Sexual Orientation vs Sexual Preference

[teen.jpg]

Which term do you use; sexual orientation, or sexual preference.

In theory, they're supposed to mean the same thing. The difference is that the word "preference" implies that it's actually a choice that someone makes, when it's not.

I'd go out and say that orientation is the correct term to use.

[jayyy-lmao]

It should be orientation, it ain't a choice.

[Croconaw]

I use sexual orientation.

[Abyssal Echo]

Sexual Orientation.

[Trenton_]

how is it not a preference? Its not like people were gay when they were 2 years old.

[Rina]

how is it not a preference? Its not like people were gay when they were 2 years old.

Preference makes it seem like someone is saying, "Oh, I prefer to date women, but I'll date a man too." And when you're homosexual, you wouldn't consider dating a woman because you're only attracted to men (or vice-verse). This is how I see it anyways. Preference is me saying I like men with green/blue/hazel eyes more, but I would still date someone without them.

That's why I say sexual orientation instead of preference.

[teen.jpg]

how is it not a preference? Its not like people were gay when they were 2 years old.

Yes they were. But a 2 year old doesn't have sexual ideas, so nobody would ever know. And the best part is that it wouldn't even matter anyway.

[Trenton_]

Which term do you use; sexual orientation, or sexual preference.

In theory, they're supposed to mean the same thing. The difference is that the word "preference" implies that it's actually a choice that someone makes, when it's not.

I'd go out and say that orientation is the correct term to use.

Preference makes it seem like someone is saying, "Oh, I prefer to date women, but I'll date a man too." And when you're homosexual, you wouldn't consider dating a woman because you're only attracted to men (or vice-verse). This is how I see it anyways. Preference is me saying I like men with green/blue/hazel eyes more, but I would still date someone without them.

That's why I say sexual orientation instead of preference.

I always thought of orientation as an introduction or adjusting to new surroundings.

I see what your saying about preference and that's why I like that one better. I think if we were forced into a relationship with either sex we could make it work, but would prefer one sex over the other and maybe not have sex with one of them and i'm sure at times in adult lives just not have sex at all. That's why i think preference is so accurate. If you don't like men sexually, you could still get married and have kids etc, but you'd still prefer women. Or if you married a woman, you could get a sperm donor, have kids, but could still prefer men.

[britishboy]

I dont think they really matter, theyre both the same thing!

[Harry Smith]

I always thought of orientation as an introduction or adjusting to new surroundings.

I see what your saying about preference and that's why I like that one better. I think if we were forced into a relationship with either sex we could make it work, but would prefer one sex over the other and maybe not have sex with one of them and i'm sure at times in adult lives just not have sex at all. That's why i think preference is so accurate. If you don't like men sexually, you could still get married and have kids etc, but you'd still prefer women. Or if you married a woman, you could get a sperm donor, have kids, but could still prefer men.

Fast train to the 1950's.

It's 100% a oreintation, it's not a preference. I don't wake up and think about whether I'm going to like guys.

[Trenton_]

Fast train to the 1950's.

It's 100% a oreintation, it's not a preference. I don't wake up and think about whether I'm going to like guys.

maybe not anymore because you conditioned yourself to like guys.

So you think it's genetic and was determined at conception? Or do you think it's something your mom did while carrying you?

[StoppingTime]

maybe not anymore because you conditioned yourself to like guys.

So you think it's genetic and was determined at conception? Or do you think it's something your mom did while carrying you?

:yawn: that opinion

Science disputes exactly how it happens. One thing that is agreed upon throughout the scientific [-](and logically thinking community)[/-] is that it is not a choice, therefore sexual preference doesn't make sense to use.

[Trenton_]

:yawn: that opinion

Science disputes exactly how it happens. One thing that is agreed upon throughout the scientific [-](and logically thinking community)[/-] is that it is not a choice, therefore sexual preference doesn't make sense to use.

what about bi sexual people? or someone half way between being bi sexual and straight?

What about the notion that "no one is 100% straight or gay". If that's the case, then there is control and choice and thus preference.

Can't have it both ways, either people are 100% of one and 0% of the other and there shouldn't be ANY experimenting or curiosity junk going on OR it really is in between those two extremes and then it HAS to be a preference.

[Trace]

Sexual Orientation.

[Bobbybobby99]

I believe that sexual orientation is the correct term, because, just so you know, I was looking at whatever boy band was popular back them and oggling them before I could talk properly. My aunt and my grandmother even made a bet about my sexuality before I was 4 years old (my aunt won) More seriously, the leading scientific viewpoint is that it's something you are born with, which would make it an orientation, rather than a preference. I think it's important to mention romantic orientation here, because while a biromantic homosexual man might be able to marry and have kids with a wife, that would be soul-crushingly painful for a homoromantic homosexual man, because he wouldn't be able to fulfill his romantic desires in addition to his sexual desires. It is not a preference because even if you are 90% straight 10% gay, you are permenantly oriented that way, you can not just prefer one way or the other and say "I want a husband and will be totally satisfied". Not to mention how the idea that it is a preference is a train of thought that leads to all sorts of disgrimigaton.(Excuse my snippyness, I feel strongly on this subject.)

[teen.jpg]

what about bi sexual people? or someone half way between being bi sexual and straight?

What about the notion that "no one is 100% straight or gay". If that's the case, then there is control and choice and thus preference.

Can't have it both ways, either people are 100% of one and 0% of the other and there shouldn't be ANY experimenting or curiosity junk going on OR it really is in between those two extremes and then it HAS to be a preference.

Sexuality isn't black and white. There are things in between like curiosity, and things completely different like bisexuality, pan sexuality, and asexuality. There is no choice involved in the matter, its just a matter of chance.

