Kuro, I was not a bio major in university. However, what I have stated is taught in high school biology (more precisely, Year 10, or Secondary 4 biology), which I did take. Biology has always been my highest scoring subject, and to this day, I still keep up in many areas of it for my own interest. My main areas of interest in this subject has always been... macro-biology, I believe it is called: the interactions between organisms within an ecosystem and/or society. This also butts up against another of my areas of interest: basic psychology.
I actually also had genetics class. I tend not to assume everyone has the same base knowledge (excluding the most basic math) because educational systems worldwide tend to differ almost as much as people do. My apologies if it offended you, however (as I mentioned in my post, I remembered you being in the discussion and there being mention of a biology major amidst them; I didn't check the facts for a citation).
I asked for practical experience. Being a bio major is book learnin', not real world experience.
So since Albert Einstein never built an atomic bomb, that means he'd never be entitled to comment on the physics involved in an atomic bomb? If a forensics expert never fired a gun he's not adequate to analyze ballistics? If a doctor never practiced martial arts, he could not tell the difference between a stab wound and a hammer to the face?
To quote Gregory House: you go to the sea, you fill a glass of water. There are no fish in it. Is the ocean devoid of fish?
You happened to know ONE incestual couple whose children are challenged. The parents themselves are ignorant. And you think it MUST be the fact they're related that's the deciding factor here, because it's "wrong". Reminds me of Germany.
I NEVER said that it isn't abuse and I don't understand where you got that impression.
Abuse implies a genuine wish to do harm. One part of your post implies that if the parents did not intend ill towards the child, then there would be no basis for argument. Then, near the end of the same post, you claim that ignorance is no excuse, but that people who "abuse" their children in such a manner do so through ignorance and stupidity. In so doing, you're contradicting yourself.
You cannot abuse someone 'accidentally'. Abuse implies ill will - a deliberate desire to harm, and harming requires knowledge of how to do so. Ignorance is no excuse for a lot of things, granted, but in this particular case, ignorance and ill intent are mutually exclusive. It's like trying to hurt a guy by squeezing his chest - ineffective at best.
As for genetic testing before conception, sure it's a good idea. But right now it really isn't an option for most people.
You mean "all but the richest people", since it's outrageously expensive. DNA testing, at least where I live, is almost up there with brain surgery in terms of cost. And it's a violence to both sides of the couple. "Honey, I love you and wanna be with you, but if we're going to have babies, we need to check our DNAs first".
As for the little mudhole I live in, Oregon is a nice place and I like it here. But, even here, there are people too ignorant to know better and I seriously doubt folks are any smarter where you live. The folks I am talking about grew up within a couple miles of me. They are brother and sister and they have 2 kids. Both children are 'challenged'. I think they had another kid that died young but I would rather not ask them about it to make sure. My point is, most everyone knows it is taboo, but some people do NOT know that there is an actual danger to it. Even today.
You misread. I wasn't asking where you live. I asked where did you think people lived (people as in human beings in general). That, and the fact I find patriotism to be an utter joke, means I'll let your semi-veiled "we are certainly smarter than you" comment slide.
Here is a bit of folk wisdom to think about, btw: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach"
Folk wisdom also taught people it was okay to drink water from rusty kettles for getting more iron in the blood. And this particular piece of wisdom fails to consider those who both teach AND do.
Practice without knowledge is as useless as knowledge without practice. Placing one above the other leads to disastrous results, like the current way the news are made and displayed.
You, sir, are worse than a greenie. You are an Aelryinth. Your attitude is one of "the world as I would like it to be". Good day, ignorant one.
Now, now, let's be PC here. I do believe they prefer to be called "disciples of Schopenhauer".