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This puts me in an uncomfortable spot w/regards to abortion. My go to argument was always 'the lights aren't on yet'. If I'm understanding correctly they might

This puts me in an uncomfortable spot w/regards to abortion. My go to argument was always 'the lights aren't on yet'. If I'm understanding correctly they might be, albeit dimly, and each day getting brighter.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
the_af 9y ago
Why would this be related to abortion? I don't see anything in the article mentioning human embryos, only newborns...
dark_silicon 9y ago
I'd encourage anyone to examine their conscience, read about the viability of babies born prematurely, and consider that even post-birth a baby is not self-sufficient. We don't have good criteria for what makes something alive or conscious, yet many draw an arbitrary line at birth. I'm not looking to continue this discussion, but I'm glad you're thinking about this.
- imaginenore 9y ago
  "Self-sufficient" is not a good argument. Most people are not self-sufficient when it comes to survival on their own. Just look at the history - as soon as mass-produced food is cut off, famines kill hundreds of thousands, millions sometimes. I used to support abortion, but more and more I'm sliding towards being maybe against it, because (some of) the anti-abortion side arguments are logical too. No matter how you draw the line based on some argument, you can use the same logic to kill adults. That includes viability, lack of pain, etc. On the other hand, our technology is at the level where you can turn any cell in your body into sperm: https://phys.org/news/2016-04-scientists-skin-cells-human-sperm.html https://phys.org/news/2016-04-scientists-skin-cells-human-sp... So if you're against abortion based on the "viability", every time you scratch your nose, you commit genocide. It's a hard question.
cat199 9y ago
the lights start the moment there is attraction between 2 people..
- hectorlorenzo 9y ago
  So breaking up with my girlfriend is abortion?
  - cygx 9y ago
    Congratulations, you're ready to join the Catholic church!
    - dang 9y ago
      Please keep religious flamewar off HN.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

the_af 9y ago

Why would this be related to abortion? I don't see anything in the article mentioning human embryos, only newborns...

dark_silicon 9y ago

I'd encourage anyone to examine their conscience, read about the viability of babies born prematurely, and consider that even post-birth a baby is not self-sufficient. We don't have good criteria for what makes something alive or conscious, yet many draw an arbitrary line at birth. I'm not looking to continue this discussion, but I'm glad you're thinking about this.

imaginenore 9y ago
"Self-sufficient" is not a good argument. Most people are not self-sufficient when it comes to survival on their own. Just look at the history - as soon as mass-produced food is cut off, famines kill hundreds of thousands, millions sometimes. I used to support abortion, but more and more I'm sliding towards being maybe against it, because (some of) the anti-abortion side arguments are logical too. No matter how you draw the line based on some argument, you can use the same logic to kill adults. That includes viability, lack of pain, etc. On the other hand, our technology is at the level where you can turn any cell in your body into sperm: https://phys.org/news/2016-04-scientists-skin-cells-human-sperm.html https://phys.org/news/2016-04-scientists-skin-cells-human-sp... So if you're against abortion based on the "viability", every time you scratch your nose, you commit genocide. It's a hard question.

cat199 9y ago

the lights start the moment there is attraction between 2 people..

hectorlorenzo 9y ago
So breaking up with my girlfriend is abortion?
- cygx 9y ago
  Congratulations, you're ready to join the Catholic church!
  - dang 9y ago
    Please keep religious flamewar off HN.