Poll: Would you abort a pregnancy if the child would have Down Syndrome?

[Phoenixlight]

I would rather die than have the disease myself so I wouldn't want to bring another person into the world with it.

 

[Disaster Button]

well we don't know until it happened.

ask a parent.
most of the people here are teenagers and have no idea of parenthood or the feelings that come with it (myself included).

This is my real answer, but if I have to answer within the restrictions of your poll right this second I'd probably say yes. Not that it means anything as its one of those things you can't answer until you're in that situation.

 

[Dark Knifer]

No because I don't really like the idea of denying a live no matter what may be wrong with it. Also I am against abortion because I can almost see in this day and age people getting carried away with abortion. "No I think three children is enough, let's give this one a miss". What was wrong with condoms and birth control pills etc?

 

[sms_117b]

End it, and I'd end all other pregencies with birth defects/hereditary abnormalities (Parkinsons and a like)

 

[HotFezz8]

Yes. Absolutely. Without a second thought.

I know it makes me an evil, evil person but I don't even think of Down's sufferers as human. They're...not right. Defective. Little more than pets or playthings like animals. And like I said, I know that makes me an evil, evil person but my revulsion at the sight of them is deeply personal and not something I can deny.

ooh err, im betting your getting flamed for that ;-p

and whilst i agree with the notion of aborting a baby which would be so disabled, i do disagree with your notion of down syndrome people.

 

[SinisterGehe]

I would discuss abortion in any case that would serverly harm the child's life and future.
Call me an asshole or cold fucking person. But I believe if I can choose between giving a life to someone who cant live it to the "Fullest" or will suffer living it "Physically/mentally" or let them rest in peace before they even live (and go to Heaven or whatever you believe to. I would choose death for them.

 

[Sebenko]

if the kid is not disabled, meaning, he is able to eat, move and experience the world in his oun why would you kill him??

OH RIGHT!! ITS A BURDEN!! TROUBLE!! YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF SOMETHING OTHER THAN YOURSELVE

yes, because i know that everyone in here would rather kill your problems than overcome them

You're probably expecting some refutation from the non-murderous members of the Escapist, but allow me to throw you with my next statement.

Yes. I'd rather kill my problems. Does that make me a bad person? Probably. Can anyone here claim to be a good person? No.

No, no, no. The human race is a genocidal, ignorant, superstitious, wasteful excuse for a dominant species. A single human life consumes so many resources. In the words of some insane videogame villain, humanity is a parasite.

Yes, the future will be glorious, but only because we might outgrow these flaws. But at the moment, I don't see any redeeming features for humanity beyond a few scientists.

As a less serious, more black humour, aside, there's like 7 billion humans. Probably more now. Who's going to miss one? If I had seven billion of anything, I don't think I would mind losing a few million, let alone just one.

Yes. Absolutely. Without a second thought.

I know it makes me an evil, evil person but I don't even think of Down's sufferers as human. They're...not right. Defective. Little more than pets or playthings like animals. And like I said, I know that makes me an evil, evil person but my revulsion at the sight of them is deeply personal and not something I can deny.

ooh err, im betting your getting flamed for that ;-p

and whilst i agree with the notion of aborting a baby which would be so disabled, i do disagree with your notion of down syndrome people.

Dunno, I'm inclined to agree with him. Why should I let my life be ruined by having to care for this misshapen spawn?

I wouldn't say they're not human. They're missing something, though. And to be quite honest, it scares me that any human would want to care for them.

 

[Estocavio]

Yes. Absolutely. Without a second thought.

I know it makes me an evil, evil person but I don't even think of Down's sufferers as human. They're...not right. Defective. Little more than pets or playthings like animals. And like I said, I know that makes me an evil, evil person but my revulsion at the sight of them is deeply personal and not something I can deny.

Indeed - An example would be animals. All animal species dispose of their children if theyre defective - Birds throw them from trees, and other animals, well, id care to avoid explaining.

 

[Sejs Cube]

My sister has down syndrome. She is one of the most love-filled people you'll ever meet. Anyone who has ever cared for down syndrome people will tell you how wonderfully they see the world.

I'm not a pro-life nut. I'm not even religious. But I would NEVER abort a baby just because it might turn out a little different. And, frankly, I'm genuinely disgusted at the amount of people who have voted "yes".

