Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

So I was reading a post where a mod got called a gay retard which got me thinking about whether or not people who actually mentally retarded express things like homosexuality, or whether or not there have been any studies. I think this would be interesting as its not something I've ever seen discussed but I would expect that ratio of homosexual to heterosexual to be the same regardless of IQ. Would everyone agree?

I did a google search but found absolutely nothing.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

I actually think homosexuality is more a function of one's environment growing up.

Depends on the type/severity of mental retardation you are talking about, but its very likely that a large subset of those people simply cannot contextualize their environment.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

Reason number 69 we need a 'Mod Forum Discussion Forum'.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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which got me thinking about whether or not people who actually mentally retarded express things like homosexuality

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Wow your brain works in strange and mysterious ways.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

A really good friend of mine worked in adult group homes for years.

He's told me that he walks in on guys doing each other all the time. Since they are adults and consenting, all he can do is close the door and try to forget he ever saw it.

The impression I got from him is that it's just a couple guys getting off. They don't really have the capacity for love/romance since they have the mind of a child. They would bang anything that you let them, for the most part anyway.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

My stance on this is always "I don't know why people are gay, and I don't think it's a good think that we try and find out lest somebody try and fix it".

That said, I would assume there are gay retards.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

I wouldn't be surprised if MORE retarded than non-retarded people expressed gay sexuality, because they wouldn't be smart/wise/scared enough to realize how society or just random jerks might hold it against them.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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I wouldn't be surprised if MORE retarded than non-retarded people expressed gay sexuality, because they wouldn't be smart/wise/scared enough to realize how society or just random jerks might hold it against them.

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Or bisexual at the very minimum for that reason, and, to put it bluntly, lack of options.

Ray

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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I actually think homosexuality is more a function of one's environment growing up.

Depends on the type/severity of mental retardation you are talking about, but its very likely that a large subset of those people simply cannot contextualize their environment.

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what does your first statement have to do w/ censored's question? why does someone have to "contextualize their enviromenment" in order for it to impact them?

i have worked w/ people mental retardation and there is a definite sexual drive. some hetero, some homosexual.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

I'm pretty sure I've heard there are gay penguins, so there's that.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

I don't care if a retard is gay, as long as he isn't sitting next to me on a plane.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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I'm pretty sure I've heard there are gay penguins, so there's that.

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That's hot.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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I actually think homosexuality is more a function of one's environment growing up.

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With all due respect, I believe this is [censored]. Ask Dick Cheney's daughter. I doubt she will tell you she grew up in a gay environment.

Or is there some other "environment" you're talking about.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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I actually think homosexuality is more a function of one's environment growing up.

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With all due respect, I believe this is [censored]. Ask Dick Cheney's daughter. I doubt she will tell you she grew up in a gay environment.


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If I was Dick Cheney's daughter, I'd probably be turned off of men, too.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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A really good friend of mine worked in adult group homes for years.

He's told me that he walks in on guys doing each other all the time. Since they are adults and consenting, all he can do is close the door and try to forget he ever saw it.

The impression I got from him is that it's just a couple guys getting off. They don't really have the capacity for love/romance since they have the mind of a child. They would bang anything that you let them, for the most part anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]

Gay for the stay in adult group homes? Who knew.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

Growing up in Greece? Or in jail?

I think we've come to the point where we're more ready to make big authoritative-sounding pronouncements on the "causes" than to really have a thorough understanding of what we're talking about. And then to simply just want to start fights.

The subject is way too fraught with religious and political agendas as compared to any real understanding or even desire to understand, from either side of the nature or nurture arguments.

And there's not nearly so much commonly said about why it may be both nature and nurture, something fluid and changeable rather than absolute and permanent, etc.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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what does your first statement have to do w/ censored's question? why does someone have to "contextualize their enviromenment" in order for it to impact them?

i have worked w/ people mental retardation and there is a definite sexual drive. some hetero, some homosexual.

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bd - re: "whether or not people who actually mentally retarded express things like homosexuality"

I read this to mean that [censored] was implying that a predisposition to homosexuality might be genetic, and that he was wondering if a mentally retarded person would be able to act on that.

Its entirely possible that I am missing the point. But I was trying to say that I do not believe that homosexuality is solely genetic, or something one is "born with", but instead may also be a result of behavioral factors.

Re: Dick Cheney's daughter, its entirely possible that she "rebelled" against the staunch Republican/conservative values of her father in order to gain attention. Maybe after doing so, she realized she could enjoy a perfectly fulfilling lifestyle sans [censored].

