Homosexuality

Just something to note, as I see this quite a bit here - a phobia is an extreme and unfounded fear of something, not a dislike or tendency to avoid. Please stop referring to people that dislike or hate gays as homophobes, as they are not. They will not collapse in fright, break down into hysteria, or become otherwise experience extreme distress as the sight of a gay person. Prejudice and hatred are not the same thing as phobia. The meaning still gets across, but please make note of that. It bugs me. It's highly improper use of the word - you wouldn't say someone who dislikes or even abhors the taste of beans has a phobia, or someone who absolutely hates Democrats is afraid of them. Fear and hatred are entirely different states of mind, and confusing them as such is...inexcusable.

"unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality."
Dictionary.

Antipathy in dictionary:

. a natural, basic, or habitual repugnance; aversion. 2. an instinctive contrariety or opposition in feeling. 3. an object of natural aversion or habitual dislike.

Homophobia (from Greek homós: one and the same; phóbos: fear, phobia) is defined as an "irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals",[3] or individuals perceived to be homosexual; it is also defined as "unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality","fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men", as well as "behavior based on such a feeling".[4] It is defined by behavior (such as discrimination) as well as motivation (such as fear, antipathy or contempt).[4] Homophobic is the adjective form of this term used to describe the qualities of these characteristics, while homophobe is the noun form given as a title to individuals labeled with homophobic characteristics. Homophobia was first used with its modern meaning in 1971, although it was coined in the mid-1950s. Use of the word has been criticized as pejorative against those with differing value positions, with several researchers proposing alternative words to describe prejudice and discrimination against gays and lesbians. The term "internalized homophobia" is used to describe a prejudice against one's own homosexuality.

I guess the use of the word today is kinda broad.

Just something to note, as I see this quite a bit here - a phobia is an extreme and unfounded fear of something, not a dislike or tendency to avoid. Please stop referring to people that dislike or hate gays as homophobes, as they are not. They will not collapse in fright, break down into hysteria, or become otherwise experience extreme distress as the sight of a gay person. Prejudice and hatred are not the same thing as phobia. The meaning still gets across, but please make note of that. It bugs me. It's highly improper use of the word - you wouldn't say someone who dislikes or even abhors the taste of beans has a phobia, or someone who absolutely hates Democrats is afraid of them. Fear and hatred are entirely different states of mind, and confusing them as such is...inexcusable.

Homophobia (from Greek homós: one and the same; phóbos: fear, phobia) is defined as an "irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals (from wikipedia)

I think homophobia is a different word from other phobias. Logically, how can anyone be scared of homosexuals? Well, then again the article did say homophobia is often motivated by fear. It did say discrimination though...

"unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality."
Dictionary.

Antipathy in dictionary:

. a natural, basic, or habitual repugnance; aversion. 2. an instinctive contrariety or opposition in feeling. 3. an object of natural aversion or habitual dislike.

[color="#cc8899"]That being the most correct usage, with 2 and 3 being stretches. A phobia is in and of itself an irrational fear. Aversion and habitual dislike are symptoms of the fear therein, and are associated with it.

@ above, people manage to be afraid of cotton balls. A phobia doesn't have a cause (I'm afraid of falling off the high place onto the ground) so much as it just...exists, hence the irrational aspect (I'm afraid of cotton balls even knowing that they have no way of harming me. I don't know why I am, but I can't even look at one without crying). People that despise gays for biblical reasons or because they view gay sex as disgusting aren't homophobes because they aren't afraid and have a reason, albeit a crappy one.

-Note-
Remind me to e-mail Dr. Drew Pinsky and see if he responds O.o[/COLOR]

Just something to note, as I see this quite a bit here - a phobia is an extreme and unfounded fear of something, not a dislike or tendency to avoid. Please stop referring to people that dislike or hate gays as homophobes, as they are not. They will not collapse in fright, break down into hysteria, or become otherwise experience extreme distress as the sight of a gay person. Prejudice and hatred are not the same thing as phobia. The meaning still gets across, but please make note of that. It bugs me. It's highly improper use of the word - you wouldn't say someone who dislikes or even abhors the taste of beans has a phobia, or someone who absolutely hates Democrats is afraid of them. Fear and hatred are entirely different states of mind, and confusing them as such is...inexcusable.

The word gay meant to be happy, but now it's a term for being homosexual. Same with 'homophobia' losing its meaning for 'being scared of homosexuals', but just disliking them.

