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I think your personal experience actually captures my concern: "Or something like my sister who thought she was bi for a while because I was the only decent rol

I think your personal experience actually captures my concern: "Or something like my sister who thought she was bi for a while because I was the only decent role model she had and I was gay" Kids are very malleable at a young age and they build themselves based on the rolemodels and influences they are exposed to. I take this into consideration when deciding what they can watch. As to your question on do I apply the same concerns to depictions of straight romances, to a point but very much not to the same degree. I am biased in that I would prefer my kids be straight, generally for selfish reasons such as wanting my kids to have kids of their own but also for general reasons such as its just an easier life for a straight kid than a gay one. I am not advocating for gay kids to have harder lives, its just unfortunately the facts on the ground. I don't let my kids watch anything that is openly sexual though, gay or straight. I know the furries question is a throw away but it does raise a point. I think a lot of sexual fetishes (not including homosexuality here) are due to exposure to them via media. No one wakes up and thinks I'm a sexual [insert animal of your choice]. They are exposed to it via media and it sparks a flame [the nurture component]. I try to limit my kids exposure to media that I think could influence them in ways I prefer they not be influenced.

Mezzie 4y ago
That's a very fair approach. One thing I will also note is - and I do mean this in a gentle way - that placing pressure on your child to have children of his own might not just backfire if he's gay. Half of my family is conservative (the other half is progressive) and very Catholic, and my cousin who is infertile has had a terrible time of it. Or if your straight son's wife is infertile. Or if your child ends up disabled and unable to commit to parenting. That may be something you want to work on in the coming decades, partially because if you are a part of conservative leaning communities (like if you're religious) you need to be there for your child if they can't meet those expectations for whatever reason.
- wonderwonder 4y ago
  What you say is a fair caution. I have not openly told my kid that I expect them to have kids, its just an internal hope. The only thing I really pressure them on currently is trying their best at school and whatever sports they choose to play (the what is up to them except I make them take boxing). If they try their best and still don't do well then its on me for not sitting down with them to explain things they were having an issue with or it just is what it is, no blame. As far as conservative leanings, I'm not religious and prior to reaching my current age was actually fairly liberal (but not the crazy kind). I think getting older and having kids has tempered that and given me more of a conservative political bent but hopefully not the crazy kind :)

Mezzie 4y ago

That's a very fair approach. One thing I will also note is - and I do mean this in a gentle way - that placing pressure on your child to have children of his own might not just backfire if he's gay. Half of my family is conservative (the other half is progressive) and very Catholic, and my cousin who is infertile has had a terrible time of it. Or if your straight son's wife is infertile. Or if your child ends up disabled and unable to commit to parenting. That may be something you want to work on in the coming decades, partially because if you are a part of conservative leaning communities (like if you're religious) you need to be there for your child if they can't meet those expectations for whatever reason.

wonderwonder 4y ago
What you say is a fair caution. I have not openly told my kid that I expect them to have kids, its just an internal hope. The only thing I really pressure them on currently is trying their best at school and whatever sports they choose to play (the what is up to them except I make them take boxing). If they try their best and still don't do well then its on me for not sitting down with them to explain things they were having an issue with or it just is what it is, no blame. As far as conservative leanings, I'm not religious and prior to reaching my current age was actually fairly liberal (but not the crazy kind). I think getting older and having kids has tempered that and given me more of a conservative political bent but hopefully not the crazy kind :)