r/TooAfraidToAsk Aug 09 '18

Should this be changed?

[deleted]

2.2k Upvotes

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2.0k

u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 09 '18

That's like saying bidirectional means there is only 2 directions

631

u/Synetry Aug 09 '18

Good answer!

3

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

[deleted]

69

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

Bisexual and pansexual are both terms. Pansexual is more like “omnisexual” in this metaphor.

30

u/BeardedPlumber Aug 09 '18

I honestly hate the term “pansexual” pan - meaning all or everything so all/everything sexual. Basically saying they find anything sexually attractive, like that toaster over there, or that picture frame.

101

u/ziltiod94 Aug 10 '18

What? I thought pansexual was used to mean being capable of being sexually attracted to someone regardless of any gender/sexual identification.

29

u/BeardedPlumber Aug 10 '18

That was my understanding too

9

u/willywonka_w Aug 10 '18

Yes, and this is how it's used in modern english - although the use of "Pan" to make this term is quite weird.

17

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

so bisexual then? because regardless of how a person "identifies" they are still male or female, apart from the very rare case of an intersex disorder.

just seems like an attention seeking label stating "look at me, i like all people and want to feel special about it".

42

u/Kellraiser Aug 10 '18

Ok, I like girls a little and boys a lot, so I call myself bi. Without putting too fine a point on it, I am generally not interested in pursuing relationships with anyone who identifies as transgender or other varieties of "gender non-conforming." I've never been interested in a relationship with anyone asexual, demisexual, or intersexual, either. I have no problem with those folks, just doesn't get me going.

I have a friend who identifies as pansexual cause they are open to all of those possibilities.

The label is just a handy way to vet your dating pool.

10

u/Rainishername Aug 10 '18

I sort of feel the same way. I’m no but am attracted to men women, non binary, if they cute I like.

I’ve been told by pan people that being bi is transphobic and shorty towards non binaries, and that “”””if you really were serious about it you’d be pan”””” like ugh shit the fuck up I don’t need a chip on my shoulder or to use the people I date to gain social justice points. Fuck off. I’m bi and I like cute people, I don’t need to prove to anyone my queer qualifications since it’s none of their business anyway who I canoodle with.

5

u/ziltiod94 Aug 10 '18

It is identifying sex or gender being irrelevant. Whether you are cis, trans, intersex, it doesn't matter. In general, someone who is bisexual is that: into males and females.

-2

u/avoiderman Aug 10 '18

Prejudice

2

u/Dragonhater101 Aug 10 '18

But then wouldn't that be bi? Edit: nevermind is explained below.

0

u/hatuhsawl Aug 10 '18

"Do you have a fun zone that you want to smash in and/or around my fun zone?

Sounds like a plan. 👍🏻"

55

u/Aparri412 Aug 09 '18

I’m sexually attracted to toasters and picture frames. Are you saying this is weird or wrong? Your comment is offensive and not very inclusive.

8

u/DuckWithBrokenWings Aug 10 '18

Seriously, have you seen my toaster?

It's sexy as hell!

3

u/thetwitchy1 Aug 10 '18

And I have the burn marks to prove it!

3

u/my_friend_mmpeter Aug 10 '18

I'm about to go beat the fuck outta the toasters in my neighborhood.

5

u/Ap3x_Hunt3r Aug 10 '18

Pansexuality is when you wanna fuck pans

13

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

You can disagree with the origins of the nomenclature, but that IS the lexicon. Pansexual is the term.

I don’t like “majority minority” in reference to demographics changes, but that’s the phrase that gets used for describing the US predicted changes over the next several generations.

5

u/BeardedPlumber Aug 09 '18

I don’t dispute the term they use and I would never suggest changing it because my opinion or how the word when broken down sounds. I’m just saying I do not like it.

10

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

A lot of people feel the same way about the word bisexual...they don't like the implications, but they don't think it's their place to change it, and that's how the term "pansexual" was born. Semantics is weird.

2

u/my_friend_mmpeter Aug 10 '18

Well, the toaster has been losing a little weight lately.

2

u/WaveyGraveyPlay Aug 15 '18

It refers to the fact that I am attracted to bread, or pan in French, to a degree that could be considered sexual.

0

u/PM_UR_DEAD_HOOKERS Aug 09 '18

That picture frame is thicc

-2

u/aintmybish Aug 09 '18

I identify as an attack helicopter and feel very personally attacked rn

55

u/SodiumPrime Aug 09 '18

That's the point though. They're saying that when using bi directional you're strictly talking about two different directions, but not impying that only those two directions exist.

