Downs Syndrome

[Adrenaline Junkie]

Hey guys, I was thinking today about downs syndrome. And i thought about something. Is it right for a couple who both have downs syndrome to have a child whilst knowing that the child will have downs syndrome? Is it right to allow two people to bring a child into the world knowing that it will have a mental disability? Is it right to allow the continuation and extension of the life of a recessive gene? I personally think that people should not be able to have sex fully knowing that the child would have downs syndrome, it is wrong and i think that carrying on a recessive gene is in effect slowing us down. More money is required to look after people with downs syndrome and it is very time consuming, i am not saying we should get rid of people with downs syndrome by not taking care of them, but i think we should not embrace the recessive gene and let downs syndrome continue in such a way. What are your thoughts?

[ExoByte]

I would tend to agree. Its an ethical issue however as well, one has to compare human rights and "the greater good."(for the lack of a better term) Our continuation of our species, our survival, is one of our most basic instincts. But we as humans have adapted, and evolved differently than other creatures on this planet. We've advanced, we've not only advanced ourselves but advanced our creations. We've evolved by creating things and letting them evolve. Allowing the creation of a damaged species, only will result in the ultimate destruction of humanity as a whole. However, if we could find some "cure" it'd be a whole different story.

[Volcon]

Wait im confused, isint downs syndrome a extra chromosome (or a missing one, dont remember which) dident know it was a recessive gene. or wait, im getting myself all mixed up, blarg.

[Carôusoul]

I would agree with LS and EB. However someone may argue that they love their spouse, and have as much a right to their own child as anybody else; and you are in a sense denying them of having a child because it is considered "weak" by the population as a whole; is this not facism or elitism? What about the emotions of the parents who want their own child; put yourself in their position. Hm?

[Adrenaline Junkie]

I would agree with LS and EB. However someone may argue that they love their spouse, and have as much a right to their own child as anybody else; and you are in a sense denying them of having a child because it is considered "weak" by the population as a whole; is this not facism or elitism? What about the emotions of the parents who want their own child; put yourself in their position. Hm? You could call me a Social Darwinist, but i'm not, i generally believe that the future is the most important thing and we need to work now to ensure a better future. The fact is Carou, i am not in their position so i cannot relate. I would not have a child if it was beneficial and the best for the future of our species. And i'm saying that in all seriousness. And, i'd imagine i'd be in some discomfort if i had downs syndrome, and i would not impregnate a woman knowing that a child of mine would go through the same thing. Its a very controversial issue. Progression of our species, or decline?

[dragonoverlord]

People who have down syndrome should be sterilised. You never what they get up to when you're not watching. My mom knows this lady with down syndrome or something like it, she got together with onother guy who has the syndrome and they did it and had a kid. The thing is the kid is normal, but hes got two retards for parents. He is being raised by his grandparents though. poor guy.

[Half/Dreaming]

In the wild, if an animal is born defective or retarded, it is more than likely killed by one of the parents. I don't think its a big deal. Its not like defective people are creating armies of defective children that could potentially damage our gene pool. Their numbers are few. It does make you think, however. Is technology making it easier for people who would have died in the wild to pass on their defective genes?

[Adrenaline Junkie]

Curing is an option, but a solution to removing an extra chromosome would be quite difficult. I think downs syndrome has to be contained instead of allowed to expand. Now that people are forming their own societies, they are entitled to claim rights, and this is just allowing them to move on and expand. In theory, eventually their population could get so big that there are not enough carers to go round which could lead to a downfall in the defective gene. Of course it is only theoretical, maybe even very unlikely. Where do you draw the line with human rights, but it will eventually hold us back in a way. Without care and protection, people with downs syndrome would likely die early. But because of all the latest technology and more we are allowing them to escalate and carry on. People could pull the whole "imagine how they feel" card, but to be honest, i don't know how they feel, i don't have downs syndrome, i have an overall outside perspective and i think that the situation needs to be implanted into everyone with downs syndrome. Whats the point in conitnuing something that could lead to the end of our own existence? Volcon - Its an extra chromosome. It is a recessive gene as it causes negative effects if you compare it to the norm set of genes that everybody has. People can be carriers of the gene and not have downs syndrome. It depends on the persons genetic makeup.

[Serkat]

I personally think that people should not be able to have sex fully knowing that the child would have downs syndrome, it is wrong and i think that carrying on a recessive gene is in effect slowing us down. More money is required to look after people with downs syndrome and it is very time consuming, i am not saying we should get rid of people with downs syndrome by not taking care of them, but i think we should not embrace the recessive gene and let downs syndrome continue in such a way. You are aware that you are proposing fascistic eugenics? And it's called Down Syndrome and it's not a gene mutation but a chromosomal one. You can't change anything about people being born with it.

[NeAvO]

I think the child should be allowed to live. After all it is still a life regardless of mental health and disability. At my work, I have seen children with downs syndrome and autism ect, the parents adore them. There is no way I could see them, if given the chance, letting the child not be born.

[Adrenaline Junkie]

Okay, so do some of you agree that we should allow this disorder to thrive and carry on throughout our community, do you think we should allow it to grow and expand. Parents may adore their kids because they have downs syndrome, maybe. But at the end of the day what goes first, the progression of our species or the freedom of being able to have a child with downs syndrome? I may be talking a bit too over the top, but at the end of the day they will likely have to go, they have integrated, but they will always need care, and that is something that comes at a cost, the government i believe is paying for this. When what we could do it reduce through birth control the numbers and that would save money in more areas. Nobody is dying here either, i think that people with downs should adopt because spreading this disorder unfortunately is a bad way to go. Though its not a big issue now, i can imagine it being something we have to make our minds up about sooner or later.