Teaching kids about homosexuality

[The Hairminator]

While some people have "thicker skin" than others, you aren't helping your argument by willing insulting other people. Please, show some integrity and respect the user's request.

Even though it may be offensive to him it is not commonly regarded so, if I'm not horribly mistaken. I think you will be pleased to note, however, that I will and did refrain from using the word again while addressing him that time after he expressed his dislike for it.

What I say to others when he is not present he frankly has no reasonable cause to even have an opinion about.

 

[Schreck157]

On the original topic, I think that children should be taught about both sexualities. Educating children leads to more mature adults. I, however, don't think that the child should be influenced to either path by the parents, the child will do that all by themselves. A child growing up in a homosexual household will naturally view homosexuality as the norm because that's what they're most exposed to, and vice-versa. Once the child matures and can decided on their own what they would like to be will all that education during their younger years come into play and help out during a stressful time.

 

[nekoali]

Yes, children should be taught about homosexual and bisexual relationships at the same time as they learn about heterosexual ones. Or more accurately, they should all be discussed together. This business about homosexual relationships not being 'the norm' and that we shouldn't influence children into it is part of the huge problems with underlying homophobia that exists in the world. Even people who are open accepting see 'normal' and 'gay' relationships... A gay relationship is just as normal and natural as a straight one. Treating them otherwise is just perpetuating the myth that being gay is somehow inferior or wrong, even if it's being done unconsciously.

 

[The Hairminator]

So? I find a lot of words offensive, but I don't act like a diva and ask everyone to stop using them. There are too many opinions in this world to satisfy everyone.

Gasp.. A white, straight boy comparing his experience of being insulted with that of other people.. I never saw that coming!

It's more of a philosophy than anything else. If people were less stuck up about things the world would be a much better place

AND DON'T DARE CALL ME WHITE
That is both unsensitive and misleading [small]It's actually more like beige[/small]

Spoiler: THE CONFESSION

Anyway, if it feels like you can identify more with me, I was bullied through entire elementary school

 

[bobknowsall]

No, I do not. I don't think homosexuality should be encouraged, unless it actually comes from the child itself, with as little as external influence as possible.

...or the kid might catch the gay?

You would be amazed how many people think they have a sexuality they indeed have not (at least that's what I firmly believe). I feel sorry for people under 18 who claim to be homosexual, as it's more often than not insecurity.

Well, not to be a stickler or anything, but do you mind backing up your sweeping assertion? Some facts would be nice.

 

[The Hairminator]

Encouragement? Side effects?
Sorry if I seem like I'm questioning things that seem fairly obvious, but I'm trying to not jump to conclusions about what people mean.

People led to the point where they think they are something they aren't. Uncertainty in sexuality is awesome for creating psychological wrecks. Once again, I'm speaking from own experience and extremely limited intelligence.

If it makes you feel any better, let's say you won. I never intended to get into a deep discussion to defend my views to someone who is clearly too assured of his/her own to understand mine.

 

[bobknowsall]

Yes, children should be taught about homosexual and bisexual relationships at the same time as they learn about heterosexual ones. Or more accurately, they should all be discussed together. This business about homosexual relationships not being 'the norm' and that we shouldn't influence children into it is part of the huge problems with underlying homophobia that exists in the world. Even people who are open accepting see 'normal' and 'gay' relationships... A gay relationship is just as normal and natural as a straight one. Treating them otherwise is just perpetuating the myth that being gay is somehow inferior or wrong, even if it's being done unconsciously.

Too right. The prevailing attitudes of the people around them will make non-heterosexual relationships look bad anyway. No need to help that sort of discrimination.

 

[Thespian]

-snip-

I'm kinda just responding to your posts in general. That makes me so unique, roight? I know a dozen of people quoted you, but in your most recent point you seemed unchanged about something. If several people have already taken you up on this and you responded but I missed it, feel free to fill me in on my ignorance...

