Do Straight People Have Good Gaydar Also?

[tampa24]

Here's an interesting article talking about a scientific study done to test people's ability to determine sexual orientation. They were asked to determine sexual orientation from only facial photographs of people.



WEDNESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Some people actually may have "gaydar," a widely used slang term for the ability to assess quickly another person's sexual orientation, a new study suggests.

Researchers asked 129 college students to look at 96 photos of young men and women and to identify them as either gay or straight. The participants were 65 percent accurate in identifying gay and straight women and 57 percent accurate in identifying gay and straight men.

Faces in photos were free of glasses or jewelry, as well as scars, facial hair and non-earlobe piercings.

When the faces were viewed upside down, the participants' accuracy slipped to 61 percent in identifying gay/straight women and 53 percent in identifying gay/straight men.

Still, that accuracy rate is higher than would be expected by chance alone, the researchers said.

The findings suggest that many people subconsciously make gay and straight distinctions, according to study author Joshua Tabak, a psychology graduate student at the University of Washington in Seattle.

"It may be similar to how we don't have to think about whether someone is a man or a woman, or black or white. This information confronts us in everyday life," he said in a university news release.

Tabak said the findings challenge the theory that if people kept their sexual orientation to themselves then discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals would not exist. This type of argument is made by people who oppose anti-discrimination policies for these groups, the release noted.

It's not clear why some people have better "gaydar" than others. Tabak suggested that "people from older generations or different cultures who may not have grown up knowing they were interacting with gay people" may be less accurate in identifying gay or straight people.

The study was published online May 16 in the journal PLoS One.

 

[cumrag27]

Get a Life!!!!!

Dear Tampa,

Do you think "Joshua Tabak" is an anteater or what? Certainly he knows absolutely nothing about human behavior. He needs to :take a dump: and start his education back at page 1! Perhaps he should think real hard about going into another field free of human life.

Sincerely,


Stimpy

 

[tampa24]

I read that differently Stimpy. He is actually challenging the assumption among some that if gay people would just stay in the closet and keep their sexuality to themselves...that they wouldn't face discrimination. I read this as him saying that that is untrue.

Many of us gay people know from either bullying and/or unkind namecalling in childhood that many straight kids could sense something different about us. Even before we even considered ourselves sexual beings. It makes perfect sense that many straight adults are picking up on non verbal cues to determine sexual orientation in others.

 

[another1]

i have had two straight friends who who have well tuned gaydar.
many times they are the ones spot potential dates.
i mean they say look at that hot babe over there and why don't you checkout the guy at the end of the bar.
i downloaded the study to read. my gaydar never worked very well. i guess that why i am drawn to straight guys.

 

[BrokeColin]

When I was a homophobe my gaydar used to ring like crazy but now that I stop giving a crap it seems to of gone away. I love everybody and look at them as a human being. Life is to short to be so cynical.

 

[JLipps4u]

Great post TAmpa!

I think there is definitely something to this study. I think some people are just born with
the sense to see beyond just the physical. I remember that some young boys could sense that I was gay, even as kids. They didn't always know exactly, that what they were sensing was my being gay, but they could definitely sense there was something different in me.

AS I first read your post it occurred to me that all kids could sense gayness, but then I realized that is not necessarily the case. I think that is why so many kids are molested, because they don't sense sexual orientation and are therefore vulnerable.

Perhaps some of our straight friends here on the forum (Colin) can tell us how young they were when they could sense sexual orientation. And, did this awareness come naturally, or was it a result of someone making you aware of it?

 

[mikeyank]

Great post TAmpa!

I think there is definitely something to this study. I think some people are just born with
the sense to see beyond just the physical. I remember that some young boys could sense that I was gay, even as kids. They didn't always know exactly, that what they were sensing was my being gay, but they could definitely sense there was something different in me.

AS I first read your post it occurred to me that all kids could sense gayness, but then I realized that is not necessarily the case. I think that is why so many kids are molested, because they don't sense sexual orientation and are therefore vulnerable.

Perhaps some of our straight friends here on the forum (Colin) can tell us how young they were when they could sense sexual orientation. And, did this awareness come naturally, or was it a result of someone making you aware of it?

I was not quite 11 years old, but was allowed to attend boy scout meetings, as my older brother was in the troop. There was another kid my age, David who was also attending the meetings prior to the eligible age to join of 11. I was a chubby kid and David rather skinny. I can recall him staring at me from across the semi circle of the mock camp fire during the meeting in the school basement.

We later talked, became friends and then best friends. We were both gay, and he became my regular sex partner until shortly before we left for college at age 17. I've often wondered how David picked me out from across the "campfire". I don't think I looked or acted gay. I had no other friends that I fooled around with.

So yes, I do believe that there is gaydar and it can be in effect at a rather young, prepubescent age as well.

 

[tampa24]

When I was a homophobe my gaydar used to ring like crazy but now that I stop giving a crap it seems to of gone away. I love everybody and look at them as a human being. Life is to short to be so cynical.

