# Eyebrows of Doom, a word **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 5, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966 "2013-04-05T23:16:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/81 "2013-04-09T18:25:37Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > For the luvva Og… > > You and Eyebrows both apparently suffer from a total lack of reading comprehension. > This issue is not about me or my views. It’s about a viewpoint that I am hearing from others that I asked for opinions about. Is that clear enough, or are the two of so damn dumb that I’ll have type r-e-a-l s-l-o-w so you can follow along without moving your lips and drooling down your chin as you read? > > Shit…I don’t know why I bother any more. This board used to be worth the money we paid every year. Now it has turned into a troll-hole for piss-ant liberals who do not have any clue whatsoever about discussing things. You simply look at the poster and if they are conservative, you promptly start pissing on them for no other reason. No damn wonder we have so few conservatives posting here any more. I’m aroused. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/82 "2013-04-09T18:44:44Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > I’m aroused. That’s because you’ve chosen to be a deviant. A little bit of fire should fix that for you… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/83 "2013-04-09T18:46:34Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Ha. Oops. > > Sorry, John Mace. I get frustrated with your attempts at impartiality at times and it colored my reading of what you wrote and made me all Clothahump-like. No worries. My comment was a bit cryptic. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/84 "2013-04-09T18:57:55Z")
I must say, this pitting of **Clothahump** has been quite entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/85 "2013-04-09T19:19:41Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > I’ll put it back up again so that the libs can howl in outrage some more. That would be “snickering in derision”. Not the same thing. Now: 1. The norm for humanity is right-handedness. It’s how the species functions so it reproduces into the next generation and it doesn’t get any more fundamental than that. Biology 101. 2. There is no medical evidence to date of the existence of a “lefty gene”, although people are frantically trying to find one. 3. What we are left with, then, that left-handedness is learned behavior which deviates from the norm and is engaged in by choice. The only other explanation is that it is a mental aberration of some sort. I tend to go with the simpler explanation. ---
**Author:** ![irae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f0a364/32.png) [@irae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irae)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/86 "2013-04-09T19:36:43Z")
Rejoice, Clothy. Once DOMA is repealed, and Prop 8 vanquished, and marriage equality is the law of the land you’ll be just as free to hate and fear whatever you like as you are today. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/87 "2013-04-09T20:04:15Z")
I have not engaged much with this character before, but what a fucking idiot. Concern troll is dead on. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/88 "2013-04-09T21:17:33Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > 1. The norm for humanity is Chinese. It’s how the species communicates into the next generation and it doesn’t get any more fundamental than that. Biology 101. > > 2. There is no medical evidence to date of the existence of a “english gene”, although people are frantically trying to find one. > > 3. What we are left with, then, that english is learned behavior which deviates from the norm and is engaged in by choice. The only other explanation is that it is a mental aberration of some sort. I tend to go with the simpler explanation. > > Now if the “english gene” in step 2 is found, then that obviously changes things and I will be the first to admit that my conclusions in step 3 were wrong. Step 3 is your biggest problem. An absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. There are good reasons to believe that homosexuality has a genetic component. As just one example, [identical twins are much likelier to both be gay than fraternal twins](http://lakeweedatarrowhead.net/23scient.htm). It also shows up in other species, including species that are totally devoid of culture. Both phenomena are difficult to explain if you eliminate the possibility of a genetic component. Indeed, such evidence provide the impetus to find genetic components of homosexuality: we’ve got pretty good reasons to think they’re there, even if we haven’t found them yet. If you notice in the news, we’re all the time finding genetic markers for various traits. Do ou assume that there’s no genetic component of a condition until we actually find it? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/89 "2013-04-09T21:18:34Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > > …bullshit snipped… > > > > Turns out you’re a fucking retard. > > For the luvva Og… [Moderating] **Clothahump** placing editorial comments inside of a quote box attributed to another poster is a violation of the board rules. Please avoid this in the future. No warning issued. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/90 "2013-04-09T21:34:09Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > If you notice in the news, we’re all the time finding genetic markers for various traits. Do ou assume that there’s no genetic component of a condition until we actually find it? Who are you arguing at? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/91 "2013-04-09T21:37:53Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Indeed, such evidence provide the impetus to find genetic components of homosexuality: we’ve got pretty good reasons to think they’re there, even if we haven’t found them yet. [nitpicky]There’s evidence there are _congenital_ components to homosexuality, including sexuality among identical vs fraternal twins. That it’s _genetic_ is much more tenuous, especially as homosexuality doesn’t appear strongly linked to family history. Worse yet, the chances a random male is homosexual increases as you have more kids, definitely indicating congenital factors but not necessarily genetic factors. It’s one of my pet peeves that people tend to use “genetic” to stand for any/all biological factors and outcomes. [/nitpicky] ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/92 "2013-04-09T21:42:59Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Who are you arguing at? :smack: Sorry, quoted wrong person. Clothahump, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/93 "2013-04-09T21:43:18Z")
