[Scienceisgood]

Hey guys;

I was just thinking, but, you know some people say they have a built in "Gaydar" allowing them to identify a person's sexual orientation. Do you believe this to be true or just people's perception that a homosexual individual fits into a distinct catagory such as stereortypical looks/acts?

So, in short;

Does a "Gaydar" exist?

[Intriguing Alias]

I think so. Sometimes you can just tell that someone's gay or will be gay. Once had a conversation at school talking about who we think is gay that isn't obvious, and little mannerisms can sometimes give it off. Obviously for many gay people it'll be pretty impossible to tell.

[buildalegohouse]

Oh god yes.
I'm a straight girl, and I can tell usually within a few minutes of meeting someone if they're gay.
But i'm definitely not labeling gay people as one type of person, everyone is different. Its easier to tell if some people are, and others, it can be a little more difficult.

[Triq6]

I'm straight and my gaydar goes off when the person tells me he's gay.

100% accuracy

[jerichi]

I think that our 'gaydar' activates itself based on stereotypes. We do have one of sorts but it's the same as I guess a 'hottiedar'? If that makes sense...lol! But if a person walks past us and they 'act gay' then we believe that they are and our judgement bases itself on what we perceive gay people to be and how we presume they act. So stereotype basically. It's true at times and totally inaccurate on other occasions

[cambio wechsel]

I'm straight and my "gaydar" sometimes takes some time to warm up. The other day for example the bloke I woke up with prepared an elaborate breakfast, pancakes and syrup, with freshly squeezed juice selection and proper cloth napkins. At that point my spider-sense was set a-tingling, yes. That and my bum.

[Esiuol]

It really depends what you mean by "gaydar". People who say they have gaydar are often just saying that they're observant and pick up on certain stereotypical traits that others miss. If someone doesn't fit the stereotypes or isn't "acting gay" then their gaydar is useless.

I went to a restaurant with my parents a few months ago, and I mentioned as we went back to the car that the guys on the table next to us were so out on a date. My parents were totally bemused as to how I could know that, but to me it was obvious. We were waiting for my mum to finish on the loo so we could leave and I noticed they were leaning in and gazing into each others eyes, and that when one moved his glass, the other mirrored it. It was just really couple-y body language. No mystical gaydar, just good observation.

And just as a side-note, "not-straight" doesn't always equate to "gay". You might see two guys holding hands but they could just as easily be bisexual as gay. Not to mention that there's plenty of people who fit gay stereotypes who are totally heterosexual.

[llys]

You might be able to tell whether someone acts more flirty / sexually charged towards women or men (verbally or just body language). Of course sometimes that would be obvious but even when it is very slight I think someone who is very observant might be able to pick it up.

[Tahooper]

(Original post by Triq6)
I'm straight and my gaydar goes off when the person tells me he's gay.

100% accuracy

What if they were lying?

[kopite493]

well there was 2 lads in my ear everyone thought where gay back in school they have both come out in the last 2 years

some people its just obvious

if the answer to one of the following is yes they are probably gay

1.talks in a high pitch voice (which lets be honest is forced we all went through puberty we all know that it just doesnt stay that high afterwards heck mine wasn't that high before)
2. they wear really tight jeans known as 'skinny jeans'
3. they are under 40 and dye their hair
4. they have a single ear pierced usually the left

[najinaji]

No.

[Gales]

I think so, I'm gay and I can certainly tell who else is gay. You can just sense it

[Huskaris]

Gaydar is pretty much nonsense.
If you mean you can tell someone who is SO stereotypically is gay, well done.
Just to clarify I mean like... Graham Norton x 100. The ones that feel a massive need to let the whole world know they are gay.

A lot of men however are not obviously gay, they are impossible to spot, no matter how good your "Gaydar" is. Some of them don't even know they are gay!

[saachi]

I think so, I can usually tell when people are gay, and most of them don't fit into stereotypes and can't be identified as gay by many straight people. It's a gay thing, I suppose, sort of like an extra sense? Obviously there's no 100% fail- proof accuracy rate. Obviously there are people I think are gay but turn out to be bisexual or straight, and vice versa. But most of the time, there's just that intuitive feeling...

[jerichi]

(Original post by kopite493)
well there was 2 lads in my ear everyone thought where gay back in school they have both come out in the last 2 years

some people its just obvious

if the answer to one of the following is yes they are probably gay

1.talks in a high pitch voice (which lets be honest is forced we all went through puberty we all know that it just doesnt stay that high afterwards heck mine wasn't that high before)
2. they wear really tight jeans known as 'skinny jeans'
3. they are under 40 and dye their hair
4. they have a single ear pierced usually the left

That's a stereotype gay person. You're so called 'gaydar' recognises stereotype so is it really a 'gaydar'? I know people who act like that just for the attention and the kick of 'scaring' straight guys afraid of their own sexuality.

[cognito_08]

This was just discussed!
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...659&p=37610275

[Origami Bullets]

Mine has a tendency to backfire somewhat - I think gay people are straight and straight people are gay!

[Scienceisgood]

(Original post by cognito_08)
This was just discussed!
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...659&p=37610275

I know. But, I just want to know from a wider audience. Last time I make this thread. Promise.

[jerichi]

(Original post by Huskaris)
Gaydar is pretty much nonsense.
If you mean you can tell someone who is SO stereotypically is gay, well done.
Just to clarify I mean like... Graham Norton x 100. The ones that feel a massive need to let the whole world know they are gay.

A lot of men however are not obviously gay, they are impossible to spot, no matter how good your "Gaydar" is. Some of them don't even know they are gay!

I actually agree with that. It would be very hard to figure out who is gay most of the time cause most people don't dress or act based on their sexuality. It's like a straight person dressing and acting 'straight'. There is really no such thing cause your sexual preferences don't (or rather shouldn't) define who you are as a person and influence your behaviour.
It is easy to spot in some people but most of the time you'd never tell!

[I'mBadAtMaths]

(Original post by buildalegohouse)
Oh god yes.
I'm a straight girl, and I can tell usually within a few minutes of meeting someone if they're gay.
But i'm definitely not labeling gay people as one type of person, everyone is different. Its easier to tell if some people are, and others, it can be a little more difficult.

Are you attractive?