A couple of interesting news items...and a continuation of my practice in basic HTML skills

[missroserose]

According to this story, scientists have finally found genetic proof that a creature's gender is hard-wired into their brain, which will (hopefully) discount the notion that transsexualism is a choice. (The article also mentions homosexuality as being a likely candidate for a genetic trait, but doesn't go into detail.) Not that this is anything most people haven't guessed, but hey, it's good to have proof.

And for the second news item: It appears that reliable male birth control methods are now on the way, for those men who are worried about getting caught without a condom. I'm all for this, as are many of the men I've talked to, though I've heard concerns voiced about being able to remember to take a pill every day, or the bother of going down to a clinic. Considering that men have expected women to do the same thing for decades now, however, I've felt somewhat less than sympathetic. =)

If anyone has any thoughts on either story, I'd be interested in hearing them...I'm trapped at work for the next three and a half hours and I need something to read.

@->--Rose

Comments

[eventhewaves.livejournal.com]

(1) As you said, nothing too terribly surprising about the first one. What I suspect scientists will find -- as time goes by -- is that just about every single conceivable character trait is determined by genetics. Everything from hair color and eye color to whether you like baseball, football, or think all sports are a waste of time. Now, whether that's actually a correct theory or not is another matter; but it probably won't stop some scientist from finding it.

Or am I just too cynical?

(2) Ah, about time. So far as the idea of taking a pill every day goes, I have the simplest question of them -- people can bloody well frigging do it when they get a prescription for (say) strep throat or an ear infection, can't they? When it comes to taking pills, people are just a bunch of whining morons; have you seen some of those medication commercials where people complain about maybe having to take three pills a day? Astonishing.

Having said that, unless I knew for a fact the girl I was going to bed with was free of disease, I'd probably still be worried about not having a condom at hand... On the other hand, we all know my policies about sex, so I'd say that probably won't be an issue that comes up too often in my life.

Pun not intended, although I'm more than willing to take credit for it anyway.

--Brian

Um...

[(Anonymous)]

I know I will get some blunt end of this discussion later, but I have a few things to say about the article and some extended comments about Brian's post.

Firstly:
I think this whole sexuality thing is going a bit too out of hand. I have a lot of friends who are lesbian/transexual/gay/bisexual etc. From what I can read from my own friends, and comparing it to a post on "MSN", I find that they are looking for reading material. Yes, scientist 'may' have found some proof on something, but come on:

"...the two hemispheres of the brain appeared more symmetrical in females than in males. According to Vilain, the symmetry may improve communication between both sides of the brain, leading to enhanced verbal expressiveness in females.
"'This anatomical difference may explain why women can sometimes articulate their feelings more easily than men,' he said."
http://www.msnbc.com/news/982646.asp

Key words such as "appeared", "according to", "may", "may" again, "can sometimes" throw me off. This lends nothing to the fact that this is proof. As long as this line of "proof" takes place, I will find a lot of what they say to be ... made up so they can fill in whitespace?

If indeed people have found such a discovery, it would be on CNN and MSNBC. These kinds of things are very important. However, what people don't realize is you're genes can only make you a mold for when you are born. It is you who ultimately gets to decide if certain things are true. Now, please don't get me wrong here, I am not trying to say that sexuality isn't engrained into your genes. As I am not gay, I really don't understand the whole concept myself. Rose was one of the few people to actually have patience with me in the department of Homosexual Education. ;)

Secondly on Brian's comment:
God gave us a brain. He wants us to use it. Gene's will never be the source for why we like certain colors and eat/don't eat certain foods or if we think tomatoes actually taste good. All these things pertain to the environment you grew up in. Take this for example: I am greek. I like Calimari, Souvlaki, Spanakopita, Feta Cheese, etc. A lot of these foods are to die for, a lot arent. I have been eating these foods my entire life. However, there are people out there who completely dislike the foods I mentioned, specifically Feta Cheese. And likewise for the Japanese food "Nattou" (Fermented Beans). Most native Japanese love the stuff. Most everyone else can't stand it.

Thirdly:
I won't go and take some pill just because I am too lazy to carry around a condom. The woman better be smart enough to make sure her partner is protected, and even so, it's her choice. My comment leads to this: It hasn't been tested for many years so I am extremely hesitant to even start. I don't like to take even advil if I don't have to. Birth control is excepted because it actually does the female a lot of good while in the process or protecting her such as keeping her period cycle on tract and predictable. I don't know about you guys, but my hormones don't need to be messed with. Just give me a playboy and I do my own pill taking.

I express my concerns because while the thought of scientists knowing everything appeals to a lot of people, this "may" be just another article that someone else had already printed up years ago and will no longer be discussed in the future. On the whole pill thing, it would waste more energy taking a pill then it would to remember a condom. And if the male society has stooped so low as to prove they can't do shit for themselves, then I think I will have to start up a revolution or something. I don't mean to pass myself off as a non-caring person to the female sex, but we have the obligation to protect you and ourselves, and you have the obligation to protect yourselves as well as us. Taking a damn pill isn't going to change whether or not you are "RESPONSIBLE".

My name is Jon, and I run Linux.