report from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health states: "For some people, sexual orientation is continuous and fixed throughout their lives. For others, sexual orientation may be fluid and change over time".

I'm quite fine with this statement--it doesn't matter much to me whether anyone else's sexuality is fluid; I've never been sexually attracted to a female, and I'm not about to be now. Whether that is perceived as somehow "rigid" would be an outside judgment, and is not the way I see it myself. Of course many homophobes or family members in denial do attack gay people for not being 'open' to heterosexual sex or the eventual "right woman." I also don't think it is neccessarily more "open-minded" to do something you don't want to do and aren't interested in just because of someone else's dictates. As for the other statements, much of it falls into the rather obvious realm--since society is so heterocentric, of course people will be pressured to not come out as a homosexual or bisexual at first, and so it will seem to "change over their lifetime." I think labels are great when they accurately describe you.

 

[Mamah]

"Fluidity of orientation." A nice way to express it, Integritas0. This fluidity certainly fits in with my experience in North Africa and South and East Asia. It was observed & remarked upon in considerable detail by the eminent British explorer and writer Sir Richard Burton nearly a hundred & fifty years ago, by the way.
In many regions of the world, especially where there is clearer social separation of the sexes, the distinction between being gay and straight is not made (although that's now changing under Western influence). When you're young, male and horny you get it off with your friends when the situation arises, and also with an older male because that carries a lot of status in these societies. Sometimes married men will have younger boyfriends partly, I think, because, after a few years of marriage, they remember the fun they had with their friends when they were younger.
This is a huge sub-culture in these regions, including some countries where male-male sex is supposed to be illegal. It's not exactly hidden, but it's not talked about very much either. I am told there are similar sub-cultures of female-female sexual relations throughout much of North Africa & Asia.

 

[ritsuka]

Well no, Integritaso, we shouldn't "all" do anything; that was my point. There is no "all" or "everyone" here, no "science" that proves there is no homosexuality. Some people are fluid, some aren't; neither is necessarily more rigid or open, because I don't think there's much of any choice involved. Regarding culture, of course, there is.

I think 'transhumanism' is really quite delusional as a whole--while I'm all for destructing gender roles and the limiting cultures surrounding them, I don't believe (and you have to believe, since it's currently fictional and 80-80,000 years away from being ready) in all the technological enhancements to humanity they aspire to create, or that, indeed, humans should become self-fertile cyborgs, capable of impregnating themselves--you would have to wear protection while masturbating.

 

[johngwalter]

Social constraints and prevalent mores

I believe I was homosexual my whole life, but was unable to deal with it as such for a long period, even going so far as to be married to a woman for a lengthy period. I believe this was due to any number of different factors, mostly involving the social norms of where/when I grew up. I viewed homosexuality as something that would cause me to be shunned by my family, friends, and peers and therefore actively suppressed such ideas to my own detriment. This led to severe isolation and eventually to play a part in my substance abuse. This is one of the few reasons I have any compassion for those right-wing nut-jobs who preach that people can change their orientation through religion, or those who espouse hate. My first instinct is to react in anger, but I try to pity them as well. I am happy and proud to be a gay man now.

 

[ritsuka]

Well, the world population tripled in the 20th century, so I really don't think it's that necessary to create new reproductive technologies--certainly the orphanages aren't empty and we could all do with more wide open spaces. But if you say there is some deluded 'consumer demand' then fine--but I maintain that the transhumanist dreams of achieving for instance immortality via nanotechnology implants is science fiction--just like nuclear fusion technology and deep space travel. Lots of condescending secular humanist star trek fans on youtube will tell you otherwise, but it's nowhere in sight and a pretty dumb thing to base your friday night on. Of course, some creepy things--such as genetically modified animals, are here, and it is fine to consider the negative consequences of that and transhumanism. I'm not really that much of an optimist (I hate 'positive thinking')--and certainly things don't get better and kinder every day in the US--not by a long shot.

Anyway, re-reading your first post above, I see you talked about 'just trying it.' I did do so with a girl, before I realized I was gay, and I learned the big difference between the regard I can have for females and actual sexual attraction. Sex with her was not in the least bit sexy, was difficult, and mechanical, despite our emotional closeness and the fact that I wanted it to work. That hasn't changed for me over time, either, which is I why I say I don't have real fluidity, at least not in that way.

 

[json11]

Whatever they say my sexual attraction is not fluid. While I can appreciate a good looking woman I have never been sexually attracted to or want to have sex with a woman.

 

[ritsuka]

Oh yes--industrialization not only caused a population bomb, it has filled our world with contaminants and pollution, mined from the ground and warped into even more toxic substances which have come to pollute the air, water, food, and environments we live in--certainly that would cause a drop in fertility, however given how much western citizens consume, use, pollute, and exploit unsustainable resources, it isn't a bad thing if less children are had as a result.

Indeed, I think that even rich, white people in stable countries should, due to the huge cost of each of their offspring, be encouraged to help bring the human population down by a few billion; instead of just blaming the poor brown folks. But oh no, it couldn't be an issue that the culture in rich western countries blindly encourages people to have selfish delusions in the direction of not being content with having one child or, indeed, none at all for some. Raising the living standards in a non-consumerist manner is a good thing everywhere, but for those of us who see population as a real problem, stronger incentives are needed than just wishful thinking and ideological solutions. New one-child policies don't have to take China's lead, but can do so through progressive, egalitarian means and positive reinforcement, not oppression.

 

[BugsyB]

am i missing something here? when i was 13 i would have humped a fuckin chair if it got me off that didnt mean i love chairs..i just needed to get my nut offP::

what i mean is: if your horny and you know it...whats handy??? hahahaha:rofl:

 

[Mamah]

Somewhere I read that wearing jockey shorts tends to make men infertile. Something to do with the close confinement of the testes causing the temperature to rise which has a negative effect on the sperms' fertility

 

[XMan101]

Somewhere I read that wearing jockey shorts tends to make men infertile. Something to do with the close confinement of the testes causing the temperature to rise which has a negative effect on the sperms' fertility

To a certain extent that's true I believe as they have to be kept cooler than the main body temperature, which is why they hang down.

Always strikes me as strange that something so delicate and important for reproduction is so exposed and vulnerable !

 

[Mamah]

According to the theory of the demographic-economic paradox there's an inverse relationship between between wealth and education on the one hand, and fertility on the other (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic-economic_paradox).
But its a statistical relationship by country, not always an individual one relating to male sperm.

I wonder if the higher levels of stress in wealthier countries might be a factor?

 

[Mamah]

Stress my ass! I would also say that being in a very poor country would be more stressful???

Have you got something in mind?

 

[Mamah]

"Um, what was your feeling sweetie?"

I thought it was a nice pun... for this forum! :thinking:

 

[nooser]

very good