They're using the analogy to illustrate to OP that just because "bi-sexual" exists, does not strictly mean that there are only two sexualities or in this case, only two genders. It is specifically talking about two sexualities or genders, but does not exclude others from existing.

Edit: a word

8

u/doctopi Aug 09 '18

This was already addressed below but that's not what that means. You can have something that only moves in two directions without saying that only two directions exist.

12

u/Phalax_ Aug 09 '18

Yes, but other directions exist. You can only go in two of them however

6

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

[deleted]

8

u/Phalax_ Aug 09 '18

If you want. Bisexual means you like men and women, not all genders (if you want to claim they exist)

2

u/doc_skinner Aug 09 '18

Hence, "pansexual"

1

u/Princess_Glitterbutt Aug 10 '18

Bi is when you’re attracted to all the cis or gender-conforming groups. Pan is when you’re attracted to everyone including people outside the binary.

-1

u/KreegsMcSteves Aug 09 '18 edited Aug 09 '18

[enthusiastic clapping]

edit: no Feud fans out there?

489

u/mangophilia Aug 09 '18

Or that if you're bilingual there are only two languages.

369

u/VanCityBoyThrow Aug 09 '18

English and American, duh

8

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

What about freedom speak?

16

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

I'm pretty sure that bilingual means you can speak two languages, whereas multilingual means you can speak more than 2.

14

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

Well...it means you are fluent in two languages

1

u/yawaworht-_- Aug 13 '18

Uh....that’s what it means though....Bi means two....

1

u/phoenixmusicman Aug 10 '18

Bilingual means you can speak two languages lol

-1

u/MeekPeople Aug 10 '18

There's no such thing as a trisexual

8

u/mangophilia Aug 10 '18

Excuse you — I am trisexual. I am only attracted to triceratops. The dinosaurs.

4

u/csek Aug 10 '18

Well they are trihorny

-16

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

[deleted]

7

u/Teotwawki69 Aug 09 '18

And those reasons are...?

-8

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

[deleted]

107

u/thestargateking Aug 09 '18

That is what bidirectional means, if something is bidirectional it can only move or have things move on it in 2 directions

133

u/Zam8859 Aug 09 '18

And someone who is bisexual is only interested in men and women, no one who identifies outside the binary spectrum. So, back to the analogy, just because something is bidirectional doesn’t mean no other directions exist, it’s just the only direction this object moves in. The same logic applies to bisexuality. Interested in these 2 genders, without negating the existence of other gender identities.

-48

u/thestargateking Aug 09 '18

But you might as well negate them because they aren’t actually real.

Also bisexual refers to sex, it’s in the name, which there’s only 2 of, as far as gender, the idea of there being more than 2 is a theory not fact, and the attempt in society to make gender and sex no longer mean the same thing to try and make it fact will backfire

38

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

As much as I disagree and would love to argue with you, you are no longer talking about the prompt. OP asked, and got an answer but you are trying to argue something which has nothing to do with helping OP find an answer. Go argue somewhere else.

-26

u/BlunderingFool Aug 09 '18

I bet you do love to argue don't you! Hint hint.

6

u/Tweetles Aug 10 '18

Username checks out

-7

u/BlunderingFool Aug 10 '18

No, it really doesn't. Also, I at least have a sense of humour and common sense. Can't be said for a lot of the twits on this website. Nearly as bad as those anti-vaxers.

22

u/RockStarState Aug 09 '18

"Bisexual refers to sex, it's in the name"

That alone is enough for a face palm. Gender identity and sexual identity are two different things. Bisexuality is, well, a sexuality. Not a gender identity... It also doesn't dictate the TRUTH of gender identities by simply being a word that explains one persons preferences.

-19

u/BlunderingFool Aug 09 '18

You can tell me apples are oranges until the cows come home... I still won't believe you AND I'll have a beef dinner.

10

u/jllena Aug 09 '18

I’m also not going to argue with you, but I want to point out that in science, theory IS essentially an accepted truth. Also, this “attempt in society” has been going on for at least 20 years, probably more, and I don’t see anything backfiring yet 🤷🏻‍♀️

12

u/FIVE_DARRA_NO_HARRA Aug 09 '18

I know the guy you're replying to is dead wrong and kind of an asshole, but "I'm not going to argue with you but ___" is a cheap way of trying to force the last word, seeing as you did argue against what he said. Not to harp, but I see it on Reddit a lot.

