[ShepherdsDog]

This isn't an overnight thing. Those with half a brain would realize that. The one billion persons would be the end result after several generations of tightly controlled birth rates. Eventually, genetic engineering would take over and low birth rates would be 'natural'.

[saturn_656]

I don't think it's viable even if it were a hundred year "thing".

Who decides who reproduces?

Who would enforce this?

What would happen to "hold outs", be they individuals, countries, etc.?

[Proculation]

Ah the good old science of eugenics. I have always believe in that.

[ShepherdsDog]

A lottery could determine who reproduces, based on DNA testing. National and local governments would be expected to 'monitor' the situations. Holdouts would be refused any aid from nations that comply. They would be forced to deal with any strain a large population placed on their resources. Taking a contraceptive is an easier pill to swallow, than watching your children starve. Birthrates could also be adjusted based on area population, resource consumption etc.

[Proculation]

[ShepherdsDog]

Proculation Proculation:

Ah the good old science of eugenics. I have always believe in that.

It's not eugenics. It's common sense, based on science and sustainability. The only thing being curtailed is the 'right' to reproduce. People always go on about licencing being required for all sorts of things, yet anyone can bring a child into the world. This is one of, if not the most important things we can do. Ensuring that each and every child born has the best opportunities should be a societal responsibility. Part of that responsibility is to make sure that the child has a world worth coming into exists.

We could eliminate most depression, bi polar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, sociopaths....all genetic disorders that plague our species. With engineered metabolisms we would place less strain on our planet's resources

[saturn_656]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

A lottery could determine who reproduces, based on DNA testing. National and local governments would be expected to 'monitor' the situations. Holdouts would be refused any aid from nations that comply. They would be forced to deal with any strain a large population placed on their resources. Taking a contraceptive is an easier pill to swallow, than watching your children starve. Birthrates could also be adjusted based on area population, resource consumption etc.

So non compliance wouldn't be an issue for countries with low birthrates like most of the western world.

The target of this program would be third world countries with large populations and insufficient resources to sustain those populations?

I don't see that working.

[Dragom]

But depression, bi polar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia and sociopathy are very poorly understood "conditions" roughly equivalent to bearing the witches mark and speaking in tongues.

What about muscular dystrophy and similar but comprehensible and more likely to be real genetic disorders?

And super low metabolism works wonders for the Native Americans.

The scary thing is who is going to decide whats a good idea to change.

Next thing someone will say what a great idea it is to have photosynthetic humans.

These things might look good on paper, but if you apply them to the real world they don't.

[ShepherdsDog]

Dragom Dragom:

But depression, bi polar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia and sociopathy are very poorly understood "conditions" roughly equivalent to bearing the witches mark and speaking in tongues.

What about muscular dystrophy and similar but comprehensible and more likely to be real genetic disorders?

And super low metabolism works wonders for the Native Americans.

The scary thing is who is going to decide whats a good idea to change.

Next thing someone will say what a great idea it is to have photosynthetic humans.

These things might look good on paper, but if you apply them to the real world they don't.

What about muscular dystrophy and similar but comprehensible and more likely to be real genetic disorders?

$1:

all genetic disorders that plague our species

You must have missed this little bit.

This isn't an overnight process, as I've already stated. This can only be brought about through education, over time.

$1:

The target of this program would be third world countries with large populations and insufficient resources to sustain those populations?

Here's the choices. Have 10 kids, and hope that one or two survives to live in ignorance and abject poverty as you and your preceeding generations have, or have one child that has a bright future ahead of them, which includes relative wealth, good health and a good education. The only thing you've sacrificed is potential sorrow and suffering.

Countries that comply will be given assistance, but that assistance will have conditions.

[Dragom]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

You must have missed this little bit.

This isn't an overnight process, as I've already stated. This can only be brought about through education, over time.

And you missed the part where you listed some highly dubious "personality disorders" at the top of the list.

Betraying the fact that genetic editing would target fad disorders.

[Proculation]

I'm bipolar and proud to be. Like you say Dragom, it's still poorly understood.

Great people like Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Jimmy Hendrix, Francis Ford Coppola, Beethoven.

But also are Mel Gibson and Jean-Claude Van Damme tho....

Intelligence and creativity often come with mental illnesses.

[ShepherdsDog]

But if we can find a way of allowing that intelligence and creativity to exist with out its dark side, that would be a good thing. Proc, if you had the ability to prevent your child from suffering from bi polar disorder wouldn't you give it to them?

[ShepherdsDog]

Dragom Dragom:

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

You must have missed this little bit.

This isn't an overnight process, as I've already stated. This can only be brought about through education, over time.

And you missed the part where you listed some highly dubious "personality disorders" at the top of the list.

Betraying the fact that genetic editing would target fad disorders.

These 'disorders', as you label them, aren't mere quirks in some one's personality.

[Dragom]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

Dragom Dragom:

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

You must have missed this little bit.

This isn't an overnight process, as I've already stated. This can only be brought about through education, over time.

And you missed the part where you listed some highly dubious "personality disorders" at the top of the list.

Betraying the fact that genetic editing would target fad disorders.

These 'disorders', as you label them, aren't mere quirks in some one's personality.

For some they are integral components to non-standard and successful people. For others they are quirks.

I'm pretty sure the notion that they are a disease is a fad.

Imagine in the future what other fad diseases we'll have? Like Religious Gullibility?

[Proculation]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

But if we can find a way of allowing that intelligence and creativity to exist with out its dark side, that would be a good thing. Proc, if you had the ability to prevent your child from suffering from bi polar disorder wouldn't you give it to them?

That 'dark side' makes me a different person, a special person. That's why I'm proud to be bipolar. I would not be the same person without that.