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You are conflating two different things in your later example. Sexuality as a method of diffusing social tension, which is a valid approach, and is where the social bonding model of homosexuality comes from; and sexuality as somehow conferring some advantage itself. With the juvenile buttocks presentation? Sure, it was a general example, and you might be right. But you have nowhere seriously addressed the proposal: a random genetic mutation INCREASED the sexual attractiveness of the boy. I say 'increased' because I've no problem with a genetic propensity toward sex being used to ease social tension. The two are not mutually exclusive. The bonobos are a fine example. But to simply state, in answer to my proposal, that no reproductive benefits would accrue to the boy is, I think, fairly strongly refuted by the available evidence. It's your only relevant debating point and you mention it as a casual aside with no convincing back up. The risk of rape is also irrelevant. In Darwinian terms, the cost of potential rape is outweighed by the benefits the gene produces. Rape would probably be a bigger factor against sex for social cohesion. Re: a "pederasty gene", it is as silly because sexuality is itself not reduceable to biology, regardless of type. Eh? The genetic underpinnings of sexuality can't investigated? Very much disagree with that. Looking for possible genetic input to an abnormally common sexual behavior is legitimate. If male and female sex instincts are not radically different... But they are, Blanche, they are! Females not practicing pederasty as an argument against a pederasty gene is bonkers. Sure, "politically correct" was facetious jibe...maybe the term I was looking for was "modern baloney". Why, then, does the male sex instinct get exploited across Nature? As with the orchid fooling the male bee? I'm not aware of anything similar happening to females. ...such [sex] differences are likely more rooted in male aggression and egocentrism, personality differences rather than being some magical change in the libido itself No, this is rolled gold modern baloney. "...male aggression and egocentrism, personality differences" are rooted in sex. You got it the wrong way around and it's major mistake of our time. Sex comes before and underlies everything. Sex is our most intimate and profound connection with the dark heart of Nature. Hence our obsessive need to lie about and cover up the unpalatable truth. Even when assessing basic natural selection operations. |