Abortion

[Bluebird]

The subject of abortion has came up a lot recently. And I know it's a touchy subject, but I thought folk here are more able to have a reasoned discussion. 🙂

What is your opinion? And why?

 

[Professor Walsh]

That's a verrrry open question. What aspects of abortion is it you wish to discuss?

 

[Bluebird]

That's a verrrry open question. What aspects of abortion is it you wish to discuss?

Just whether it's something you agree with or not and why, and what the circumstances would be that would change your mind. I meant it to be an open question, for anyone to discuss any aspect of it.

 

[WileyDairyGnome]

I don't agree with abortion... Without getting too into it, I just think it's wrong, it's killing a human being.

 

[This Year's Girl]

I'm going to stay away from this subject, since I know it's one that I feel very strongly about and can have a hard time having a discussion about without getting emotional. I hope you that choose to talk about it remember that even if don't agree with what someone are saying you can say that in a respectful way. Have fun! 🙂

 

[Cast No Shadow]

I don't approve of abortion, but I wouldn't outlaw it either.

There are the obvious circumstances in which I think it's ok, such as rape, if the child would be born with serious health defects, or if the pregnancy could result in the death of the mother.

I also think if the mother is incapable of raising the child, then abortion should be permitted.

What annoys me is when people start saying that The Morning After Pill is an abortion (you know the one you can take up to 72 hours after sex). I think women should be totally guilt free about that one.

PLUS I hate that in the UK a baby can be aborted at 24 weeks, where babies have been born premature on so many occasions younger than that, and survived.

I think abortion should be available for women, but that the maximum time before a decision is made should be 8 weeks, so that the woman can be certain she's pregnant, and can also make an informed decision.

 

[Ripper666]

I am against abortion. Because life is life. Point. I think if abortion becomes too popular the risque of getting less responsibility gets bigger. One day it will maybe sounds like this: "Do you want to take the pill or an abortion afterwards?". ( I know this was very futuristic, maybe unrealistic but I wanted to leave an impression.)

I agree that there are cases where abortion is ok, maybe necessary. For example when you know that your baby will be severely disabled or if you had been victim of a sex-crime. Then abortion should be allowed.

 

[WileyDairyGnome]

I still think it's wrong to get an abortion even if they have a disability. I mean, disabled people are still people... Should we go and kill all the disabled people? It doesn't seem much different than killing fetuses with disabilities...

I mean, I know there's the whole "putting them out of misery" thing, but how do you know they'll be miserable? I know a few disabled people (my Mom actually takes care of them) and they are some of the happiest people I've ever known.

That's just how I feel about that. I know there are other consequences which makes this topic really difficult to talk about...

 

[ashleigh]

It really depends on individual circumstances.

I don't believe there's any need for abortion in this day an age. If you don't want to get pregnant, use contraception -.-

Obviously some cases of pregnancy are not the mothers fault (e.g. rape) and in that case I fully support abortion.

I want to say that I feel abortion is the way if the parents will be unable to care for the child either financially or emotionally, but then again perhaps adoption is a better option.

At the end of the day I don't personally think that abortion is always the right thing to do, but women should have the choice and should not be judged for their decision. People do worse things, and in the long run it might be better for the child.

 

[Cast No Shadow]

I still think it's wrong to get an abortion even if they have a disability. I mean, disabled people are still people... Should we go and kill all the disabled people? It doesn't seem much different than killing fetuses with disabilities...

I mean, I know there's the whole "putting them out of misery" thing, but how do you know they'll be miserable? I know a few disabled people (my Mom actually takes care of them) and they are some of the happiest people I've ever known.

That's completely different, to clarify, we're not talking mild disabilities, we're talking severe, debilitating life long, and life limiting illnesses. I think if a child is going to be very disabled, then abortion is permitted, this does not mean I think we should kill all disabled people.

 

[WileyDairyGnome]

That's completely different, to clarify, we're not talking mild disabilities, we're talking severe, debilitating life long, and life limiting illnesses. I think if a child is going to be very disabled, then abortion is permitted, this does not mean I think we should kill all disabled people.

Oh, that's what I thought you meant.

I don't know, I see people's arguments why in some cases abortion should be okay... And I try to understand, but I just think it's still wrong... It's like murdering a child because you think it's best for their future. 🙁 Like, I can see in cases like it having severe illness or it's the result from rape that people would think it's okay, but I can't help but think, what if the doctors are wrong? What if the baby turns out to be a beautiful child and person?

Maybe I should just not continue reading this thread because it makes me confused, hehe. 😛

 

[sisterofmercy]

I'm pro-choice. I think people should be responsible in the first place if they don't want kids, but accidents do happen and so there should be an option to not go through with the pregnancy if you don't want to. I don't think people should be forced to go through with it against their will. Pro-choice doesn't mean pro-abortion, it means giving someone the choice to do what's best for themselves.

I'm not going to say anything further as I don't want the aggro from those who disagree (like the last time this was brought up). I respect other people's views but won't have my own degraded for the sake of it.

