Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site bbncca.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!houxm!ihnp4!bbncca!sdyer From: sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer) Newsgroups: net.motss Subject: Re: Biological basis for homosexuality? Message-ID: <1208@bbncca.ARPA> Date: Wed, 12-Dec-84 02:19:48 EST Article-I.D.: bbncca.1208 Posted: Wed Dec 12 02:19:48 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 13-Dec-84 02:07:06 EST References: <677@amdahl.UUCP> <606@rayssd.UUCP> Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma. Lines: 25 First, I think Ron's and Rob's rejoinders to this discussion are extremely valuable, and help ground the discussion of sexual preference a bit more in reality than our discussion had been going. In seizing on the reports of scientific inquiry into the biological basis of sexual preference, I hoped to point out three very probable results: 1.) the scientific method is VERY powerful, and I do feel that some positive influence (i.e. for biology) will be discovered. 2.) what these results mean at the level of an individual or for society is EXTREMELY arguable, but that will not stop those who grasp for easy answers under the blessing of science. 3.) the results of this reductionist view of human sexuality can have many unfortunate consequences. Heather's musing on her reactions to this thought experiment are very affecting, and illustrate the kinds of quandaries which may be elicited if this kind of research is misused. -- /Steve Dyer {decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca.ARPA