Comments on: What Have You Changed Your Mind About?

By: J. J. Ramsey

J. J. Ramsey — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:01:46 +0000

Greta Christina:

I used to be a strict constructionist, who believed not only that sexual orientation was entirely socially constructed, but that the idea of sexual orientation being inborn was un-PC.

Wow. I’m actually surprised at that. I’m so used to those with the hate on gays being the ones denying that homosexuality was innate rather than learned. But then as you said, queer theory was a mess back then.

By: hoverFrog

hoverFrog — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:59:29 +0000

I used to believe that all religious people idiots who blindly followed the dogma of their churches. I’ve discovered that this is the case only for a tiny minority and that my previous view was a skewed stereotype of reality.

It’s good to be proven wrong once in a while, it’s a validation that we’re still learning and that we haven’t stagnated. I should know I’m wrong on a regular basis.

By: Greta Christina

Greta Christina — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 05:27:55 +0000

So is this an open question?

I hope so. ‘Cuz I’m going to treat it like one.

I’ve changed my mind about the causes of sexual orientation. I used to be a strict constructionist, who believed not only that sexual orientation was entirely socially constructed, but that the idea of sexual orientation being inborn was un-PC. (Don’t ask me why. Queer theory in the early ’90s was an unholy mess.)

Now I think the idea of sexual orientation being at least partly inborn is, at the very least, plausible and not ridiculous or offensive. And while I think the jury is still out as far as a final answer goes, I think it’s very likely that it’s largely inborn.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:00:11 +0000

You know, I like PZ Myers, and I read his blog daily, but that was a pretty pointless non-answer he gave.

By: richard

richard — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:14:59 +0000

I am rather disturbed by how so-called “flip flopping” is treated as a bad thing in politics, and how those accused of this “sin” don’t seem to understand how to address the charge. Presented with new information, it’s only the fool that can’t re-evaluate the situation and even change their mind.