>>> jf noonan <jfn1 at msc.com> 02/10 3:21 PM >>>
On Wed, 10 Feb 1999, Charles Brown wrote:
>
> I ask again, what do you think sexual orientation is and how does that
> influence your politics of sexual orientation?
>
> Charles: I say again, my guess is that it is a combination of
> heredity and environment. Different people have different
> combinations resulting in their final orientation.
You have not answered the question. What *is* sexual orientation, not how do you think it comes about. You're putting the cart before the horse. I want to know what you think it is -- then we can get to how you think it comes to pass. __________ Charles: Well, I'm a dialectician. The process by which something comes about IS part of what it is. For example, we don't understand what capitalism IS without knowing it's history , how it came about (See Das Kapital or The Communist Manifesto). Or you really couldn't know who I am without me giving you some of how I came about.
Let me ask you a question: What exactly do you mean by "what is sexual orientation,not how do you think it comes about " ?
Wait a minute. Here's a dictionary. "The direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes. " How's that ?
> Does that answer your question ?
No.
Charles: I think you need to rephrase your question, because I don't know what you are getting at.
Charles Brown