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TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apocalypse from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apocalypse
#43676: Dec 12th 2012 at 5:20:21 PM

Found this article today.

Strong possiblity that proof that our genes and how they are expressed are linked to sexual orientation Further testing is needed but it looks like there is a good chance this might be proven.

If they prove it this will certainly kick a proverbial hornets nest with certain elements of the U.S. population.

Who watches the watchmen?
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#43677: Dec 12th 2012 at 5:23:30 PM

[up]

The far-right has shown that statistics mean nothing, just look at their response to climate change.

Also that has nothing to do with US Politics.

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#43678: Dec 12th 2012 at 5:32:45 PM

The far right will just move from "being gay is a choice" to "let's have some genetic therapy to wipe out homosexuality!"

I wonder-if Stem Cell Research could be used to affect sexuality, whether the religious right would suddenly be in favor of it.

edited 12th Dec '12 5:33:14 PM by TheyCallMeTomu

Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#43679: Dec 12th 2012 at 5:41:41 PM

[up] Doubt it. Unless science discovers a "gay gene" there'd be no way to control it.

I'm baaaaaaack
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#43680: Dec 12th 2012 at 5:45:09 PM

Tomu: Isn't that exactly what the Nazis tried to do? You know they could at least try not to copy them.

edited 12th Dec '12 5:45:21 PM by Kostya

GameGuruGG Vampire Hunter from Castlevania (Before Recorded History)
Vampire Hunter
#43681: Dec 12th 2012 at 5:48:07 PM

Eugenics would naturally lead to tons of abortions, so the Right would never do that. Instead, the Right will just do what they do with evolution and climate change. They will deny the facts as being part of a liberal conspiracy.

edited 12th Dec '12 5:49:18 PM by GameGuruGG

Wizard Needs Food Badly
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#43682: Dec 12th 2012 at 5:50:47 PM

Obama won 71% of Asian vote

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#43683: Dec 12th 2012 at 5:53:07 PM

I know that there is evidence that brain chemistry, right from birth, has something to do with one's orientation. Although the same professor said that it was most likely a 'genetic aberration' as well. While that does make some strictly logical sense, it's not really something you actually say.

Enkufka Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ from Bay of White fish Since: Dec, 2009
Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ
#43684: Dec 12th 2012 at 6:05:23 PM

There was one theory I heard a while back, that the gene for homosexuality in males caused increased fertility in females.

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#43685: Dec 12th 2012 at 6:08:42 PM

Any mentions of genetics suddenly makes me hope that being gay isn't gene related. I can only think of the horrors that would being to happen more frequently as a result. tongue

And Norquist's idea of accountability can go hang. As far as I'm concerned it was basically working as a fealty pledge to him.

Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#43686: Dec 12th 2012 at 6:17:52 PM

Can't speak accurately for other denominations, but the Vatican made a statement in late 2008 on gene therapy. The cliffnotes version:

  • Therapy to repair damaged or counter anomalous genes is acceptable, but enhancement beyond normal parameters isn't.
  • They currently oppose operations that attempt to transmit the repaired gene to offspring, not on an intrinsic basis, but because we don't have a good enough handle on it to risk progeny.
  • Adult stem cells good, embryonic bad. They're still contemplating altered nuclear transfer to generate the latter without destroying embryos.

They've acknowledged since the 90's that orientation is involuntary. If there was a gene therapy process discovered to un-gay someone, one would think they'd be okay with it on the grounds of likening it to an anomaly. Which brings up an even more uncomfortable can of worms, of course.

edited 12th Dec '12 6:18:10 PM by Pykrete

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#43687: Dec 12th 2012 at 6:22:21 PM

I think there will be snake oil salesmen proclaiming a cure for gayness long after it's been settled in the mainstream that gayness is involuntary. And that's sad.

But anyway. I kind of wonder what will happen when we get closer to the transhumanist dream of being able to turn ourselves into cyborgs and shit.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#43688: Dec 12th 2012 at 6:24:01 PM

Okay, we're going waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay Off-Topic.

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#43689: Dec 12th 2012 at 6:24:04 PM

Well, if you're a cyborg, presumably you'll be able to program your sexuality.

RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#43690: Dec 12th 2012 at 6:27:45 PM

I really wish Norquist would fuck right off. If you want to decide U.S. government policy, run for office asshole.

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#43691: Dec 12th 2012 at 6:28:21 PM

Jerry Brown being treated for prostate cancer

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Enkufka Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ from Bay of White fish Since: Dec, 2009
Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ
#43692: Dec 12th 2012 at 7:28:16 PM

more cited info about "Right to Work" and union work.

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#43693: Dec 12th 2012 at 8:17:06 PM

Senate Intern Arrested as Undocumented Immigrant, Registered Sex Offender

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#43694: Dec 13th 2012 at 12:03:24 AM

One thing I don't get (about right-to-work laws) is why the hell employers who object to a union shop contract would sign one in the first place. The law doesn't require an employer to agree to the contract, even if the worker is unionized.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#43695: Dec 13th 2012 at 1:02:59 AM

Because the union can withhold workers and go to an employer that will. At least in places where unions aren't being marginalized. Can't run a business without employees, after all. That's kind of the point of unions; to have enough people in it that they can use that as leverage for their benefit.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#43696: Dec 13th 2012 at 1:05:34 AM

@Deviant: These folks really hire many immigrants, do they? And what does "sex offender" mean there?

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#43697: Dec 13th 2012 at 3:34:02 AM

@Ace: Fair enough. And if an employer has enough potential scabs and nonunion workers to flip the finger to the union, then the union was a failure to begin with.

Of course, Wal-Mart is exceptional in their deep pockets, low skill requirements, and sheer brass. Most employers don't have nearly that kind of leverage.

Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#43698: Dec 13th 2012 at 4:25:02 AM

Unfortunately that Michigan right-to-work thing is having repercussions. Even Canada is moving towards right-to-work laws, and our government is fast-tracking laws through towards that effect.

TheStarshipMaxima NCC - 1701 Since: Jun, 2009
NCC - 1701
#43699: Dec 13th 2012 at 7:06:36 AM

Maxima, I have no idea what the fuck you were watching during the Republican primaries. They flat out said this during their campaigns. On live TV. In both debates and speeches. Or were you just not watching those? Did you just not research their positions on things that supposedly matter to you?

Yes and no. The problem was I was watching these debates and primaries, but I wasn't listening. I was so set in my belief that these guys are on my side, that I allowed it to blind me to the actual facts.

I thought I could substitute righteous belief for serious research. And as a result I willingly blinded myself to the truth.

Depressing.

It was an honor
Trivialis Since: Oct, 2011
#43700: Dec 13th 2012 at 9:37:43 AM

I've listened to the Democratic speeches and I've found things I disagree with.


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