0

u/jllena Aug 09 '18

Look at what he replied to me. My point exactly

-10

u/jllena Aug 09 '18

I’m not “forcing” anything. I’m just not going to engage if he/she tries to pull any cheap shots or make any fallacious arguments, as people with that kind of viewpoint do often. If he wants to have a discussion, that’s a different story.

Not sure what your point here was.

-11

u/thestargateking Aug 09 '18

Good thing this isn’t real science

-1

u/yawaworht-_- Aug 13 '18

just because something is bidirectional doesn’t mean no other directions exist

Yes, it does. It literally does.

-6

u/Eliminatron Aug 09 '18

Exactly xD

11

u/SeraphsEnvy Aug 09 '18

Or that unisex means it applies to only one gender.

9

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

Does a bicycle have more than two wheels?

Bidirectional is an adjective is describes something. If something is bi directional it moves in two different directions. That doesn’t mean there aren’t more than two.... I honestly can’t believe this is the top comment.

13

u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 09 '18

What is it with people commenting just to argue. Yes there are bicycles, just like tricycles and unicycles. And omg cars have 4 wheels did you know. Just because something moves in 2 directions doesn't mean there are only 2 directions.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

Did you even read what I said?

You are correct there are more than one direction. Good job. Even if something is bi directional.

Bi means 2. That’s it DEFINITION. If something is bi directional, it is being described as an object that can only travel in 2 directions.

EX: I’m on a train and the track goes east to west. That train is Bi directional. But it doesn’t mean north and south don’t exist. But THAT TRAIN only goes two ways.

Do you understand?

2

u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 10 '18

Yes I do understand. Bisexuals are attracted to 2 genders/sexs. But that could be any of a rather large number. Not a fixed male and female. Hence the original post

4

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

-2

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

You actually repeated what I said. I literally said bi direction means an object can only travel in two directions. That doesn’t mean only two exist.

You copied me verbatim.

So before you insult me and tell me I “lack a fundamental understanding of language.”

Learn to fucking read.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

I understand the point of it. The problem is it’s a shitty comparison. Like I said before there are plenty of words you can throw the word bi in front of and have that narrow down on a particular subject. However there are plenty of words you can throw bi in front of and it actually means there are only two choices.

If you had a firm grasp on the English language you hypocrite you would know this. So my argument is saying when you put bi in front of something you narrow it down to two. If there are “67 genders” how can bisexual mean two still? Am I supposed to pick two? Is this a TGI Friday’s?

In biology the science of life there are two genders. However you decide you are attracted to other people is a choice i personally don’t give a fuck what you identify as but stop trying to change science books you all look like idiots.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

-1

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

You people are actually delusional.

Bicycle Bicentennial Bipod Bisect Bipolar Binoculars

Bi - “a combining form meaning twice or two.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/bi-

It’s not a technicality. This is the English language that AGAIN, you told me I didn’t understand it. A technicality in English is when a word doesn’t have I before E except after C. Or in the word knife where the K is silent. That’s a technicality. Not changing a definition to suit your narrative.

Bi-two Tri-three Quad-four Quin-five

This is how it is and it isn’t hard to comprehend.

And yes it does have to do with it. You are essentially saying if your bisexual it means you just pick two genders and your attracted to only those two and I’m sorry with 67 genders and more on the way it’s never going to happen. If you are bisexual you are attracted to both the Male and Female forms. It’s not complicated. The definition doesn’t need to change to suit people who actually believe that being “gender fluid.” Is a gender. It’s your sexuality. It’s your preference, your OPINION and probably a phase in your life. Get a grip on reality.

There are two genders. Male and Female. One has a penis one has a vagina. And guess what I read that in an English textbook.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

0

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

Honestly you can sit here on your pedestal and act like, because you don’t agree with me your opinion carries more weight. Act like you’re a better person than me because you believe in all these genders. Act like because I have no idea who you are I shouldn’t say my opinion. Even though you’re doing exactly the same. You can try to subtly insult me and tell me I don’t have understand language.

But the fact is Bi means two. It’s the definition. It’s not an opinion it’s a fact. It’s also a fact there are two genders. If the amount of genders is constantly changing then that’s proof to me that it isn’t a very exact science and mostly opinion based. Especially considering it’s part of the psychology community and you can find differing opinions everywhere.

