[Gay] Lesbians parents better at raising children

[Ed Anger]

I couch my anti-gay slurs in smileys.

[garbon]

If that is true, and repression is the cause of people not recognizing their "true" sexuality then statistically one would expect that when that pressure is removed more people would recognize that they are in fact gay.  But it turns out that doesn happen at all.  Homosexual parents dont have a greater percentage of homosexual children.

One logical inference from that data is you are wrong about your observation that sexuality is not elastic but merely repressed just as you are wrong about me being some kind of malicious closet homophobe - not to mention all the other craziness you spout.

Another logical inference is that repression takes all sorts of forms and even having openly gay parents can't change that.

[crazy canuck]

Another logical inference is that repression takes all sorts of forms and even having openly gay parents can't change that.

I suppose but then I dont really know what you mean by repression.  Care to elaborate?

I frankly dont really understand what the objection is to the observation that sexuality is elastic.  Clearly people's sexuality can change over time.  Isnt that being elastic?

[garbon]

I suppose but then I dont really know what you mean by repression.  Care to elaborate?

I frankly dont really understand what the objection is to the observation that sexuality is elastic.  Clearly people's sexuality can change over time.  Isnt that being elastic?

I didn't say that I had an issue with the term elastic (after all I'm not Marty) just that I don't think it follows from your support.

I think repression is not being honest to yourself about your sexual preferences at any given time, and perhaps with the corollary that it is causing you some sort of distress.

[Valmy]

Clearly people's sexuality can change over time.  Isnt that being elastic?

Yeah I disagree but then I tend to lean towards the nature part of the nature/nurture debate.  I mean if I wanted to change my sexuality how would I go about it?

But hey it is not like I have never been wrong about something before.

[crazy canuck]

I think repression is not being honest to yourself about your sexual preferences at any given time, and perhaps with the corollary that it is causing you some sort of distress.

I see.  Isnt repression something that is caused by another party though.  What you are describing is self delusion which I concede is equally possible with both straight and gay parents.  But the kind of repression described by Marti is only possible with straight parents - hence the flaw in his logic.

[crazy canuck]

Yeah I disagree but then I tend to lean towards the nature part of the nature/nurture debate.  I mean if I wanted to change my sexuality how would I go about it?

But hey it is not like I have never been wrong about something before.

You dont conciously do it.  At least I dont think you do.  I didnt wake up one morning and say "Ok thats it, I like girls!"  That is another thing Marti got wrong in his rant.  Saying that sexuality is a elastic isnt saying its a matter of choice.  There is likely a longer list of factors influencing sexuality then we will ever really know.  What we do know however, is that sexuality can change over time.

[Malthus]

Clearly people's sexuality can change over time.  Isnt that being elastic?

Yeah I disagree but then I tend to lean towards the nature part of the nature/nurture debate.  I mean if I wanted to change my sexuality how would I go about it?

Well, we could start by locking you up in an all-male prision for a few years ... 

[On a serious note: "situational homosexuality"]

[Barrister]

[On a serious note: "situational homosexuality"]

Is that how they explain the Royal Navy?

[crazy canuck]

[On a serious note: "situational homosexuality"]

Is that how they explain the Royal Navy?

No.  The Royal Navy only recruited gays and people that were gay but didnt know it.

[Malthus]

[On a serious note: "situational homosexuality"]

Is that how they explain the Royal Navy?

Yep.

Though the rum and the lash probably helped. 

[garbon]

I see.  Isnt repression something that is caused by another party though.  What you are describing is self delusion which I concede is equally possible with both straight and gay parents.  But the kind of repression described by Marti is only possible with straight parents - hence the flaw in his logic.

Psychological repression is the involuntary psychological act of excluding desires and impulses (wishes, fantasies or feelings) from one's consciousness and holding or subduing them in the unconscious.

That's from wiki, but I think it is fine in a pinch.

[Sheilbh]

I actually would not find it at all surprising if gay couples were lsightly better parents than the general population.

Neither would I.  Straight couples accidentally become parents - which doesn't mean that those parents will necessarily be bad at it.  But I think generally the couples who have thought it through very intently before becoming parents would do better.

[garbon]

Yeah I disagree but then I tend to lean towards the nature part of the nature/nurture debate.  I mean if I wanted to change my sexuality how would I go about it?

I'm typically on the nurture side although I don't know what to make of sexuality. Anyway, trying to have sex with guys would be a start.

[Valmy]

Well, we could start by locking you up in an all-male prision for a few years ... 

[On a serious note: "situational homosexuality"]

Having sex with men because there are no women available would not change my sexuality