 

[Seeing Red]

I am pro-choice, in my opinion, it should be up to the parents of the unborn fetus to make the choice of what they are going to do. Everyone's circumstance is different, should it not be up to the parents to decide what is best for the child and themselves? Whether it is not in the best interests for the child to be born, or if the pregnancy was due to unfortunate circumstances, ect. No, I do not think it is right if someone does not use protection on the premise that they can just get an abortion if they do happen to get pregnant. People should be responsible for their actions, but that does not mistakes or accidents don't happen. Everyone should be able to have a choice.

 

[Black Eye Guy]

Just a reminder that everyone is entitled to an opinion and to respect everyones views.

This thread can be a magnet for over the top arguments, and it will be closed so fast if it gets that way, so make sure to double check anything before posting, that it isn't going to overly offend someone unnecessarily.

 

[Selfless705]

I feel its safe to say no-one here agrees about murder. So it all comes down to when you think life starts. At the moment of conception? At the development of a brain? Or even at birth?

Personally, I think woman should have full choice until the baby is able to survive outside of the mother. I dont feel like going into debate mode tbh, but that is my viewpoint. I understand other peoples as well though.

 

[WWGD]

I am strongly pro-abortion (or "pro-choice" as everyone seems to call it now, because for some reason the word abortion scared them.) I feel like a woman should have the right do whatever she wants. It's her body, and her future. Of course an unborn child is a "potential" (no, not slayer! 😛) but so is every sperm cell and egg. People should have the right to take advantage of modern technology and plan so that they don't end up raising a human being who will just end up having a miserable childhood or whole life.

Mistakes are made, abortion is costly. Most of the time people learn from their mistakes. Sometimes women didn't have a choice in their pregnancy (I'm talking about rape, obviously). Outlawing it all together is absolutely insane. But a woman should always have the final say in the matter, since it's her body. This kind of thing should not be dictated by a law, or by some stranger who happens to think that abortion is offensive or something due to their own personal/political/religious reasons.

 

[strawberryeve]

I believe abortions are a personal health matter between a woman and her doctor and no matter if I think it's right or wrong - it's not something that should be legislated. Meaning a woman should be able to do whatever she wants with her body and not have to worry about what a political state or some stranger thinks she should do with it. So I may disagree with a woman terminating her pregnancy but in the end its really none of my business.
There are some well backed up yet controversial theories that it reduces crime: http://www.freakonomics.com/2005/05/15/abortion-and-crime-who-should-you-believe/

 

[arabella]

I also believe that the decision to abort an embryo or fetus is a medical decision that should be left to a woman and her doctor. I personally cannot see choosing to have one unless my life was endangered by continuing the pregnancy, in which case my husband and I have decided that we would choose my life. I don't feel that anyone else should be able to decide that for me or my family. So, in the end and for that reason, I support any legislature that allows me to be in control of that decision.

 

[EvilWillow]

I am 100% pro-life. There are no circumstances in which abortion is acceptable.

1. Ask any OB-GYN, and they will tell you there is almost never a circumstance in which the fetus endangers the life of the mother. Except in ectopic pregnancy, which is a pregnancy in the Fallopian tube. The fetus dies in the procedure, but it is not aborted. The is no way for it to survive no matter what. So the best thing a doctor can do is revitalize the tissue in the uterus.

2. Although rape is a very unfortunate circumstance, aborting the baby is still not acceptable. It's a hard decision to make, but adoption is always an easier solution than death. It may not be easy on the mother, but nothing is ever easy, and I don't think an innocent child should have to die because it inconveniences someone else.

3. Having an abortion because of birth defects is just plain wrong. Because your child won't be smart, or pretty, death is the better option for them? That just seems so callous to me.

4. Having an abortion because you are "too young" is also unacceptable. It's also teaching children that they don't be to be held accountable for their decisions. Adoption, is also the better solution.

5. Born into a poor family is also unacceptable. I was born into an abusive, and low income family. I was abused and neglected, and even resented by my mother. Would I rather be dead so I didn't have to suffer through it? Absolutely not. And I can guarantee no one here knows what it is like to be dead, so you can't say whether or not it is a better option for the baby.

Taking away a person's right to life is not good. By the time a woman misses her period, the baby already has a heart beat and a simple central nervous system, along with simple brain function. Which mean it can feel pain, and it can feel when it dies.

Abortion may be the convenient option for the mother, but it is in no way fair to the child. Why should the child have to suffer because of the poor decisions or unfortunate circumstances of the adults involved? It doesn't seem fair to me.

 

[Harley]

I'm 100% prolife. I don't think there is ever a circumstance in which ending a human life is acceptable. I don't believe the argument that it's ok for rape/invest/disability/whatever is valid. Those cases make up for less than 1% of abortion. That means that over 99% of abortions are chosen because they are an inconvenience. I think most people are ignorant as to what an abortion actually is and therefore do not view it as ending a human life. A baby's heart chamber is formed within 24 hours of conception. That means you have to stop a beating heart to perform an abortion.