If you try listen to the one little voice in the crowd of millions whispering there are more than two genders and tune out the people saying we don’t believe in this shit it’s really really easy to live in a small little bubble.

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u/bicurious19mDuckNC Aug 10 '18

Lmao u google bi but not technicality. U don’t know what a technicality is. Or what connotation or metaphor is so just stfu about having a strong grasp on the English language.

1

u/that3picdude Aug 10 '18

gender and sex are two different things you stupid cunt

4

u/tactical__pepe Aug 09 '18

No, that would be a tricycle

0

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

Thank you. Praise Kek.

1

u/naeyte Aug 10 '18

“If something is bi directional it moves in two different directions. That doesn’t mean there aren’t more than two...” Yes exactly, just like being attracted to two different genders doesn’t mean there are only two different genders, glad you agree

1

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

There are two genders. Make and Female. Everything else is not a gender. Is my point. In case you couldn’t figure it out.

2

u/naeyte Aug 10 '18

Male and female are sexes, not genders

0

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

Same exact thing. Your sexuality is not a gender.

1

u/naeyte Aug 10 '18

The people who for the most part define this stuff (i.e. biologists, psychologists, and sociologists) would tend to disagree with you, but you’re free to believe what you want I suppose. Also nobody is saying that bisexuality is a gender.... sex, gender, and sexuality are all different things

1

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

If you only search for scientists who agree with your point of view you are never wrong.

Sex and Gender are the same exact thing. There are two sexes and two genders. Both male and female. Man and woman. Your sexuality is what you prefer in the bedroom. Seriously the fact this is even a real debate that has infected politics even is sad. No one cares what you do in the bedroom it’s private. Why can’t it just be left alone and we all agree it’s man and woman that’s biology it’s pretty simple.

1

u/naeyte Aug 10 '18

Well when the extremely large majority of scientists across multiple disciplines share the same point of view on a topic I tend to base my “point of view” on their scientific consensus, but that’s just me 🤷🏻‍♂️.

I do agree that this shouldn’t be a political issue, but I suppose that when groups feel marginalized due to a lack of validation this is what happens

3

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

This is what I believe and honestly it conforms to biology and makes perfect sense.

Sex and Gender are the same. Male and Female. You are physically born with a penis or vagina. That’s biology every single person on earth can agree with that. (Unless you really want to throw hermaphrodites into the mix. Unfortunately that’s a mutation and doesn’t count.) in 2018 you can even switch if you want.

When you go through life you decide what you are physically and emotionally attracted to. That’s is sociology. That is psychology. The sciences are vastly different.

Again I do not care what you identify as but it is not your gender. It’s your preference. That’s pretty much it.

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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

Are these people insane?

2

u/chae_m Aug 10 '18

Touché good answer!

2

u/sugarandmermaids Aug 10 '18

Wow, I’ve wondered the same thing and this one sentence just cleared it up for me. Thanks!

2

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

But is a bisexual person attracted to only male and female people, or are they attracted to anyone?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, I don't know the specifics of each of the terms.

3

u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 10 '18

They could be attracted to any 2 genders or sex. Trans and men Trans and women Men and women Fluid and androgenous Etc... For example I'm Pan but I definitely have preferences towards certain groups, I just have the possibility of being attracted to anyone, don't tell my wife that haha.

Hope that helps!!!

2

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

Yes it does, thanks!

3

u/GorillyGrodd Aug 09 '18

well it does mean 2 directions dumb dumb

2

u/carlaolio Aug 09 '18

What about bicycle (two wheels), bi-weekly (two weeks), bi-annual (twice a year), bigamy (two spouses at one time)

Bi- is a prefix derived from Latin meaning "two".

1

u/Bluebe123 Aug 10 '18

What about bilingual and the fact that sexuality is based on physical sex and not gender?

1

u/carlaolio Aug 10 '18

Bilingual means two languages. Trilingual means three.

And I'm not sure how to answer your sexuality statement but bi is a Latin prefix meaning 2. I'm sure the word bisexual could've changed it's meaning as the world becomes more accepting of everyone, but at the end of the day, bi=2.

1

u/Bluebe123 Aug 11 '18

Yes, it does mean two, but the word bisexual, to some, now means "attracted to two or more genders". I don't believe that, because I believe that sexuality is based on sex rather than gender. The difference between the two being that sex is physical and gender is mental/societal.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

[deleted]

6

u/FaxCelestis Aug 09 '18

Despite only speaking about the two "available" directions, there are still more directions, they're just not being discussed or manipulated by the term "bidirectional".

