{"id":146394,"date":"2015-10-16T21:45:00","date_gmt":"2015-10-17T01:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.designerchildren.com\/online-debate-human-genetic-engineering-is-a-good-thing\/"},"modified":"2015-10-16T21:45:00","modified_gmt":"2015-10-17T01:45:00","slug":"online-debate-human-genetic-engineering-is-a-good-thing-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.euvolution.com\/prometheism-transhumanism-posthumanism\/human-genetic-engineering\/online-debate-human-genetic-engineering-is-a-good-thing-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Online Debate: Human genetic engineering is a good thing &#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><p>My argument is that genetic engineering, and specifically          human genetic engineering is a good thing.          <\/p>\n<p>            I believe that human genetic engineering (HGE) can            benefit human kind in an endless number of ways            including but not limited to :          <\/p>\n<p>            *Increased lifespan            *Decreasing disease            *Making humans happier            *Making humans stronger            *Making humans smarter            *Making humans better looking (Yes, even this can be            done and is good)          <\/p>\n<p>            I will let my opponent make the first actual argument            and I will then, after my opponent has made their            argument, go into much further detail on my own            argument as well as addressing theirs. So, I leave it            to any challenger to argue against my initial            statements and my general argument.          <\/p>\n<p>            Con, I await your response. \ud83d\ude42          <\/p>\n<p>            Increased lifespan-If HGE did increase human lifespan            why would us as a society want that? Thousands of            people are brain dead and have you ever heard of this?            <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org<\/a>...          <\/p>\n<p>            Making humans happier-I know many kids who are made fun            of for being gay,black, Mormon etc.So if I was a clone            (or altered) I am certain I would be made fun of way            more than anyone else.Also kids have trouble when they            are adopted, and can not find their family.If I was a            clone, and I didn't even have a family?I would have no            real family and thus no reason to be happy.          <\/p>\n<p>            Better looking- hhttp:\/\/gorillasafariadventure.com...            <a href=\"http:\/\/alpha-mag.blogspot.com\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/alpha-mag.blogspot.com<\/a>...            One is real......          <\/p>\n<p>            At first, since as everything is economic, the rich            people would be the first to try and use HGH (as they            use HRT today more commonly). How would we know it            works? We would know that it would work through            scientific testing, lab testing, finally human testing.            Etc. It would be a long process. Eventually everyone            would be able to afford it as technology improves.          <\/p>\n<p>            The upper class having exclusive rights to these            technologies would last a few decades at most. Perhaps            less.          <\/p>\n<p>            I do not support cruelty to animals, but animal testing            happens and it can prove very beneficial to humanity.            Would I sacrifice some animals for humanity getting            smarter and better off in the long run? Sure. Why?            Because, the smarter we get the more we will understand            animals and, in the long run, treat them better...          <\/p>\n<p>            Overpopulation is a problem today purely because we, as            humans, aren't smart enough to control ourselves and            our reproductive abilities. We can't manage ourselves.            With increased intelligence, this would no longer be a            problem. Science has proven that higher I.Q. and            education leads to less children, and having children            later.          <\/p>\n<p>            Would a child be picked on for being altered? I can't            imagine how they would, since no one would even have to            know. Moreover, in time, nearly everyone will have            genetic alterations so it won't matter. I, for one, do            not believe that we should refrain from using genetic            therapy to cure depression, make people happy, make            them live longer, healthier, etc. all because there is            some chance some one might be made fun of somewhere. It            seems nonsensical to me.          <\/p>\n<p>            I don't know why you are bringing cloning into the            issue. I never mentioned cloning.          <\/p>\n<p>            So from what you said I really can not see how you do            not support animal cruelty? Its better off in the \"long            run\" for animals? Do you Eccedustin not understand an            animal?That they are an organism just like US.Non human            animals experience sensations just like we do. They too            are strong,intelligent, and evolutionary. They to are            capable of adaptation, and can not adapt in a cage just            so they can be experimented on because we are to            ignorant to solve our problems that WE created. Not            them. How will pain and suffering benefit animals? The            more HGE develops the more tests need to be done.            Proving that more animals will be needed thus proving            that \"in the long run\" is not true and you support            animal cruelty. It seems you are a typical speciest            willing to hurt anything just so you can \"look            better\"            I will be waiting for your stuck up response          <\/p>\n<p>            Any technology that comes up will come up through the            basic process of capitalism. If you look at            technologies in the past, all of them were exclusively            for the rich. This, however, does not last long. Cars,            Computers, Refrigerators, etc. We've all got them now,            even the lower class for the most part. The same would            be true of Genetic engineering. The technology would,            over time, become available to EVERYONE. So I do not            believe that the argument is relevant or valid.          <\/p>\n<p>            I understand and agree with you that animals, beside us            humans, have feelings and emotions. That is not the            issue here. The issue is that most animal cruelty is            not the result of experiments from scientists but            rather from ignorant people who abuse animals because            they are to stupid to know any better. With increased            intelligence, people will know about animals more and            be empathetic towards them more. So, in the long run,            it would greatly benefit animal kind.          <\/p>\n<p>            If you look at it another way, Humans could easily            become vegetarians with genetic engineering. Removing            any possible side effects from purely Vegetarian diets            (if there are any) would result in even less animal            cruelty.          <\/p>\n<p>            The thing about cars, computers, refrigerators, you can            mass produce them. Can you train as many HGE surgeons            as X-ray technicians in the next fifty years when we            barely understand it right now? Logically lower class,            non high school graduates can make cars, but not            perform gene transplants. Which means that a whole new            branch of schooling is going to be created just to            support that. Chemo therapy can cost up to 30,000            dollars for just one session? Not many even lower upper            class can afford that. Insurance wouldn't even cover it            like it does for most things.          <\/p>\n<p>            Those ignorant people are the scientists. Please watch            that video.          <\/p>\n<p>            Do you want that happening just so you can look better?            Just so that we can solve the problems WE created? I            really have no idea what you are talking about when you            say \"increased intelligence about animals.\" Native            Americans or the first hieroglyphics were of animals.            In ancient Mesopotamia they treated animals way better            than we do now? Or the Native Americans doing            ceremony's for all the animals they killed? Did they            not understand animals? Have we just become more            ignorant? In your last statement you said \"that            animals, beside us humans, have feelings and emotions.\"            So that means animals are almost like us? Really I see            no logic in \"increasing our intelligence\" will help us            treat animals better. We will want more,build more,            need more, kill more because we want to know how to            make money!          <\/p>\n<p>            Vegetarians live approximately seven years longer than            people on a vegetarian diet. So no we would find ways            to make meat better for us and thus eat more animals.          <\/p>\n<p>            I think that HGH won't require surgeons as much as a            single injection in the future. We would be able to            mass produce that as well, or better, as we can mass            produce anti viruses, etc.          <\/p>\n<p>            Historically ALL technology has become more available            and cheaper as time goes by. Chemo therapy will beocme            cheaper and more available in the future as well.          <\/p>\n<p>            Your arguments are nonsensical. You say that because            Genetic engineering might be excluded from the lower            classes at first, it is a bad idea to produce it? That            is equal to saying that because Cancer therapy will be            excluded from the lower classes at first, we shouldn't            pursue it. It is a bad argument pure and simple.          <\/p>\n<p>            Most of the genetic problems that exist today are not            problems that \"we created\". Aging, disease, death, all            have always existed. Moreover, even if \"we\" are the            problem then genetic engineering could be the solution            to that as well since it could change who \"we\" are            inherently.          <\/p>\n<p>            Did the native Americans or Mesopotamians treat animals            better than we do today? Of course not. Native            Americans ate Dogs, horses, etc. commonly. And in no            culture in the past did they ever have all of the laws            protecting animals that we have today. How many animal            rights laws did Mesopotamians have?          <\/p>\n<p>            I argue that higher intelligence would equal better            treatment of animals. I argue this because most of the            animal abuse that we see today is done by uneducated            ignorant people.          <\/p>\n<p>            Certainly, there are examples of scientists mistreating            animals. However, on average, Scientists are very            careful to reduce suffering when they do experiments on            animals.          <\/p>\n<p>            I personally do not believe that animal testing should            be done unless totally necessary.          <\/p>\n<p>            Also, with a higher I.Q. we could easily find ways to            \"produce\" meat without even killing animals. It is all            possible, we just can't do it yet.          <\/p>\n<p>            I have searched the whole HGE databases and none of            these places say that HGE would be single injection?            Does altering your genotype into a new phenotype sound            like an easy thing? That you could get at your local            Walgreen's, and walk out with a batman sticker?          <\/p>\n<p>            No I think that things always start in the upper class,            and work there way down like you have said numerous            times. But, with HGE like I said it would create a            bigger poverty gap. You said it would take a few            decades to get to the middle class, well a generation            is twenty five years. So three generations could pass            before they had access to it while there richer peers            look socially better, were smarter, so they could have            a huggeeee advantage over the other classes. The rich            would create bigger Corporatocracy's thus creating more            $20 an hour jobs for all the non-hge now grown up            humans to have.          <\/p>\n<p>            Do you think HGE would stop wars? Do you think that            changing my phenotype will stop me and everyone from            being greedy? Are you serious? That if some fat guy            gets a new phenotype he will say \"screw McDonalds, lets            eat SALAD!