Well this isn't really coherent with homosexuality definitions, but here's my take on homosexuality:

Homosexuality isn't (purely) genetic. I have two twins in my school, one of them's g'ay, the other isn't. Same genes, not same sexuality. That's not saying no genes promote homsexuality: if you have some gene that gives you a fetish for body figure and only trust people built similarly to you, you're more likely to become g'ay. I know that gene is sort of a streatch, but you get the idea.

I say that it's a mental disorder mainly caused by your surroundings. After all, if someone with the same genes as you can be attracted to the opposite gender and you can't, doesn't that guarentee that somewhere along the way, you mind was tweaked by your surroundings? I've heard that there's about a 50% chance of one twin to be g'ay if the other is, and that's for two reasons: they have the same genes, and they have very similar environments (this is probably the more important factor).

As for having a mental disorder, please don't get offended, I mean it in a much less offensive way: an illogical part of our thought patterns. For example, after sucking at swimming as a kid and having some not-so-awesome tubing experiences, I never feel very safe when swimming anywhere where I can't touch the bottom and generally avoid swimming. One of my friends at school got sick to his stomach the first time he had a hamburger at a fast food restaurant, and now he only gets chicken burgers for fast food. Both of these fit my definition of mental disorder: no amount of swimming practice is going to make me feel safe swimming across a small lake, even though I would be much safer than I feel. And despite the fact that fast food chicken burgers, regular burgers, and fast food burgers are all prepared in similar ways, my friend isn't going to eat a fast food burger.

The same goes for g'ays. No amount of hoping or looking at hot babes is going to un-g'ay them. Sure, it's illogical to want to be with people of the same gender since you're defeating the original purpose of sex - propogate - but your mind isn't going to be changed anytime soon. This sounds a little pessimistic, but I'd say the relatively recent influx of contraceptives is increasing the population of g'ays: you don't have sex to have kids anymore, you have sex to feel good. Therefore, homosexuals don't break too many norms when they have sex with each other.

As for people saying you're weighing down the human race, well, you're technically right, but not in all practical use. Sure, g'ays generally don't have kids. But according to this, shouldn't your parents no longer exist (aka suicide) as soon as the last kid moves out of the house? Your parents have served their role in the propogation game; they are no longer helping the human race to survive.

That's just my opinion. Sorry for roasting your brain with an essay xD

As for people saying you're weighing down the human race, well, you're technically right, but not in all practical use. Sure, g'ays generally don't have kids. But according to this, shouldn't your parents no longer exist (aka suicide) as soon as the last kid moves out of the house? Your parents have served their role in the propogation game; they are no longer helping the human race to survive.

Like the human race will ever need more help expanding their population, anyway.

I say that it's a mental disorder mainly caused by your surroundings. After all, if someone with the same genes as you can be attracted to the opposite gender and you can't, doesn't that guarentee that somewhere along the way, you mind was tweaked by your surroundings? I've heard that there's about a 50% chance of one twin to be g'ay if the other is, and that's for two reasons: they have the same genes, and they have very similar environments (this is probably the more important factor).

You are assuming that there is no possible biological (not genetic) basis for homosexuality.

This sounds a little pessimistic, but I'd say the relatively recent influx of contraceptives is increasing the population of g'ays: you don't have sex to have kids anymore, you have sex to feel good. Therefore, homosexuals don't break too many norms when they have sex with each other.

You lost me here. Seems like a huge slippery slope.

As for having a mental disorder, please don't get offended, I mean it in a much less offensive way: an illogical part of our thought patterns. For example, after sucking at swimming as a kid and having some not-so-awesome tubing experiences, I never feel very safe when swimming anywhere where I can't touch the bottom and generally avoid swimming. One of my friends at school got sick to his stomach the first time he had a hamburger at a fast food restaurant, and now he only gets chicken burgers for fast food. Both of these fit my definition of mental disorder: no amount of swimming practice is going to make me feel safe swimming across a small lake, even though I would be much safer than I feel. And despite the fact that fast food chicken burgers, regular burgers, and fast food burgers are all prepared in similar ways, my friend isn't going to eat a fast food burger.

I'm quite sure those are not a mental disorder by your definition, mister. It's completely logical to be afraid of something one has a bad experience from. That's nature's own system to prevent the individual from dying or being sick and thus die (because in nature, sick and young gets eaten first). And it's certainly able to overcome. I myself drank pure alcohol combined with soda the first time I got wasted, and had a "sodaphobia" for 3 months due to experiences. Then it faded away completely in 2 more months.