But I really don't see what makes you think that telling people about homosexuality encourages it. I also don't see what's wrong with "encouraging" it anymore than heterosexuality is "encouraged". I am a fairly resolute atheist, but I am not going to raise my kids atheist. I shall tell them about Religions, how they work, how the most commonplace ones work, and let them research and make their own decision. Shouldn't they decide what's wrong or right for themselves?

But I digress. My point is, how on earth could knowing about homosexuality encourage it? It is true that studies have shown that more or less every adolescent, though it is slightly more common in males, go through a period of their lives in which they are unsure of their sexuality, however short or significant that period is. However, that is an enriching experience nonetheless, as it promotes understanding of yourself. And whilst learning about new concepts may bring it on quicker, there is no avoiding such a big question about yourself.

I continue to digress. All of that aside, it is still ludicrous to assume that homosexuality can be influenced by learning about it. By god, you can attend a YMCA or Gay Bar every day for the rest of your life, expose your midriff for all to see and throw yourself over the opposite gender (or engage in any other stereotypes) but it won't change the fact that you are homosexual, if you are. No more so than hanging around tall people will make you tall. You can put on the pinstripe soot and wear platform shoes, but really you can't kid yourself.

All that learning will encourage is acceptance of other people, not assimilation. And you yourself seem to have stated that you promote acceptance of others, whether you agree with it or not, no?

 

[spartandude]

Encouragement? Side effects?
Sorry if I seem like I'm questioning things that seem fairly obvious, but I'm trying to not jump to conclusions about what people mean.

People led to the point where they think they are something they aren't. Uncertainty in sexuality is awesome for creating psychological wrecks. Once again, I'm speaking from own experience and extremely limited intelligence.

If it makes you feel any better, let's say you won. I never intended to get into a deep discussion to defend my views to someone who is clearly too assured of his/her own to understand mine.

is it going to hurt you to use the word gay or homosexual? while i dont find queer offensive most gay people do or (like me) find it uncomfortable

 

[Cyberjester]

I'm going to avoid saying much on this, simply because I have a tendency to annoy everyone. Normally a good thing, but bans are so annoying.

Just going to point out that homosexuality isn't a viable choice, and the why is because they're all so insecure. In Australia, not sure about other countries, they're pushing for a law. This law means that in schools, between grades three and five, children will be given a multiple choice test. Their sexual preference will be determined by this test, and they will then be segregated and treated differently.

Fuck. That. Shit.

I mean, that's.. One of the rallying cries for the homosexual movement was "freedom". The freedom to act as you please. I'm good with that, pacifist hippy at heart, but anarchistic streak that's all for freedom. But that's not freedom. The homosexual community doesn't get along with bisexuals, they refer to them as "closet gays". The amount of times I've had random people come up to me at uni, walking in the city, etc and tell me I need to ditch my gf because at heart I'm gay? This is people I've never met, forcing their opinions onto me.

Any movement that insecure and manipulative needs to die. Anyone involved doing something like that needs to die. In short, it isn't a viable option as of yet because the majority of homosexuals I come across are, in a word, bad.

The "community" as a whole needs to smarten up before you present it as an option.



Unless they're a guy, not an option if they're a guy. The rectum is not that versatile, it doesn't sometimes loosen, it loosens and that's it. I haven't read this on wiki either, this is being around people who really need to be wearing nappies. For a female it's more viable, I can't think off hand of any physical issues. The only ones I've observed are emotional, they can get pretty bad but NOR of course.

 

[Cyberjester]

Encouragement? Side effects?
Sorry if I seem like I'm questioning things that seem fairly obvious, but I'm trying to not jump to conclusions about what people mean.

People led to the point where they think they are something they aren't. Uncertainty in sexuality is awesome for creating psychological wrecks. Once again, I'm speaking from own experience and extremely limited intelligence.

