gay marriage The REAL reason conservatives are against gay marriage.

[Ice_Blue]

http://www.newscient...-the-world.html

Over the past few years, psychological research has begun to offer answers to this question, and a surprising number of them boil down to disgust.

In 2008, a team led by Simone Schnall of the University of Plymouth, UK, found that inducing feelings of disgust - by a flatulent smell, dirty surroundings or a movie clip of a filthy toilet - increased the severity of people's judgements about a range of morally suspect actions, from pilfering cash from a found wallet to eating a dead dog (

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

, vol 34, p 1096

).

This effect has since been confirmed and extended. A group led by Kendall Eskine at the City University of New York found that the effects of disgust on moral judgements were particularly strong for those on the political right (

Psychological Science

, vol 22, p 295

). And several studies led by Yoel Inbar of Tilburg University in the Netherlands have found that conservatives are more easily disgusted (

Cognition & Emotion

, vol 23, p 714

).

This year, Inbar's team found that exposure to disgusting smells can amplify negative attitudes toward gay men in both liberals and conservatives (

Emotion

, vol 12, p 23

). Interestingly, it had no effect on attitudes towards other social minorities such as lesbians, African-Americans or the elderly.

So there seems to be an intuitive link between disgust and moral judgement, and this link seems to be much stronger for conservatives than for liberals.

This, we believe, explains some of the differences in opinion on gay marriage. In short, conservatives are more likely to find homosexuality disgusting and therefore morally unacceptable; liberals might feel some disgust at the idea of gay sex but consciously reject it as a basis for moral opinion.

So, according to this, and as I have suspected all along, it seems that these objections are not grounded in morality per se, they are merely defense mechanisms against a perceived assault on their prudish sensibilities.

[sanctified Veteran]

http://www.newscient...-the-world.html

Over the past few years, psychological research has begun to offer answers to this question, and a surprising number of them boil down to disgust.

In 2008, a team led by Simone Schnall of the University of Plymouth, UK, found that inducing feelings of disgust - by a flatulent smell, dirty surroundings or a movie clip of a filthy toilet - increased the severity of people's judgements about a range of morally suspect actions, from pilfering cash from a found wallet to eating a dead dog (

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

, vol 34, p 1096

).

This effect has since been confirmed and extended. A group led by Kendall Eskine at the City University of New York found that the effects of disgust on moral judgements were particularly strong for those on the political right (

Psychological Science

, vol 22, p 295

). And several studies led by Yoel Inbar of Tilburg University in the Netherlands have found that conservatives are more easily disgusted (

Cognition & Emotion

, vol 23, p 714

).

This year, Inbar's team found that exposure to disgusting smells can amplify negative attitudes toward gay men in both liberals and conservatives (

Emotion

, vol 12, p 23

). Interestingly, it had no effect on attitudes towards other social minorities such as lesbians, African-Americans or the elderly.

So there seems to be an intuitive link between disgust and moral judgement, and this link seems to be much stronger for conservatives than for liberals.

This, we believe, explains some of the differences in opinion on gay marriage. In short, conservatives are more likely to find homosexuality disgusting and therefore morally unacceptable; liberals might feel some disgust at the idea of gay sex but consciously reject it as a basis for moral opinion.

So, according to this, and as I have suspected all along, it seems that these objections are not grounded in morality per se, they are merely

defense mechanisms against a perceived assault on their prudish sensibilities.

That's the true definition of morality.

[zhangm Supervisor]

That makes sense for many different sorts of blind intolerance, from any individual or social group. The world's not going to smell like roses when one's head is stuck up a certain aft portion of one's anatomy...

[DClark]

The social conservatives do not hold a monopoly on this "morality." A similar argument could be made for socialists (or modern "liberals"). They both want to trample individual rights by utilizing government sources under the guise of morality. To think that the monopoly of violence is the source of moral behaviour is sickening, to say the least.

[Hum]

It's simply the women against it, cuz a lot of men will marry a guy, and not them.

Then the women will have to go to work. :laugh:

[Ice_Blue]

That's the true definition of morality.

No. That's their definition of morality.

Morality is not limited to a single societal group, as defined by them.

[t_r_nelson]

So, according to this, and as I have suspected all along, it seems that these objections are not grounded in morality per se, they are merely defense mechanisms against a perceived assault on their prudish sensibilities.

You are saying the same thing. Morals are learned behaviors. Their 'prudish sensibilities' are defined by their morals. If something violates either, it can lead to this feeling of disgust.

I am not against gay marriage. But I am disgusted by the thought of gay sex. I don't give a **** what people do with their lives but the thought of it bothers me. So where does that put me?

[seta-san]

i could have told you that. The basis for me wanting gays to keep PDA out of site is that PDA already makes me uncomfortable but when it's gays I feel a revolting feeling like i'm going to throw up.

[Ice_Blue]

I am not against gay marriage. But I am disgusted by the thought of gay sex. I don't give a **** what people do with their lives but the thought of it bothers me. So where does that put me?

