Power Cupid Question Hour

Jonathan_S wrote:snip for brevity
Yes, they'll allow you to make improvements to the genome (within what's naturally human) but I can't image they'd see selecting a sex, or a sexuality, as a genetic improvement.

Beowulf has always approved of changes to adapt people to harsh environments - the Meyerdahl mods for example. What they are vehemently opposed to is the "improvement" of the race - leading to a homo superior. The mods that Honor has, for example, fit her for life in a heavier that normal gravity field, but don't have the connotation that she is a superior human (although she is, as a result of her parents, but those traits were not selected for), and in fact, I suspect that the Mesa approach of "improving" the genome is going to back fire on them, simply because they will have eliminated some aspect of humanness that they considered irrelevant, that turns out to be critical in some situation - what situation I have no idea, but it is one of the risks of eliminating diversity.

fallsfromtrees wrote:"Jonathan_S"]snip for brevity
Yes, they'll allow you to make improvements to the genome (within what's naturally human) but I can't image they'd see selecting a sex, or a sexuality, as a genetic improvement.

Beowulf has always approved of changes to adapt people to harsh environments - the Meyerdahl mods for example. What they are vehemently opposed to is the "improvement" of the race - leading to a homo superior. The mods that Honor has, for example, fit her for life in a heavier that normal gravity field, but don't have the connotation that she is a superior human (although she is, as a result of her parents, but those traits were not selected for), and in fact, I suspect that the Mesa approach of "improving" the genome is going to back fire on them, simply because they will have eliminated some aspect of humanness that they considered irrelevant, that turns out to be critical in some situation - what situation I have no idea, but it is one of the risks of eliminating diversity.[/quote]

------------------------

What we have seen so far is the familial/social element has been eliminated by the inner Onion social planning.

1) Zach McBride unable to grieve over the loss of his brother until freed of his Gaul;
2) Simoles' reaction to the termination of his albeit foster daughter that triggered his and Jack McBride's defection.

The Onion appears to consider individuals as semi-interchangeable parts, rather than interconnected / interdependent members of families, which has been the foundation of successful societies.

just my 2 cents (or 2 credits) worth.

-- Stewart

fallsfromtrees wrote:

cthia wrote:NPFP! NPFP! (No pitchforks please.)

I commend RFC for his views and I concur wholeheartedly. Why should love be denied to anyone? I am also uninterested in another man in that fashion, but I also have a few friends whose lifestyle does, yet have remained amongst my most cherished and decent friends. I just personally like the love of a woman. They have more to soothe, this savage beast, in the way of bounty.

However, I can understand the appeal if one's heart does for them as a woman's does for me. (And there would be the added benefit, or lack thereof, of monthly mood swings.)

Having said that. And purely from a scientific perspective...

4. In my limited understanding of homosexuality, as I understand it, choice is not available to most because of a genetic predisposition from a possible hormonal imbalance.

Strictly from a scientific perspective. Wouldn't certain options be available in the genetically conquered Honorverse to prevent certain type births occurring? Especially since most births are tubed?

Again. Purely as a scientific interest!
My apologies in advance, if this post has or does offend.

I assure you, it is not my intention.

Probably have to be done on Mesa - prior to now, since they appear to have been removed from the genetic manipulation business by (as of now) certain unnamed parties. It is undoubtedly a violation of the Beowulf code to pre-select that way.

Johnathan_S wrote:That's pretty much what I was thinking.
That it seems fairly likely that biological science by that time has a much better understanding of any genes and/or environmental triggers that might occur during gestation that might push a person along the sexuality spectrum.


But also that whether or not they have I pretty much guarantee that it violates the hell out of the Beowulf Life Science code to even try. (Isn't that code even against something as basic as picking the baby's sex? Or am I just misremembering that).

cthia wrote:Except that I don't think this particular mod is beyond the allowed mod line on the genetic string, which would make it okay for anyone to do. Heck, we are almost capable of that ourselves now, with our "designer babies."

Johnathan_S wrote:Yes, they'll allow you to make improvements to the genome (within what's naturally human) but I can't image they'd see selecting a sex, or a sexuality, as a genetic improvement.

Not arguing your point, just introducing a philosophical devil's advocate that attended Left-Wing U, and suggesting that he may opine that it's not actually choosing a sex, but allowing for a sex that nature has already selected to be "fully" selected and not (for lack of a more appropriate sentiment) "compromised."

And if you scratched off the whiteout (easy to do with whiteout) you'd be left with the original unpolitically corrected sentiment "defective."

cthia wrote:NPFP! NPFP! (No pitchforks please.)

I commend RFC for his views and I concur wholeheartedly. Why should love be denied to anyone? I am also uninterested in another man in that fashion, but I also have a few friends whose lifestyle does, yet have remained amongst my most cherished and decent friends. I just personally like the love of a woman. They have more to soothe, this savage beast, in the way of bounty.

However, I can understand the appeal if one's heart does for them as a woman's does for me. (And there would be the added benefit, or lack thereof, of monthly mood swings.)

Having said that. And purely from a scientific perspective...

4. In my limited understanding of homosexuality, as I understand it, choice is not available to most because of a genetic predisposition from a possible hormonal imbalance.

Strictly from a scientific perspective. Wouldn't certain options be available in the genetically conquered Honorverse to prevent certain type births occurring? Especially since most births are tubed?

Again. Purely as a scientific interest!
My apologies in advance, if this post has or does offend.

I assure you, it is not my intention.

Probably have to be done on Mesa - prior to now, since they appear to have been removed from the genetic manipulation business by (as of now) certain unnamed parties. It is undoubtedly a violation of the Beowulf code to pre-select that way.[/quote]

Johnathan_S wrote:That's pretty much what I was thinking.
That it seems fairly likely that biological science by that time has a much better understanding of any genes and/or environmental triggers that might occur during gestation that might push a person along the sexuality spectrum.


But also that whether or not they have I pretty much guarantee that it violates the hell out of the Beowulf Life Science code to even try. (Isn't that code even against something as basic as picking the baby's sex? Or am I just misremembering that).

cthia wrote:Except that I don't think this particular mod is beyond the allowed mod line on the genetic string, which would make it okay for anyone to do. Heck, we are almost capable of that ourselves now, with our "designer babies."

Johnathan_S wrote:Yes, they'll allow you to make improvements to the genome (within what's naturally human) but I can't image they'd see selecting a sex, or a sexuality, as a genetic improvement.

fallsfromtrees wrote:Not arguing your point, just introducing a philosophical devil's advocate that attended Left-Wing U, and suggesting that he may opine that it's not actually choosing a sex, but allowing for a sex that nature has already selected to be "fully" selected and not (for lack of a more appropriate sentiment) "compromised."

And if you scratched off the whiteout (easy to do with whiteout) you'd be left with the original unpolitically corrected sentiment "defective."

[quote="cthia"]
An argument that would go down just fine on Mesa - and imitate a lead balloon on Beowulf