Is it a viable defense?

[MilDoc]

Gene researchers tell us there is no "homosexual gene" and argue that there cannot be such a gene, suggesting that one cannot be born homosexual........

Some do and some don't. Homosexual behavior is not just found in humans, but has been observed in dozens of other species, and not just primates. Pedophile behavior has also been observed in animals.

I don't believe there is a "homosexual gene" either, but there is no behavior known to be attributable to one single gene. It is multifactorial. IMHO, the chance of discovering any gene set that results in any particular behavior is just about nil.

One thing that always interested me about gay men. Ask them at what age they realized they were "different," and invariably they answer 7 or 8, about the same age heterosexual boys start to realize that girls are "different" from boys, and start to treat them differently, not just as "another playmate." The true pedophiles say the same. So, at the time of "sexual awakening," most look to the opposite sex, some to the same sex, and some to young children.

[MilDoc]

It just seems like it would be so depressing to do that for years with an unending stream of kids...

Sometimes it was, especially when the abuse was of a truly horrendous, mind shattering type. In fact, that type of case was rare, maybe once a year. Otherwise it was in all respects a very satisfying job.

[Rand]

I watched a documentary about a serial killer a long time ago. This guy had killed around 300 women. When he was a little boy his mother would bring men home and make him watch her have sex with him. Then she would beat him for it.

The doctor they interviewed said that if we don't want to raise monsters we shouldn't torture our kids. Stands to reason doesn't it?

[Rand]

I forgot to say. No, it's not a viable defense. While I feel sorry for anyone who is screwed up enough to something like that I don't think they deserve any mercy.

Compassion maybe, but absolutely no mercy.

[JeffW]

Interesting yet disgusting topic. I have investigated numerous cases over the years and just had one the other day. 4 year old girl being sexually abused at home. Moms boyfriend and his son are the doers. Fortunatly for me at least, while reported to us, it is occurring in another jurisdiction. The other agency will investigate it. Investigating these crimes takes it's toll on you.

Most of the time these days, I get to hunt down the offenders after a warrant is issued. It is very satisfying to put the handcuffs on them. Quite frankly I really don't care about the offenders background. I get my satisfaction from locking them up and knowing that they will not be able to do it to another.

[LCHIEN]

if it is a viable defense then it follows logically we should execute anyone claiming this defense as clearly abuse is hereditary and we want to stop this gene variant right away.

Fortunately I have never had any experiences in this area.

[BigguyZ]

My real sadness in all of this is that Kinsey faked the data. As a result of Kinsey faking data regarding homosexuality, much of the research has had to be thrown out, and it has created huge confusion regarding true rates of homosexuality and discredited the field of study.

I was unaware of that? When did that come out? They didn't mention it in the movie...

But seriously, people say there is no Homosexual Gene, but there's no woodworking gene, or power tool gene, is there? It's not likely a single "on/off" switch, but a combination of factors that combine to create an outcome.

[woodturner]

I was unaware of that? When did that come out? They didn't mention it in the movie...

A search of the internet will yield a number of discussions on this topic.

As I recall, it was just after his death that his assistants revealed that he biased and faked the data to support a homosexual agenda. What I found on the internet stops short of accusing him of outright fabrication. Most seem to be saying he statistically biased the results by choosing his sample sets.

[MilDoc]

But seriously, people say there is no Homosexual Gene, but there's no woodworking gene, or power tool gene, is there?

No, but there is a shoe gene. Just ask my wife or almost any woman.

On second though do not ask my wife.

[MilDoc]

Most seem to be saying he statistically biased the results by choosing his sample sets.

And most (if not all) of those sites are as homophobic as many people.

In reality, several excellent statisticians have "scrubbed" the Kinsey data, removing prisoners and many others, and came up with very similar numbers to Kinsey, often varying by less than 1%. That is, prison population, male prostitutes, and those who willingly participated in discussion of previously taboo sexual topics had the same statistical tendency as the general population. When those groups were included, male homosexuality was 10%, and when excluded, male homosexuality in the general population was found to be 9.9% for white, college-educated males and 12.7% for those with less education.

Much has also "tried" to be made of the apparent fact that Kinsey was bisexual and thus wanted to "clean" homosexuality. But, again, when the data are scrubbed to the satisfaction of great statisticians, the figures quoted by Kinsey are accurate enough to be judged valid.

[woodturner]

But, again, when the data are scrubbed to the satisfaction of great statisticians, the figures quoted by Kinsey are accurate enough to be judged valid.

We will have to agree to disagree on that one. The Kinsey data is widely considered to be so flawed that it is no longer referenced in the research community, in my experience. While this is not directly my field of research, friends and colleagues who are researchers in psychology and related fields at this university advise me that the Kinsey research is not considered valid.

I have read the reports and reviewed the statistics, and personally, I do think the research methodology is flawed. More precisely, by engineering standards the statistical work is flawed. However, I can't really say personally whether the work "meets the standard" for other fields of research.

[MilDoc]

We will have to agree to disagree on that one. The Kinsey data is widely considered to be so flawed that it is no longer referenced in the research community...

The original research data was indeed flawed and biased. The point is that when scrubbed of all the data others objected to, the figures were virtually identical. And the scrubbed Kinsey data is still quoted in many articles even > 50 years later.

[JSUPreston]

Sorry I haven't replied to you guys since Friday. I've been offline working on my son's room.

To answer a question posted to me about how things progress, I honestly don't have any hard facts to back up my viewpoint, but I do believe that without some sort of intervention, most victims will abuse in the future. Without trying to make the question seem trivial, I see it like someone learning woodworking from another person. If you're learning from a friend, and watch their good and/or bad habits, you will pick up on those same habits. It's a learned behavior. In woodworking, that good or bad behavior usually only affects one person. In abusive situations, it can affect many.

MilDoc, in response to your comment about spanking (and not trying to bring religion into the discussion too much), both my wife and I agree that the Bible is right about "spare the rod and spoil the child." However, too many folks take it literally. If a little swat on the bottom is all it takes to get a child to behave, that's great. We learned with out boys years ago that spanking just doesn't work for our kids, so we had to find "another rod." Sometimes, that rod is no video games for the day, or an extra chore around the house. It also includes making things right if someone else was hurt or offended.

[drillman88]

I read the detailed story of a woman who was molested by her father as a child. She had a sister and brother who were also abused. The man not only molested them, he made them molest each other. She went in to great details about their struggles and therapy even into adulthood. She and her sister were able to have families and lead somewhat normal lives. According to her account her brother wasn't as strong and commited suicide after getting married and having small children. He was never sure about his ability to control his urges and had some flashback as he watched his children. He took his own life to keep from taking his kids. This was all one womans story and I know it's not scientific data.
This is all a painful tale, but It suggests that as all are saying there are choices made not to pass on the abuse.
I also believe that there are sociopaths born or in some instances made that have no feeling of remorse for whatever they choose to do to other people. These people know right from wrong, but for whatever reason they choose to hurt or control others to satisfy themselves. There is no excuse for their actions, if they were abused or not.