I posted this question just now, and almost everyone (about 30 people) misread or misinterpreted what I was saying. So please please read the whole thing first and understand what I'm asking.
I want to know what goes through someone's mind when they are told that something that they feel is natural - like their sexuality, religion, political view, or anything really - is wrong, or considered a mental illness.
The only example I know of this occuring is that scientific study which was all over the national news; it said that some scientists and psychologists had discovered that homosexuality was a mental problem, even something that could be 'cured'!
There was huge outrage at this (and rightly so!), and what I wanted to know was - anyone affected by that study, or told something like that - how does it feel? what goes through your mind?
I posted this 15 mins ago, and people took it as an attack on homosexuals - it really isn't.
2007-02-13 10:50:43 · 10 answers · asked by Adam L 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
It must be terribly hard to hear something like that, especially if some people started actually believing it!!
I don't want people's views on whether homosexuality is wrong.
I don't want people's views on whether homosexuality is a mental condition.
I just want to know what that kind of attack does to a person, their confidence or their thought processes.
2007-02-13 10:52:32 · update #1
Sorry, I guess I didn't read through the question completely the last time you asked it (although I did answer your question; just added some other stuff).
Again, being told that something that feels natural (my bisexuality) is wrong isn't actually that new of a feeling. People have been screaming that for what seems like forever. Now it just happens to be scientists saying that. I'm not outraged at the scientists, really; if you uncover something, despite it not being pretty, it should still be laid out there. I just wonder at the biases inherent in the studies; are they approached objectively?
Anyhow, you'd be surprised, I guess, at how little this affects me. It's a tiny blurb in my life. Maybe if the whole country took to arms this study in their hands, I'd be a little more worried/stressed/doubting myself, but as it is, I'm fine.
Hope that's what you were looking for.
2007-02-13 11:03:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd say it's like when women with severe PMS were told they were "hysterical" and doctors totally patronized them and downplayed their very real symptoms, saying it was "all in their heads."
Not that homosexuality is an illness, but that's the only metaphor I can think of right now. It would be like saying you're wrong for being a human, or a man or woman.
They're the crazy ones, not the gay people!
2007-02-13 11:09:56 · answer #2 · answered by SlowClap 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are going to have a hard time trying to convince people that this isn't an attack. People on this site are attacked for being GLBT all the time. Just check out some of the other questions going on right now. I already answered your question last time :)
2007-02-13 11:04:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
To be told something with no supporting evidence is to be "told" essentially nothing. Homosexuals have been told these things virtually since birth. Why would your false reporting come as any surprise or carry any weight as to even making one skip a beat emotionally?
You are either incredibly naive or incredibly duplitious, or what is most likely, an incredibly stupid provocateur.
2007-02-13 12:55:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not Homosexuality was removed from the mental health listing in the 1980's
2007-02-14 14:09:12 · answer #5 · answered by TIGGER 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand what you're trying to say. I wasn't exactly raised on the natural or normal things a person should do in their life. But from society, it actually pisses me off, I'd love for someone who is like heterosexual, white, male and Christian to be told that every one of their beliefs is wrong or not natural or normal and be shunned for it. I think it's retarded for people to think it's a disease and there should be a cure, heterosexuality should be an incurable disease!
2007-02-13 10:57:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Seems to me that you got the correct reaction before, and are now just fishing for more answers that cater to exactly what you want.
The brain can be coerced into believing anything you want. You can just as easily say that being hetero is a mental problem and can be reversed as well with the right...er... 'mental coaching'.
2007-02-13 10:55:42 · answer #7 · answered by yogabbagabba 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually this went through my mind:
"Such a waste of time, didn't even bother to cite the study."
Ok seriously, what study are you referring to?
2007-02-13 10:55:21 · answer #8 · answered by Liberals love America! 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The only thing that comes close to what you are talking about deals with SHEEP, not people.
2007-02-13 11:29:46 · answer #9 · answered by IndyT- For Da Ben Dan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use your imagination. How would you feel? Then repeat this question about 100,000 times and see how freakin bored with it you are.
2007-02-13 10:56:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