My sentiments exactly except:

I am not bothered by lesbian sex. I find it a serious turn-on.

So...

[t_r_nelson]

My sentiments exactly except:

I am not bothered by lesbian sex. I find it a serious turn-on.

There's a difference between lesbian sex and dyke sex. Lesbians are hot. :woot:

...jk...

But, in all fairness, I should amend my statement to say the idea of male, gay sex disgusts me. And, no, I'm not a latent homosexual.

[Davo]

"I don't see why Rosa Parks made such a stink about where she was sitting. It's just a seat after all!"

If it weren't for people taking a stand against popular opinion, the guy in your avatar would be picking cotton instead of having had a ****ty rap career.

Regular rebellion against convention is necessary, if only to prevent the possibility of oppression.

[BoredBozirini]

i could have told you that. The basis for me wanting gays to keep PDA out of site is that PDA already makes me uncomfortable but when it's gays I feel a revolting feeling like i'm going to throw up.

Gays having sex is not the social issue that hits the headlines, so your reason falls as short as a midget in a sink.

[Shadrack]

Lots of conservatives have (had) the same reaction with whites marrying blacks. Conservatives are obsessed with what they think is morally wrong with other people and completely oblivious about themselves. They should read the Bible more:

"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

"Judge not, less thee be judged"

"May he who has no sin cast the first stone"

These people from the Bible belt need to learn how to read.

[Ice_Blue]

These people from the Bible belt need to learn how to read.

They do read it. They are just experts at cherry-picking what suits their views, and saying that the rest is taken "out of context" by their detractors.

[SiCKX]

If it weren't for people taking a stand against popular opinion, the guy in your avatar would be picking cotton instead of having had a ****ty rap career.

Regular rebellion against convention is necessary, if only to prevent the possibility of oppression.

Just as you have the right to be terribly racist as you are, I have the right to be spitting my opinion on the pro-gay propaganda shoved into media now.

It's called freedom of speech.

[BoredBozirini]

Just as you have the right to be terribly racist as you are, I have the right to be spitting my opinion on the pro-gay propaganda shoved into media now.

It's called freedom of speech.

Freedom of speech does not justify a lack of common sense.

[Ice_Blue]

Oh, I don't think he's being racist. Read his post. He was actually defending the rights of Blacks to protest, in order to escape the tyranny of institutionalised racism.

Matter of fact, you are the one who comes across as a little intolerant.

EDIT: This is in response to sickx's previous post.

[SiCKX]

Oh, I don't think he's being racist. Read his post. He was actually defending the rights of Blacks to protest, in order to escape the tyranny of institutionalised racism.

Matter of fact, you are the one who comes across as a little intolerant.

I believe both him and myself should be allowed to speak our minds equally. He was elegantly racist, but the message came across just fine.

[Ice_Blue]

Ok, then.

But why do you rail against what you call "gay propaganda"?

I guess the gays aren't allowed the same freedoms you want for yourself.

[DConnell Member]

Lots of conservatives have (had) the same reaction with whites marrying blacks. Conservatives are obsessed with what they think is morally wrong with other people and completely oblivious about themselves. They should read the Bible more:

"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

"Judge not, less thee be judged"

"May he who has no sin cast the first stone"

These people from the Bible belt need to learn how to read.

Agreed. I'm Catholic and don't agree with gay marriage, but ultimately, it doesn't affect me, so why should I care how they live their lives or who they love? It's their choice and their lives. I've got enough on my hands living my own life and trying to be a good person; I have no time (or right) to tell others how to live theirs.

[Davo]

Elegantly racist? How is it racist when it's a matter of fact? Black people were forcefully brought over from Africa and forced to pick cotton. Less G-Unit, more American history.

This nation has a terrible past of repeatedly oppressing anyone who isn't a straight, white male up to the point of murder. Anyone being against equality who isn't part of the historically privileged group should strongly reconsider their views or risk looking extremely short-sighted.

[Noir Angel]

i could have told you that. The basis for me wanting gays to keep PDA out of site is that PDA already makes me uncomfortable but when it's gays I feel a revolting feeling like i'm going to throw up.

Strange, because reading ignorant and hateful comments like this makes *ME* want to throw up. Maybe the best action is not to segregate gay people from society, but to separate decent society from bigoted homophobes.

[MightyJordan]

In 2008, a team led by Simone Schnall of the University of Plymouth, UK,

Big smile on my face after reading that bit. :p

[Salutary7]

The other problem is that so many of those people who have such strong convictions also think that the law should mirror their personal moralities. It's one thing to have negatives feelings about something someone does and another thing to enact laws which serve no purpose other than to appeal to those emotions.

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

I am not against gay marriage. But I am disgusted by the thought of gay sex. I don't give a **** what people do with their lives but the thought of it bothers me. So where does that put me?

I think it just makes you heterosexual :)