Don't post in this thread to say "gay gamers are like everyone else, why do they have a special thread?" It is something that has been posted numerous times, and this isn't the place for that discussion.
References are stated in the end, contact the universities for hands on reference and material.
(Its not hard, just send a damn email or something)
For real? That still sounds like bullshit. It completely ignores lesbians for one, and how would a mother's immune system attacking the baby translate into sexuality? I'm more likely to believe that soy is the cause. Also comparing twin brothers is only relevant when there's differences, after all, you expect twins to be the same. I get that this video isn't probably the best voice for the scientific reason, but it seams like every Professor who can find the funding for it comes up with a new reason that sounds even stupider then the last idea.
A similar trait can arise multiple times through different pathways. Flight in animals is a good example of this; it evolved separately in birds, mammals and insects yet its the same trait in the end. Homosexuality in females likely evolved through a different pathway than in males (for reasons that I really don't feel like going into [after that long-ass post above] because I think if you search my post history you'll find the answer).
I'll admit I hadn't considered that but I wasn't 100% hinged on that idea.
Comparing twins is relevant and shows that you really don't have any clue whatsoever about this topic and in genetics in general. Twin studies are incredibly important because you have the opportunity to analyze two individuals who are identical genetically (simplified, epigenetics etc. aside). In comparing twins, if you want to know if a trait has a biological basis, you compare the prevalence of a trait in monozygotic and dyzygotic twins. In layman's terms, if there happens to be a significant concordance rate among MZ twins raised in the same environment to that of DZ twins raised in the same environment, then you know that there is a significant biological basis to the trait in question. Reason being is that if both twins have a shared environment, then if the MZ twins have a higher concordance for the trait, all that can be concluded is that the similarity must be a result of the MZ twins sharing more DNA than the DZ twins. An even more striking example would be to find a higher concordance rate for MZ twins raised apart for a trait, then in comparison with DZ twins raised together.
The video in question was making it look like they were just comparing twin brothers and not comparing twins with other twins. Looking at the studies yes, comparing different types of twins is very useful, but that's not what I was getting from the video. Now I realize that video == ass. I do agree with you here.
About the birthing order, the theory states that female antibodies would de-masculinize the male brain, making him more feminine and likely to be gay. Approximately 50% of our genes are expressed in the brain so that leaves a lot of room for something as simple as that to cause a dramatic effect. An evolutionary aspect to this theory (although I'm more a supporter of the kin selection theory for homosexuality) suggests that birthing order and male homosexuality helps to reduce brotherly competition.
This is sort of what I expected to hear, that any exact effect of increased antibodies would be unknown. I think being a skeptic on this theory is fairly legitimate. Wouldn't increased brotherly competition actually be beneficial for evolution (survival of the fittest and what not) ?
From the perspective of a gay gene (or any gene for that matter), it wouldn't necessarily be beneficial. Competition could possibly reduce the gene's frequency of propagation in the next generation, so finding a way to have some bearers passing it down and sabotaging other bearers (and the rest of their genome) so that they would help nurture these new individuals with the gene could be optimal (somewhat similar to a green-beard gene). Especially in an environment where resources are scarce, there are more predators than average, etc. As long as this gene in question would be able to replicate itself more often using this approach, it would be likely to occur.
I'm really not as fond of this theory (I support the Gay Uncle theory) because in our evolutionary past (talking about humans here) males were much more polygynous (still kinda are) and more interested with propagating their genes as much as possible. Add to this that males generally went off and did there thing whereas females were the ones that would always remain within the nesting site to care for their young, so I don't see the connection between males and having their brothers taking care of their kids when that would really be left to the maternal side of a mating session, not the paternal.
On the other hand, it does make sense that if a gay gene caused a male to become gay but his sisters to become more fecund, then he would be more likely not to go out and propagate his genes but stay at the nesting site and take care of these extra children.
I don't know, but perhaps there could even be multiple pathways that led to the male homosexuality trait in our evolutionary history, so I wouldn't be surprised if both the above hypotheses were found to be true; maybe the reduced brotherly competition is the less common scenario?
BTW, I hope I have not given off the impression that genes have minds of their own because they don't. It's just that a gene that is more likely to increase in number in the next generation is more likely to out-compete another gene, either directly or indirectly.
There is an awfully good book, "Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why" by Dr. Simon LeVay, of Harvard and Stanford. It is a good survey of over 650 rigorous studies on sexuality. In it, Dr. LeVay discussed the possibility that being gay is the occasional result of having androgen suppression genes, which tend to make heterosexual males more attractive to females (for lots of complicated reasons). This tendency to be more attractive supposedly makes the mathematical chance for reproduction significant enough that it offsets the chance that the genes will make the child gay. The kin selection theory "gay uncle" that was mentioned in the previous post is discussed as another possibility but there is some mitigating evidence for it.
