# If I had sex with Data, would that make me 'teh gay'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 20, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116 "2008-03-20T18:57:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/1 "2008-03-20T18:57:32Z")
Ok, (really bored at work) Data, the android from Star Trek: The Next Generation, was, in matters of sexuality, fully funtional and programmed in a variety of techniques. Assuming that some of those techniques included homosexual techniques, if I, a straight male, had a sexual encounter with Data, would that make me gay? Men, if you had a sex robot, programmed to be good at it, and presumably very discrete, would you expierment with it in that way? Since it knows what it is doing and all, you know… Ladies, I think I know what your reply would be the only question for you is Data or Gigilo Joe? (Jude Law Sex-Bot from A.I.) (also deciding which forum to put this was quite difficult, maybe we do need some sort of ‘top floor’ forum) ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/2 "2008-03-20T18:59:21Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] Ladies, I think I know what your reply would be the only question for you is Data or Gigilo Joe? (Jude Law Sex-Bot from A.I.) [/QUOTE] Why you gotta make me choose? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/3 "2008-03-20T19:04:57Z")
Would it “make you gay?” Well, strictly speaking, no. Merely performing a sex act with another male (be it android or person) doesn’t make you gay. However, I would certainly call it a gay sex act. Data is clearly designed to look, and function, as a male. If there was any attraction to him from you, it would be no different than being attracted to a male human/vulcan that looked the same. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/4 "2008-03-20T19:07:33Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] Would it “make you gay?” Well, strictly speaking, no. Merely performing a sex act with another male (be it android or person) doesn’t make you gay. However, I would certainly call it a gay sex act. Data is clearly designed to look, and function, as a male. If there was any attraction to him from you, it would be no different than being attracted to a male human/vulcan that looked the same. [/QUOTE] I agree with this. Data is definitely a boy, just ask Tasha Yar. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/5 "2008-03-20T19:10:17Z")
Not to be pedantic, but having sex with someone doesn’t make you gay. Your orientation is what you’re attracted to. The question is, what is it about Data that would make you want to have sex with him? Data looks like a male human, so if the aspects of Data that you find attractive correllate to aspects normally found on male humans, then your attraction would probably be an expression of your homosexuality. On the other hand, if you just get hot and bothered by positronic brains, regardless of the chassis in which its mounted, then you’re dealing with something outside of standard hetero/homo sexuality. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/6 "2008-03-20T19:22:51Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] Not to be pedantic, but having sex with someone doesn’t make you gay. Your orientation is what you’re attracted to. The question is, what is it about Data that would make you want to have sex with him? Data looks like a male human, so if the aspects of Data that you find attractive correllate to aspects normally found on male humans, then your attraction would probably be an expression of your homosexuality. On the other hand, if you just get hot and bothered by positronic brains, regardless of the chassis in which its mounted, then you’re dealing with something outside of standard hetero/homo sexuality. [/QUOTE] I see those little flashing lights, and I just can’t control myself! But, I digress. This is what I was agreeing with. One sex act doesn’t necessarily say anything about orientation. But if Data turns you on because he’s a boy android, well, then, yes, I think there’s some chance you prefer boys. Weird boys, but boys nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/7 "2008-03-20T19:28:44Z")
Dude, you’re already gay. Didn’t you get the memo? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/8 "2008-03-20T19:31:57Z")
Having sex with Data wouldn’t make you gay, any more than watching gay porn and masturbating would make you gay. Or any more than letting another man shove his cock up your ass would make you gay. Having gay sex doesn’t make you gay, any more than having straight sex makes you straight. What makes you gay is being aroused by gay sex, and not being aroused by straight sex. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/9 "2008-03-20T19:37:56Z")
nevermind ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/10 "2008-03-20T19:43:20Z")
Data is not male. Machines do not have sex or gender. Data is referred to as “he” because “he” happens to be cast in the form of a humanoid male. Should “he” wish to change that, “he” presumably could do so in the same way that “his daughter” Lal selected from amongst multiple sexes and species. And, as others have said, even if Data were male, your having sex with “him” would not make you gay because sex acts do not equal sexual orientation. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/11 "2008-03-20T19:48:07Z")
I believe it would make you a robo-sexual. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/12 "2008-03-20T20:00:38Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] Dude, you’re already gay. Didn’t you get the memo? [/QUOTE] My desk is pretty messy. It may be under there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/13 "2008-03-20T20:07:06Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Data is not male. Machines do not have sex or gender. Data is referred to as “he” because “he” happens to be cast in the form of a humanoid male. Should “he” wish to change that, “he” presumably could do so in the same way that “his daughter” Lal selected from amongst multiple sexes and species. [/QUOTE] What difference does it make if he doesn’t HAVE to be male? As we all know (and love) him, he undoubtedly takes that form. If his male physicality and persona is what attracts a guy, then I would say that that guy is gay. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/14 "2008-03-20T21:04:21Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] Ladies, I think I know what your reply would be the only question for you is Data or Gigilo Joe? (Jude Law Sex-Bot from A.I.) [/QUOTE] Captain’s Log, stardate 445209: I’ve read about it so often, but I never thought it could happen to me… (With all love to Brent Spiner, it’s gotta be Gigilo Joe. Mrrrrowr.) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/15 "2008-03-20T22:27:14Z")
As an alternative to Data, for males & female robosexual Dopers alike, [DOROTHY WAINWRIGHT](http://home.comcast.net/~ape2020/GTSC/R_Dorothy_Wayneright_-_The_Big_O.jpg), of the aptly-named anime, _Big O_. 😃 ---
**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:** [March 20, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/16 "2008-03-20T22:35:33Z")
No offence to the OP, but Data is a pretty boring choice for this sort of hypothetical. He looks just like a normal human male, who’s lived his entire life in a darkened room and has no concept of normal human emotions. Sort of like a Star Trek fan. To make the question really interesting, we should frame it with a more interesting subject: what if you had sex with Robbie the Robot? Or C-3PO? Or Bender? Or, what if you had sex with a fem-puter, only to find out it was really a fem-bot _pretending_ to be a fem-puter? These are the sort of questions that need to be answered before any takes the concept of artificial intelligence seriously. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/17 "2008-03-20T22:40:13Z")
Dorothy Wainwright is cool, but for my robosexual tastes nothing beats [Ifurita](http://www.hamanime.de/pix/anime/elh/ifurita.jpg) from the anime El-Hazard. Sexy, and capable of mass destruction. Squeee!!! ETA: Yes, I know. I just proved that I have no life, and no hope for one in any of my next ten incarnations… ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/18 "2008-03-20T22:55:47Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] Assuming that some of those techniques included homosexual techniques, if I, a straight male, had a sexual encounter with Data, would that make me gay? [/QUOTE] If you had sex with a **man** it wouldn’t make you gay. No more than it makes a gay man straight if he sleeps with a woman, as many do. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/19 "2008-03-20T22:57:48Z")
[QUOTE=riker1384] I believe it would make you a robo-sexual. [/QUOTE] Or, as the kids say, a “romo”. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116/20 "2008-03-20T23:32:13Z")
I dunno if this is a pertinent question or not, but some in this thread have stated that having gay sex does not necessarily make one gay. It’s only when the person is attracted to someone of the same sex. Am I missing something here? When other than in prostitution and bored marriages does one have sex with someone to whom they are not attracted? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-sex-with-data-would-that-make-me-teh-gay/442116.md?page=2)