Get the Ricochet app
Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.
I was piqued years ago by the idea that homosexuality could be triggered by a virus. It is not as crazy as it sounds. After all, homosexuality is contraindicated in evolutionary theory. And, like viral outbreaks, homosexuality happens in clusters, and is not solidly determined by genetics (as determined with twin studies). That said, nobody ever found an actual viral trigger for homosexuality.
Of course, we now know that viruses are not necessarily physical entities. Ideas themselves can – and most certainly do – go viral. And ideas can be absolutely bonkers; consider the inability of some to define a woman!
Elon Musk popularized our current madness under the title “the woke mind virus.” And there is a lot of nonsense under that same mind virus: that all relationships must be seen through the prism of power, that feelings are more important than anything else, that everything natural is necessarily always good, to name just a few.
The most important of all of these might be the transgender craze that has confused millions of children who could not know any better, and forever mutilated and sterilized far, far too many of them. And what was this craze, if not a mind virus?
If this is right, then can we revisit homosexuality, and ask the same question: when society and culture promote homosexuality, then the ideas spread, and the behavior follows. A lot of people who might go down one path, end up going down another, as a result of the ideas that they have been given. Does the mind virus not mimic, in many respects, physical viruses?
I know that some would consider this post to be hate speech. But we live in an age where violence is understood to be encouraged and spread by anything from video games to fiery politicians to union organizers. And there is certainly some truth in that. We know the school shooters who are glorified end up inspiring others who, absent examples to follow, may never have tried to kill other people.
If violence can be spread by the power of suggestion and societal support, why cannot sexual preferences and proclivities?
P.S. I am not claiming that the virus is necessary for homosexuality, any more than violence requires societal acceptance. But it is clear, when we compare violent and non-violent cultures (as well as sexually confused cities from traditional ones), that a decent percentage of either behaviors is not, in fact, inevitable.
Discussion (41)
CONTRIBUTOR • CHARTER MEMBER
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
There's at least one big difference between homosexuality and "trans"; actual trans people are a tiny, tiny minority. The gays are about 3-4% of the population. A fourteen year old girl who thinks boys are icky (not an uncommon reaction, nor is it always unfair) might be able to talk herself into thinking she's trans or gay.
(BTW, "pious" Iran performs trans surgery, because weirdly enough, parents would rather have a carved-up child than a homosexual one.)
Boys are, as we all know, different. If we aren't excited by someone, how do I put this within the Code of Conduct, the lack of physiological response means we can't talk ourselves into it, nor can someone else talk us into it.
I spent my career in the film and TV industry. I met a lot of homosexuals. They are not as numerous in Hollywood as people seem to believe, but there are probably more here than in, say, the aluminum siding and storm door industry. In all that time I never met one that could have been straight. They really are born that way.
So no, I don't think it's a case of persuasion.
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
What is your evidence? Both of those statements seem more based on faith than evidence.
CONTRIBUTOR • CHARTER MEMBER
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Sure. it's hard to trust the so-called authorities on either side. So I use my experience, my eyes and ears, and some considered judgment about human nature, as seen in actual person to person encounters. No filter for political correctness. No guesses about the evolution of psychological blah-blah. Not faith at all. In this matter, I have no faith.
Yeah, I have tentative conclusions.
If your cousin's teenage niece thinks she's a boy? Yep, probably grow out of it.
Your sister's 18 year old son who needlepoints, memorizes Broadway scores, has no apparent interest in girls, and aspires to be a choreographer? Uh...maybe you better sit down for this, but...
CHARTER MEMBER
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Consider other notorious examples of Mind Viruses, such as:
And so forth.
It all seems very consistent to me.
MODERATOR
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
I think there is a base rate of homosexuality where it is not a case of persuasion. But the culture has made homosexuality extremely high status and popular. I think that adds to the base rate.
You're seeing five of 41 comments. Sign in, or join for just $5 per month, to read them all and add your own.