[Lovelife090994]

I have used both before and I have used both out of context before. I usually say sexual preference, my family uses that term and orientation we rarely say unless we have an orientation like for a school or something.

[DerBear]

I'd lean towards orientation.

[steellord321]

If you're talking about just the sexuality itself then i think orientation is correct. However when i hear sexual preference and i know it's not someone being an ass i just let it go.

[Seth.]

From personal experience, it's an orientation. But I don't think it should be wrong to say that I prefer boys over girls. The reason why shouldn't make a difference. The thing with orientation is, it's kind of like saying gay people can't help themselves because it's the way they were born, as if they are doing something bad that needs to be justified.

[freakyindiangurl]

for me it's both. everyone has a orientation which is sex or not. but preference is different from person to person.

[Harry Smith]

maybe not anymore because you conditioned yourself to like guys.

So you think it's genetic and was determined at conception? Or do you think it's something your mom did while carrying you?

Did you choose to be straight?

[Luminous]

Always orientation..

but if it was a choice to choose my sexuality I would be straight.. But no not happening no way am I attracted to guys lol

I would be straight because I don't want to be picked on and discriminated against.

[Trenton_]

Did you choose to be straight?

of course, but that's not an answer to my questions. if i look at girls its a good thing, boys bad thing, so i don't look or think about them like that. i'll notice a guy is good looking, but it's not something that i choose to dwell on. i think it's odd that so many guys think they are gay and haven't test driven vaginas a bunch of times. they test drive their own dicks all the time, so they know more about them, think about them, then want to compare, then want to mess around with a guy. if they chose to not think that way and only think of girls, they'd be fine.

so were you gay at conception or did it happen while your mom carried you?

[Laquifa]

so were you gay at conception or did it happen while your mom carried you?

I've been gay since I can remember . So as a result , I use the term ORIENTATION , because I can't see myself in a relationship with a woman . Ever since Kindergarten , I've always wanted the Prince or the male lead in every movie ;)

[teen.jpg]

of course, but that's not an answer to my questions. if i look at girls its a good thing, boys bad thing, so i don't look or think about them like that. i'll notice a guy is good looking, but it's not something that i choose to dwell on. i think it's odd that so many guys think they are gay and haven't test driven vaginas a bunch of times. they test drive their own dicks all the time, so they know more about them, think about them, then want to compare, then want to mess around with a guy. if they chose to not think that way and only think of girls, they'd be fine.

so were you gay at conception or did it happen while your mom carried you?

You can't seriously think like that, right? You do realize that being gay is just the opposite of being straight, and besides the sex you're attracted to, everything is the same. So I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Trenton_]

You can't seriously think like that, right? You do realize that being gay is just the opposite of being straight, and besides the sex you're attracted to, everything is the same. So I have no idea what you're talking about.

My point is that guys make a conscious choice to pursue gay thoughts, relationships without ever trying giving anywhere near equal time to girls. It's easy for a guy to get off, whether it's with a guy or a girl, if you go down the road with guys, then you get more comfortable with that, so it seems more an more normal as guys look at gay porn, have sex with their friends and encourage those thoughts. All the while, not "experimenting" with girls the same amount, and watching as much straight porn as they do gay, as in life time total. Guys are pretty horny in general and if they gave girls equal chance particularly with a vagina which provides pleasure like no other, they'd realize what they are missing out on.

Instead, they stay in their gay comfort zone because they know all about their partners penis because they have one too and have spent countless hours with their own and looking at penises. So If they they've spent 200 hours reading about, looking, etc with penises, they shouldn't identify until the amount of straight thoughts, fantasy, porn etc, is equal to the gay stuff.

No big deal to me, just a suggestion. If someone wants to be gay, go for it. I just think there's more choice involved because if they are born gay, like you are - the question you won't answer, then parents may choose to go with straight boys at concenception. If it's environmental, then parents will make adjustments there too. It's one or the other or a combo, but if gays really are born that way, DNA tests will give parents the choice of having a gay kid or not and will alter the gene or implant only straight embryos.

[teen.jpg]

My point is that guys make a conscious choice to pursue gay thoughts, relationships without ever trying giving anywhere near equal time to girls. It's easy for a guy to get off, whether it's with a guy or a girl, if you go down the road with guys, then you get more comfortable with that, so it seems more an more normal as guys look at gay porn, have sex with their friends and encourage those thoughts. All the while, not "experimenting" with girls the same amount, and watching as much straight porn as they do gay, as in life time total. Guys are pretty horny in general and if they gave girls equal chance particularly with a vagina which provides pleasure like no other, they'd realize what they are missing out on.

Instead, they stay in their gay comfort zone because they know all about their partners penis because they have one too and have spent countless hours with their own and looking at penises. So If they they've spent 200 hours reading about, looking, etc with penises, they shouldn't identify until the amount of straight thoughts, fantasy, porn etc, is equal to the gay stuff.

No big deal to me, just a suggestion. If someone wants to be gay, go for it. I just think there's more choice involved because if they are born gay, like you are - the question you won't answer, then parents may choose to go with straight boys at concenception. If it's environmental, then parents will make adjustments there too. It's one or the other or a combo, but if gays really are born that way, DNA tests will give parents the choice of having a gay kid or not and will alter the gene or implant only straight embryos.

This thread is old, I don't want to debate your ignorant opinion, and I didn't read that post anyway.

You can lock this now, I've said my piece.

[Mirage]

This thread is old, I don't want to debate your ignorant opinion, and I didn't read that post anyway.

You can lock this now, I've said my piece.

Locked by OP Request

:locked: