Sexual Orientation: Spectral

[elfs]

Ooh, here's one I haven't heard before. I was reading an article the other day about wild courses taught on college campuses and came across this one: "What are the political ramifications of identifying as gay, lesbian, straight, bi, queer, asexual, spectral, or something else?"

And what the heck is a "spectral sexual orientation?" It is the orientation one chooses when one wishes to be intimidating to straight society, a "threatening spectre feared by the heterosexual mainstream."

I don't know many spectrals anymore-- I'm probably too old-- but it's still a fun label.

Comments

[mouser.livejournal.com]

If it wasn't you posting that...

I suspect that's one of those "So new we just made it up in the bar last night!" things.

I don't imagine that the greeks had a word for that.

[elfs.livejournal.com]

Well, the article came from "Family Security Matters," (tag: "The National Security Resource for America's Families!") which described the phrase as "extremist politically correct language on sexuality."

Oh, what the heck. The whole article is a giggle. (http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/challenges.php?id=1385918)

[mouser.livejournal.com]

OH! It's a "Scare 'em for their vote" site! Gotcha!

(Still looking for *any* reference to "spectral" and sex, though.)

[lisakit.livejournal.com]

Funny? I actually found the article rather offensive and a little scary. Very hostile towards left-wing ideas. But then I should have known better than to read past the opening paragraph:

It’s been two years since I’ve begun investigating insipid, scary and yes, downright dangerous college courses – sometimes funded by tax dollars – and unfortunately, little has changed. Arrogant professors, protected by tenure and faint-hearted administrators, use their classrooms to spread their twisted views of America and its allies. Sometimes, entire courses are focused on anti-American views; other times, professors take time from non-political classes, such as math or Kinesiology, to complain about George Bush, the war on terrorism, social justice, and whatever it is that happens to bother them at the time of their rants. Consequently, students are not being taught properly and universities and colleges are robbing their students of the well-rounded educations they are paying for and deserve.

[elfs.livejournal.com]

Maybe so, but I can't help but giggle at such a straightforward, straight-from-the-fatherland web page which shares a common acronym with the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

[abostick59.livejournal.com]

"A spectre is haunting normality...."

[rarkrarkrark.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking maybe spectral like spectrum, perhaps synonymous with pansexual. But I'm just guessing.

(And hey, saying one is pansexual will get one treated like a spectre in some circles.)

[elfs.livejournal.com]

There's something to be said for goat-legged, hoofed young men...

[rarkrarkrark.livejournal.com]

Young *gods*. :P

[rarkrarkrark.livejournal.com]

BTW, I was sufficiently curious that I emailed the professor who teaches the class for clarification. Based on the rest of the article I'm guessing that the author is engaging in some serious projection, and that it has nothing to do with "spectres" to mainstream heterosexuality.

[rarkrarkrark.livejournal.com]

Got an answer from said professor. I was correct. :)

[mundens.livejournal.com]

There certainly is, but us old satyrs aren't all that bad either! :)

[mundens.livejournal.com]

Yeah I'd agree with your thinking. I suspect it's better to say that sexually, one is broad spectrum.

I really like the concept of doing a "spectral analysis" of a person's sexuality...

[antonia-tiger.livejournal.com]

Well. at my age it can be hard to find the energy.

[mundens.livejournal.com]

That's where vampirism comes in handy!

[jordan179.livejournal.com]

Logically, a "spectral" sexual orientation would be attraction to ghosts. This has actually been done in some horror stories :)

puppephilia?

[solarbird]

Spectrum is Love

Re: puppephilia?

[mouser.livejournal.com]

You win an internet!

yay!

[solarbird]

I always wanted one! However did you know?

Re: puppephilia?

[elfs.livejournal.com]

*Laugh* I hope that didn't take too long to assemble. Grief, that's funny.

[xengar.livejournal.com]

As far as I can tell, "spectral" orientation comes from this paper by Katharina Bunzmann (http://www.gradnet.de/papers/pomo98.papers/kabunzma98.htm). It reminds me of a quote from Through the Looking Glass:

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less."

[hlmt.livejournal.com]

Lee Harrington (lj: passionandsoul) has a spectral cock, according to him. I imagine that it's something along the lines of a pagan religious belief in an alter-ego or pan-ego spanning life, death, and every other state; and that part of the being has its own sexuality.

YMMV.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kyriani.livejournal.com]

LOL... I'm going to have to add this post to memories so I remember that. Awesome word. :D
I do wish they had added genderqueer, though its a mashup of queer and asexual I suppose. ^__^

[rarkrarkrark.livejournal.com]

Genderqueer is a gender identity. The class is on sexual orientation. Two different things.