Now this is hilariously stupid. the Daily Telegraph, often a respected newspaper in the UK, has published a report based on scientific findings (COUGH) that suggests you can tell whether someone is gay by looking at their Facebook 'friends'. Apparently, the higher per centage of your followers are gay, the more likely you are to be gay yourself.

So hold on, this research is now saying I can't associate with homosexual men without everybody jumping to scientifically-evidenced conclusions? I'm not persuaded by this. I haven't actually audited the male/female balance of my online contacts but I can assure you I'd remain male regardless of the outcome of any such check; I don't honestly think the sexuality of my contacts would have any bearing on my own either. Come to think of it, unless I've actually met them with a partner I don't think I actually know the sexuality of many of my contacts. I'm an unfriendly git like that, what can I tell you?

The other thing that bothers me about this new research is that it works only on gay men. Lesbians and bisexuals, sorry and all that, but apparently you're undetectable by your Facebook pals, it's only gay men who stand out. Which, to me, makes the whole exercise a little bit value-less.

In fact I'm straining my brain more than a little trying to work out why I'd need to know a contact's sexuality in the first place...

Tags: facebook, gay