NationStates Jolt Archive

I was stumbling around webmd and found this article.... now at the end it talks about sexual orientation, now call me naive (yeah, I probably am) but I was sure that hetero, homo, and bi, covered all the "sexual" preferences (or orientations whatever)

what is this "something other"?

I need to know..... like right now!









http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/111/110203.htm?pagenumber=3



Participants who were at least 18 were asked how they defined their sexual orientation. Their answers:

Nine out of 10 men called themselves heterosexual, 2.3% called themselves homosexual, 1.8% called themselves bisexual, nearly 4% selected "something other," and about 2% didn't answer.

Among women, 90% called themselves heterosexual, 1.3% called themselves homosexual, 2.8% selected "something other," and 1.8% didn't answer.

Many men and women who report having ever had sexual contact with someone of the same sex chose "heterosexual" to describe themselves.

That included almost half of men (49%) who had ever had sexual contact with a man and nearly two-thirds (65%) of women who had ever had sexual contact with a woman.

Black and Hispanic men were more likely to choose "something other" to describe their sexual orientation. That was true of about 7% of both groups. About 3% to 4% of both groups didn't answer that question.

Could include asexual but I can't really think of any others they could be without being illegal.

Necrophiliacs, asexuals, and folks who can only get it up in a bathtub full of miracle whip while midgets in carmen miranda outfits dance in a conga line around them and a person in pseudo SS fetish gear runs electric current through their nipples all fall into the "other" orientation.

or "i Dunno" would also work.

Perhaps they meant that they mostly perfer one gender, but are also somewhat attracted to the other? I personally consider "Bi" to be 50-50, or very close to that. "Other" could mean that they have a preference, but are willing to go the other way in the right situation?

*shrugs*

well, color me stupid.

I didn't even think about all of that.....

I guess asexual is the most likely

because you would have

I like people with different parts

I like people with the same parts

I like both

I don't like either.

Maybe it's for people who haven't decided.

well, color me stupid.

I didn't even think about all of that.....

I guess asexual is the most likely

because you would have

I like people with different parts

I like people with the same parts

I like both

I don't like either.


It could also include these folks.

http://www.jp.dk/english_news/artikel:aid=3955224/

I'd say everything else that ends with -philia, -sexual, and bestiality.
That oughta cover it.

There are people who are gay or bisexual but don't define themselves as such, for whatever reason - perhaps because they accept that they are attracted to the same sex, but not the cultural baggage associated with it.

I'd guess that most of those who voted for that category are among that group.

From the looks of the poll one should probably never order the chicken soup.

From the looks of the poll one should probably never order the chicken soup.

Noodlephiliacs of the world, UNITE! :p

I was stumbling around webmd and found this article.... now at the end it talks about sexual orientation, now call me naive (yeah, I probably am) but I was sure that hetero, homo, and bi, covered all the "sexual" preferences (or orientations whatever)

what is this "something other"?

Possibly pansexual - meaning the gender aspect does not interest you at all. I do believe it is still limited to adult humans though (but bisexuality can be interpreted to exclude hermaphrodites, transsexuals etc).

Most common reasons for this orientation are that a pansexual genuinely falls for something else (like personality) or that it is the sexact and not the partner that appeals.

I know a gay who officially classifies himself as gay, yet likes boobs and finds the prospect of a woman beating him up to be “hot.”
Is that "other?"

I know a gay who officially classifies himself as gay, yet likes boobs and finds the prospect of a woman beating him up to be “hot.”
Is that "other?"

They should have a word for that. That could describe pretty much anybody.

They should have a word for that. That could describe pretty much anybody.

They do have a word for that. It's "kinky".

I would probably put other, because I'm either asexual or repressed to the point where I may as well be asexual. I'm not really sure which is most accurate yet.

There's transsexuality, which isn't a separate sexual orientation, but if someone is unsure if they're a transsexual, they would, by definition, be unable to answer their sexual orientation, unless they're bisexual.

There's ambisexuality, which is often thought of as bisexuality, but isn't quite, which could be thought of as someone whose sexual responses aren't exclusively heterosexual or homosexual, but are almost always one or the other.

Or, it could be asexual, or could be people just being rebellious in their answers.

...folks who can only get it up in a bathtub full of miracle whip while midgets in carmen miranda outfits dance in a conga line around them and a person in pseudo SS fetish gear runs electric current through their nipples all fall into the "other" orientation.
Aww, but I was going to post that one! :(

I'll go with people who like to have a genetically engineered dwarf hamster that vibrates with every breath and sweats ky inserted into an orephice of choice. I like them both, personally.

Other might also include those who find it offensive for one reason or another to be placed into boxes. I always pick other when asked my race for example, because I see no profit in anyone needing to know.

Yay sex!

I'm hetero, I like chicks.


I have no beef with gay dudes, and certainly none with lesbians ;)


(I dated a bi girl once.....hehehe)


But all jokes and stories aside, I'm not a homophobe by any stretch, but I have been come onto by a gay man once, and was slightly uncomfortable....

