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View Poll Results: Should gay marriages be legal?
Yes 42 77.78%
No 9 16.67%
I can't decide. 3 5.56%
Voters: 54. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 11-24-2003, 07:22 AM   #121
Griff
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putting on evolutionary biology cap In nature the gay monkeyman would probably play the role of helper to the breeders. In wolf packs the non-breeding members help feed and protect the little ones, which has obvious advantages to the group. The stereotypical nurturing nature of gay men would seem to indicate this role.
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Old 11-24-2003, 10:17 AM   #122
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Quote:
Originally posted by Undertoad
Nature rarely does things randomly, so this question is more difficult than it appears.
Sure it does. It's called genetic drift.
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Old 11-24-2003, 10:39 AM   #123
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OK, but it seems genetic drift would be less likely to explain something that appears to be common through many cultures and through many histories?
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Old 11-24-2003, 10:40 AM   #124
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I think that's Jung Collective Unconscious at work there ...
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Old 11-24-2003, 11:11 AM   #125
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Not necessarily. It just depends on whether the natural selection is strong enough to overcome the random genetic drift. There are all kinds of mutations that are common throughout many cultures and histories that arose as a result of genetic drift.

I'm not saying homosexuality <i>isn't</i> a result of natural selection. I don't know. I'm just presenting alternative options.
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Old 11-24-2003, 01:00 PM   #126
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Here's one idea of how this might coincide. If it seems far-fetched, then hey, it's just an idea. :)

There's some evidence in this this Nature article that suggests that the more older brothers a male has, the more likely he is to be homosexual. If this is true, then homosexuality genes, originally created through genetic drift, could still be passed on by heterosexual siblings.

It does sound pretty far-fetched, but is a neat idea!

That same article also says that you can tell whether or not someone is a lesbian by the relative lengths of their index and ring fingers. I know, it sounds like total BS, but apparently there's some evidence for it.
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Old 11-24-2003, 01:11 PM   #127
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Hmmm, with hands like that you'd also be able to throw a softball pretty well.
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Old 11-24-2003, 01:25 PM   #128
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So lesbians have a couple of longer fingers than straight women? There's a joke in this somewhere...
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Old 11-24-2003, 01:32 PM   #129
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Wow. Tough room.
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Old 11-24-2003, 01:51 PM   #130
Whit
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh yeah, untill someone can give me a solid reason to say gays shouldn't marry that isn't a religious or emotional thing, I say let 'em marry.
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Old 11-24-2003, 01:53 PM   #131
Griff
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Quote:
Originally posted by Undertoad
Wow. Tough room.
I thought it was funny.
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Old 11-24-2003, 01:54 PM   #132
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I went to a debate between Ben Stein and Al Franken last night (get it? Franken-Stein! Get it? HAHAHAHAHA!)

Er, anyway, Al Franken was mocking the "Because marriage is between a man and a woman" argument. He said it wasn't a reason at all, just a restatement of what you believe.

Last edited by juju; 11-24-2003 at 01:56 PM.
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Old 11-24-2003, 01:55 PM   #133
Griff
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Quote:
Originally posted by Whit
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh yeah, untill someone can give me a solid reason to say gays shouldn't marry that isn't a religious or emotional thing, I say let 'em marry.
Slang assures me that the mega post is on its way... we shall see.
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Old 11-24-2003, 02:06 PM   #134
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Yeah, and as much as I like slang, I think he may have trouble with this. This board is really tough on statistics for example. If they are leaning, it's going to be pointed out. And pretty much all stats are. Same goes for any studies he links. Still, if he's putting this much effort into it, it should be an interesting read. Assuming, of course, it's not all based off stuff Rush said...
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Old 11-24-2003, 02:07 PM   #135
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Don't think it will be ... I've seen some of the preliminary work.
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