Homosexuality

[Answerprancer]

1) Is it nature's way of telling us to keep our population under control?
2) Nature or nurture ?
Discuss.
(Now I'll duck and run for cover!)

[Kiki-frog]

Definitely nature. Anyone who's grown up in the countryside will have seen lesbian cows and sheep! And I'm pretty sure that homosexuality has been observed in other primate species, certainly in chimps.

[jackthehat]

As I have mentioned before........being 'homosexual' does NOT remove the imperative to procreate. Granted, it becomes a little more challenging to bring about, but there is no reason why a homosexual predominance should bring about 'the end of the world'.

[Sqad]

JTH....nobody is suggesting "the end of the world."

But it might bring an end to the species.

[jackthehat]

In that case, I'll correct my last...

As I have mentioned before........being 'homosexual' does NOT remove the imperative to procreate. Granted, it becomes a little more challenging to bring about, but there is no reason why a homosexual predominance should bring about 'the end of the species'.

[Sqad]

JTH
\\\\is no reason why a homosexual predominance should bring about 'the end of the species'.\\\

I agree, but it doesn't give the species a very good start in life and Darwinism (if you believe it) is based on the survival of the fittest.
Despite that, the human race has survived, evolved and developed methods of procreation that doesn't depend upon heterosexuality.

Surely then, homosexuality is man made.......nutured.

[LoftyLottie]

Sqad, I am not brainwashed neither am I a Lesbian ;o). At least I don't think so. But I would never say that I am in the 20% who don't fantasize or find the idea repulsive. But I just love men!!

[Sqad]

Lofty....LOL

[Kiki-frog]

So when homosexuality occurs in other species, is that nurtured too?

[LoftyLottie]

Try telling that it's basically nurtured to other animal kingdom species Squad. It often comes naturally to them.

[LoftyLottie]

Snap Kiki!!

[Sqad]

lofty/kiki.....I have no idea as my thoughts concern homo sapiens.

[jackthehat]

I think we are a long way passed the species having been 'given a very good start.'
I think it is a facet of human nature which has always been with us. It will have increased exponentially as the human race has increased.
Perhaps, it was intended to be a 'limiting' factor; to put a brake on populations growing too quickly?
The fact that there are now more people identifying themselves as gay has more to do with a shift in social mores/acceptance than anything else. The environment to 'be gay' may well be Nurture but the drive to 'be gay' is Nature.

[Psybbo]

I have to say I have always been attracted to me (usually the bad interesing one, and, as craft says gawd knows why) but I do not judge anyone else on their choices / natural inclinations

[Kiki-frog]

Sqad - cop out!!!! Unless you're a Creationist, we're all part of the animal kingdom.

Just did a quick google of the subject. Holy cr@p - they're all at it!!

http://www.news-medic...2006/10/23/20718.aspx

[LoftyLottie]

Sibton. What do you call someone who is only attracted to themselves. He, he. Read your last answer!! Only joking ;o)

[LoftyLottie]

Agree with Jack completely.

[Psybbo]

lotty, I'm kicking myself, for me read men and for one read ones signed narcissus

[yogi-bear]

^"I have to say I have always been attracted to me"

Snap, sibton.......I especially love it when I tease myself, wear stockings and suspenders whilst singing Club Tropicana and imagining i'm getting spanked by Jimmy Krankie :0)

[LoftyLottie]

I think I might be more attracted to an attractive woman that a repulsive man if I am honest. I can see why women can be attracted to other women. If I had said that 20 years ago, it would raise eyebrows, but I honestly feel that a lot of women feel like me, so I must be in the 80%.

[LazyGun]

@ Sqad - Evolution is not "Darwinism" - its moved on from that. Its only taken 200 years or so - do keep up:)

Please remember that evolution acts on species - we are hardly in any danger of dying out as a species through reduced breeding. A population rise from 2.5 billion to around 6 billion in the space of what, around 50 years? should tell you that.

Darwin adopted the phrase "survival of the species " from an economist, Spencer, as a metaphor for "best adapted for the immediate environment". The theory has evolved to become Natural Selection, something different.