The Difference Between Bisexuality and Pansexuality

So, today, I was browsing other blogging sites, and I saw a post on a website that's called "things I hate most."

Number 24 is When “pansexuals” freak out when you say “bisexual” to describe them. For those of you who don't want to click the link, here are the points that that OP (original poster) made:

I normally don’t include explanations, but I don’t want to offend anybody, so I’m clarifying. In points.

1. They’re the same thing, really. “Pan” means all, and there are only two sexes, so “pan” in the case of human gender is the same thing as “bi.”

2. There is no “bad thoughts” associated with bisexuality that isn’t associated with pansexuality, but if you claim to be pansexual, you’re more likely to get people thinking you’re out for attention/think you’re cooloer than anybody else.

3. People can misinterpret “pansexual” to mean “all things are sexy to me. Including dogs, soda bottles, and toilets,” which if you really are turned on by everything in the world, that’s cool, but if not, do you really want people thinking that?

4. If you ever look at somebody’s gender as a reason to like them, then you have issues to begin with. If sexuality is truly not a conscious choice, then nobody is going to be like, “You’re sweet and kind and gentle and caring, but you have a penis, so I’m not going to like you.” So basically, there’s nothing about the concept of “it’s the person inside, not the gender” that separates them.

5. If you seriously care about the title, then you’re just insecure to begin with.

6. Nobody cares but you.

7. We don’t say it to be offensive; we do it because THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE.

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Now, I know for a fact that there is a distinct difference between the two, so I wrote and posted a response to this, and since it related to our class, I thought I'd share it. Thoughts and comments are welcome.

1. “They’re the same thing, really.” Okay, so I understand the confusion that many people have with distinguishing pansexuality from bisexuality, but to knowingly equate them is completely unacceptable. First, you make the assumption that there are only two genders, which I know for a fact that there are not. Human gender is a spectrum, ranging from masculine/male to feminine/female, and everything in between. To say that there are only to genders is to deny completely the fact that there are people in between who do not fall into your close-minded gender binary. Now, that being said, if we look at gender as a spectrum, as it is meant to be, then the prefix “pan” means all, which means that they are, in a sense, gender blind. Bisexuality is a sexual attraction to only the two ends of the gender spectrum: masculine/male and feminine/female, not the people in between. Just like heterosexual people are only attracted to one end of the spectrum, bisexuals are only interested in either side of the spectrum, not the spectrum in and of itself.
2. Sexuality is not a fad. No matter what people say, there are stigmas concerning bisexuality, thinking that they “sleep with everyone” and “have no standards,” just to name a few. Even though these stereotypes aren’t true, it doesn’t stop people from thinking it. To address the fact that you think that saying you’re pansexual is attention seeking is like equating someone who says “I’m genderqueer” or “I’m trans” as really saying “I need attention.” In essence, what you’re doing is taking the terms that you don’t really know about, the terms that aren’t a part of the norm, and you’re saying that they need attention because they’re “different.” I’m assuming that you’re heterosexual and therefore have not experienced the panic that comes along with realizing that you’re different. When you realize it, it’s not something that people generally want to broadcast to the world. The people they tell are usually close to them and want people to understand them, not say that they’re being attention seekers. Being different is scary.
3. Do I really want people to think that I’m sexually attracted to toilets? No. Do I really want people to make that assumption? No, of course not. But just because you ask that question doesn’t invalidate the fact that pansexual persons exist. It’s another stigma, much like what stigmas are accompanied with bisexuality. With sexuality, we are usually talking about sexual orientation concerning people and their sexual attraction to other people (I say usually because I know that this is not always the case). In the case of pansexuality, however, I think that it’s important that we dispel the myths that you purport, the ones that claim that we sleep with everything, even inanimate objects. Think about it logically: can someone really have sex with a toilet? Just…just think about that for a minute and tell me logically how that works. I’m offended by the fact that you would equate who I like with having a sexual attraction toward inanimate objects.
4. “If you ever look at somebody’s gender as a reason to like them, then you have issues to begin with. If sexuality is truly not a conscious choice, then nobody is going to be like, “You’re sweet and kind and gentle and caring, but you have a penis, so I’m not going to like you.” So basically, there’s nothing about the concept of “it’s the person inside, not the gender” that separates them.” Time out. There are so many things wrong with this statement. First of all, isn’t one of the concepts of heterosexuality that you only like the person with the opposite genitals than you have? So, doesn’t everybody have issues then? Because sexuality is not truly a conscious choice, there are going to be people (ie lesbians, heterosexual men) who are going to be like “You’re sweet and caring, but you have a penis so I can’t like you because I’m not sexually attracted to you. If people are saying what you’ve just said, then you’re proving the existence of pansexuality, because there is no “I don’t like you because of what’s in your pants and under your shirt.” You’ve basically contradicted yourself here.
5. If I care about the title, then I’m insecure to begin with? Yes. God, yes. I’m so insecure about myself that I wanted to try to create a label that I could fit into, that way I could say “Look, I have a label, too. Don’t leave me out, please. Just because I’m not 100% sure about everything doesn’t mean that I want to be left out. I made a name and everything. Please don’t leave me out.” Your exclusion and referral to pansexuality as something that doesn’t actually exist is the reason that I’m insecure. It puts thoughts in my head that say “Maybe you’re wrong. Maybe you’re not what you thought you were. You don’t really exist. So stupid, for thinking that you belonged.”
6. No, actually. People care. I feel like that’s all I have to say in this case. People care because people are empathetic and sympathetic and because not everyone is stoic and rude and uncaring to other people’s situations. “Nobody cares but you?” Bullshit.
7. So, in conclusion, when you say that pansexual persons are bisexual, it is offensive (it hurts even when people say it on accident). There is a difference. There’s a huge difference, and I hope that you can begin to recognize that people do read the things that you say. People who are like me and know that there’s a difference read this. People who aren’t sure what they believe read what you say, and we don’t need any more people thinking what you think, especially when you’re so completely and utterly wrong. We exist. Look. I’m living proof.