5 Most Common Misconceptions About Bisexuality

submitted by PeakingPeachEater from self.Bisexuals

sorted by:
top
newinsightfulfun
you are viewing a single comment's thread.

view the rest of the comments →

[–]BiHorror 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

Probably it's because I grew up hearing this, but I don't see what's problem with point 3 (half gay, half straight). Maybe because it's makes bisexuality out to be exactly 50/50, but I can't see this being the most tragic thing to be said about it. Especially compared to things like "it's a phrase" or someone's doing it for "attention." Alongside, being "confused."

[–]mvmlego 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Same. I suppose, as you said, that it could paint an overly-simplistic picture and omit those who lean toward a certain sex, but the phrase "half gay, half straight" seems blatantly silly-enough to me in the first place that I don't see why someone would take it completely literally.

Anyhow, that article reeks of identity politics. It doesn't really explain anything; it just shames people who disagree into shutting up while providing empty affirmations to the group that it's seeking to protect.

[–]BiHorror 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

the phrase "half gay, half straight" seems blatantly silly-enough to me in the first place that I don't see why someone would take it completely literally

True, true. I think, in personal opinion, it might seen as such based on how we view other things being bi (two) things. For example, someone who is biracial. If someone is mixed with white and black, are they gonna be exactly 50/50? Of course not, but they're still seen as white and black. We might call them "half white, half black" despite they may be more of one thing than the other.

So, I think that's what people see this as. Since bisexual people are still attracted to both sexes (with heterosexual being the opposite and homosexual being same), they're seen as "half straight, half gay" in this way instead of their very own group if that makes sense.

[–]mvmlego 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

If someone is mixed with white and black, are they gonna be exactly 50/50? Of course not, but they're still seen as white and black.

That's a good comparison.

[–]BiHorror 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thanks. :>

[–]PenseePansy 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Probably it's because I grew up hearing this, but I don't see what's problem with point 3 (half gay, half straight). Maybe because it's makes bisexuality out to be exactly 50/50, but I can't see this being the most tragic thing to be said about it.

Not so bad in itself, I'd agree; the problem is more a matter of implications. If "bisexual" = "half-gay/half-straight", this naturally leads to the assumption that we're equally-attracted to both sexes... so anyone who isn't (because they have a consistent preference, or it fluctuates/"bi-cycles", or each feels so different from the other that it's apples-and-oranges = not really comparable) therefore doesn't "qualify" as bisexual. Which I've seen play out numerous times: bi? Impossible! They/I ain't 50/50!... despite, yanno, feeling attraction to both men and women! So silly... yet dismayingly-common, and I can't help but think that it robs us of our true numbers, as well as preventing many bisexuals from figuring out who they really are.

[–]BiHorror 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Ah, I get you. I can definitely see where you're coming from. Especially when it then comes to the concepts of "hetero/homoflexibility" (although those people got their own diverse reasons. I made a post about it in the past and I remember someone saying people called themselves that because they didn't want to appropriate bisexuals' identity).