Missed edit window: That’s not to say genetic factors don’t exist. There IS some evidence they may be there. But other congenital factors certainly appear to have at least as strong, if not stronger, influence. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/94 "2013-04-10T00:28:48Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > [nitpicky]There’s evidence there are _congenital_ components to homosexuality, including sexuality among identical vs fraternal twins. > > That it’s _genetic_ is much more tenuous, especially as homosexuality doesn’t appear strongly linked to family history. Worse yet, the chances a random male is homosexual increases as you have more kids, definitely indicating congenital factors but not necessarily genetic factors. > > It’s one of my pet peeves that people tend to use “genetic” to stand for any/all biological factors and outcomes. [/nitpicky] Could you elaborate on this difference you’re describing? I vaguely understand the difference between “congenital” and “genetic,” but don’t know how “congenital and not genetic” factors could explain the difference between fraternal and identical twins in this regard. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/95 "2013-04-10T00:49:59Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > [nitpicky]There’s evidence there are _congenital_ components to homosexuality, including sexuality among identical vs fraternal twins. I have read that fraternal twins are more likely to both have the same sexual orientation than non-twin siblings, which suggests that something in the pre-natal environment is a factor, but also that identical twins are more likely to both have the same sexual orientation than fraternal twins, which suggests that genetics are _also_ a factor. A quick look at [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biology_and_sexual_orientation#Twin_studies) indicates that while different twin studies have found different results, “A meta-study by Hershberger (2001) compares the results of eight different twin studies: among those, all but two showed MZ [monozygotic, or identical] twins having much higher concordance of sexual orientation than DZ [dizygotic, fraternal] twins, suggesting a non-negligible genetic component.” ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/96 "2013-04-10T03:23:56Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > No, this is what _you_ are left with, because you’re so shit-fuck stupid. Perhaps one of these days, you might learn that ad hominem responses are an open admission that what was said originally was correct. You can’t refute it, so you attack the person saying it. Thank you for supporting my viewpoint. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/97 "2013-04-10T03:33:56Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Assuming this is accurate: So what? Well, most of the people howling like broke-dick dogs are doing so because they disagree with the fact that I am conservative, not from any basis in fact or logic. Only one person has asked me to explain my point of view. I did so. That’s all. Bottom line is that the train has jumped the tracks. This is NOT about my viewpoint. It’s about a theory that I am hearing from more than one source and I asked for opinions on it. So far, the run of the mill response is that I am stupid because [del] I am conservative [/del] I posted the question in the first place. The ad hominem responses are showing me that the question must have some validity because no one can refute it or answer it, so they attack me for asking it. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/98 "2013-04-10T03:40:54Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > > [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > > > No, this is what _you_ are left with, because you’re so shit-fuck stupid. > > Perhaps one of these days, you might learn that ad hominem responses are an open admission that what was said originally was correct. You can’t refute it, so you attack the person saying it. Thank you for supporting my viewpoint. Look up there at the top of the page, f’wit, see where it says “\> The BBQ Pit” ? I think you even started this thread in this section, do you even understand what the Pit is for? If you want level-headed debate according to Bob’s Rules of Order, try a thread in an appropriate section, such as, OIDK, “Great Debates”. If you do not want people venting your own noxious fumes all over you, I would suggest you avoid the Pit, because that is what it appears will happen to you should you again venture hither. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/99 "2013-04-10T03:45:20Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Perhaps one of these days, you might learn that ad hominem responses are an open admission that what was said originally was correct. You can’t refute it, so you attack the person saying it. Thank you for supporting my viewpoint. Nah - sometimes ad hominem responses are an admission that you know the person you’re dealing with and realize no amount of reasoned discourse is going to sway them from their shit-fuck stupid beliefs, so it’s just more fun to PALATR. Thank you for supporting my viewpoint by ignoring all the reasoned responses in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966/100 "2013-04-10T04:20:00Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Well, most of the people howling like broke-dick dogs are doing so because they disagree with the fact that I am conservative, not from any basis in fact or logic. Only one person has asked me to explain my point of view. I did so. That’s all. > > Bottom line is that the train has jumped the tracks. This is NOT about my viewpoint. It’s about a theory that I am hearing from more than one source and I asked for opinions on it. So far, the run of the mill response is that I am stupid because [del] I am conservative [/del] I posted the question in the first place. The ad hominem responses are showing me that the question must have some validity because no one can refute it or answer it, so they attack me for asking it. I thought that Frank’s question was the most appropriate one but you didn’t answer it. So I’ll try: assuming that being gay is most likely a personal choice, so what? Seems odd that you’d claim that insults signify that your questions are valid in the same post where you use the phrase “broke-dick dogs” and evade a question. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrows-of-doom-a-word/654966.md?page=6)