"Gay, Straight or Lying"

[Nymphaea]

I'd read about it before, but recent postings here made me think of it again.

"Gay Straight or Lying"(link)

There are a lot of issues with that study. Someone has kindly pointed them out here (Link. warning: PDF file).

And of course, it only involves MEN...and completely ignores the mental/emotional side of attraction. I don't know about other bisexuals but I have different types and levels of attraction between men and women. I'm very attracted to both, and am sexually attracted to both...but there is a huge difference in thought process there.

[Janeway]

After reading that story, I feel I just became more confused with my sexuality.

But whats really sad is that the people conducting these experiments must not think that you can be bi but not full be attracted to both sexes equally.

[Nymphaea]

That "study" is HOGWASH in my opinion.

There is gay, straight, and EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, as well as completely asexual. Sexuality is fluid...I'm generally more interested in men than women, but still attracted to/interested in women. But it honestly changes by the day.

Don't worry Jane, there's nothing wrong with you. You'll be just fine. *hug*

[Janeway]

LOL. Thats a word you don't hear everyday.

Thanks Nymphaea for being able to comfort me. It's just what I needed after reading that story.

[joshywa]

Hey guys,
I am new to the site, And i think this is an excellent topic on which to cut my teeth so to speak.

I love anything analytical, and find myself gravitating towards forums for a number of reasons, whether it be a personality profile forum or a sexuality forum.

I have to strongly agree with Nymphaea, Sexuality is very fluid. In my case, i guess if i had to 'classify' myself, i would say i am Bisexual, though i don't identify as such. I suppose its possible that i am subconsciously afraid of the response, but when i really think about it, its more of a lifestyle choice than anything. My sexuality is so fluid that it can't even be classified, I generally reply with something to the effect of either, its hard to explain, or even, it is unexplainable, because it is so fluid, it doesn't seem to fit into any category.

[theends]

Hey everyone, I'm new today and thought what better way to announce myself than charging this rather large and idiotic windmill head-on.
Do I care this discussion has been dead for five months? Hellz no! (oh and by the way I'm a long-winded sod so, y'know, get comfy.)

Deep breath...

The lead author of the paper that the article is based on is one Gerulf Rieger, then a student, now a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology. The website www.tsroadmap.com/info/gerulf-rieger.html has this to say...

"[Rieger is being groomed by his mentor J. Michael Bailey to engage in "science by press conference," a way of getting publicity and attention through carefully timed media manipulation...
Bailey has made a career of splashy "findings" which are heralded uncritically by sloppy reporters and then later called into question and/or discredited after the damage is done. By then Bailey is on to some new "finding," and the pattern of using journalists begins again."

Damning, but hey-ho, an LGBT site would say something like that.

What I find more interesting is the admission in the article (through quotes from other scientists) that...

"Bisexual desires are sometimes transient and they are still poorly understood. Men and women also appear to differ in the frequency of bisexual attractions. "The last thing you want," said Dr. Randall Sell... "is for some therapists to see this study and start telling bisexual people that they're wrong, that they're really on their way to homosexuality... We don't know nearly enough about sexual orientation and identity" to jump to these conclusions."

Because it's COMPLICATED.
Scientists keep trying to deal with bisexuality like it's an actual thing. IT'S NOT!
It's a best-guess term for a continuum of sexual mores (see: Kinsey, a real scientist).

If Homo is violet and Hetero is red, 'Bi' is the catch all name for orange, yellow, green, purple and indigo.
So if we don't know ourselves, and WE are the experts, what chance do scientists have?

I say ignore the ignorant. With a little bit of self-honesty it's OBVIOUS to us what we are and I feel completely satisfied (and more than a little smug) settling into my strange little unknown world in the dark and comfy corners of other people's understanding.

I'll be posting my own topic after I've made my presence felt elsewhere...

Love x

[cat]

Hey im also relatively new and theends I completely agree with you, and found your responce accurate and quite ammusing The fact is, people are still discovering such basic things about themselves. our DNA, thinking, mind/psych is still so unknown and unexplored in the areas of science. I think it can be interesting to try to figure out things like sexuality and what does bi,straight, lesbian, trans, asexual really mean, but the fact is, We are who we are! (Yes I know its also a song by ke$ha....deal with it) People are amazing, beautiful beings and duh we are all completely different. Whose to say what's normal, or how we should feel towards someone else? No one can but US. And I think that is vital toknow to be able to live a happy and un-pressured life. Just express yourself and enjoy the world, because we are only here for so long, and we might as well have a hell of a time with it