RE: [asa] Homosexuality & brain scan study

Bernie--

Perhaps you could clarify how your contribution is relevant to the data reported by the investigators. Are you suggesting that amygalar synapse formation and/or hemispheric volume in humans is significantly influenced by "thought control"? As a neuroscientist, I am keenly interested in why you have dismissed the research as "nonsense."

Steve Matheson

>>> "Dehler, Bernie" <bernie.dehler@intel.com> 06/17/08 11:02 AM >>>
I think the story is nonsense.

Take a similar question. Do guys prefer girls who are fat or thin? In
the USA, we'd say of course the thin are the ones in demand (look at the
women is a Miss America pageant). But in some places, like Saudia
Arabia, the very fat ones are the ones in demand. The influence of
culture is tremendous. I doubt the guys of Saudia Arabia have different
brains than those of men in the USA. I think a guy can sexualize
another guy or gal if he lets his mind go there- it is a matter of
thought control.

Fat women story:
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Apr16/0,4670,MauritaniaLovingFat,00.htm
l

Excerpt:
In Mauritania, to make a girl big and plump, 'gavage' _ a borrowed
French word from the practice of fattening of geese for foie gras _
starts early. Obesity has long been the ideal of beauty, signaling a
family's wealth in a land repeatedly wracked by drought.

Mint was 4 when her family began to force her to drink 14 gallons of
camel's milk a day. When she vomited, she was beaten. If she refused to
drink, her fingers were bent back until they touched her hand. Her
stomach hurt so much she prayed all the animals in the world would die
so that there would be no more milk.

By the time Mint was 10, she could no longer run. Unconcerned, her proud
mother delighted in measuring the loops of fat hanging under her
daughter's arms.

"My mother thinks she made me beautiful. But she made me sick," says
Mint, who suffers from weight-related illnesses including diabetes and
heart disease. She asked that her full last name not be disclosed
because she feels embarrassed.

...Bernie

________________________________

From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of drsyme@cablespeed.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 7:06 AM
To: asa@calvin.edu; Christine Smith
Subject: Re: [asa] Homosexuality & brain scan study

Interesting, but nothing new really. I have long ago come to the
conclusion that sexual preference is stucturally determined. I do not
think it is a learned behavior in the vast majority of cases. I dont
know whether or not it is genetic, or due to maternal influences during
gestation.

The question of whether or not a gay lifestyle is sinful or not is a
religious question however and not a scientific one.

On Tue Jun 17 9:25 , Christine Smith sent:

        Hi all,
        
        Any thoughts on this story?
        http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7456588.stm
        
        In Christ,
        Christine (ASA member)
        
        "For we walk by faith, not by sight" ~II Corinthians 5:7
        
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to find out how.
        
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Received on Tue Jun 17 14:12:24 2008