Thoughts on cloning????

[Urbaniteman]

The human race should achieve a one-ness (a removal of social, economic and ideological competitions) before we screw with cloning. It seems to me humans exploit most resources in a careless, and wasteful manner. Driven by economics (short term), and not by what is good for us as a species. UTOPIA :m: dude

If we were a responsible bunch of monkeys / we could be monkey ranchers

 

[buffys]

Humanity SHOULD achieve "one-ness" before we screw with anything. One-ness SHOULD have been achieved before we messed with fire or the wheel. There SHOULD be no hunger, all children SHOULD be happy and educated, "should" doesn't change anything.

Waiting for "one-ness" is just another way of skirting responsibility, as if science will not progress if we just ignore it. Technology will plough ahead wether we have perfect harmony or not because innovation is in our nature as surely as our need to reproduce. Our only real choice is wether we hide our eyes and pretend that change isn't happening or face it, try to anticipate and deal with the repercussions before we are buried by them because like it or not it will come.

 

[Inquisitor]

There are always technological hurdles.

To the point where it's naive to be definitive in one's expectations of scientific advancement.

 

[buffys]

:bugeye: obviously, that's like saying walking requires putting one foot in front of the other ... your point is?

 

[norad]

I agree with Cynthia...I read many posts that expressed fear that cloning could or would be used incorrectly...What is the correct or incorrect way to us any technology? Who decides this for us?

You're kidding right, KitNyx? I can think of a lot of wrong doing. Who will be able to afford to clone themselves? The rich! What are the rich, or at least most of them? Nothing but imperialistic morons that are only concerned with themselves and money!

I think the benefits of cloning and genetic engineering far outweigh the imagined risks.

Again, you fail to see what those risks are. For example, let's say that cloning was perfected. Where are the checks and balances? Don't forget rogue nations have their own scientists and labs. Imagine 30 Osama's! They may not have the memories of the real person, but the real Osama could easily get his 'clones' to do the bidding, as he has shown with men plowing planes into buildings.

My feelings are as such: Everytime man sticks his nose where it doesn't belong, it always, without exception, turns into something really bad because of man's unintelligence, insecurities, and thirst for wealth and power.

 

[Canute]

"I think the benefits of cloning and genetic engineering far outweigh the imagined risks."

Maybe. Personally I think the risks far outweigh the imagined benefits.

 

[Urbaniteman]

First back to Buffy's rebutle on fire and the wheel. Those and countless other technological advancements happened before society ever evolved. Before communication and before we stored the vast amounts of information outside our bodies. Maybe we should have held back on thoses advancements, but that's in the past. We, as a species are beginning to be able to choose wisely in reguards to what is best for us all. I venture to say that using some restraint with technology is just as important of an evolutionary step for humanity as as the no holds barred use of technology you refered to.

I am the last person whom you might ever meet who would be against ANY scientfic advancements, I assure you.

So in regards to cloning, I am pleased, no proud that science has cracked the codes and made it possible. But I also believe human cloning should remain illegal until the barriers I suggested to in my earlier sciforum insertion are managable.

This is a great advancement, maybe the greatest. Great advancements tend to follow money and power for obvious reasons. Cloning, I believe, should not be influenced by these forces.

But it probably will be.

PS I dont know how to insert a quote from others. I keep seeing others use it. Is it COPY / PASTE ??

 

[buffys]

we as a species have always been able to choose wisely. We may know more today but I don't think we're any wiser than we were 1000 years ago. More importantly, even if we are "wiser" everyone on earth doesn't agree on what is and isn't wise.

If there were no borders, everyone on the planet was ruled by the same law AND we all agreed on the direction humanity should go in then MAYBE some semblance of control could be put on scientific advancement but we are no where near that point right now.

I'm not advocating "a no holds barred use of technology", I'd love a considered and careful approach to scientific research it's just impossible at present and for the foreseeable future. So, sticking our heads in the ground and crossing our fingers not only won't stop it but will guarantee that we aren't prepared for the consequences.


BTW - There are a few ways to quote but this is the one I use.

When you press the "post reply" button and it takes you to the message box you'll see five icons under the "[Color]" menu (the ones with the "#" icon in the middle) the one on the far left side is the quote button. Press that once, copy/paste the quote you want and the press the same button again. That's it. You can test the buttons just by trying them out and pressing the preview post to see the results without actually posting anything.