As well, there is much evidence to show that the more sons a woman has, the more likely the youngest son is gay. Plus, there is much discussion about the physiological differences between the sexual orientations. It is a good bathroom reader and contains the most up to date theories (having been published last year).
I like biology a ton, it is by and far my best subject, but I don't like how all these "gay community" threads always come down to a discussion on the biological basis for homosexuality. It is a debate that is important and has a place in scientific discussion.. but maybe all I wanna talk about is cute boys and shopping
On July 14 2011 00:55 Chopin- wrote: lmao. I remember I saw someone put "Starcraft anyone?" in his description on Grindr (the gay male iPhone app) so I messaged him to talk SC a bit. He asked what league I was in, I said Plat and Masters and he was like "Wow! I'm just gold." I kinda judged him. Though I told my straight female friend who plays SC also without telling her about my judging him and she judged him too. Good to know many obscure things are devoid of gender or sexual orientation.
wow, I would just be happy to find a cute nerdy boy who played PC games (no console gamers)
then again, I am still in silver x.x
Me too! I met a guy a few weeks ago who was described to me by a friend as a huge nerd, and someone who played games so I was kind of excited. Then I found out he was an xbox junky and ugh, no thanks.
I started in silver, made my way up to diamond recently. You'll get there ^_^
Me too! I met a guy a few weeks ago who was described to me by a friend as a huge nerd, and someone who played games so I was kind of excited. Then I found out he was an xbox junky and ugh, no thanks.
I started in silver, made my way up to diamond recently. You'll get there ^_^
Nothing wrong with console games (most of my gaming history is console-based) but agree with a bit of judgment for an Xbox junky cause it implies FPS-based, which is not high on my list. But then again, I bought an Xbox primarily to play Tales of Vesperia (and while I was at it, Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon), which I thought was well worth it.
Edit: Oh and congrats partisan! I still have anxiety over playing 1v1 and only do it when drunk or to re-place when new seasons start.
Edit: Oh and congrats partisan! I still have anxiety over playing 1v1 and only do it when drunk or to re-place when new seasons start.
Gays are such pussies >.< I speak as one myself. I managed to overcome it to go from Bronze - Masters though. Shame adrenaling is on the other side of the Atlantic
Us plat gays need love, too! On another note, I wonder if there is correlation between sexuality and racial choice! Fess up, what race do you play if you're gay?
I have been out to my parents for about 6 months but I guess I have what I call a good problem. My mother is a bit of a yaoi fangirl. As a girl, she grew up during the boom of yaoi in Japan and when she converted to Christianity, she was one of the earlier folks who said the Bible should not be used to harm gay people. She has also been an avid supporter of Gene Robinson and was really happy when he was elected as a Bishop.
So what problem do I have? My mother is a bit too supportive of me. Anyone can tell that she was surprised, happy, and very excited when I came out of the closet. She asks me so many questions, does a lot to help me with my fashon, and buys so many gay books. In the 6 months I have been out of the closet, the money she has spent on gay literature is insane. She has read more gay books than I have and I read a lot.
So yes, I sometimes get annoyed when my mother bugs me and asks a lot of questions but I should feel incredibly blessed that I have a supportive mother, something most gay kids do not have. The fact that she buys me gay books and watches anime is pretty awesome. In fact, she is the person that introduced me to Dan Savage.
there really is such thing as too supportive if your mother isnt giving you room to breathe and discover what being gay means for you.
Many of us are not so blessed to have such supportive parents, but I can certainly understand how it can be a tad odd/oppressive (my first bf had super supportive to a fault parents)
In my old clan many people used to harass my teamate fenrisk about it and he stopped coming online... its a shame, everyone in the community should just 'think b4 u speak'. maybe we can get day9 to use his influence to promote tolerance?
Too much debate, not enough awesome in this thread. I dj pretty often around chelsea/the village in NYC,
I had the honor of playing a set in a gay club in chelsea the night that marriage got passed, holy god it was fun. played until about 4 in the morning, was supposed to end at 2. Usually I lean more towards electro and house, but by the end of my set I was in euphoric trance for like a good hour with how bouncy everyone was. After that I spent the night getting drinks sent at me from lots of guys
Most importantly, when I danced with what felt like the only girl in there(she came out to party with her best friend in celebration), after my set, not a single person looked at us funny. Pretty awesome example of tolerance, given that I've seen the looks gay guys get in a regular club sometimes.
I've read quite a few threads on Team Liquid over the past few weeks but decided to finally make an account after I found this thread. -introduces myself- Only had the game for about a month and a half, lost all my placement matches and so I was put in bronze. Now I'm #3, almost #2, and once season 3 starts I think I'll be in silver or gold. Been playing more and more higher league players and I'm in gold/plat in 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4. Pretty random post but I figured why not.
EPT
(july 27th)
