# Giving homosexuality the finger! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 29, 2000, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895 "2000-03-29T19:40:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/21 "2000-03-30T13:36:00Z")
Well, I’ll be damned! After scrutinizing my fingers, I find that I too am a lesbian. What will I tell the wife and kids? ---
**Author:** ![SqrlCub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SqrlCub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SqrlCub)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/22 "2000-03-30T14:57:00Z")
aseymayo, I am not aware of bears in the lesbian community. Since the bear community deals with body hair, I doubt that there would be any bear community. You should probably change your name to something with seafood in it. 😉 hehehhe Please don’t flame me Neurro. HUGS! Sqrl * * * [SqrlCub’s Arizona Adventure](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/005351.html) ---
**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/23 "2000-03-30T15:06:00Z")
AIEEEEEE!! I’m a lesbian too!! And so is my Jack Russell terrier!! Hey, this might be kinda cool. 🙂 :::Looking suspiciously at my goldfish::: * * * _…send lawyers, guns, and money…_ ``` Warren Zevon ``` ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/24 "2000-03-30T17:26:00Z")
Both of my index fingers are shorter than my ring fingers. This makes me decidedly male. No wonder I’m a top. 😃 Esprix * * * [Ask the Gay Guy!](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum7/HTML/001376.html) ---
**Author:** ![neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ab097/32.png) [@neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neuro-trash_grrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/25 "2000-03-31T02:31:00Z")
You aren’t going to believe this, but I appear to be straight. My ring and index fingers are almost exactly the same length. My index finger does appear to be a tiny bit shorter, but it’s hard to tell. > [@](#): > > He cautioned that finger-length differences hold up only as averages in large populations, not for individuals. The differences involved just fractions of an inch. I suspected as much. Anyways, does anyone else find it interesting that this study was led by a guy named Dr. Marc Breedlove? * * * Heck is where you go when you don’t believe in Gosh. ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/26 "2000-03-31T02:48:00Z")
Well, my index fingers are visibly shorter than my ring and middle fingers. And wow, i’m gay too. I always assumed most people’s index fingers were shorter than their ring or middle fingers, guess i’m wrong… 😉 * * * i know exactly what you say when I turn and walk away, but that’s ok 'cause I don’t let it get to me ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/27 "2000-03-31T02:59:00Z")
The article doesn’t say how much of a difference in index-vs.-ring finger length is “normal” for men, and how much is “exaggerated” or “excessive.” My index fingers are both about 1/4 inch shorter than their respective ring fingers. I don’t know whether that means I have to start dating men now or not. (Although I do like ABBA, and the house I almost bought had track lighting in it. \ ) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/28 "2000-03-31T02:59:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Gaudere: > Doesn’t _everybody_ have a shorter index finger than their ring finger? :::measuring:::: uh…no? My index fingers are significantly longer than my ring fingers, by over a 1/4 inch. So does this mean I have to give up all my homosexual tendencies? =:O * * * – From an actual catalog: “Disco balls create an enchanting, dazzling effect of light shafts, adding movement and glamour to any occasion” _the Abrams’ bris was certainly memorable_ O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/29 "2000-03-31T03:01:00Z")
> [@](#): > > He cautioned that finger-length differences hold up only as averages in large populations, not for individuals. \*\*The differences involved just fractions of an inch. \*\* (bolding mine) well I would hope so!! I’d hate to see these people with finger length differences in multiple inches!! * * * – From an actual catalog: “Disco balls create an enchanting, dazzling effect of light shafts, adding movement and glamour to any occasion” _the Abrams’ bris was certainly memorable_ O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/30 "2000-03-31T13:58:00Z")
_examines fingers_ Damn. My index fingers barely come up to the level of the base of my ring fingernails. I guess that means I’m the biggest lesbian who ever lived. So, which of you new lesbians wants to run off with me, huh? ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/31 "2000-04-01T06:18:00Z")
Eve and Nothemama, Thank you for first bringing the issue up and thank you for shooting it down. The story just made it to the duh! newspapers and you have helped me enormously in shutting a few people up. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/32 "2000-04-01T06:19:00Z")