And if you're going to say that homosexuality is a mental disorder by your definition, as an illogical part of our thought patterns, then it may mean one of the following things:
- A mutation in your body occurred (most likely in your brain), making you gay
- The egg + sperm did not melt together the "right way", more or less the same as above mentioned

Or, if we're saying that your definition is okay, then there has to be some trigger in order to make a person gay, and I would suspect that most gays would feel offended if you're saying something like this.

I don't really mind homosexuals, it's not like it bothers me at all (I'm straight). People complain against these people but I don't get why they're complaining. Some say that they're doing the human race a disservice. Technically they're doing it more good than harm. It's fact that the world is overpopulated; the resources needed by humans supplied by the earth are running out quickly. Homosexuals, by not being able to produce offspring of their own, in a way, help regulate overpopulation by slowing the increase of humans on earth. If every human that ever lived was heterosexual, the world would probably have over 1 billion more people living today. This would deplete the world's resources at an astronomical rate. Earth, and the human race, would be at an end sooner than you might think.

As for the people saying that being homosexual is a choice, it's really not. Sure you might be able to fool others into thinking that you are heterosexual but you cannot change the functionality of your brain. As stated before, feelings are just the result of chemicals being released by your brain into your body. However, you do not have the concious choice as to what stimulates your brain into releasing said chemicals. Hell, if we could control the functions of our brains, we wouldn't need cars now would we? Not to be offending to homosexuals in any way, but the "normal" (using this term loosely, sorry if it's offensive) human is meant to be attracted to the opposite sex (hence why both a male and female are needed to produce offspring). A minor mutation in the genetic make up of the brain would cause the stimulators of the brain to change. This could mean the difference between being sensitive to light, having the sense of smell like a dog, or being homo/heterosexual. All in all, it all comes back to your brain. You don't have a choice as to how it works but you can understand why it works how it does.

Last but not least, I just want to know why people care if others are homosexual, heterosexual, or bisexual. What does it matter to you? If you are comfortable with your own sexuality, it shouldn't matter to you what other people are attracted to. It's my opinion that those who feel negatively towards those who have a different sexuality than them are not comfortable in their own. Perhaps they should focus on changing themselves rather than changing others.

Just my two cents. xD

Homophobia (from Greek homós: one and the same; phóbos: fear, phobia) is defined as an "irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals (from wikipedia)

I think homophobia is a different word from other phobias. Logically, how can anyone be scared of homosexuals? Well, then again the article did say homophobia is often motivated by fear. It did say discrimination though...

How does someone have a fear of pillows then hmm? (considea is the word)

How does someone have a fear of pillows then hmm? (considea is the word)

For the last time, the word phobia refers to an irrational and crippling fear of something. If it had a logical basis, it wouldn't be irrational.

For the last time, the word phobia refers to an irrational and crippling fear of something. If it had a logical basis, it wouldn't be irrational.

Everything is rational outside of the world of mathematics. Everything has a reason as to how and why it occurred/existed. If there was no reason as to how or why, said action/object would never have occurred/existed. Although the human mind may not be able to comprehend as to why/how something occurs/exists does not make it void of reason. Therefore, since it exists/occurs, it is rational.

As to find out the reason why/how, go study the mind and how it works.

Well this isn't really coherent with homosexuality definitions, but here's my take on homosexuality:

Homosexuality isn't (purely) genetic. I have two twins in my school, one of them's g'ay, the other isn't. Same genes, not same sexuality. That's not saying no genes promote homsexuality: if you have some gene that gives you a fetish for body figure and only trust people built similarly to you, you're more likely to become g'ay. I know that gene is sort of a streatch, but you get the idea.

I say that it's a mental disorder mainly caused by your surroundings. After all, if someone with the same genes as you can be attracted to the opposite gender and you can't, doesn't that guarentee that somewhere along the way, you mind was tweaked by your surroundings? I've heard that there's about a 50% chance of one twin to be g'ay if the other is, and that's for two reasons: they have the same genes, and they have very similar environments (this is probably the more important factor).

As for having a mental disorder, please don't get offended, I mean it in a much less offensive way: an illogical part of our thought patterns. For example, after sucking at swimming as a kid and having some not-so-awesome tubing experiences, I never feel very safe when swimming anywhere where I can't touch the bottom and generally avoid swimming. One of my friends at school got sick to his stomach the first time he had a hamburger at a fast food restaurant, and now he only gets chicken burgers for fast food. Both of these fit my definition of mental disorder: no amount of swimming practice is going to make me feel safe swimming across a small lake, even though I would be much safer than I feel. And despite the fact that fast food chicken burgers, regular burgers, and fast food burgers are all prepared in similar ways, my friend isn't going to eat a fast food burger.

