There's also another nice benefit to this strategy: the leading questions you ask hopefully force you to actually <i>listen</i> to what the other person is saying, as opposed to just trying to make them listen to you.

Okay, first let me apologize for possibly not knowing the rules, as this is my first posting....

THat said, everyone is on the negative side of this issue. Aren't there serious health advances that could be made through cloning technology? and shouldn't we explore that?

Also -- and I admit I read too much sci-fi -- but if you continue to clone over and over again with the same clone, doesn't it cause each copy or imprint to be less than the original.... (Granted, I can't remember where I read this, but it sounds scientific, anyway, and would love your thoughts!)

I think there are advantages cloning could offer to (a) people who can't medically have children -- and I would add that cloning doesn't sound so bad when you take into consideration the fertility drugs that causes abnormal multiple births (which is worse, 9 babies or 1 healthy clone?) --, and (b) what about the future and the fact that we are killing off wildlife at an astronomical rate -- could cloning offer the ability to revive extinct or endangered species?

Finally, am I being too serious?

Being serious is occasionally refreshing.

Being silly is also cool. :thumb:

Welcome!

Somebody here obviously watched Multiplicity too many times.

Welcome aboard. :)

Oh, dear.
:eek:

and thanks for the welcome!

I'm afraid I have already exceeded my "serious thought" limit for the day.


Maybe I could dream up some conspiracy though :)

Forgive me Obey...I failed to mention that you brought up some interesting points in your post. I just had to throw the Multiplicity thing in there for starts.

It's not that I am necessarily against cloning. What concerns me about the whole process is that a) Having a science background, I feel that some people out there are trying to rush things. After all, it took what? 278 tries to get Dolly? And b) The mere background of this Clonaid group is cause for instant skepticism, and I feel that it gives science a bad name.

This is something that is going to take many more years to figure out...most of us here will probably be dead by then. And not only does cloning need to be more "perfected," but there are various other hurdles to get past (as mentioned by some of us here).

*shrugs*
Debating these things always seemed so pointless, i mean you can't stop it, you can just accept and adapt to it. Can never stop science. On the upside more science is most often the solution to the problems it creates.

Hey Syc -- I loved the Multiplicity-thing, by the way.

I think the media has also hyped up the Clonaid group -- typical to report on the "sensational" issues instead of the facts. However, I don't think it gives science a bad name, because I'd LIKE to think that most of us have the intellect to see beyond the tabloid crap.

But yeah, the issue is certainly a big one and will take many years to perfect. I just didn't want the discussion to be completely against cloning -- it seems to me to be viable science, and I sincerely hope more scientists will explore it in more detail (assuming the government would stop its meddling into issues it has no right to legislate).

Oh, and I love this exchange! :D

This particular cloneaid thing is i'm sure, bull. Smart move - talk about free PR for the cult.

People get scared about these things, the legislation will peter out as the science develops. It coudl cause some interesting legal situations - imagine if some countries put limits on 'cloned' people entering, or reproducing or something. I mean geeeez, that’s all we needed, another excuse to discriminate. Maybe they'll clone an army of black lesbian Rastafarians.

There are very, very significant scientific hurdles to overcome in cloning animals before any sane person would think about cloning a person. As i said, if they fuck up the first one, the outrage will push the science completely underground with knee-jerk laws and public outcry. Of course if they fuck up the first one, incinerate it and keep on trying.......*puts on tinfoil hat*

i think the artificial womb will be a far greater advancement than cloning, it will really force some interesting definitions on child ownership. i mean you can buy sperm and eggs of smart/attractive people. Imagine if you bought both and used a womb - is it really your child? What defines then whose child it is?

I'm wandering, i'm gonna shut up now.

If you're going to do this, make sure it's constructed properly and conforms with all applicable safety standards and the latest in AFDB technology.

That AFDB cant be effective. If it was, I would surely know about it/use one.

You probably don't need one because you have the Asshat™.

Please. The asshat(TM) does not appreciate being referenced in any comic material.

Dear Slang's Asshat™,

Please accept my apology for inadvertantly referencing you in comic material.

I'm very sorry.

Sincerely,



'Wolf