Live data from Hacker News

Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

academic.oup.com

361–370 of 520 posts

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#361
post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not an expert but I'm pretty sure the definition of "straight cunts" is that they aren't turned on by lesbians.

I think that the GP must not be American. I noticed in Ireland (at least) the word "cunt" is used to describe an unpleasant/objectionable person in general (regardless of gender) whereas in the US it's a derogatory term for a woman.

There's at least four possible parsings here depending on what was meant by "straight" and "cunt"

In one corner of the matrix is a heterosexual woman and in the other corner is an ill tempered gay man.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#362
post #296

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Using a loaded term such as "defect" is exactly eugenics sophistry.

Is "birth defect" a eugenically-charged word? I've never heard it used in such a manner, just as a matter of fact.

don't seriously engage with people who would rather morally grandstand and tone police than have important conversations

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#363

[flagged]

We detached this comment from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44680817 and marked it off topic.

Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#364

The comments on this here make me a bit scared tbh and shows yet again what a bubble this is. You people need to get out more and socialize with actual people.

No for real, the amount of people desperately trying to work in the fact that they think eugenics is fine

just because something is "eugenics" doesn't mean it's bad or shouldn't be discussed.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#365
post #255
post #156

I think it is worth a separate research that modern definition of progressive thought considers eliminating/treating a genetic malfunction "unethical".

Ah yes, because conservative thought is such a big fan of gene therapy and abortion.

Both sides have wild distortions, I just feel like it is “more clear” what’s going on in the right.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#366
post #351

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> She can no longer work, so they now struggle on a single income, if her husband were to leave her she would be completely screwed. This is not inherent to Down's syndrome, this is because we live in a society that could easily support people but doesn't.

It's very easy to ask everyone else to support your financial decisions.

It’s also very easy to expect the poor to subsidize your lifestyle by making $7.25/hr. Everything has perspectives.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#367
post #250
post #156

I think it is worth a separate research that modern definition of progressive thought considers eliminating/treating a genetic malfunction "unethical".

This is not an attitude exclusive to progressives. The chief grievance here is that the historical “solution” to the “problem” of Down Syndrome has been abortion. Opposition comes from the pro-life movement (which is generally conservative) and disability advocacy groups (which are generally liberal). A novel therapy that does not result in the termination of the pregnancy might satisfy the conservatives, but it does…

“Fundamentally normalize” is the part that surprises me. I sometimes think that it is the refusal to hold two thoughts simultaneously that drives it.

One can value/respect people with DS and strive to eliminate DS at the same time.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#368
post #253

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Most communist countries haven't been such a utopia as you describe. >He told his fellow Russians in his entourage that if their people, who often must wait in line for most goods, saw the conditions of U.S. supermarkets, "there would be a revolution." https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/news/article/When...

You know, for all their ills at least the historical communists meant well. Sure, some of them were pretty f-ing brutal but at least they tried to make their societies better, tried to make their countrymen richer and more prosperous.

The comparable people today telling us we have have to live under constant surveillance and be subjugated by all powerful governments and government intertwined institutions and organizations or otherwise losing all our rights and practical autonomy to various collective interests don't even do us the courtesy of pretending that the goal is to everything better and nicer. They just tell us that we'll all gaslight ourselves into liking the bugs or whatever and that despite everything being worse it's somehow better because stonks up and microplastics down, or whatever other metrics they also control.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#369
post #156

I think it is worth a separate research that modern definition of progressive thought considers eliminating/treating a genetic malfunction "unethical".

It's not very long ago that race was considered a "genetic malfunction". People are still looking for a genetic link to autism.

It is an important point. Our understanding of what is “disease”/“malfunction” and how to address diseases has been changing.

I can see how if we, as society, - gain such immense wealth that taking care of/ providing support to/ humans with DS becomes so easy - arrive to the conclusion that there is no downside in emotional health/wellbeing - change definition of what “living full/happy life” Then parents stop perceiving DS as a concern

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#370

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a cousin with DS. You have to be committed and have the means to raise a child with extreme needs. Many of them will live with their parents their entire lives and will not develop cognitively beyond their tweens (hence the Britney Spears anecdote above). The ones that do move out tend to have to go to a place that specializes in assisting them. They can also have pretty extreme health issues. Yes, they can be…

I think this point would be better made without using the word “extreme” so much. All children bring new challenges; kids with DS often bring more; my child with DS has never, ever been an “extreme” challenge (just like most of the other families with kids with DS we know). There are definitely outliers where the “extreme” applies, but it’s not a helpful way of thinking about DS in general.

To add to what magicalhippo said about the extremes of medical issues, the extremes of parenting seem appropriate. "Average" parenting follows a trajectory of intense parenting of a newborn, and end at light/no parenting of an adult. For an overwhelming majority of families with kids with DS, the intense parenting requirement last long and more progresses slowly and the trajectory plateaus at around the tween stage, where a significant portion of your day, every day, is dedicated to managing and caring for your child. I would say that spending tens of thousands of additional hours, likely up until your own death, caring for an adult child would count as extreme needs.
Post reply on HN