I shudder to think of our Colin ever being a homophobe. Yet I thank you for your honesty. The point though is where you are in your journey now. It does seem that straight people can have pretty good gaydar also even if they are not always aware of what it is they are sensing.

The same thing happened to me in Boy Scouts in the sense that there would be at least one kid who would harass me with some choice words under his breath. Even in spite of the fact that I was very straight looking and acting and was never "outed" as a child. I didn't even come out to myself until I was in my early 20's.

In college I had a conversation with another gay acquaintance. He was very handsome, straight looking, acting, etc. My own gaydar would not have worked on him. He was telling a group of us a story of his childhood (12-13ish) where he was walking up with friends to a larger group of boys in the woods whom they didn't know at all. Two boys in the larger group immediately looked at my friend and started calling him a fag. My friend told all of us, "It's so weird how they always knew!"

You are definitely on the right track though Colin. Just look at people as human beings who are on their own path and try your best not to judge.

 

[mikeyank]

I shudder to think of our Colin ever being a homophobe. Yet I thank you for your honesty. The point though is where you are in your journey now. It does seem that straight people can have pretty good gaydar also even if they are not always aware of what it is they are sensing.

The same thing happened to me in Boy Scouts in the sense that there would be at least one kid who would harass me with some choice words under his breath. Even in spite of the fact that I was very straight looking and acting and was never "outed" as a child. I didn't even come out to myself until I was in my early 20's.

In college I had a conversation with another gay acquaintance. He was very handsome, straight looking, acting, etc. My own gaydar would not have worked on him. He was telling a group of us a story of his childhood (12-13ish) where he was walking up with friends to a larger group of boys in the woods whom they didn't know at all. Two boys in the larger group immediately looked at my friend and started calling him a fag. My friend told all of us, "It's so weird how they always knew!"

You are definitely on the right track though Colin. Just look at people as human beings who are on their own path and try your best not to judge.

Your post brings two thoughts to my mind, Tampa. I strongly believe that the most serious homophobes are guy's who cannot deal with their own sexual identity. Basically I believe that homophobes are bi or gay, and are taking out their self hatred on another gay or bi guy.

And when you mention the boy scouts, you remind me of a two week summer camp trip to Ten Mile River Camp, in Narrowsberg New York. My tent mate was the boy that I lusted after named Chuck. Chuck, myself and two other kids from our home troop in Brooklyn were there, and we were put in a camp with another troop from out of state.

In the tent opposite mine and Chuck's were two guys from this outside troop. Probably during the second week of camp after lights were out, I would hear the alpha male of the duo saying things loud enough for me and Chuck to hear.

Let's say that my last name is Mikeyank. He started saying, "Mikeyank is a fag", and his buddy would laugh. He didn't yell it, but said it just loud enough through the sound of the crickets in the woods, for our tent to hear it. They only said my name, and ignored Chuck, who was laying in his sleeping bag next to me, during this verbal abuse. I think Chuck said something to me like, "Just ignore them. They're asshole's". This went on for several nights, but nothing was ever said about it during the day.

I presume that the leader of these two was a homophobe, and probably gay, and he could tell that I was a "fag", as he used his own gaydar. Maybe he also wanted to be alone in a tent with Chuck. Whatever it was, it was one of the few times during my childhood that straight guys would make comments or outright call me a fag. I believe that only guy's who have an interest in possible man to man sex, would bother to harass or mock a gay man, or boy.

 

[joninliverton]

I agree with both Tampa and Mike and also thank Colin for his honesty. There is definite truth regarding homophobes not knowing their true sexuality and hiding behind their aggression is a way, to them, of dealing with it.

 

[tampa24]

I presume that the leader of these two was a homophobe, and probably gay, and he could tell that I was a "fag", as he used his own gaydar. Maybe he also wanted to be alone in a tent with Chuck. Whatever it was, it was one of the few times during my childhood that straight guys would make comments or outright call me a fag. I believe that only guy's who have an interest in possible man to man sex, would bother to harass or mock a gay man, or boy.

Great post Mikey!

I'm gonna go out on a limb here with my psychoanalysis and say that the alpha male was secretly bi or gay and he was jealous that you had a tent with Chuck. My guess is that Chuck was pretty cute. I suspect that maybe he wanted Chuck to be well aware that you might be gay too so that Chuck would not be easily seduced by you. Maybe he also hoped this would dissuade Chuck from changing clothes in front of you and so on. If he couldn't have the benefit of being in a tent with Chuck then he didn't want you to get any benefit from it either. We'll never know for sure but it's a possibility. Gay bullying can have some fascinating underlying motivations and intentions.

 

[mikeyank]

Great post Mikey!

I'm gonna go out on a limb here with my psychoanalysis and say that the alpha male was secretly bi or gay and he was jealous that you had a tent with Chuck. My guess is that Chuck was pretty cute. I suspect that maybe he wanted Chuck to be well aware that you might be gay too so that Chuck would not be easily seduced by you. Maybe he also hoped this would dissuade Chuck from changing clothes in front of you and so on. If he couldn't have the benefit of being in a tent with Chuck then he didn't want you to get any benefit from it either. We'll never know for sure but it's a possibility. Gay bullying can have some fascinating underlying motivations and intentions.

