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Journal munger1101-8's Journal: Can we improve our bodies? 25

Journal by munger1101-8
This is another possible topic for Essay 4. I'd like everyone to post at least two comments on this topic. You can either post a new response or respond to someone else's comment.

An article in slate.com suggests that modern surgical techniques can do almost anything to improve our bodies--not just surgery to make us look better, but also stronger, faster, smarter. Should such surgical techniques be pursued? Are some of them better than others? Should they be better regulated by the government? Should they be covered by health insurance? Here's your chance to speak out!

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Can we improve our bodies? More

Can we improve our bodies?

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  • I agree with this article that enhancement is inevitable. As technology improves, enhancement of our bodies will also improve. For example to improve bad eyesight, first glasses were invented, then years later, contacts were made, and today people can avoid glasses and contacts all together and get eye laser sugery. I do not see anything wrong with these alterations and improvements. I do agree with the author of the article that improvements should be made on ourselves and not tested on our children who ca
  • I think when people start dealing with enhancing genes and changing DNA, then the government needs to establish some sort of limits. Enhancments changing ones seem valid because the person has their own choice whether or not they want to change themselves. However when embryos genes and DNA are messed and tinkered with it seems illegal and scary. I don't think it is safe or fair. I think that the only way enhancements should be provided by health care is if one's health is at risk. Therefore a breast enlarg
    • I agree that it would be scary to be tampering around with DNA and all that... however, I think if someone wants to do that to their bodies-go for it. The government is way too controlling and it's become so out of control that I'm opposed to them putting any more constraints on our lives... no matter how weird this superman thing is, people should have the option to do it if they want to.
  • I feel sort of nuetral about the situation. I think that there's nothing wrong with enhancing one's body part if it will save their life or due to health problems, but I don't think that it should be done just because some one wants tochange their appearance. People should be happy with the way God made them.
    • I agree, for health reasons, I say go for it, if the doctors know it could help and arent just chancing it. I agree that people should be happy with the way God made them, but as humans we know that we will never be satisfied. But we shouldnt chance our lives for our appearance.
    • I agree with what you have said. If the enhancement is for your health, thats great. But as for your appearence, be happy with the way God made you.
    • The "be happy with the way god made you" statement does not hold up well in reality, people do a lot of things to try to make themselves look better. Things like makeup, acme medicine, and clothing all try to make ourselves look better. What your trying to do it draw a line that is "too far" for people to go based on your social outlook.
  • I think someone should be able to enhance the way they look if they want to. There's nothing wrong with changing looks, but I do not think that we should go so far as to make ourselves stronger or smarter through surgery... I believe in working for what you get in life. You can become stronger and smarter by working out and studying, but there are some things about your body that you can't change without plastic surgery.
    • I agree with you about what you had to say. There is nothing wrong with having plastic surgery performed on your body. Some people feel that they need it for psychological reasons.
    • I fully agree with this statement. Brains and brawn come with hard work and determination. Although some people are disadvantaged in these areas I don't think surgery should be used for these improvements.
    • How about accepting who you are? Do you believe in that? If you were created a certain way, why would you try and change the way you were intended from the begining? Just seems rather egoistical to me!
  • Im kind of in the middle on my thoughts. I do agree that enhancements have progressed over the years, however i dont see how the enhancements mentioned are beneficial. I see that scientists of today are trying to play God and i dont agree with them doing that. I also think that these new purcedures MUST be government regulated and approved by the FDA. It must be safe to do on humans and i do not think that children should be the guniea pigs.
  • I think that it's ok to make changes to your body if you are an adult. People have the right to change their appearance if they want to. Who am I to judge? I don't think that it's right for parents to try to change their baby's genes though. I think that that is too much like playing God. I also don't think that parents should try to alter their children's bodies even if they are older. The child should be old enough to make its own decisions about that.
    • I feel this same way as kat. People do have rights and they should bea ble to do whatever they want to do, it's their choice. Parents deciding what their kinds are going to like it crossing the line. What if they child would have liked the way they were born naturaly. We should allow them to make the choice.
  • When it comes to improving one's physical appearance, I would say to each his own. Personally I see no problem with using cosmetic surgery to enhance one's appearance. Of course, like some medical procedures and experiments it can always go too far and that is when I believe the government needs to step for regulation such as last week when Congress and the President banned human genetic cloning. It was clear that some scientist had gone to far and the problem was dealt with in an appropriate manner.
    • I totally agree with what you are saying. Sometimes things do go too far. I don't see a problem with cosmetic surgery. If someone wants to do it, i say let them do it. It is there own decision. It is definately clear that some scientists take it too far.
  • I think surgery such as laser surgery for your eyes, or a pill to clear acne are great things to have. And if you have the money for things like a nose job or breast implants and thats what you want to do, go for it. But I personally think that you should be happy with what you were given. I think medical advances are great when you use them for health purposes, but "stronger and smarter" I think is just a little too far.
  • I totally agree with the fact that adults should be allowed to make decisions for themselves, but it should be illegal for them to decide anything genetically for an unborn child. I also agree that this is playing God, but as technology grows this seems inevitable. I can see doing certain procedures if necessary to help someone from suffering, but not for cosemtic appeal alone.
    • i totally agree with you! this is Messing with God when we are talking about the genetic and DNA Make-up. People today believe that how you look on the outside is all that matters and not whats on the inside. Technology is growing and it seems sometimes impossible to do without. Helping the sick and suffering is one thing but spending all this money on cosetic stuff rather than helping those who really need it is another.
  • I think this is crazy. Of course i wouldn't mind having some changes, but i know I wouldn't be able to afford them. All the rich people will no longer be just rich, they will also be the best. As in stronger, beautiful, faster, etc. I doubt they have done enough research to find out all the complications involved in such surgery.
  • I disagree with the article. I don't think people should be tampering with the genes and DNA make-up of the individual. When people begin to do this in order to perfect oneself it takes away from the individuality of that person. Not everyone needs to be the same, because if we are then diversity will go down the drain. Glasses help our vision but they do not tamper with out genes and DNA make-up
  • I don't really see a problem with letting people get cosmetic surgery. As long as the surgeons and everybody let the public know how dangerous it can be I think that it is the people's own decision. I do know that sometimes things go wrong with this type of surgery and I do think that they need to do a good job to inform the public about the risks of getting cosmetic suregery. If the surgeons and doctors let people know what could happen, then whoever wants to still get cosmetic suregery should be allowed
  • If you look at this on a national security level, it is a must that we do it. If a nation like china starts doing this and suddenly gets global ambitions, they have 3 billion super humans that are faster, smarter, and stronger than us. In government, you have to keep up with the Jones or make sure that they are really nice people that like you.
  • I think that people who are willing to put themselves through surgery to improve their bodies should go for it. If they want to have a nose job, face lift, etc, let them. Why should others criticize them for that? Having technology that allows this can be both good and bad. Insurances should only cover these expenses if they are absolutely necessary. The techniques should be used and in the future be researched to be improved. Like with many other things, there are also mishaps that could happen. Somet

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