Re: So-called Alternative Lifestyles (was Unconventional pronoun systemsshow us yours!)

 In Ancient Greece homosexuality wasn't seen as a way of life so much as
an act. It was expected and accepted for men to have sexual relations,
usually an older man and a younger man (going through puberty kind of
age), and some of the relationships the ancient greeks accepted modern
society would consider slightly paedophillic. The point I was trying to
make though was that just as it was expected for men to have sexual
relationships amongst themselves, it was still expected that when they
reached a certain age they would marry and have children. The main
reason that greek society was so accepting, compared to many other
societies, was (I believe) the strict segregation of women, which left a
lot of horny young men wandering around lol. The same situation is
common in other societies which strictly segregate women... historically
(not, I think, now, but perhaps I'm wrong) the arabic cultures, who also
practice the segregation of women, were quite accepting of homosexual
relationships.
 Another (sub-)culture which comes to mind is the culture of the
samurai, where it was expected for samurai and their apprentices to have
relationships. In general it was also expected for them to part ways
eventually, and this did not preclude the master from having a wife, but
there were instances where there were life long love affairs and it
wasn't a major scandal, although I think it was something to gossip
about perhaps lol. Unfortunately contact with European attitutes have
changed the way the Japanese see homosexual relationships, and now its
shameful in Japanese culture to be homosexual.
 One other phenomenon comes to mind: some Amerindian cultures were
accepting of homosexuals in a different way. They placed some ritual
value on them, and it was important for someone of the homosexual
'group' to be present at certain rituals and perform certain parts of
those rituals. I think (I might be wrong) they were though also subject
to slightly different rules to other people... they handled homosexuals
by having a "woman who is kindof a man" and "man who is kindof a woman"
system (since in most of these cultures different groups, ie men and
woman, had vastly different rules and expectations imposed on them).
Without such a person the ritual couldn't proceed. I can't give you
details because I don't know much more, but I'm sure you can find more
if you want. :)
 The whole area is very interesting... myself, I've always been
accepting of pretty much anyone as long as they don't hurt other
people... the one rule I guess I live by is "do no harm". Not that
that's possible... I mean, getting a promotion means you deny the job to
someone else, so I guess my sense of what's unfair is conditioned by
society to an extent, but I certainly have no problem with people who
live alternative lifestyles. :) I've slept with women (so I guess I'm
not gay lol) before... but while I prefer women, I did have a brief
fling with a guy a few months ago and it was fun, so I guess it'd be
kindof hard for me to condemn gay people lol.

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