Re: New Arvorec words

Christophe Grandsire wrote:
> > I agree. Genes, environment, culture, exposture to chemicals all almost
> > certainly play a part in my opinion.
> >
>
>I agree (partly) for the first three, but not the last one. As far back as
>we
>get in the past, homosexuality has always been present, in all cultures,
>even
>the least tolerant ones. Moreover, there's absolutely no sign that
>homosexuality
>is more frequent now than it used to be. More open, yes, but not more
>frequent.
>Since exposure to chemicals was probably quite low at those times...
Hm. I think my choice of word was rather unfortunate. By "chemicals" I did
not refer only or even primarily to man-made, "unnatural" substances. As we
all know, substances like testorsteone have a very large effect on our sex
and sexuality. Indeed, a foetus with an XY genome will still become a female
if it isn't subjected to a largish dosis of testosterone. Some researchers
think that a low level of testosterone in male foetus at least increases the
probability that it becomes a homosexual. There are HEAPS of substances,
natural or man-made that affects, or possibly affects, the development of an
individual, and I find it hard believe that NONE of them would affect
whether someone becomes homosexual or not.

>I keep on
>comparing with being left-handed. The proportion of left-handed people is
>the
>same in every culture, everywhere in the world, and even back in times.
>Still,
>no one has ever found a genetic reason for it. As for environment and
>culture,
>it doesn't go well with the fact that the proportion is the same
>everywhere. You
>also have a continuum between strict left-handedness and strict
>right-handedness. All this leads me to think that sexual orientation
>probably
>has a mechanism not unlike the mechanism of writing orientation. As for
>what it
>is, I'm as ignorant as everyone else...
One suggested explanation of left-handedness is that it is caused by minor
brain damage dring birth. That kind of "environmental effect" is about as
likely in any society.

                                                    Andreas
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