If it makes you feel any better, let's say you won. I never intended to get into a deep discussion to defend my views to someone who is clearly too assured of his/her own to understand mine.

is it going to hurt you to use the word gay or homosexual? while i dont find queer offensive most gay people do or (like me) find it uncomfortable

Homosexuals took over gay, you can keep queer.

Drop the gay and I'll drop the queer. Fair, no?

 

[The Hairminator]

is it going to hurt you to use the word gay or homosexual? while i dont find queer offensive most gay people do or (like me) find it uncomfortable

Really now? If that's the case I'll most certainly stop using it.

The thing is that in Sweden where I live, that's what they call themselves. I think this is probably a less sensitive thing in Sweden, since homosexual guys are called 'bögar' which would translate 'faggots' but without the hostile undertone. Heck, black people are commonly referred to as 'Negrer' (I'm sure you can translate that).
And no one is offended.

I guess we just don't see words that aren't insults in themselves as insulting- Though I guess I'm silly for trying to implement that on the rest of the world.

 

[spartandude]

-snip-

I'm kinda just responding to your posts in general. That makes me so unique, roight? I know a dozen of people quoted you, but in your most recent point you seemed unchanged about something. If several people have already taken you up on this and you responded but I missed it, feel free to fill me in on my ignorance...

But I really don't see what makes you think that telling people about homosexuality encourages it. I also don't see what's wrong with "encouraging" it anymore than heterosexuality is "encouraged". I am a fairly resolute atheist, but I am not going to raise my kids atheist. I shall tell them about Religions, how they work, how the most commonplace ones work, and let them research and make their own decision. Shouldn't they decide what's wrong or right for themselves?

But I digress. My point is, how on earth could knowing about homosexuality encourage it? It is true that studies have shown that more or less every adolescent, though it is slightly more common in males, go through a period of their lives in which they are unsure of their sexuality, however short or significant that period is. However, that is an enriching experience nonetheless, as it promotes understanding of yourself. And whilst learning about new concepts may bring it on quicker, there is no avoiding such a big question about yourself.

I continue to digress. All of that aside, it is still ludicrous to assume that homosexuality can be influenced by learning about it. By god, you can attend a YMCA or Gay Bar every day for the rest of your life, expose your midriff for all to see and throw yourself over the opposite gender (or engage in any other stereotypes) but it won't change the fact that you are homosexual, if you are. No more so than hanging around tall people will make you tall. You can put on the pinstripe soot and wear platform shoes, but really you can't kid yourself.

All that learning will encourage is acceptance of other people, not assimilation. And you yourself seem to have stated that you promote acceptance of others, whether you agree with it or not, no?

can i please give you a hug?

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Do you escapists think that children should be told about homosexuality and homosexual relationships at the same time as they're learning about straight relationships?

Yes. So long as people consider heterosexual relationships the "norm" there will be irrational stupidity and hatred towards the gay, bisexual, transgender, etc individuals.

I am bisexual - when I teach my child about sex, I will not differenciate between homosexual and heterosexual. When you are in love with someone, you may decide to have sex with them. Men have these parts, women have these parts. They can be combined in any number of ways, so that no matter who you love, you can express it physically.

Seeing the amount of bigotry and ignorance (both intentional and accidental) that this forum has produced, I am more convinced than ever that this is how to best raise my child.

 

[spartandude]

is it going to hurt you to use the word gay or homosexual? while i dont find queer offensive most gay people do or (like me) find it uncomfortable

Really now? If that's the case I'll most certainly stop using it.

The thing is that in Sweden where I live, that's what they call themselves. I think this is probably a less sensitive thing in Sweden, since homosexual guys are called 'bögar' which would translate 'faggots' but without the hostile undertone. Heck, black people are commonly referred to as 'Negrer' (I'm sure you can translate that).
And no one is offended.

I guess we just don't see words that aren't insults in themselves as insulting- Though I guess I'm silly for trying to implement that on the rest of the world.

ph, in that case i can understand what your saying then. obviously your speaking from a swedish point of view which seems to be alot more accepting than my UK view, thumbs up to the swedish!

