Re: >H Fleshsculpting

[Jsn@concentric.net]

Transhuman Mailing List

 
Anders wrote:

> The reason is simply that it is easy to agree that deformity is a bad
> thing.

In all seriousness, never underestimate the potential stupidity of
the human animal.

Some months ago, I took part in a very heated debate on the nature of
deafness, specifically, whether it was a disability or not.  I argued
the emminently logical and physically defensible position that
obviously, deafness is a disability, because if one is deaf, one is
not able to hear.

While most people went along with this, a very vocal minority insisted
repeatedly that deafness is not, in fact, a disability.  That deafness
only _seems_ like a disability because our entire society is geared to
take advantage of hearing and thus discriminates unfairly against deaf
people.  

A number of sophisticated arguments were put forth against these
notions (the most cogent being, if a threat comes up behind you, and
you can't hear it, that's not social discrimination, that's the
disability exacting its toll) but none of them were sufficient.

Interestingly, these people were absolutely deadset _against_ enabling
technologies such as cochlear implants and encouraged parents of deaf
children to, and I quote directly, "Give [your] child the gift
of deafness."

(In fairness, I will point out that some objections to cochlear
implants were somewhat better reasoned-- current implant technology is
fairly low, giving an implant now can prevent a better implant later
because they destroy residual hearing, etc.)

But if there are people positting that an obvious disability like
deafness is not a disability but a gift, expect resistance to cases
which are closer to the borderline.


-- 
John S. Novak, III           jsn@cris.com
The Humblest Man on the Net

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