The previous post should have mentioned that the story has just hit the UK papers. ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/33 "2000-04-01T01:40:00Z")
hmm… i wonder if they included people with index fingers that were partially cut off? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/34 "2000-04-01T01:47:00Z")
Well, members of the Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) do typically cut off part of one of their pinkies. ---
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/35 "2000-04-01T01:53:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Drain Bead: > \*\*_examines fingers_ > > So, which of you new lesbians wants to run off with me, huh?\*\* _Sigh_. Alright. I’ll do it. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/36 "2000-04-01T17:56:00Z")
If anybody’s still interested (12 hours is such a **long** time in Internet time), here’s a link that I enjoyed. [http://slate.msn.com/Code/chatterbox/chatterbox.asp?Show=03/30/2000&idMessage=4978](http://slate.msn.com/Code/chatterbox/chatterbox.asp?Show=03/30/2000&idMessage=4978) I mentioned the “study” to a friend, and his take on it was, “…your tax dollars at work?” What a depressing thought. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2000, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/37 "2000-04-02T03:41:00Z")
I read the article in the New York Post, so we know it’s gotta be true. Anyways my index finger is shorter than my ring finger. – no surprise. I _am_ gay.-- But can you imagine my shock and dismay when I looked at the hands of my lover for the last twenty years. His index fingers are longer than his ring fingers. So apparently he is heterosexual. I feel so … used. * * * Virtually yours, DrMatrix ---
**Author:** ![JDeMobray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@JDeMobray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDeMobray)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2000, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/38 "2000-04-02T09:13:00Z")
_Sigh_ What a topic to get my first post in. . . . Anyway, this whole concept seems like more of us silly humans wanting to assume that correlation implies cause. Probably THE most common and serious errors in human reasoning. This whole study is an exercise in faulty use of factor analysis, or as one expert puts it: “The fact of correlation implies nothing about cause. It is not even true that intense correlations are more likely to represent cause than weak ones, for the correlation of my age with the price of gasoline is nearly 1.0. … The inference of cause must come from something else, not from the simple fact of correlation - though an unexpected correlation may lead us to search for causes so lang as we remember that we may not find them. The vast majority of correlations in our world are, without a doubt, noncausal. Anything that has been increasing steadily during the past few years will be strongly correlated with the distance between the earth and Halley’s comet (which has also been increasing of late) - but even the most dedicated astrologer would not discern causality in most of these relationships.” (Stephen Jay Gould, The Mismeasure of Man, 1996,1981) “Most correlations are noncausal; when correlations are causal, the fact and strength of the correlation rarely specifies the nature of cause.” (Gould, 96) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2000, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/39 "2000-04-02T10:43:00Z")
Good first post , Make sure you put it in nay creationist threads you see. ---
**Author:** ![edbenson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e79b87/32.png) [@edbenson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edbenson)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2000, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895/40 "2000-04-03T05:07:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Notthemama: > \*\*If anybody’s still interested (12 hours is such a **long** time in Internet time), here’s a link that I enjoyed. > [http://slate.msn.com/Code/chatterbox/chatterbox.asp?Show=03/30/2000&idMessage=4978](http://slate.msn.com/Code/chatterbox/chatterbox.asp?Show=03/30/2000&idMessage=4978) > > I mentioned the “study” to a friend, and his take on it was, “…your tax dollars at work?” What a depressing thought. :(\*\* I particularly liked this quote from Notthemama’s link: > [@](#): > > Chatterbox is in no position to judge > Breedlove’s science, but he will restate, for those who’ve not > heard it before, Chatterbox’s Law of Biological Determinism: > Conservatives believe that genes determine everything except > homosexuality; liberals believe that genes determine nothing > except homosexuality. * * * Then again, I could be wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-homosexuality-the-finger/17895.md?page=3)