 

[spartandude]

Do you escapists think that children should be told about homosexuality and homosexual relationships at the same time as they're learning about straight relationships?

Yes. So long as people consider heterosexual relationships the "norm" there will be irrational stupidity and hatred towards the gay, bisexual, transgender, etc individuals.

I am bisexual - when I teach my child about sex, I will not differenciate between homosexual and heterosexual. When you are in love with someone, you may decide to have sex with them. Men have these parts, women have these parts. They can be combined in any number of ways, so that no matter who you love, you can express it physically.

Seeing the amount of bigotry and ignorance (both intentional and accidental) that this forum has produced, I am more convinced than ever that this is how to best raise my child.

I love how some people here are really intelligent.

 

[the Dept of Science]

The only thing that I would say is that this approach may lead to misunderstanding what homosexuality means in kids. When you are 7, you don't feel any sexual attraction to other people, so can't really understand it as a concept or its importance in relation to sex. Or more simply, you don't see the difference between love and friendship. I remember when I was quite young (thinking about it, probably about 7), I had homosexuality explained to me in very basic terms. I thought that I was gay, because at 7 I had very little interest in girls. I even kissed a boy because I didn't really understand what it all meant. It's slightly embarrassing in retrospect but I can't say it affected me that much.

Now, I'm not saying that this is a reason that kids shouldn't be taught about homosexuality, I would however be curious to know how people would get around the confusion.
I personallly wouldn't teach about it at exactly the same time, I'd leave a small gap between them. Thats only because I think the kid would need go get their heads around the basics of relationships first before you start giving them all these different possibilities (homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, bi-curiousity) to consider.

 

[bobknowsall]

is it going to hurt you to use the word gay or homosexual? while i dont find queer offensive most gay people do or (like me) find it uncomfortable

Really now? If that's the case I'll most certainly stop using it.

The thing is that in Sweden where I live, that's what they call themselves. I think this is probably a less sensitive thing in Sweden, since homosexual guys are called 'bögar' which would translate 'faggots' but without the hostile undertone. Heck, black people are commonly referred to as 'Negrer' (I'm sure you can translate that).
And no one is offended.

I guess we just don't see words that aren't insults in themselves as insulting- Though I guess I'm silly for trying to implement that on the rest of the world.

ph, in that case i can understand what your saying then. obviously your speaking from a swedish point of view which seems to be alot more accepting than my UK view, thumbs up to the swedish!

Psst... The Swedish point of view isn't all that different...

They've got homophobes and racists over there too. Linguistic quirks don't make a country more accepting.

 

[FernandoV]

Teach children as much as you can and let them do with the information what they please, with gentle nudges in the right direction :3

 

[nekoali]

Just going to point out that homosexuality isn't a viable choice, and the why is because they're all so insecure.

This sentence stood out to me, and I think it is characteristic of a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation. First of all, being homosexual is just as viable a life as being straight. And it is not a choice.

Secondly, gay people are not insecure because they are gay. In fact most openly gay people are very secure in their life. They have to be, since we are still hated a lot. People who are insecure about being gay are that way because of eternal pressure and hatred that they receive. Keep in mind that homophobia and hatred against homosexuals, even violence is still very much a part of every day life. Even in 'safe' areas or around friendly people there is still risk that some random person you meet could take violent exception to the fact that you are holding hands with someone of the same gender, or any other of hundreds or thousands of things that heterosexual people take for granted.

Now if you take a kid, who is already unsure of their sexuality (we all are at some point) and dump them into a toxic environment where being gay is considered not normal and/or wrong and to be mocked or punished.. Well of course that child is going to be insecure about it. Reinforcing the stereotypes that there is 'normal' and 'gay' and the two are separate things just keeps those sorts of negative attitudes and toxic environments going. That's why people need to teach their children early on that being gay is perfectly fine. Even if some people do not approve.