"Gary Drescher" wrote in message
...
[...]
Contrary to your argument, a moment's reflection shows that the
desirability or normalcy of a particular status has *nothing to do* with
the desirability of *everyone* having that status. You're making a
spectacularly naive and silly attempt to invoke the categorical-imperative
principle. [...]

Yet another gap in his "reasoning" is the failure to recognize that
evolution has given us a number of seemingly counter-productive attributes
that, when viewed in a broader context, turn out to indeed have a net
positive gain as far as survival of the species goes.

A well-known example is the gene that causes sickle-cell anemia. The reason
this gene has done so well under the process of evolution is that the
majority of people with the same gene wind up having a certain level of
defense against malaria. The net effect to the species is one that enhances
survival, even if in some individuals it hinders reproduction.

I think it's entirely likely something similar may be found with respect to
homosexuality. Not that failure to find such a thing would change my views
on it, but to argue that homosexuality is somehow contrary to evolution is
overly simplistic thinking at its worst. The mere fact that it exists, and
in such relative prevalence (as genetic "defects" go, it's pretty
common...and I do use that word "defect" very loosely), strongly suggests
that in the greater scheme of things, homosexuality is important for the
greater good in some way.

Nevertheless, it's my opinion that you are wasting your time trying to point
any of this out, especially here. Jay in particular has NEVER admitted to
an error, never mind has he ever changed his mind on anything important.
This is the wrong forum for this kind of debate anyway, but it's especially
pointless in the context of people who have minds so closed, they can't even
get a word in edge-wise when no one's talking.

That said, every time someone like Jay or Ron go around spouting strong
words against homosexuality, I just remember the recent study that looked at
sexual arousal (measured by penis engorgement) in human males when shown
homosexual images. The men who voiced the strongest opinions against
homosexuality showed the greatest degree of arousal. Clearly, "methinks he
doth protest too much" applies here.

Pete