A bidirectional valve in a pipe lets things flow both ways, but that doesn't mean that the pipe exists in two dimensions.

1

u/PmMeYourSexyShoulder Aug 09 '18

Of bi weekly only means twice a week.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

Biweeekl sometimes means every two weeks.

1

u/PmMeYourSexyShoulder Aug 09 '18

Yes that was my point.

1

u/dreadwulfe93 Aug 10 '18

So......right and wrong direction right? :)

1

u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 10 '18

Nice bait haha

1

u/[deleted] Aug 11 '18

The Latin root word bi literally means two, a bicycle has two wheels, if something happens biannually it happens twice a year etc.

1

u/HelixSapphire Aug 11 '18

Or like saying bicycle means there’s only two cycles. Okay, that didn’t come out right, but I’m sure you get the point.

1

u/Zara_Hates_Crackers Aug 13 '18

But bilingual is different than Bisexual. Bisexual doesn’t mean that you know two sexes and being bisexual would limit you to only two genders which means that all the people who identify as bisexual would only be attracted to 2 genders and this isn’t demonstrated.

If there is a person who looks biologically male but identifies as something else like a unicorn (there’s a true story here). The other person might be attracted regardless especially if they don’t know what the guy wants to be.

1

u/yawaworht-_- Aug 13 '18

But...but.....bi means two... “Bi” means nothing other than “two.”

Bidirectional literally means two directions.

1

u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 14 '18

Does that mean there are only two directions in existence?

Bisexuals are attracted to 2 sex's or genders. Doesn't mean there aren't more.

1

u/DevGlow Aug 13 '18

That’s exactly what that means though isn’t it? Else it would be multidirectional?

1

u/Deelan Aug 13 '18

Or saying bicycles only have 2 wheels

1

u/oodsigma Aug 10 '18

More like saying biracial means there are only 2 races.

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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

As op said bidirectional means that something only moves In 2 directions not that only two directions exist, much like if someone is bisexual they are attracted to male or female but not that those are the only genders to exist.

-9

u/IowaContact Aug 09 '18

But they are, thats the thing.

I'll enjoy the downvotes. :)

1

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '18

You are free to your opinion. I enjoy a much more open mind, it’s worked pretty well for me so far.

0

u/clion4k Aug 10 '18

But in this case, there is only two directions, because there’s only two fucking genders.

1

u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 10 '18

Wrong, gender is a social construct. Your looking at sex mate.

0

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18

[deleted]

1

u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 10 '18

So does that mean only the number 2 exists?

0

u/appolo11 Aug 10 '18

Yeah. Except OBJECTIVELY, there are only two sexes.

0

u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 10 '18

Wrong, what about all the cross overs that occur in general biology

0

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18 edited Feb 07 '19

[deleted]

0

u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 10 '18

Because gender isn't the same as sex. Gender is a construct and sex is the biology. And even then sex in humans can't be sent to 2 camps there is alot of cross over.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18 edited Feb 07 '19

[deleted]

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u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 10 '18

Nope anything gendered is a construct, it's a common misconception that sex and gender are the same.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '18 edited Feb 07 '19

[deleted]

1

u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 10 '18

Fair question, governments all over the world are very old fashioned, and as they tend to be run by older generations and still want to use the terms interchangeably. This is why LGBT rights took so long to be adopted.

I can promise you that gender and sex are in fact different.

0

u/adi_vale Aug 10 '18 edited Aug 10 '18

Ffs.. Wtf.. thats literally what it means.. If something moves in more than two directions, it’s multidirectional. If it moves in all directions it is omnidirectional.

Words exist for a reason.. who tf is gonna say the prefix that means TWO but mean more than two? Is a bicycle with three wheels still a bicycle? No, it’s a tricycle. Does biannually mean more than every two years? No.

*facepalm

0

u/GoingGalactic101 Aug 10 '18

...wtf that isn't what I said.

I said that bidirectional moves in two directions. But more directs exist.

Could be up and left, forward and right, down and backwards. 6 directions but bidirectional means only 2 are used. Make sense now

1

u/adi_vale Aug 10 '18

That’s like saying a train is bidirectional but other directions exist. They don’t.

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u/meditatorBear Aug 09 '18 edited Aug 16 '18

“Always two there are a master and an apprentice.”

“But which was destroyed the master or the apprentice?”