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November 22, 2005
Kinsey scales
Dr. Alfred Kinsey created a 7 point continuum rating a person's sexual orientation. 0 was exclusively heterosexual, 6 was exclusively gay. Being a math teacher, I will point out to many bubbly gays that it is NOT a six point scale, but that is not what I'm talking about today. I'm definitely not a 0 or a 6, but that is not what I'm talking about today either.
Joe My God had an intriguing entry about his views on monogamy. I was going to comment, but someone already commented in the 69 spot, which I really wanted. When I started reading, it was on comment 68, and by the time I was ready to comment, it was 69. Damn my slow reading! I was going to comment that all relationships probably have their own Kinsey scale, with some people being exclusively monogamous while others are exclusively promiscuous. Just like sexual orientation, one is not superior to the other. The interesting thing in this scale is that it involves a relationship. One person could be a 0 with a partner at 3. Relationships work themselves out.
Personally, I think that Kinsey should have researched a scale of morning 0/night people 6. Derrick is a 2, I'm a 4. I'm not truly awful in the morning, and I'm not truly great at night. Derrick is mostly perky most of the time, but has enough limits to keep him from being extreme(ly annoying). I actually changed my major in college because some of my class requirements started at eight, and I'm becoming rather sad about staying out late. My dad is a horrifying 0, and he can't understand how anyone can sleep past six a.m or stay awake past nine. Many of his family are like this, but then, most of them are straight.
Give me coffee, and I'll shift along the continuum, but that doesn't last for long.
Posted by G at November 22, 2005 06:15 PM
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Comments
I have Kinsey hair days. Right now I think I'm at a 1, so don't look at me. Fortunately you don't have that problem, eh? :)
Posted by: Alan at November 23, 2005 07:56 AM
I am SO with ya on that one.
I agree completely about being a night person. My father wakes up about 4:45 am to go to the gym every morning. And he doesn't own an alarm clock.
And as far as scales for night/day or kinsey or monogamy, we have become trapped by our own intellectual drive. Aristotle was one of the first people to purposefully set out to categorize and label living things just to have them labeled. He felt categorization was inportant to be able to discuss and analyze things by looking at the comparisons and differences. Grouping aided in that process. And we humans love to label and categorize even more so to this day.
The problem is that we began a long time ago to think the category defines its contents. When in fact, the category only defines the set of comparative criteria the category was created under, leaving a vast array of characteristics unaddressed, and therefore, as likely to vary in the category as in nature itself. It's subconscious stereotyping with the politics.
Grouping and analyzing are great. But everything in the world is unique, we just need to remember that when we're analyzing on a "micro"-scale.
Posted by: Chris at November 23, 2005 10:34 AM
I'm a total 5. I'm convinced I'm descended from the night watchmen of the prehistoric tribe. Awake all night, and usually resentful that everyone else gets a good night's sleep. Stupid, lazy cavemen...
Posted by: Michael at November 23, 2005 10:57 AM
My family is the same way, up at dawn's crack. But they were farmers and that's what they do. I remember my dad's cousin saying one time that he'd slept in that day...till 8am. I unfortunately am the same way cuz of being a light sleeper. But I still refuse to get up until 9am even if I have to lay there staring at the ceiling. LOL
Hey have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Mike at November 23, 2005 07:09 PM
Indeed, humans are complicated animals, that often can't be easily categorized into neat little categories or social taxonomies, nor quantified in any absolute way.
Posted by: J. at November 24, 2005 03:32 PM
Oh, I'm most definitely a 6+! I am so NOT a morning person and if I live with anyone who is, they better be happy I won't use a gun on them.
And Mike? "...up at dawn's crack"? Could you make that "Don's crack"? I'm not straight. ::ewg::
Posted by: Lee at November 24, 2005 11:36 PM
Soooo, that's why I'm single! I'm a cursed morning person. Your Dad and I would get along well...
Is he as handsome as you? And where is he on the monogamy scale with your Mother?
Can you imagine?
Cheers,
Posted by: Mr. HK at November 27, 2005 09:06 PM