NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.uk.msn.com/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=8335614

Who would of thought it, the British parliament did something right for a change. But NSG, what's your opinion??

http://news.uk.msn.com/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=8335614

Who would of thought it, the British parliament did something right for a change. But NSG, what's your opinion??

There was nothing really to debate. The religious leaders just imagined up some crazy monster-movie scenario instead of actually examining the concept rationally.

Yeahh... I don't really agree with hybrid people. For one it's creepy, and two, you don't mess with genetics, it opens up to all sorts of things *Shudders*. For all we know, there could be a disease that is incompatible with normal people, and harmless to animals, but when the hybrid comes along, well, epidemic. No one wants that. Even the organs could lead to a similar scenario.

There was nothing really to debate. The religious leaders just imagined up some crazy monster-movie scenario instead of actually examining the concept rationally.

WHile there are those of us who look forward to crazy monster-movie scenarios. :D

Yay!!!!

Dr Moreau wins again.

Yeahh... I don't really agree with hybrid people. For one it's creepy, and two, you don't mess with genetics, it opens up to all sorts of things *Shudders*. For all we know, there could be a disease that is incompatible with normal people, and harmless to animals, but when the hybrid comes along, well, epidemic. No one wants that. Even the organs could lead to a similar scenario.

You know the embryos are being destroyed after 14 days right? We're not birthing chimeras for fun.


Not yet. :p

You know the embryos are being destroyed after 14 days right? We're not birthing chimeras for fun.


Not yet. :p

Might be...:D








I want a pet chimera

You know the embryos are being destroyed after 14 days right? We're not birthing chimeras for fun.


Not yet.
I know. I'm scared of what it might lead to in the future. Ah, I'm just paranoid, don't mind me.

I know you're planning to kill me. I'm watching you.

There was nothing really to debate. The religious leaders just imagined up some crazy monster-movie scenario instead of actually examining the concept rationally.

That didn't really happen, I actually watched the parliamentary debate (yep, I was extremely board and it was on) and they didn't really mention any sensationalist ideas on any crazy monster. The MP's who were defending the ban seemed to focus more on that there was a lack of evidence that hybrid embryos will actually help anyone, that there is allegedly in fact plenty of human embryos available contrary to what has been said, and that the percentage of this hybrid that is actually animal is allegedly far more than the minuscule amount commonly reported. I think this religious crap is more of an American phenomenon.

I know. I'm scared of what it might lead to in the future. Ah, I'm just paranoid, don't mind me.

I know you're planning to kill me. I'm watching you.

Excellent. Yes, keep watching him.

That didn't really happen, I actually watched the parliamentary debate (yep, I was extremely board and it was on) and they didn't really mention any sensationalist ideas on any crazy monster.

The religious leaders weren't actually there, though, were they?

The religious leaders weren't actually there, though, were they?

No, but the MP's who initiated the bill didn't seem to be influenced by any of those sort of ideas when I heard their arguments.

The religious leaders weren't actually there, though, were they?
No, though some are represented in the Lords.

No, but the MP's who initiated the bill didn't seem to be influenced by any of those sort of ideas when I heard their arguments.

Yeah, I was just talking about the hype around it, really.

I, for one, welcome our new Manbearpig overlords.

I think this religious crap is more of an American phenomenon.

Don't kid yourself. I read the transcripts of the debates on abolishing the blasphemy law not long ago (Commons and Lords) and the number of MPs and Peers openly defending the law, and even bemoaning the fact that Jerry Springer the Opera escaped prosecution, was truly terrifying. There were plenty of speakers claiming that Christianity was persecuted in the UK and it was taken for granted that religion should enjoy a privileged place in society, with not one person openly arguing for Secularism.

The ban on 'Saviour Siblings' has been defeated (although I'm fairly ambivalent on that point. The seriously important vote comes at about 10pm tomorrow night when a deluge of ammendments designed to limit abortion rights will be tabled. A lot of people have been predicting a reduction in time-limit from 24 weeks to 20 or 22, but after the success tonight I'm feeling moderately optimistic. It's too late to write to MPs now, but I will be writing to mine in a few days time to congratulate him on voting the right way on the hybrid bill despite being a Conservative.

When i'm old and dying, I would like a hybrid clone for a new body.
way cool.

Bart: How would I go about creating a half-man, half-monkey-type creature?
Ms. Krabappel: I'm sorry, that would be playing God.
Bart: God schmod! I want my monkey-man!

Don't kid yourself. I read the transcripts of the debates on abolishing the blasphemy law not long ago (Commons and Lords) and the number of MPs and Peers openly defending the law, and even bemoaning the fact that Jerry Springer the Opera escaped prosecution, was truly terrifying.
True, though I seem to remember the Lords being largely bemused by the continued existence of blasphemy laws, with a number of religious old worthies saying things along the lines of, "If there is indeed an almighty God, I'm sure he's not that worried about a few bad words here and there."

The seriously important vote comes at about 10pm tomorrow night when a deluge of ammendments designed to limit abortion rights will be tabled. A lot of people have been predicting a reduction in time-limit from 24 weeks to 20 or 22, but after the success tonight I'm feeling moderately optimistic.
Here, here.

It's a shame that this has been getting little press, what with certain areas of the media screaming "Pig Babies!!!!!!"

Good, if overdue.

Well, I watched it live on BBC 1 and although I might have some moral (read:yuck) thoughts about it the government has indeed made the right decision here. This research could bring help to millions in the future and despite my oppinion on the matter will hopefully prove worthwhile thus vinbdicating the governments decision not to ban it.

