You seem to be forgetting that internet forums attract weirdos. We get all sort of odd people on here and because this is anonymous they're more likely to tell you that they're bi rather than just 'I'm definitely straight. Yup. Not gay at all'.
"I'm Bi"
- Thread starter smallthemouse
- Start date
I agree completely
I know many people who think that bisexuality is not real and you are either on one side or the other. never on it.
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From my experience, and living in London were you often find yourself speaking about sexuality and know people who are openly gay or bissexual/bi-curious, I find that gay and straight people tend to be similarly radical and even similarly filled with prejudice and therefore can only see seaxuality as a bipolar field divided by a fence where you can only fall on one of the sides
I know many people who think that bisexuality is not real and you are either on one side or the other. never on it.
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From my experience, and living in London were you often find yourself speaking about sexuality and know people who are openly gay or bissexual/bi-curious, I find that gay and straight people tend to be similarly radical and even similarly filled with prejudice and therefore can only see seaxuality as a bipolar field divided by a fence where you can only fall on one of the sides
I've heard everyone is bi sexual to some degree even if you're primarily gay or straight. Look at Classic Greek culture. Most men where bisexual then.
Because clearly you, OP, know better than the posters themselves. Perhaps where you live isn't exactly a good measure of the rest of the world. Because I know a shitload of bi people. Oh, and yeah, I'm bi. I've had both girlfriends and boyfriends in the past.
-Shrug- I call myself bi until proven otherwise. I'm very much attracted to girls, but currently I have a boyfriend whom I do love, so I can't disprove it just yet. I've been intimate with girls and had no problem with it - and actually have a small crush on a girl in my class whom's very pretty, so.
I dunno, I just say it like I see it. But I do agree - maybe a lot of the ones that say it just aren't sure yet, or in some cases want to be all cool and shit(not that I see what your sexuality does that makes you so cool?).
I dunno, I just say it like I see it. But I do agree - maybe a lot of the ones that say it just aren't sure yet, or in some cases want to be all cool and shit(not that I see what your sexuality does that makes you so cool?).
In order to answer the question of why people are claiming to be bisexual in these forums we are pretty obviously going to look at what constitutes a person identifying themselves as bisexual. The second half of your post even proves that by questioning how one could identify as a bisexual without actively performing a sex act on either gender, which is essentially "how does a bisexual work?"smallthemouse said:
Were you aware of your sexuality without trying to perform a sex act on each side? Because if that's the criteria for determining beyond a shadow of a doubt what your sexuality is I'd encourage all straight people to try it, just to be sure.
I think bisexuality is just one of those things where you have to just accept that there isn't a clear cut line that determines when one person is bisexual and one is not. And as far as people in these forums claiming to be bisexual for attention, I don't really buy that. I think it's easier to come out on the internet thanks to the anonymity and I think (or at least I thought before we had a new bisexual thread everyday) that the Escapist was the sort of place where sexuality didn't really matter. If someone was doing it for attention there are a ton of other forums where they'd get the "OMG ur bi?!!! Thats hawt!" response they're looking for.
Actually I see more of this problem in town than on the net. Had a coworker that claimed he was bi...far as I could tell for social acceptance. He was unquestionably gay, and just gay.smallthemouse said:
Not that it's a problem mind you, only that I like to heckle liars probably more than I should.
One thing to remember is that "the people on Message Board X" isn't exactly a representative sample of humanity in general. For one thing if you post a topic on homo/bi-sexuality, you're naturally going to get a disproportionate number of people who those issues pertain directly to responding. Its not like you're polling random people here.smallthemouse said:
Also unless you're actually counting the number people who are saying that they're bi/straight/gay and keeping a total, your observation is merely anecdotal - which is to say worthless for determining any real insight into the issue. And again, even if you were, the observation is still worthless because we're still not talking about a representative sample here.
Hm ... I really don't think it's that confusing, but maybe since I'm bi I can see the difference more clearly than they can or something.Andy of Comix Inc said:
... wow. Just ... wow. The intelligence of the human race is astounding 9_9Andy of Comix Inc said:
That was a recommendation for other users, not me...I already have no pants on. What panda do you know wears pants?JezebelinHell said:I wouldn't be able to pull it off. Sadly/happily? I have my own predilections to deal with like everyone else. I just choose to not go tossing them about in public for any sort of attention. Even if I am "more normal" it really isn't within my character to do such a thing. So I will just sit here and be boring, personally secretive, quiet ol' me.Mr.Pandah said:
Please no exposing yourself here, I recall your mention of just dropping your pants for attention. Keep that in your lair.
Actually, not completely true on the hormone part. I'm asexual and my hormone levels are quite normal despite not being sexually attracted to any gender, sex or whatever. There are plenty on AVEN that can say the same. It could be an influence but I doubt it is an 'end-all' answer.brainless_fps_player said:
Also to those who keep repeating the question "why should anyone care?" should think of this. Sexuality is a key part of our very being, our curiousity about it may lead to a greater understanding of who and what we are, and where we might be going. It is not something so easily defineable as we all might like to think, and the question is at our core of what is being. I cannot think of any other reason more significant than that to not explore it.
Sexuality is NOT as clear cut as most people think, and it is as hotly debated by experts as it is by the lay-person. My own specific example is uncommon, but not as much as one would think. I've had sex with both men and women, would do so again in a heartbeat, and yet, I consider myself straight: I can have ONLY sex with a man. I could never love a man, nor live with one. I am not attracted to the maleness that people with that proclivity seem to be. Yet, with a woman, I want to be her everything: lover, father, friend, and brother. This is diametrically in opposition to what is SUPPOSED to be an easy question. So, therefore, many people are confused or believe I live in denial BECAUSE they think it is possible for me to go the homosexual route. For me it is impossible to have any feelings other than what I currently have, AND I am old enough to know this. The reason for this anomaly is simple: SEXUALITY IS COMPLEXITY. /rant.Dethpixie said:
As Mr.Pandah said, anonymity on the internet gives us more freedom to be our true selves. That's exactly what happened to me on here.
It also gives us the means to assume some other personality but that's besides the point.
It also gives us the means to assume some other personality but that's besides the point.
That sexuality is complex is essentially what I've been trying to say, albeit with less first-hand experience and therefore less eloquence than you. So many people on here seem to cling to the idea of concrete definitions, or worse yet, make poll threads about sexuality, when it just simply doesn't work like that.singlcuteguy said:
I've heard, via proxy, that homosexuals don't believe bisexuality is real (in much the same way that the anti-homosexuals believe homosexuality is a choice), and disapprove of people "claiming" to be bisexuals because they feel it lends credence to the anti-homosexuals (i.e.: See, these people just go back and forth! How could they do that if homosexuality wasn't a choice?).Aylaine said:Some people may use it for attention, but I personally like men and women so that's the sexuality I identify with.smallthemouse said:
Any experience with that?
Personally, it seems completely reasonable to me that human sexuality lies on a continuum.
I'm about halfway through a lecture series on Biology and Human Behavior, and it turns out that a lot of our behavior is dictated by this gray of haze genes and environment (nutrition, exposure to stress, hormones, your mother when she was pregnant with you, etc.). The take-away so far has been that you can never say "X gene causes Y behavior 100% of the time".