Kids and Gender Selection

I'm with you Lolly. Gender selection is right or wrong depending on the circumstances. Each one of us will approach our opinion from our own belief system and our ability to deal with information we are given on an emotional level. When faced with life changing decisions about possible genetic problems that are linked to one sex or the other who knows how we would react. I'm lucky I haven't had to face that.

That is very true Sheila... we say we would react in some way but you never really know till you are in that particular position.

I remember first hearing/learning about this yrs ago in 8th grade. I thought it was appauling.
We were learning about genes and stuff, and our teacher said that they had started making the babies sex, eye/hair color optional....along with fixing genetic health problems.(which i think is okay)

I thought it was really stupid & wrong. If you would WANT to choose ur kids sex or hair/eye color, i think that is really selfish. You should be happy with the child that you get, instead of treating it like a game and trying to make your perfect child. We're all created differently for a reason.
And if everyone had the option to do this ....the world would be a VERY boring place. Everyone would look the same, and boys might outnumber girls (or visa-versa)...and the whole balance of the world would be screwed up.

And just because i'm reading this book right now (& its great btw haha)...this reminds a lot of 'Frankenstein'. People artifically made.

I totally agree with you - with the exception of altering genes and genders etc for health reasons, but you already stated that anyways.

It's ironic that you should mention Frankenstein. Originally Mary Shelly wrote the story as a series for a newspaper. At the time she wrote Frankenstien as being a beautiful being not the 'monster' that is now the image. Why did she change the story? The reason........because the church intervened and said it was un-christian that a 'beautiful man' should be a created by the hands of man and was against God's teachings. What does it say about the human psyche that the church was so threatened by literature?
Maybe the idea of 'playing God' is what is scary about genetic engineering.........sorry turned this into an ethical literature rant....food for thought though?

It's a difficult call this one as I'm on a list for fertility treatment and beginning to take drugs as a first step... IF I get pregnant, it might be the only time I get pregnant. No matter what sex my child (if we're fortunate enough to have one) I will love him or her with all I am and all I have. However... knowing the potential heartache to come in the process we're going to go through, I think if I had the option to choose the sex of our child, I probably would. But, that's only my story and my opinion Reasonably worded responses and thoughts welcome! x

To each his/her own, imo.
Personally, I wouldn't do it but I wouldn't freak if someone did it.

Sheila: That was a really interesting comment... I had no idea that Frankenstein was origionally a beautiful man!!
SyntheticStars: Well like I said earlier it depends on the context of the situation so to a point I can understand what you're saying, if you feel that you will only be fortunate to have the 1 child and you wanted it a specific sex... I don't know I guess I could certainly sympathise with your situation...

I think that if you're willing to have a child, you should accept and love it no matter whether it is male or female, so I think it is just plain unnatural to be able to choose like this.

Thats just part of my thoughts, I would go on forever more if I could; I haven't set out to offend anyone, if my wording sounds strange it's because my laptop battery is dying and I HAVE to post this before it closes itself down!

SyntheticStars...... The treatment is tough and the over stimultion of your overies will be difficult to deal with. No matter what decisions you and your partner make they will be the right ones for you. What does it matter if you get to choose the sex of your child. I wish you both good luck and blessings with the treatment

I've got the "stumble" tool bar (don't download it unless you have A LOT of free time) and I "stumbled" across this site. It seemed pretty interesting and relevant to this discussion. What do you guys think?

http://worldlifeexpectancy.com/news/boys-without-girls

Sheila, it doesn't matter, if we have a baby my only hopes would be of health and happiness. However if a tried and tested method existed and we were offered the option, we would make the choice Thank you for your kind wishes, too! x

I live in America and this country never ceases to amaze me. With that said, I do not support "designer babies." Once you start changing them you are treating them less like a human and more like a sim character.

Well this was interesting and quite cool to read. For myself having a friend who cried when she realised she was having a baby girl and having lost two children I'm frankly jealous of anyone who can carry a child to term and think (probably unfairly in some cases) that they should just be greatful for what they have.

That said I also see the point that Lolly Bot and others have made about genetic defects. Of course no parents ever wants their child to be sick or in pain.