Genetics and Dreams of Dodgeball.

[wolven7]

'A law that would protect people in the US from being denied jobs or insurance because of their genetic make-up looks set to be passed.'

This is an interesting set of circumstances. Do we thank people for keeping what we are made of a secret, for not allowing what's on the inside to be a new form of racism (See Transmetropolitan issue #28)? Or do we worry that that's exactly what we're allowing to happen? 'You don't look Hispanic, but, well... let's look at the genome, eh?'

Do we worry that there will be the kind of De Facto racism that goes on, today, only now the facts will be what your genetic marker reads? That there will be a file of who's what?

Hm. Do we worry at all? Or do we merely wait and see and plan for the eventualities?

Yeah. What do we do?

Dreamed of a new kind of Dodgeball, last night, that could be played in the street. If the ball bounced off the buildings, more than 17 times, without hitting anyone, then the team that threw the ball won. Very strange game. Rip Torn was there.

Off to take mech_angel to work. Back later.

Comments

[unknownbinaries.livejournal.com]

Wait and see. Outlawing it at least prevents a Brave New World or Gattaca scenario, for the most part. If it's not made an easy thing from the outset, well people are lazy and cheap. The concept and thought pattern won't be given time to take root and grow into those kinds of bad scenarios.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

But it puts the idea in people's heads, to begin with, and that's what worries me. If we ever do find some "Gay Gene," there's going to be all kinds of legislature, then, because you can be damned sure that, if they perfect G-Reading, it's going to be required by the government. What then, for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell?"

I can see a future where it's on dog tags and drivers licenses, so how will we avoid it, then? Or maybe that's exactly what the law is designed to prevent... But I can't think of a world where it isn't on government file, if they have the ability to do so, even if it's kept from the "public eye."

Problematic comparison:

[raidingparty.livejournal.com]

This law (no discrimination based on genetics) existed in GATTACA as well. The problem, like racial profiling or gender discrimination, is exceptionally hard to prove.