But all jokes and stories aside, I'm not a homophobe by any stretch, but I have been come onto by a gay man once, and was slightly uncomfortable....

Anyone would feel uncomfortable if a stranger came on them. :p

folks who can only get it up in a bathtub full of miracle whip while midgets in carmen miranda outfits dance in a conga line around them and a person in pseudo SS fetish gear runs electric current through their nipples all fall into the "other" orientation.

*fap fap fap*

*fap fap fap*

That pretty much sums up this thread.

That pretty much sums up this thread.

Glad to be of assistance. :)

Anyone would feel uncomfortable if a stranger came on them. :p

Yeah, those stains are awfully hard to get out. :(

check this out, it might be better understood....maybe......

http://g0ys.org/index.htm

Sexuality can not be defined into neat little categories. A person could be mostly straight, but occassionally a bit gay, mosty gay, with straight tendencies, or totally bisexual, with the occasional bought of straightness (or... other).

Sexuality can not be defined into neat little categories. A person could be mostly straight, but occassionally a bit gay, mosty gay, with straight tendencies, or totally bisexual, with the occasional bought of straightness (or... other).

How is one a bit gay? I thought that once you found you liked men you were all the way there.

I was stumbling around webmd and found this article.... now at the end it talks about sexual orientation, now call me naive (yeah, I probably am) but I was sure that hetero, homo, and bi, covered all the "sexual" preferences (or orientations whatever)

what is this "something other"?

I need to know..... like right now!

There are more kinds of sexual preferences than you care to count. To pick something that hasn't been mentioned yet there is a whole class of stuff that can be called polyamori. Like for example a guy who likes to be penetrated by other guys, but can't get excited without a woman.

How is one a bit gay? I thought that once you found you liked men you were all the way there.

Not necessarily. You could be a straight guy, but occasionally see a man and fancy him (not to be confused with simply being comfortable enough in your sexuality to say that he's attractive).

If that survey was taken in the US, maybe some of those who selected "other" were some of these "cured" homosexuals?

There are more kinds of sexual preferences than you care to count. To pick something that hasn't been mentioned yet there is a whole class of stuff that can be called polyamori. Like for example a guy who likes to be penetrated by other guys, but can't get excited without a woman.

isn't that more of a fetish instead of a sexual orientation, I mean there is a difference between the two right?

Maybe it's... DUN DUN DUN! Asexuality?!

isn't that more of a fetish instead of a sexual orientation, I mean there is a difference between the two right?
And what is the difference?

Oh, and the point was that gay, straight, bi covers just about all ways to choose one partner, but there are plenty of other ways to not choose one partner.

The other two that recieve scant attention from most people are asexuality and transexuality.

The other two that recieve scant attention from most people are asexuality and transexuality.

Yea, but transexuality isn't a sexuality.

How is one a bit gay? I thought that once you found you liked men you were all the way there.

Hardly. When asked, I generally describe myself as bisexual, but I am not the 50-50 variety. I'm not completely homo- or hetero-sexual, but I am not attracted to men and women at the same rate. I am a woman, and I am most often attracted to men. But I am also fairly often attracted to women. Some would say that I am heterosexual because I am "skewed", as it were, towards men. Some would say I'm bisexual because I sometimes am attracted to women. Some would suggest that I'm just "pretending" to be attracted to one or the other.

I think the "other" category, much like in most surveys, was probably for people who are unsure where to place themselves. What were the people conducting the poll looking for as a definition for "bisexual"? What about "heterosexual"?

Granted, those conducting the poll seem to have wanted only to know what people self-identify as. However, one of the inherent problems in polling is that many of those polled will try and figure out what answers are expected to the poll. The exact wording of a question can skew answers because of connotations of words, and so on.

Hardly. When asked, I generally describe myself as bisexual, but I am not the 50-50 variety. I'm not completely homo- or hetero-sexual, but I am not attracted to men and women at the same rate. I am a woman, and I am most often attracted to men. But I am also fairly often attracted to women. Some would say that I am heterosexual because I am "skewed", as it were, towards men. Some would say I'm bisexual because I sometimes am attracted to women. Some would suggest that I'm just "pretending" to be attracted to one or the other.

I think the "other" category, much like in most surveys, was probably for people who are unsure where to place themselves. What were the people conducting the poll looking for as a definition for "bisexual"? What about "heterosexual"?

Granted, those conducting the poll seem to have wanted only to know what people self-identify as. However, one of the inherent problems in polling is that many of those polled will try and figure out what answers are expected to the poll. The exact wording of a question can skew answers because of connotations of words, and so on.

I would have thought that bisexual would include anyone who likes both male and females no matter what the balance is within that grouping.

They should have a word for that. That could describe pretty much anybody.
Masochist. :D

I would have thought that bisexual would include anyone who likes both male and females no matter what the balance is within that grouping.

You couldn't really use it that way, or it becomes fairly useless as a term. Would a person who was attracted to men 99.9% of the time, but attracted to women 0.1% of the time really be adequately described by the term "bisexual"?

