i. the definition of tl;dr. text.

[manipulatent]

In the admittedly limited time I’ve been kept in this place it’s become apparent to me that, in a way familiar to me in the sense of it also occurring in my “home”, that there’s an unfortunate preoccupation with the genetics of metahuman powers that consequently removes focus and resources on improving the human¹ genome. To elaborate

Comments

[gaveherwings]

This is certainly an interesting choice of public forum, to begin unpacking that line of thought.

You'll find most people of this age are opposed to the notion of selective eugenics. Population controls, too.

[manipulatent]

A large and evidently willing audience. Why wouldn't I bother broadcasting my views?

That is fortunate, as I do not support population control myself. Do you?

[gaveherwings]

When limited resources, closed environment, interventional circumstances warrant its necessity?

People here do generally find the very idea abhorrent. I can defend the position from a practical standpoint of my former reality, but I also understand why people here would hold rights to natural reproduction dear.

[manipulatent]

I personally do, but your point is certainly a valid one.

The question comes in the form: Are people willing to sacrifice? Would it be productive (so to speak!) to force them to? I admit, there is little reason outside of the individual why it should not be advocated for.

voice

[harriedosborn]

I don't see how something like genetic equality can exist, even if you factor in genetic engineering and enhancements.

[manipulatent]

An exaggeration. What can (potentially) exist is a baseline of genetic health far higher than our current one.

[harriedosborn]

According to what kind of biological systems? [ Pauses. He sounds slightly disorganized. ] Health spectrum. Just eliminating disease?

[manipulatent]

That would only be the start.

[doeswhathewants]

Oh, eugenics.

Humans seem to stumble over this idea every now and then. Careful on that slippery slope.

[manipulatent]

Your warnings are unnecessary, creature.

[doeswhathewants]

Creature?

I take offense to that. Deep offense. Grave offense.

And they're very necessary. Pretend it was issued in a booming voice and accompanied by lightning.

[manipulatent]

I would like to hear the threats accompanied with what caution you ask of me. Being.

My inevitable death? A stroke of madness within all I love? The fall of our society?

voice; LET ME SEE IF I CAN BULLSHIT THE PHD HE HAS IN THIS SUBJECT. . .

[bythreadalone]

Well, thing is? When you allow the process to be predetermined, rather than natural, it's been in my experience that you get an explosion of inequality, rather than any kind of baseline plateau for eugenics to springboard off of. Too many people want too many things, and government regulation will usually run toward military applications before your common population sees any kind of benefit from the practice.

And that's assuming we don't all go through a phase of everyone wanting tall, blonde, blue-eyed All-American children for a few generations.

text; LMAO I COULDN'T BS HIS SO...

[manipulatent]

So, you wouldn't even consider attempting it?

voice: this just in, playing characters smarter than you is hard

[bythreadalone]

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's not in the realm of possibility, but...

It's like this: I've seen how tampering with a person's genetics have given a man his amputated arm back, but I've also seen it turn that same man into a giant, flesh-eating lizard-man. So, if the topic does become one that anyone wants to throw money and/or resources at, I think it'll definitely require the right people and the right kind of mindset to pursue.

[manipulatent]

Wouldn't it be grand if that were the case? The world's greatest minds, noble minds, willing to sacrifice to make the world a better place, without intended bias?

[text]

[mentis_reae]

Define, if you will, "beauty."

[manipulatent]

I would say that beauty, as a whole, is a social construct consisting of the traits that a society would find to be sexually desirable.

[mentis_reae]

An admirably evasive and noncommittal answer. I would request you revise your response to something more concrete.

[manipulatent]

No.