[Forgone Conclusion]

Fair enough, I dont' have any figures from any surveys, but you can certainly see the argument.

People are certainly not born homo/heterosexual (although there may be genetic pre-disposition to one or the otehr), so it must be nurture that does it. Nurture = experiences in life, in personality the most important ones are in your youth (before 7 has the most impact i think), where the most influencial people are your parents -> you pick up their traits

Obviously, as I said, this isn't the only thing that affects it. There's genetic pre-disposition, there are other people who influence you - teachers, etc, as wellas a milloion other things

[Forgone Conclusion]

Quote

Northwestern University psychology professor Michael Bailey, who has studied the genetics of homosexuality, says that the sketchy studies that do exist "are finding rates on the order of 10 percent of the offspring" of gay parents who turn out gay themselves, higher than the "generally accepted range between 1 and 4 percent" of the population that gays constitute.

Well there's some figures for you. The article went on to say that it was undetermined as to how much was upbringing, and how much is genetic.

Other articles suggested that upbringing had little effect on final sexuality, but made them more 'experimental', and then there were some arguing both ways

Basically, I think it's undecided, and we'll have to wait a while before we can be sure.

Either way, like tommy said, gay parents are better than no parents

[Echoes]

I can see the argument, certainly. i don't see though why you're so certain people aren't born homo/heterosexual though. i'm playing devil's advocate here - obviously nurture has an effect on everything - even eye colour, something determined to a large effect by genetics, but not entirely. Why are you sure it's not the same thing for sexual orientation?

if the orientation of your parents were so obviously the main determinant of your sexual preference, surely it would be quite an easy thing to demonstrate statistically?

[Forgone Conclusion]

I dont think it is necessarily 'the main determinant of your sexual preference', I'm just saying it IS a factor, since it's relevant to this topic.

I think it's merely one factor amongst many, which is why it's so hard to show statistically.

Also, you can't really compare eye colour to sexuality can you? That's a physical thing, and mainly determined by genetics (as is height, etc). Sexuality is a mental thing, so more likely to be compared to whether or not you have a temper, a certain sense of humour, etc, which are less affceted by genetics. I'm not certain it's not wholly down to genetics, I'm just comparing it to similar things and inferring results

This post has been edited by Forgone Conclusion: 08 January 2006 - 12:06 AM

[paddys wink]

bloody hell,will somebody just give me the flipping co-ordinates of the rebel base,this is the third time ive asked

[Echoes]

Quote

which are less affceted by genetics

than height?? genetics are equally influential in the mental as in the physical.

Quote

I'm just saying it IS a factor

oh, no doubt about it. but less so than, in my opinion, society. I don't think parenting styles changed signficiantly enough over the 20th century to explain the rise in homosexuality; genetics eitehr for that matter. For me, it's changes in society - the increasing metrosexuality or gEmo-ness of average teenagers, for example.

For that reason, i really don't think it's a problem allowing gay couples to adopt. As many have said, the pros outweigh the cons IMO.

[Forgone Conclusion]

Sorry, hair colour would be a better example, (although nowadays, in MEDCs, height is mainly controlled by genetics since everyone is fully nourished), and no, genetics are not as influencial in the mental as they are in the physical

[Hellion]

my pov ov gay marage has always been ''I aint gay, so I don't care.''

This post has been edited by Hellion: 21 January 2006 - 05:38 AM

[hammerhead]

I think gay couples should get married!!

[Forgone Conclusion]

i don't