And, as I pointed out, quite a few people feel this way:


Perhaps they meant that they mostly perfer one gender, but are also somewhat attracted to the other? I personally consider "Bi" to be 50-50, or very close to that. "Other" could mean that they have a preference, but are willing to go the other way in the right situation?

The thing is, sexuality is a spectrum. If the word "bisexual" were used for anyone who has any attraction at all to people of more than one sex, pretty much everyone in the world would be bisexual. However, many of those people are so far over on one side of the spectrum that they would actually be better described as homo- or heterosexual.

You couldn't really use it that way, or it becomes fairly useless as a term. Would a person who was attracted to men 99.9% of the time, but attracted to women 0.1% of the time really be adequately described by the term "bisexual"?

And, as I pointed out, quite a few people feel this way:



The thing is, sexuality is a spectrum. If the word "bisexual" were used for anyone who has any attraction at all to people of more than one sex, pretty much everyone in the world would be bisexual. However, many of those people are so far over on one side of the spectrum that they would actually be better described as homo- or heterosexual.

Fair point :) thanks for the explanation

I was strongly tempted to vote chicken soup ^_^

And what is the difference?

Oh, and the point was that gay, straight, bi covers just about all ways to choose one partner, but there are plenty of other ways to not choose one partner.

when I think about being straight, gay, or bi, I don't think that I limit them to one partner, I think of it more like "I like boys", "I like girls", or "I like both"

I don't really see fetish (what's the plural of that?!) as sexual orientation....

"what's your sexual orientation?"
"feet"

:confused:

when I think about being straight, gay, or bi, I don't think that I limit them to one partner, I think of it more like "I like boys", "I like girls", or "I like both"

I don't really see fetish (what's the plural of that?!) as sexual orientation....

"what's your sexual orientation?"
"feet"

:confused:

You're probably right about the various fetishes (is that the plural?), but "I like neither boys nor girls" (asexuality) would then also make a fourth group, opposite of "I like both boys and girls," and would probably be a major part of the "other" category.

You're probably right about the various fetishes (is that the plural?), but "I like neither boys nor girls" (asexuality) would then also make a fourth group, opposite of "I like both boys and girls," and would probably be a major part of the "other" category.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11775817&postcount=6

when I think about being straight, gay, or bi, I don't think that I limit them to one partner, I think of it more like "I like boys", "I like girls", or "I like both"

I don't really see fetish (what's the plural of that?!) as sexual orientation....

"what's your sexual orientation?"
"feet"

:confused:

Not really an expert on the subject, but people with fetishes may ignore gender in favor of that defining sexual feature, like feet. In this case, bisexuality wouldn't serve as a catchall for people with a fetish since it isn't a feature that depends on gender, but something else that may be gender-specific or not. Traditional sexuality is normally defined by interest in a particular gender or both, but if gender ceases to be a factor, then normal categories of sexuality may be insufficient.

Just a thought.

well, color me stupid.

I didn't even think about all of that.....

I guess asexual is the most likely

because you would have

I like people with different parts

I like people with the same parts

I like both

I don't like either.

Another possible "other" might be people who are attracted to those who are transgendered (pre- or post-op or never planning op). It wouldn't necessarily be "the same parts" or "different parts." It would be the gender they found attractive, rather than biological sex. A lot of people seem to be turned off by the idea of dating a woman who has or once had male parts (or vice versa), but others might not be - and may be unsure of how to describe that attraction.

Not really an expert on the subject, but people with fetishes may ignore gender in favor of that defining sexual feature, like feet. In this case, bisexuality wouldn't serve as a catchall for people with a fetish since it isn't a feature that depends on gender, but something else that may be gender-specific or not. Traditional sexuality is normally defined by interest in a particular gender or both, but if gender ceases to be a factor, then normal categories of sexuality may be insufficient.

Just a thought.

I am not an expert either but most of the fetishes I know somewhat rely on gender..(ie someone with a pedal pusher fetish would only want a female that was stranded)

Another possible "other" might be people who are attracted to those who are transgendered (pre- or post-op or never planning op). It wouldn't necessarily be "the same parts" or "different parts." It would be the gender they found attractive, rather than biological sex. A lot of people seem to be turned off by the idea of dating a woman who has or once had male parts (or vice versa), but others might not be - and may be unsure of how to describe that attraction.
interesting.... I think that would actually qualify the requirements that I set up in my head when deciding if something was a sexual orientation or a fetish... that would be actual orientation.

(that wasn't coherent was it?)

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11775817&postcount=6

:( Sorry, I didn't see that.

:( Sorry, I didn't see that.

it's okay... I just wanted you to know I caught on quicker than usual, I was proud of myself for catching on by post 6...
:p

it's okay... I just wanted you to know I caught on quicker than usual, I was proud of myself for catching on by post 6...
:p

All right, then. That's good.


interesting.... I think that would actually qualify the requirements that I set up in my head when deciding if something was a sexual orientation or a fetish... that would be actual orientation.

(that wasn't coherent was it?)

It was slightly coherent.