I worry that if the Tories get back in (as I think they will) this is the kind of thing that would get through.

I worry that if the Tories get back in (as I think they will) this is the kind of thing that would get through.
But most of the Tory front bench (excluding David Cameron) voted against the two bills.

I worry that if the Tories get back in (as I think they will) this is the kind of thing that would get through.

I believe your throughts on the Torries getting back in are well placed as the majority of those who will vote are only looking at the short term and not the long term (d'oh)

And yes i worry that a conservative government might be able to push things like this through, especially if they taske a large majority in the house of commons.

Yay!!!!

Dr Moreau wins again.

lol. yes the idea may seem creepy, but I see no problem with this type of study as long those involved are careful and reasonable in what they are dealing with.

disgusting. biology and medicine are starting to get extremely creepy.

disgusting. biology and medicine are starting to get extremely creepy.

Why, and how?

And yes i worry that a conservative government might be able to push things like this through, especially if they taske a large majority in the house of commons.
Again, why would you think this? The Tories largely voted against the bills.

disgusting. biology and medicine are starting to get extremely creepy.
How so?

But most of the Tory front bench (excluding David Cameron) voted against the two bills.

Because it was a free vote. I'm not convinced they would if the vote was made a party affair.

Because it was a free vote. I'm not convinced they would if the vote was made a party affair.
Ahh, I sees.

Though there'd be a rumpus if something like this wasn't a free vote.

Ahh, I sees.

Though there'd be a rumpus if something like this wasn't a free vote.

True. However, I'd imagine the more religiously inclined of MP's, and, more so Lords, are soon to be politically extinct.

One step closer to my birdpeople!

True. However, I'd imagine the more religiously inclined of MP's, and, more so Lords, are soon to be politically extinct.
I don't know... there's a number of Catholics in the Labour Cabinet, for example; though I'd guess most MPs are probably half-hearted Anglicans.

disgusting. biology and medicine are starting to get extremely creepy.

I hope you'll forgive us if we prioritise helping the sick and curing crippling diseases above catering to your personal sense of "Ugh! That's icky!"

True, though I seem to remember the Lords being largely bemused by the continued existence of blasphemy laws, with a number of religious old worthies saying things along the lines of, "If there is indeed an almighty God, I'm sure he's not that worried about a few bad words here and there."

Yep, and in fairness to the Lords a majority of them did vote against the retention of the blasphemy law. I guess my main point was that religion is still an almost unquestioned foundation for legislation in the UK (unquestioned in Parliament anyway): those who wanted to abolish the blasphemy law often had to phrase their argument in religious terms, rather than challenging the validity of sectarian law.

Yeahh... I don't really agree with hybrid people.
Hybrid embryos =/= hybrid people.

I don't know... there's a number of Catholics in the Labour Cabinet, for example; though I'd guess most MPs are probably half-hearted Anglicans.

Heh I'd say that is true for most British people(Scots and NI excempt of course)

Hybrid embryos =/= hybrid people.
Unfortunately.

Live-action Thundercats!

Hybrid embryos =/= hybrid people.

Although one Conservative MP in the debate yesterday seemed to be a hybrid between an idiot and a moron:

On a slightly lighter note, I was today e-mailed by a scientist, who told me that I had got it wrong and that I should not worry about admixing animal and human embryos because we have a large number of animal genes. He told me that I was 30 per cent. a daffodil and 80 per cent. a mouse. I am not sure that even my greatest political enemies would say that I was 30 per cent. a daffodil and 80 per cent. a mouse. I do not believe, with my soul or my brain, that I am 80 per cent. a mouse or 30 per cent. a daffodil. I think that the human race is special and different from the animal race, and that we should take the issue seriously for that reason.

House of Commons Website (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080519/debtext/80519-0004.htm#08051912000001)

One of the most imaginative misunderstandings of genetics I've seen for some time. This is the same genius who tried to overturn the claim that the 'hybrids' would be at least 99% human in their DNA make-up by quoting a science-journalist who wrote that up to 50% of mitochondrial DNA in the hybrid may come from animals. He was soundly slapped on this and several other points by scientifically literate MPs, but to no apparent effect on his rhetoric.

Although one Conservative MP in the debate yesterday seemed to be a hybrid between an idiot and a moron:


On a slightly lighter note, I was today e-mailed by a scientist, who told me that I had got it wrong and that I should not worry about admixing animal and human embryos because we have a large number of animal genes... I think that the human race is special and different from the animal race, and that we should take the issue seriously for that reason.
He was soundly slapped on this and several other points by scientifically literate MPs, but to no apparent effect on his rhetoric.
And no-one, I believe, pointed out that humans are animals, thus all of our DNA is 'animal DNA', and that the concept of an "animal race" is complete and utter nonsense. Statements along the lines of "I think that the human race is special and different from the animal race" should be treated with the utter dsdain they deserve.

Heh I'd say that is true for most British people(Scots and NI excempt of course)
Yeah, the Kirk pretty much dominates here in Scotland.

With the post of the guy before me, I just want to add here. The only reason the idea of how humans are different from animals, and we are so good, smart, and moral while animals are stupid beasts came to be was...us. We said we are better than them, but that is only because we say so. IN a sense, we are deluding ourselves into believing our own words. Our planet probably can't tell the difference between a human and a pig. If humans die out, whoops oh well, time to keep moving along with nature. We think ourselves as so important but we aren't.