Eugenics. We need to breed humans who are more intelligent, less aggressive, more aesthetically responsive, and able to have half-hour orgasms, and who grow a new set of teeth at 45.

An awful lot of 'bollocks' is talked about the Cold War...beware a lot of it is myth and misunderstanding.

Quote from: FierceKitty on 11 March 2015, 01:05:56 AM
Eugenics. We need to breed humans who are more intelligent, less aggressive, more aesthetically responsive, and able to have half-hour orgasms, and who grow a new set of teeth at 45.

I'm inherently suspicious of ANYTHING labelled eugenics.

Star Wars Kit

Stay on target...

Quote from: getagrip on 11 March 2015, 04:57:10 PM
I'm inherently suspicious of ANYTHING labelled eugenics.

So am I. Just as security is a flashing red light of a word in any government department. It remains necessary.

In fact, the way we distrust our fellow-humans in connexion with eugenics is an indicator of how necessary eugenics are. Wouldn't trustworthy people be fun?

Humanity has practised eugenics on animals for centuries. Horses, dogs and cats, to name but a few, have all been tailored for specific purposes over the years. The result - inbreeding and mental and physical instability. And just who decides who reproduces and who doesn't? 

And no good results? We'd be starving to death without selective breeding.

Quote from: Hertsblue on 12 March 2015, 10:58:53 AM
And just who decides who reproduces and who doesn't? 

THAT is the most salient point; who decides.  Start down that road and...well we saw what happened in 1939.

Leaving it to chance, however, gave us Hitler and Stalin and Pol Pot and me. I'm not sure that having a lot of nasty people claim that they want to improve the world is an argument that the world shouldn't be improved.

Quote from: FierceKitty on 14 March 2015, 12:46:27 PM
Leaving it to chance, however, gave us Hitler and Stalin and Pol Pot and me. I'm not sure that having a lot of nasty people claim that they want to improve the world is an argument that the world shouldn't be improved.

Doesn't really address the point though; who decides?

Quote from: getagrip on 14 March 2015, 01:03:54 PM
Doesn't really address the point though; who decides?

History suggests Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot ... I'll take my chances with random mutation thank you very much!

Quote from: Ithoriel on 14 March 2015, 02:17:22 PM
History suggests Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot ... I'll take my chances with random mutation thank you very much!

Agreed

Does no one remember what happened in 'The Wrath of Khan'?

The tubby, balding, womanizing Star Ship Captain and his mismatched crew beat the Super Human!

As long as we have people like Kirk I think the galaxy is safe.

Quote from: Steeleye on 15 March 2015, 09:30:06 AM
Does no one remember what happened in 'The Wrath of Khan'?

The tubby, balding, womanizing Star Ship Captain and his mismatched crew beat the Super Human!

As long as we have people like Kirk I think the galaxy is safe.

Hate to shatter your illusions - but Kirk is fictional.

IanS