The same goes for g'ays. No amount of hoping or looking at hot babes is going to un-g'ay them. Sure, it's illogical to want to be with people of the same gender since you're defeating the original purpose of sex - propogate - but your mind isn't going to be changed anytime soon. This sounds a little pessimistic, but I'd say the relatively recent influx of contraceptives is increasing the population of g'ays: you don't have sex to have kids anymore, you have sex to feel good. Therefore, homosexuals don't break too many norms when they have sex with each other.

As for people saying you're weighing down the human race, well, you're technically right, but not in all practical use. Sure, g'ays generally don't have kids. But according to this, shouldn't your parents no longer exist (aka suicide) as soon as the last kid moves out of the house? Your parents have served their role in the propogation game; they are no longer helping the human race to survive.

That's just my opinion. Sorry for roasting your brain with an essay xD

The difference with phobias and being gay is that phobias can be cured, either by brute force, hypnosis or slowly doing what you're afraid of. Being gay can't be cured.

The difference with phobias and being gay is that phobias can be cured, either by brute force, hypnosis or slowly doing what you're afraid of. Being gay can't be cured.

I concur.. people "think" they can cure somebody elses' sexuality preference.. like those quack psychiatrists. Although there are some guys that actually were gay for a bit & then did a total 360 and only are attracted to women now.... i have no idea how that goes though..:f6: I say if you're gay, you're gay if you're not, you're not and if you're bi, then you're just plain greedy

I concur.. people "think" they can cure somebody elses' sexuality preference.. like those quack psychiatrists. Although there are some guys that actually were gay for a bit & then did a total 360 and only are attracted to women now.... i have no idea how that goes though..:f6: I say if you're gay, you're gay if you're not, you're not and if you're bi, then you're just plain greedy

Just want to point out that if you do a 360 you go right back to where you started, so that be hed still be gay

Just want to point out that if you do a 360 you go right back to where you started, so that be hed still be gay

well shet.. 180 then

Everything is rational outside of the world of mathematics. Everything has a reason as to how and why it occurred/existed. If there was no reason as to how or why, said action/object would never have occurred/existed. Although the human mind may not be able to comprehend as to why/how something occurs/exists does not make it void of reason. Therefore, since it exists/occurs, it is rational.

As to find out the reason why/how, go study the mind and how it works.

Your reasoning is flawed to the point where it's unworkable. The world is not governed just by mathematics, it's governed by a lot of disciplines, including biology, chemistry and physics. However, much more significantly than that, the world is governed by the actions of LIVING BEINGS, both human and non-human. Are you truly going to say that the actions of a rabid dog that mauled a child are "rational?" As for human beings, there is giant documentation spanning nearly all disciplines that documents the irrational and illogical workings of the human mind. There are many times when we do things without reason, and even if the illogical reasoning behind such actions is held to be "reasoning," (it often does not qualify as reasoning of any kind,) it still wouldn't be rational. In its ultimate extension, nuclear war is not rational on any level, but there have been times in history when it had been a genuine possibility.

If we were truly rational, we wouldn't be a "human race," we'd be an "ant colony."

Your reasoning is flawed to the point where it's unworkable. The world is not governed just by mathematics, it's governed by a lot of disciplines, including biology, chemistry and physics. However, much more significantly than that, the world is governed by the actions of LIVING BEINGS, both human and non-human. Are you truly going to say that the actions of a rabid dog that mauled a child are "rational?" As for human beings, there is giant documentation spanning nearly all disciplines that documents the irrational and illogical workings of the human mind. There are many times when we do things without reason, and even if the illogical reasoning behind such actions is held to be "reasoning," (it often does not qualify as reasoning of any kind,) it still wouldn't be rational.

If we were truly rational, we wouldn't be a "human race," we'd be an "ant colony."

"Rational: endowed with the faculty of reason."
"Reason: a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc."

Actually yes the actions of the rabid dog are rational for there is a reason as to why it did what it did. The chemical reactions inside of the dog's brain caused it to maul the child, thus there is reason behind the mauling, therefore it is rational. Although it might not be right it is still rational.

I shall say it again, although we might not comprehend why something happened does not make it void of reason. Everything has a reason for occurring for if it didn't, it would not have occurred.