Thank you Tampa for an excellent job of psychoanalysis, as I agree 100% with your analysis. The truth is that I have never shared this story with anyone in my life, before your boy scout story made me remember and decide to post this incident.

And you are also so right Tampa, that Chuck was the best looking young man that I've ever known. I would guess that we were 14 at this time, and I last saw him at age 19 on an island in the middle of Lake George, where he basically wore nothing but a red 1969 version of a speedo. Talk about an image burned into my mind. Chuck had beautiful blonde hair, blue eyes, a chiseled handsome face, with a smooth naturally athletic body.

But getting back to your spot on analysis Tampa, I do believe that the alpha male/homophobe's intention was to alert Chuck that I was a "fag", but I'm sure Chuck already knew. However he was not shy about undressing in front of me, as I can clearly recall how Chuck slipped into his white briefs each morning. He would be laying back on his sleeping bag and would slip the briefs up his legs with his always soft cock pointing straight up as he covered himself. Again an image firmly ingrained into my brain.

You are very intuitive Tampa, my friend!

 

[tampa24]

Again, another great post Mikey.

If only I could have shared a tent with someone like Colin. LOL

And just for you Mikey, I'll include a picture of my Colin with Jimmy.

 

[erikthbod]

But getting back to your spot on analysis Tampa, I do believe that the alpha male/homophobe's intention was to alert Chuck that I was a "fag", but I'm sure Chuck already knew. However he was not shy about undressing in front of me, as I can clearly recall how Chuck slipped into his white briefs each morning. He would be laying back on his sleeping bag and would slip the briefs up his legs with his always soft cock pointing straight up as he covered himself. Again an image firmly ingrained into my brain.

You are very intuitive Tampa, my friend!

Mike... It sounds like Chuck was trying to come on to you. It may have not been that he was not shy but really showing off for you. You may have missed out on something really good. By the way did Chuck have a female friend named, Peppermint Patty?

 

[erikthbod]

I have met numerous guys in my life that are suppose to be straight. At parties or a group of guys at straight bars. Seemed like there was always one that asked for a ride home or even ended up at my place. It was always the same thing they faked passing out or acting really drunk and the next thing I knew they were naked. I have even had dudes ask to stop and take a piss. When they got back in the car their pants were undone and their cock was out and once again they faked a pass out. Come to think of it I got alot of guys that way.... lol !

 

[mikeyank]

Mike... It sounds like Chuck was trying to come on to you. It may have not been that he was not shy but really showing off for you. You may have missed out on something really good. By the way did Chuck have a female friend named, Peppermint Patty?

I do agree with you Erik. This happened at age 14 or so, and then when he was 19, I spent a weekend with just him and another friend on an island in the middle of Lake George. Chuck and my other friend were tripping, and all Chuck wore the entire weekend was a skimpy red cloth Speedo type suit.

I can recall late at night Chuck standing by the side of the lake with his body reflecting in the moon light. Our other friend was off somewhere by himself and I stared and lusted after Chuck's perfect body as he was so stoned on LSD. But I was a chicken. I never made my move.

 

[tampa24]

I have met numerous guys in my life that are suppose to be straight. At parties or a group of guys at straight bars. Seemed like there was always one that asked for a ride home or even ended up at my place. It was always the same thing they faked passing out or acting really drunk and the next thing I knew they were naked. I have even had dudes ask to stop and take a piss. When they got back in the car their pants were undone and their cock was out and once again they faked a pass out. Come to think of it I got alot of guys that way.... lol !

Wow Erik! You must really have it going on for straight seeming guys to be practically throwing themselves at you. Their gaydar must be working on you on some level though. Even in the straightest of straight bars. That reminds me of the old joke, What's the difference between a straight guy and a gay guy? A six pack. lol

Some guys will use that as an excuse. "Wow man! What happened last night? I don't remember a thing. I must have passed out! Everything's a blur. Err... So what are you doing next weekend?" haha

 

[another1]

straight boys who have gay sex use the 'i was drunk last night, i don't remember a thing' a lot.
i would tell them that there wasn't much to remember. sometimes, they would come back just to prove to me that they could be memorable. lol

 

[angelone]

I was a homophobe and I am gay. It took years before I finally accepted myself as gay; but before I did, I made everyone who I suspected as gay miserable and uncomfortable.
I would openly discriminated against them in whatever means I could get away with publicly. Secretly I would frequent gay bars late at night or cruise parks and adult theaters. Then after a near-death experience, I slowly changed and started to help out with HIV/AIDS survivors. I started to learn about my inner self and saw that being gay was central to my recovery. It was here that my inner self started to grow after years of stunted growth. It really didn't matter whether one is gay or straight, what matters is whether one is honest, loving and willing to listen to others.

 

[tampa24]

Wow. Thank you for sharing that Angelone.