Which is the right answer? Could be both, could be neither...I don't think anybody knows for sure.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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I'm pretty sure I've heard there are gay penguins, so there's that.

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I've heard the same thing about dolphins, chimpanzees, and dogs. Don't know if any of these species can be retarded, but apparently they can be gay.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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what does your first statement have to do w/ censored's question? why does someone have to "contextualize their enviromenment" in order for it to impact them?

i have worked w/ people mental retardation and there is a definite sexual drive. some hetero, some homosexual.

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bd - re: "whether or not people who actually mentally retarded express things like homosexuality"

I read this to mean that [censored] was implying that a predisposition to homosexuality might be genetic, and that he was wondering if a mentally retarded person would be able to act on that.

Its entirely possible that I am missing the point. But I was trying to say that I do not believe that homosexuality is solely genetic, or something one is "born with", but instead may also be a result of behavioral factors.

Re: Dick Cheney's daughter, its entirely possible that she "rebelled" against the staunch Republican/conservative values of her father in order to gain attention. Maybe after doing so, she realized she could enjoy a perfectly fulfilling lifestyle sans [censored].

Which is the right answer? Could be both, could be neither...I don't think anybody knows for sure.

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Clearly you're retarded; are you gay? If so, [censored] 's question would be easily answered.

Thinking that homosexuality is not biological is just stupid. Study after study after study indicates that it is. The simple fact that people don't choose to be a way that makes them get the [censored] kicked out of them by strangers indicates that it is. The fact that guilt over homosexuality is a leading cause of suicide indicates that it is. How is this even an issue anymore? Come on.

As many posts in this thread indicate, from people who've worked with/had friends who worked with the retarded, yes, there are gay retards.

A perfect example:

http://i13.tinypic.com/455te1z.jpg

Ted Haggard

-bb.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

While I've previously pondered the existence of retard pornos, now I'll hafta also consider the existence of gay retard porn. I think I'll make all those I speak with tonight consider it also.

I'm going to be the King of Conversation tonight.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

I worked as security in an adult bookstore for a minute, and there was a group of retarded young men 18-20ish who would come into the store and use the video arcade. The guy who worked the counter happened to be gay and said that the group came in often. Obviously they had sexual urges, less obvious was if they were actually gay or just taking advantage of opportunity. I think their chance of scoring with any chick retarded or not would be pretty small so I believe they had more opportunity and less inhibition to act on sexual urges with the other retarded members of their group.

Joe

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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bd - re: "whether or not people who actually mentally retarded express things like homosexuality"

I read this to mean that [censored] was implying that a predisposition to homosexuality might be genetic, and that he was wondering if a mentally retarded person would be able to act on that.

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i think censored used the phrase "express homosexuality" just as one would use the phrase "is gay."

i didnt take anything from the OP that might indicate whether censored thinks homosexuality is nature or nuture.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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bd - re: "whether or not people who actually mentally retarded express things like homosexuality"

I read this to mean that [censored] was implying that a predisposition to homosexuality might be genetic, and that he was wondering if a mentally retarded person would be able to act on that.

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i think censored used the phrase "express homosexuality" just as one would use the phrase "is gay."

i didnt take anything from the OP that might indicate whether censored thinks homosexuality is nature or nuture.

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I given this some thought in the past

I think there are people who are born straight and regardless of environment will be straight

I think there are people who are born gay and regardless of environment will be gay

and then I think there are people who are born somewhere in a range and that environment can have an effect on whether or not they are gay, straight or bi.

I have no scientific evidence to back any of this up

I also think its possible that heterosexuality is sort of the default given the nature of societies and that it may require a higher level thinking to come in touch and express something like homosexuality so I would expect it to be less prevalent in mentally retarded population. Additionally it would make sense that environment would play a larger role with the retarded.

the responses so far though are causing me to reconsider

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

"I did a google search but found absolutely nothing. "

You answered your own question. Google knows all....

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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So I was reading a post where a mod got called a gay retard which got me thinking about whether or not people who actually mentally retarded express things like homosexuality, or whether or not there have been any studies. I think this would be interesting as its not something I've ever seen discussed but I would expect that ratio of homosexual to heterosexual to be the same regardless of IQ. Would everyone agree?

I did a google search but found absolutely nothing.

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Along the same lines would be a retard with an accent. I have always been good at voices/impressions (kinda want to do it professionally), but I never could wrap my head around doing a retarded Eastern-Indian. Try it... it's not easy.

