Poll: If you could know your baby's sexual orientation...

[Hot'n'steamy]

I wouldn't care if my child turned out to be gay. Who they bump uglies with is of no concern of mine, they only slight issue I would have would be the idea of them not being able to have children naturally.

many straight couples can't conceive children naturally. fertility is far from universal.

You're making that up....

um, no. infertility affects something around 9% of all couples of reproductive age.

But, sorry to spin the shit; but surely a 91% probability of being able to bear offspring is better than a 0% probability?

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Wouldn't change it. I don't view homosexuality as a genetic disease, like some people do.

 

[seidlet]

I can kind of understand someone wanting a heterosexual child so they wouldn't have to live with the discrimination that comes with homosexuality, or if you wanted to have grandchildren who were directly related to you (Although with surrogacy that wouldn't be an issue if your child was male)

and with donor sperm it wouldn't be an issue if your child was female.

 

[Ivan Issaccs]

Assuming I could change it with no possible risk?

Absolutely, say what you will but its on less stressor to deal with for both.

 

[DannyBoy451]

I can kind of understand someone wanting a heterosexual child so they wouldn't have to live with the discrimination that comes with homosexuality, or if you wanted to have grandchildren who were directly related to you (Although with surrogacy that wouldn't be an issue if your child was male)

and with donor sperm it wouldn't be an issue if your child was female.

Very true, didn't think of that, I'll update my post.

 

[Russel1]

You can't change their orientation and it doesn't matter to me really.
But if I'm being honest, if I had a choice, and it was just that easy, like flipping a switch, I would ask them to make my child straight, I want grandchildren! And I reckon it would help avoid some problems as them coping with it to begin with, and being a little bit different.

But having a homosexual child isn't the worst thing in the world! It's almost fashonable =P

 

[DannyBoy451]

Oops, meant to edit but replied ot my own post.

Well this is embarrasing...

 

[seidlet]

I wouldn't care if my child turned out to be gay. Who they bump uglies with is of no concern of mine, they only slight issue I would have would be the idea of them not being able to have children naturally.

many straight couples can't conceive children naturally. fertility is far from universal.

You're making that up....

um, no. infertility affects something around 9% of all couples of reproductive age.

But, sorry to spin the shit; but surely a 91% probability of being able to bear offspring is better than a 0% probability?

how do gays and lesbians have a 0% probability of passing on their genes? donor sperm and surrogate mothers exist - hell, i have a client later this year who is delivering a child for a gay couple and this will be her eighth surrogacy. all i was saying is that gay or straight, your children don't assure the survival of your genetic heritage.

 

[0p3rati0n]

my answer Don't f*ck with the natural order of birth.

 

[Neonbob]

i'm not saying that choosing to genetically alter your child automatically makes you a bigot - as i stated above, i get that a lot of these people are trying to protect their kids, albeit in what i view as a seriously warped way.

Upon re-reading your previous statement, I realize I skipped over that bit. Probably because of how I read the first sentence. It seemed rather hostile to me.

and is sexuality something that you really intend to share extensively with your kids? you could easily wind up with a gay child who shares all of your other interests or a straight child who shares none of them. even if you're both straight, it doesn't mean you'll have any common ground, sexually speaking - you could have a straight child who's into bondage or who is only attracted to people you find revolting. in light of all the many, many differences that could develop, how is who your kids choose to get off with even remotely relevant?

Well, no. I do not plan to share sexuality with my child at all, to be honest. In my mind, however, I cannot see myself interacting with my child that much in the first place, simply because at this point in my life, not having kids, I cannot imagine having a real connection with them.
To go on with your point, and ignoring what I said above, even if your child is attracted to different things about the other sex, chances are pretty good that you'll still be able to give some kind of advice to them in their relationships when they really need it.
I seem to recall even BonsaiK, our resident relationship expert, having some problems advising what to do about a situation that a gay Escapist ran into. If I am wrong in that, feel free to correct me.
As far as anything else about raising a child and the details that contains, I have absolutely no clue. This is where I step out and let someone who has a kid/has experience with kids come in if they wish.
I have no real desire to keep babbling on about something I have no experience in. :-/

also, i don't think that people looking to have miniature versions of themselves should be having kids. sure, i'd be happy if my kids grew up to be atheists and vegans and libertarian socialists/communists, but i'd much rather they grow up to be someone that they can be proud of, and to hell with what i think.

