Stupidity is genetic: Apolyton Eugenics

[Rogan Josh]

Originally posted by Ming


I don't care if you are kidding... one more crack like that and you are toast.

'kidding'???!!! I'm not f****** 'kidding', you dip****! That's the whole point! Selective breeding/genetic engineering is evil no matter whether you are breeding out big noses, low grades, or crap moderator skills.

So go suck on your toast

[Ben Kenobi]

The benefits that my kids might gain by being blind, asthmatic, and crazy are far outweighed by the harm done to them by said disorders.

So what do we do with those who are not our children, but who are already blind, asthmatic and crazy? Are they not persons as well?

Where do we stop, Loinburger?

Height is an advantage, tall people tend to get better jobs. Should we then pay for height modifications?

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by obiwan18

Height is an advantage, tall people tend to get better jobs. Should we then pay for height modifications?

Just stick your kids on a rack.

[Az]

Obiwan: There are tens of deseases for which there is a genetical cause, and therefore could be treated genetically. If we find a cure to all those deseases, as well as enhancing various human abilities, we'll be able to afford it without any problem.

I think that this would be easily available in the 1st world, provided that those genes for encreased mental capacity will actually be a scientific fact. And if this gene would be able to be inserted retrovirally, I think that there should be no problem to mass produce it.

I agree with you there is a very big concern that 3rd world countries will be left out, but:
1) I think that we will have the moral concience to do it, and it wouldn't be based on racial discrimination, because the rich countries include all ethnicities.
2) Then, the moral problem would be the lack of the fair distribution of the treatment, not the treatment itself. One of the cures we'll be able to genetically tailor would be many types of cancer, which attack all people. A different example, showing the nature of the problem: now, there is an anti-AIDS drug, which is not perfect, but lets people live relatively long, and better lives. This drug doesn't reach the poorer countries, esp. in Africa, a fact that is terrible to me. But what is wrong here? the invention of the drug, or the fact that it doesn't reach everone?

What can be changed?
-Lots of genetic/hereditary deseases and conditions, the ones that harm a person's ability to function, will be cured.
-Cancer treatment.
-bigger longevity.
-enhanced physical abilities.
- If, indeed we could create more attractive people, I am all for it, Though I don't think we'll be able to find a formula for striking beauty.
- people with bigger creativity, larger mental capabilities. ( I don't think that this exist, but IF Watson is right, I don't think that this would be wrong )

[loinburger]

Originally posted by DuncanK
Sure, but this is different from trying to engineer super humans.

Not by much. There's not a very big difference between making my kids "not crazy" and making them "not stupid."

Originally posted by obiwan18
So what do we do with those who are not our children, but who are already blind, asthmatic and crazy? Are they not persons as well?

Of course they're people -- I certainly wouldn't be taking the stance that I'm not a person, now would I? I'm a person, but I'm a person with a multitude of genetic defects, and I'd sure be a lot happier if I were a person without said defects. If I were given the option to have kids without saddling them with the same defects, then you'd better believe that I'd jump at the chance. IMO it would be cruel of me not to do so.

Where do we stop, Loinburger?

:shrugs: I dunno. I'd personally draw the line where "removal of severe defects" changes to "superficial changes with no non-aesthetic value." That's still an awfully fuzzy line, though.

[C0ckney]

it's playing god, pure and simple. not something we should mess with.

[monkspider]

I agree with you Az.

[Az]

Why is it obvious?

I doubt genetic manipulation would be cheap, and I doubt many would want it to be nationally provided - I know of no society that provide free cosmetic surgery.

It save much more money in the long run, by saving on healthcare costs, later on.

'kidding'???!!! I'm not f****** 'kidding', you dip****! That's the whole point! Selective breeding is evil no matter whether you are breeding out big noses, low grades, or crap moderator skills.

who talks about selective breeding?

So what do we do with those who are not our children, but who are already blind, asthmatic and crazy? Are they not persons as well?

There are persons as well, and We'll do what we'll be able to help them, as we already do to sick and disabled people. Why should future generations suffer, though?

Where do we stop, Loinburger?

All things that bring harm to the individual will be cured. What's wrong with that?

[loinburger]

Originally posted by Rogan Josh
Selective breeding is evil no matter whether you are breeding out big noses, low grades, or crap moderator skills.

I suppose it is awfully cruel for me to want to alleviate the suffering of my kids by ensuring that they're not saddled with the same defects as me... :shrugs: Evil is as evil does, I suppose.

[Az]

it's playing god, pure and simple. not something we should mess with.

We've been playing god since the beginning of history. It's what allowed us to become the most dominant species on the planet, with the largest biomass, as well.

[Rogan Josh]

Originally posted by loinburger


I suppose it is awfully cruel for me to want to alleviate the suffering of my kids by ensuring that they're not saddled with the same defects as me... :shrugs: Evil is as evil does, I suppose.

So if there are genes which you would prevent from being passed on, are there also people who you would prevent from passing on their genes?

[C0ckney]

how so?

we've been exploiting the enviroment and attempting to compensate for our defects (glasses for the short-sighted to give but one example), but that is a world away from eugenics.

[loinburger]

Originally posted by Rogan Josh
So if there are genes which you would prevent from being passed on, are there also people who you would prevent from passing on their genes?

Nope. Note my use of the word "option" in my first post.

[Az]

So if there are genes which you would prevent from being passed on, are there also people who you would prevent from passing on their genes?

Noone's saying that people should be stopped from reproducing, RJ.

[Gatekeeper]

The only genetic engineering I would put up with is that which leads to the end of genetic-based diseases. Yeah, maybe you can call it playing God, but I think God gave us brains in order to use them. If we eventually earn the knowledge to end genetic-rooted diseases, so much the better.

Gatekeeper