I guess there just aren't many bi-lingual retards.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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people who actually mentally retarded express things like homosexuality

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http://www.kvak.com/slike/090305c.jpg

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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I actually think homosexuality is more a function of one's environment growing up.


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You may believe this, but it is incorrect. There are numerous studies that have found differences in the brain of people who are homosexual.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

But we have not measured the brains of all homosexuals, nor are we sure that such behavior cannot modify the brain or hormonal system, as happens with other environmental influences.

Btw, I count pollution and such as potential environmental modifiers, too. Perhaps acting on genetic predispositions/existing hormonal balances to help cause various diseases. All us milk drinkers and beef and chicken eaters are getting unprecedented levels of hormones that way, and we are getting pseudo-hormones through pollutants that already are showing the sperm count of human males has plunged in the last half century. They've also been indicated in frogs and fishes and lizards becoming hermaphroditic, or infertile, etc.

We don't know enough about genetics, chemistry, and the incredible number of ways they relate to each other in any single person or animal to really know what we're talking about when we talk about environmental influences on something as complex as human sexuality yet. Our science isn't there yet, a few studies with some measurements notwithstanding.

And we don't really know definitively how much and in exactly which ways social factors shape either the personality or the raw material of the brain and hormonal system, either. We just know that it does, and that new findings are turning up all the time. So it's way too early to say we've got any of this stuff really figured out.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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Study after study after study indicates that it is.

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I love it when people use this line as defence for their position. Care to reference any of these *numerous* studies?

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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Study after study after study indicates that it is.

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I love it when people use this line as defence for their position. Care to reference any of these *numerous* studies?

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Sometimes people say that because it's an issue whose factual basis should be taken as given.

Study after study after study after study.

There are others, but my biological drive is telling me that it's friday night and I should go out and try to find some delicious vagina instead of staying in having a slap fight over this stupid issue. Take your snottily expressed lack-of-an-opinion elsewhere.

-bb.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

Jesus Christ, man, I agree with you that you need to get laid.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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I think there are people who are born straight and regardless of environment will be straight

I think there are people who are born gay and regardless of environment will be gay

and then I think there are people who are born somewhere in a range and that environment can have an effect on whether or not they are gay, straight or bi.

I have no scientific evidence to back any of this up


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I agree with all this.

One way to test this might be to compare the number of gay people per era. I have no evidence, but I think I'd be making a good assumption in saying that today a larger percentage of people are gay/bi than back in the 40s and 50s, at least in the US. Homosexuality/bisexuality is also much more accepted today than it was back then. I wouldn't be at all surprised if there was some sort of positive feedback loop.

I know correlation != causation, but it's something to consider.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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I actually think homosexuality is more a function of one's environment growing up.

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With all due respect, I believe this is [censored]. Ask Dick Cheney's daughter. I doubt she will tell you she grew up in a gay environment.

Or is there some other "environment" you're talking about.

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Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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I have no evidence, but I think I'd be making a good assumption in saying that today a larger percentage of people are gay/bi than back in the 40s and 50s, at least in the US. Homosexuality/bisexuality is also much more accepted today than it was back then.

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Are you saying that there is a greater % of gay people now? Or are you saying that there is a greater % of OPENLY gay people now?

The second one is certainly true. I'm not certain about the first one (although it wouldn't necessarily surprise me)...

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

I find it interesting how so many posters in this thread can take definitive positions in the nature vs. nurture discussion.

I obviously need to expand my medical journal reading list.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

this thread is ghey

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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So I was reading a post where a mod got called a gay retard

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lol Citanul.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

Identicial twin studies suggest that homosexuality is not entierly genetic. Basically this means that if you have an identical twin (shares 100% of genes) who is homosexual, then while you are more likely to also be homosexual, you won't necessarily be. I can't remember details though, ie how much more likely, and can't really be bothered going and finding finding them. This suggests though that environmental factors play a role. This doesn't mean environmental as in you 'chose' to be gay, ie could be diet, birth complications or plenty of other things that may effect ones biology and stuff.

In reference to OP, I don't really know, but I would say generally that mentally retarded people can be gay. As there are many different causes and extremities of mental retardation though it may vary. I don't see why though if someone can have heterosexual desires, why somemone of similar retardation could not be homosexual. Could be wrong though.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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My stance on this is always "I don't know why people are gay, and I don't think it's a good think that we try and find out lest somebody try and fix it".

That said, I would assume there are gay retards.

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Imflammatory comment removed by samjjones.

Re: Question from mod forum: homosexuality + retardation
 

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I don't care if a retard is gay, as long as he isn't sitting next to me on a plane.

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I see what you did there... nice.