\"          <\/p>\n<p>            I have taken an Native American culture class in            college and we spent four weeks, yes... Four weeks            talking about animals and spiritual dances, ceremony's            the would do for ONE bison? When was the last time you            danced around and blessed, and ate every single piece            of a whole animal? Nothing was wasting with them.            Saying native Americans didn't treat animals well? They            treated them better because they cherished, and loved            them like brothers.          <\/p>\n<p>            1. My opponent continues to attack me, claiming I am an            \"elitist\" and that I support cruelty to animals.            Neither are true. I am not an elitist because I do not            support elitism. Rather, it is true elitists will            benefit short term from (ALL) technological advances,            this is no argument against them. In the long term they            will be available to us all. Also, animal experiments            go on and will go on regardless. Should people            supporting drug research be labeled as supporting            animal cruelty?          <\/p>\n<p>            Absurd.          <\/p>\n<p>            2. I do not know how or when or in what form HGE will            take. I am not a futurist. All I am arguing is that it            will invariably be a good thing, in the long run.          <\/p>\n<p>            3. It is absurd to claim that only rich people will            receive genetic therapy. There will no doubt be funds            for people with diseases to get it, etc. Also, I'm sure            people would be more than willing to improve their            entire genome if it involves taking out a loan or            something. It would be an investment.          <\/p>\n<p>            4. Yes, Our genes determine so many things including            how we interact with other people. Aggression,            intelligence, empathy, rational thinking, etc. Even non            genetic factors would quickly be changed once genes are            altered.          <\/p>\n<p>            5. So the Native Americans danced around and worshiped            the Bison. This doesn't mean they didn't kill it. And            the Bison holds a special distinction in Native            American culture, especially certain areas. They didn't            treat all animals like that either.          <\/p>\n<p>            In summary, Genetic therapy would be a great thing for            human kind. All of the bad things we humans have in us,            aggression, stupidity, disease, illness, lack of            empathy, etc. all have strong genetic components. Sure,            Nurture has a lot to do with it but if we take care of            the nature part then we are half way there. Moreover,            If you closely examine them, all of Con's arguments            fall apart. Con is arguing AGAINST scientific progress            for empty and pointless reasons.          <\/p>\n<p>            2. Then how can you even debate on this topic or make a            reference to that in a debate. You are just bull            shitting apparently.          <\/p>\n<p>            3. Yes like all those funds that help all the people            with cancer. If those \"funds\" were exist there wouldn't            be people at home with stage four cancer when they            could at least receive treatment.          <\/p>\n<p>            4. So you are willing to go against nature (or god if            you believe in a higher power) to be able to become            more empathetic? Is that hard to love? Are you that big            of a savage that you can't control yourself or can't            learn things for yourself?          <\/p>\n<p>            5. Yes, all animals that were killed were used fully.            Of course if they killed a rat they didn't dance around            it but, they would use it all.          <\/p>\n<p>            In summary pro has the more civil debate here. I            understand that we all want to be perfect, but why not            take the cards we were dealt, and succeed. Cheaters            never prosper.          <\/p>\n<p><!-- Auto Generated --><\/p>\n<p>See the original post here:<br \/>\n<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.debate.org\/debates\/Human-genetic-engineering-is-a-good-thing\/1\/\" title=\"Online Debate: Human genetic engineering is a good thing ...\">Online Debate: Human genetic engineering is a good thing ...<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> My argument is that genetic engineering, and specifically human genetic engineering is a good thing. I believe that human genetic engineering (HGE) can benefit human kind in an endless number of ways including but not limited to : *Increased lifespan *Decreasing disease *Making humans happier *Making humans stronger *Making humans smarter *Making humans better looking (Yes, even this can be done and is good) I will let my opponent make the first actual argument and I will then, after my opponent has made their argument, go into much further detail on my own argument as well as addressing theirs. So, I leave it to any challenger to argue against my initial statements and my general argument <a href=\"https:\/\/www.euvolution.com\/prometheism-transhumanism-posthumanism\/human-genetic-engineering\/online-debate-human-genetic-engineering-is-a-good-thing-2\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[162379],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-146394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-human-genetic-engineering"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.euvolution.com\/prometheism-transhumanism-posthumanism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146394"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.euvolution.com\/prometheism-transhumanism-posthumanism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.euvolution.com\/prometheism-transhumanism-posthumanism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euvolution.com\/prometheism-transhumanism-posthumanism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euvolution.com\/prometheism-transhumanism-posthumanism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146394"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.euvolution.com\/prometheism-transhumanism-posthumanism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146394\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.euvolution.com\/prometheism-transhumanism-posthumanism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euvolution.com\/prometheism-transhumanism-posthumanism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euvolution.com\/prometheism-transhumanism-posthumanism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}