Would you genetically engineer your future child?

[Kuciwalker]

The world today

[General Ludd]

The Romans where proud, too.

[Kuciwalker]

They had every right to be.

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by _BuRjaCi_
Btw, if poly has a communist party, why not a transhumanist association? Just a thought.

Indeed both sound equally like promising paradise on earth

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Az
but hell, even if it would ensure good things, why on earth wouldn't we allow it? just because it gave an "unfair" advantage?

Even democracies do that when they think the impact is serious enough. The disagreement here seems to be if this is indeed such a case or not.

[Az]

it's a non-issue, really, since with payoffs in terms of lowering healthcare expenses being so immense, it'll be basically be an option for every parent, for free.

The only thing we have to prevent is accidental pregnancies being demoted to second class citizens ( yes, yes, aka Gattaca ) I think it's very much doable, seeing as it's not like genetically enhanced humans will take over all of a sudden. I think that a scenario of a coalition of luddites and insecure bastards ( but I am repeating myself ) harassing the first humans enhanced is much more probable.

[Edan]

Originally sung by Jonathan Coulton

I guess I was skeptical when I first met Dr. Martin
He said we could build a baby out of DNA
And although it was expensive it was legal in the states where it wasn’t banned
It was Betty who suggested that we skip the parts of me that she can’t stand

So we made an appointment and Betty went alone
They worked out the details and then called me on the phone
To say congratulations Dad

Now things are getting better for Betty and me
We’re making us a baby that’s just like me only better
And Betty says he’ll be taller
And Betty says he’ll be smarter
And Betty says that our baby will be better than me

Betty was pretty firm about our baby being human
I said we should give him wings and nice prehensile tail
He could travel with the circus making money, making friends with clowns
Betty said that’s stupid and for God’s sake would you turn that TV down?

Now I’ve seen Betty happy, but she’s never been like this
She glows like someone’s girlfriend in the middle of a kiss
And I’m excited too

Cause things are getting better for Betty and me
We’re making us a baby that’s just like me only better
And Betty says he’ll be taller
And Betty says he’ll be smarter
And Betty says that our baby will be better than me

And the love inside me thunders like a storm
And I hope the tube they keep him in is comfortable and warm
I hope the nutritive solution that they’re feeding him doesn’t make him fat

Betty’s been spending lots of time out late with Dr. Martin
She says that they’re working on the baby every night
And Dr. Martin brings her presents like new underwear and a bottle of wine
I’ll just keep on writing checks until the day that baby is mine

He might have my moustache or my freckles or my eyes
Betty says it’s better if we keep it a surprise
I hope I find out soon

Cause things are getting better for Betty and me
We’re making us a baby that’s just like me only better
And Betty says he’ll be taller
And Betty says he’ll be smarter
And Betty says that our baby will be better than
Baby will be better than
Baby will be better than me

[DaShi]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
The world today

The world in the past 6000 years

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
They had every right to be.

Sure, but it didn't do them any good.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by General Ludd


Sure, but it didn't do them any good.

If by "didn't do them any good" you mean "allowed them to be a superpower for centuries, and enjoy the resulting wealth and power," then I guess you're right.

[Perfection]

Originally posted by General Ludd
The Romans where proud, too.

The Romans didn't die off, they just became something better. The "dark ages" actually resulted in improved living conditions. Certainly there was some true losses but overall it wasn't too shabby.

[General Ludd]

By "didn't do them ay good" I meant "enjoying the resulting wealth and power of being a superpower for centuries didn't stop them from the inevtiable crash and burn that comes from an arrogant culture based on arrogance, pride, and decadence"

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Perfection
The Romans didn't die off, they just became something better. The "dark ages" actually resulted in improved living conditions. Certainly there was some true losses but overall it wasn't too shabby.

Just as something better will come after our civilization collapses apon itself.

Here's to the new dark age.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by General Ludd
By "didn't do them ay good" I meant "enjoying the resulting wealth and power of being a superpower for centuries didn't stop them from the inevtiable crash and burn that comes from an arrogant culture based on arrogance, pride, and decadence"

That's not what happened.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Sir Og

The argument is that upbringing, training and environment play just as big a role if not bigger than genetics when determining how successful someone is going to be. There are plenty of examples in life of people with great potential (great genes) who failed to live up to that potential and vice versa.

Exactly. There are extremely talented people who die of cancer at 25 and there are 103 year olds who never accomplished much in their lives. Were talking about screening the worst diseases out of your child's future and insuring that they will be as happy and healthy as possible. Upbringing still plays a major role but they won't need glasses, have a receding hair line, or die young due to disease. Of course parents want that for their kids.