I would agree on the first point.
However, most people I know grew up idolizing their father/mother, and at least tried to shadow them a bit. Sure, that changes at a certain age, but until then, you've either got a mini-me of the parent, or a mini-me of an older sibling.
As a parting note, I fully agree with your last sentiment.
It's just that I'd prefer them to go through their entire life that way. Not merely as a grown up.

 

[chronobreak]

Maybe you could prove this to all of us by becoming a homosexual then.

So, somebody that chooses to be gay is less gay then someone born that way? That's a real bigoted position you have there. If I chose tomorrow, like some people I have known have done, to be gay, I would go through the same adversity that all other gay people would go through. The gay community is accepting of everyone, not like those mean conservatives who want to destroy all homosexuality.

Edit: There's no way around it. You can choose to be gay, and people have done it. Yes, some people, maybe even the majority are born gay, but it doesn't mean it is also not a choice in a lot of cases. Unless you want to get into the argument of more/less gay, which I doubt is a road anyone, especially someone as understanding as yourself would want to go down.

 

[quiet_samurai]

I wouldn't care if my child turned out to be gay. Who they bump uglies with is of no concern of mine, they only slight issue I would have would be the idea of them not being able to have children naturally.

many straight couples can't conceive children naturally. fertility is far from universal.

You're making that up....

um, no. infertility affects something around 9% of all couples of reproductive age.

Lol, I was kidding. Yes, I am aware of the infertility problems many couples face. It's just that with gay people the chances of not having children together (as in completely natural with each other) is 100% as opposed to 9%.

 

[DannyBoy451]

Maybe you could prove this to all of us by becoming a homosexual then.

So, somebody that chooses to be gay is less gay then someone born that way? That's a real bigoted position you have there. If I chose tomorrow, like some people I have known have done, to be gay, I would go through the same adversity that all other gay people would go through. The gay community is accepting of everyone, not like those mean conservatives who want to destroy all homosexuality.

Yeah, I was being sarcastic.

Also: People do not choose to be gay.
People may choose to stop pretending to be straight, or choose to explore desires and feelings that they already have, but they do not choose to have those desires and feelings in the first place.

 

[Trivun]

Why would I want to change the genes, exactly? I don't care what sexuality my future son or daughter is, aside possibly from a kid who decided aged 6 they want to change their gender (there was a documentary on that a few days ago, and it was pretty shocking to see parents indulging their kids who wanted to be a different sex when the kids were as young as 6 years old).

Anywy, I voted for the first option. Straight and I wouldn't change the genes. I don't have a problem with homosexuality, so why would I care if my kids are gay or bi?

 

[mike1921]

I wouldn't care if my child turned out to be gay. Who they bump uglies with is of no concern of mine, they only slight issue I would have would be the idea of them not being able to have children naturally.

I would take that as a plus, natural is not inherently better, and if I somehow have a kid it is bound to be an accident and I would be glad that they probably won't meet the same problem I do.

 

[osric90]

Why is my kids lifestyle my choice? Telling me that I can choose how my kid is going to be happy in the future is just silly and pointless, let the kid decide in later life leave their genes alone.

 

[MrSnugglesworth]

I'm Straight and I'd change genes to gay.



Why?


I really want a Gay son, so I can be mock disappointed in him.



Also so I can get pissed at the school board when they catch him and his boyfriend kissing in the hallway and give him detention.

 

[skywalkerlion]

Err..

Okay, I have nothing against gays, at all. But I think I'd change it to straight. It'd make his/her life easier, I think..

 

[The_Echo]

Knowing spoils the fun. I'd tell the doctor to kindly fuck right off if they tried to tell me the sexual orientation of the child.

 

[seidlet]

Edit: There's no way around it. You can choose to be gay, and people have done it. Yes, some people, maybe even the majority are born gay, but it doesn't mean it is also not a choice in a lot of cases. Unless you want to get into the argument of more/less gay, which I doubt is a road anyone, especially someone as understanding as yourself would want to go down.

frankly i don't care if being gay is a choice or not, and i find the genetics vs. choice issue totally irrelevant. what consenting adults choose to do in their own homes together is none of my business and no grounds for discrimination.