Can Parents Choose? - Page 2

**Battle Royale: Profiles** · June 19, 2008, 8:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Rocket

I agree that "keeping their sons" caused a problem but that's quite different, for several reasons, the most obvious of which being that China is China and, as far as I know, no other modern day civilisation carries out such laws. The boys were kept most likely for the sake of being able to use them as the source of another income for the household. I wont pretend to be an expert on Chinese politics -- I'm not even sure if this still goes on. I was eventually trying to get on to how the political issues in China really have no baring on the rest of the world's use of genetic modification. Not everyone would carry out these processes and, while the population would likely shift its balance, it wont be the end of the world.

Sons were kept, because in China, it's still a rather male-dominated society. So, father's would wish for sons, in order to carry on the family name. But, what they don't think about, is having only sons...means they won't have any wives TO carry on the name.

I'm not claiming that the entire world is like China, obviously, that'd be a ridiculous claim. What I'm commenting on is what happens when people are able to make a choice like that. Allowing people to choose the gender of their child would cause an imbalance. It should be something that isn't tampered with. I can understand removing harmful genes, such as obesity genes, cancer, viruses, diseases, or disorders....but something like gender? Let the natural process do it's job for that.

June 19, 2008, 8:46 PM

I agree with that to an extent - of course, the balance between males and females would shift towards one of them. However, I can't really see it as being a change significant enough to have a detremental effect on the way the world works. One area might favour the male gender and another would favour the females. For example, I'd prefer to have a boy first and you might prefer to have a girl first, so neither of our children has affected the balance whatsoever. If my child was going to be a girl, however, it would've upset the balance, so genetic modification is, in this case, positive, in terms of the population. It's all hypothetical here but the point I'm making is that, whatever an individual couple decide, the effects wont be disastrous.

Besides, it's easy enough to revoke gender-modifying research for a time until the population restores to its natural balance - that is, should that ever happen.

**Battle Royale: Profiles** · June 19, 2008, 8:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Rocket

I agree with that to an extent - of course, the balance between males and females would shift towards one of them. However, I can't really see it as being a change significant enough to have a detremental effect on the way the world works. One area might favour the male gender and another would favour the females. For example, I'd prefer to have a boy first and you might prefer to have a girl first, so neither of our children has affected the balance whatsoever. If my child was going to be a girl, however, it would've upset the balance, so genetic modification is, in this case, positive, in terms of the population. It's all hypothetical here but the point I'm making is that, whatever an individual couple decide, the effects wont be disastrous.

Besides, it's easy enough to revoke gender-modifying research for a time until the population restores to its natural balance - that is, should that ever happen.

It's not so much the choosing of a gender that concerns me, it's the implications of what could follow. If parents are allowed to choose the gender of the child, then it could open the gate for a plethora of options. Parents could choose the child's hair color, eye color, etc. This reminds me a lot of the movie Gattaca, where parents had the option of terminating their child, after they'd been told what the child was like.

It follows along the lines of eugenics. I used to be all for it, until I really looked into the inhumane aspects of it. Eugenics is an idea of genetic practice, that disallows certain people to reproduce, and only allows certain to reproduce. Nazi's were big supporters of Eugenics, because they'd disallow Germans to reproduce with Jews, but would be all for two, Aryan-like Germans reproducing.

I understand that example is a bit extreme, but it's just to add to my reasoning, I feel that if we allow a choice such as gender, we offer an opportunity to allow for much more in the future.

June 19, 2008, 9:02 PM

I suppose that's quite a good thought to have in your mind - you're playing it safe that way. I'd agree with you when you say that the door to further possibilities is opened --some may be undesirable in the long run-- but I truly can't see countries falling into the hands of Nazis or such like political types.

The purpose of this is to allow further choice, not to develop into completely forbidding one particular aspect of genetics.

One thing that did just spring to mind there is that Survival of the Fittest could be thrown around the gutter. We obviously don't know what the side effects are as of yet and the genetic modification could have a detremental effect on the way our biological functions are carried out and favourable genes have the risk of falling out of the equation entirely.

I'm not using that to contradict myself, though - I did say that I never lean towards one particular side. Anyway, to avoid going around in circles and dancing around the actual question, I'll just conclude by reiterating that I'm totally against the opposition for this debate but, at the same time, it's not something in which I'd participate, given the chance.

June 22, 2008, 5:57 PM

I'm quite torn with this subject... I don't think it's fair for parents to choose the sex of their babies, it's like implying that they wouldn't love them as much if they were the opposite sex. I heard about a woman once though who had 5 sons and desperately wanted a girl, I guess I can empathise in situations like that, and maybe it ISN'T such a bad thing to choose. But still, where does it end? I completely disagree with 'designer' babies, where parents have the ability to choose their kid's eye colour, hair colour, height and all that. Because naturally most parents would want their child to be pretty and perfect, and again, it's like implying that they wouldn't love them as much if they were unattractive, which is not the way to go.

I also completely disagree with it in the case that Contra mentioned about China and it's one child policy. Most families want their 'one child' to be male, and if they find out that it's going to be a girl they often get an abortion. In which case I strongly support the rule that a lot of clinics have about not even letting the parents know the sex of the child until it's born, if it prevents things like that. I read once about doctors (I can't remember if this was in China or to do with Sikhism, but it was around the same theme) who would give a pregnant mother a blue sweetie if their unborn child was a boy, and a pink sweetie if it was a girl, the latter aborting the child. So yeah, in extreme situations like that I don't think parents should even know let alone be able to choose. Overall I think people should just accept their child whatever the gender. After all, it's not like either gender is better than the other.

June 23, 2008, 10:18 PM

I think we should let fate decide the gender. like someone said, the gender population of males would rise dramatically with no females to counter balance it. We'd literally be working towards exstinction

Let god decide for us

June 24, 2008, 10:49 AM

Isn't this considered discrimination towards genders?

I've heard rumors that in the future humans we'll be able to choose both gender and appearance of their baby.I dunno about personality.
I find that really cruel and unfair for the other gender.Like in old times.When a girl was born the parents were disappointed and as the girl grew up she would feel a burden to her family.

June 24, 2008, 10:51 AM

I'm not really bothered if they can or cannot choose the gender of their babies, i think that not being able to pic is the good thing, you have to be prepared for either gender, and then the person with the ultrasound machine tells you what it will be and you get to prepare in full hehe