A counterexample; my aunt is easily the closest thing I have ever seen to genuinely saintly behavior. She is an amazingly selfless, giving, endlessly caring woman. She has basically dedicated her life to adopting and raising children with Down's. To date she has been adoptive mother to six. As this is understandably no small task, she is a regular part of my family's life. To say I have a modicum of exposure to the heartbreak and joys of the lives of people with this disability would be an understatement. Never the less, I still find myself voting 'yes'.

Nobody is or has said that people with Down's are not truly innocent, loving people.

What's being asked is, if you had the opportunity to abate suffering before it started, would you have the moral courage to do so, even if it were a hard choice to make?

 

[Vrach]

What's being asked is, if you had the opportunity to abate suffering before it started, would you have the moral courage to do so, even if it were a hard choice to make?

^This. I would not bring a child into this world to suffer just so I can feel good about myself.

 

[Machiavellian007]

It depends. If I was pregnant right now, at 15, I would abort, definitely, even if they were 'normal'. But if I wanted the baby, truly, deeply wanted the baby; no.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

I see your point, but I don't think Godwin's Law looks at the situation. It simply states that when a discussion becomes longer, the chances for a Hitler-reference become larger. In this case, we obviously didn't have to wait a long time. Correct me if I'm wrong, though.

No, you're right, that's what the rule says. What it's taken to mean is that whoever mentions the Nazis spoils the conversation.

I doesn't matter how appropriate the comparison may be, once Hitler or Nazis in general are used, it's game over man, game over.

EDIT: Ah, I see you've already done this with the other guy. Well, my explanation is for the "Extended Godwin's Law" which states that once the normal Godwin's law is invoked, all discussion of the topic should cease.

The problem I have with this is that sometimes it's more than appropriate. Nazi has replaced Satan as the word to sling around when you mean someone is being nasty but it stifles accurate comparison to stop people using it at all.

The problem with Godwin's law is the same as the phrase 'slippery slope fallacy', 99% of the time it's a false analogy but 1% it really is an important comparison to make to avoid people repeating their mistakes. But by giving it a name you can say and roll your eyes at it eliminates it's usage 100%.

That's not why I use the law though, I use Godwin's Law because it usually gives everyone a jolly good laugh. Sadly, this time only I was laughing.

 

[AlphaOmega]

Yes, but only because I should not pass my genes onto children in the first place.
I have a genetic disorder leading to constant pain bleeding and gaping wounds on my feet and legs; so downs on top of that would be cruel.

I will adopt.

 

[Dexiro]

If your kid had downs syndrome nobody wins. Kid doesn't want the disorder, parents don't want to live with it, and everyone's life if just made 10x harder.

Yes i would abort the kid, and hope for one that's completely healthy and can potentially live a much better life.

 

[Super Toast]

Yes. Without a second thought.

 

[samael_morningstar]

I would. But here's the thing, on the one hand I don't think a fetus can be counted as a human being, it's a potential human being, but hasn't become one yet. On the other the hand I also think a woman's body is her business and no one else's, so the decision should be left up to the woman, as she's the one who has to cook it for 9 months and then push it out, so everyone else should butt-out of the decision. If I was the potential dad in such a situation, yeah... I'd say what I've just said now and then leave the decision to the missus, and then sell my soul to Satan in return for her agreeing to abort.

I don't think I'm a terrible person, I just wouldn't wish a down-syndrome child on anyone, there's far too much effort and strain involved.

 

[Tipsy Giant]

Yes. Absolutely. Without a second thought.

I know it makes me an evil, evil person but I don't even think of Down's sufferers as human. They're...not right. Defective. Little more than pets or playthings like animals. And like I said, I know that makes me an evil, evil person but my revulsion at the sight of them is deeply personal and not something I can deny.

My uncle has downs and he is a wonderful person, the problem is that people are not used to being around someones with downs and the one thing the human race is scared of is difference, which is why homophobia and racism exist.

People with downs are just mind locked in a state of adolescence which from your childish statement gives me reason to think that by your logic you should have been aborted you evil fuck

 

[Nmil-ek]

I have neither the time, money, resources or patience to raise a child with downs syndrome morality does not even factor into it one iota, it would be far less cruel to kill a group of cells than bring in a child that would be utterly unloved and have no opportunity at a good life or upbrining.