should abortion be legal?

[Individuality-ness]

Women are fertile for a limited time
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility#Human_fertility

What I meant was that:
A) It's biology, it can't be designed in the first place
B) The sole purpose of sex is pregnancy.

I should have said what I meant, I apologize for not stating it clearly the first time.

False. The act of sex in humans releases neurochemicals that allow the partners to form a stronger social bond with one another.

[Neutraligon]

A Ah, we are not using designed as in by a creator, but designed as in the system itself is not set up solely to achieve pregnancy. B sex is also social. It allows couples to form a closer bond to one another, even if pregnancy does not result. By having that closer bond, couples are more likely to stay together and thus raise any children they do have or might eventually have better. Even if they do not have children strengthening of the bond probably has other positive affects, including better social cohesion as a whole.

Wouldn't that be to serve the purpose of pregnancy?

Even if pregnancy were not the end result there is an advantage as by bettering the bond between individuals, you may in turn better the social cohesion of the group. So no not necessarily for the purpose of pregnancy. Pregnancy is one purpose of sex, it is not by any means the only purpose of sex.

[Mavorpen]

Wouldn't that be to serve the purpose of pregnancy?

No. For species such as bonobos, dolphins, and humans, pregnancy might as well be a side effect that exists mainly due to the fact that genes do indeed "desire" to be passed down.

[North Stradia]

Wouldn't that be to serve the purpose of pregnancy?

Even if pregnancy were not the end result there is an advantage as by bettering the bond between individuals, you may in turn better the social cohesion of the group. So no not necessarily for the purpose of pregnancy. Pregnancy is one purpose of sex, it is not by any means the only purpose of sex.

I'm asexual, and I get along with people just fine.

[Agymnum]

Why not? It's the woman's body, so she should be able to do what she wants with it. You don't know what it's like, so you can't legislate this in a reasonable and informed manner.

I don't know what it's like to be a serial killer either, so I guess I can't legislate on that either. I find it suprising you're on the liberal side of this issue.

I'm surprised too.

I read a post a few pages back about someone saying I should see an abortion taking place before I say it should be legal.

Well, guess what, I have, while I was in the Philippines with my uncle who performs illegal abortions. I've seen plenty. In fact, I've seen so many I wouldn't bat an eyelash at a pile of dead fetuses.

I still think it should be legal.

[United Marxist Nations]

Well yes, but sex is still based around pregnancy (by pregnancy I mean continuation of our species). If the human race was dying out due to varying levels of fertility and decreased fertility with age then I'm sure that would change.

No again, it is based around social bonding. Sex can also be about pregnancy. At this point, with our ability to artificially inseminate, the later does not matter. Actually, the limited fertility thing may be an evolutionary advantage.

No, it's based on reproduction, that's the point of the male and female genetic material combining.

[Agymnum]

Even if pregnancy were not the end result there is an advantage as by bettering the bond between individuals, you may in turn better the social cohesion of the group. So no not necessarily for the purpose of pregnancy. Pregnancy is one purpose of sex, it is not by any means the only purpose of sex.

I'm asexual, and I get along with people just fine.

While I am inclined to say the same thing, you do need to understand that people who are sexual do bond via sex. I don't know why they find it appealing (I, frankly, find it disgusting), but sex does produce better cohesion between partners.

[Neutraligon]

Even if pregnancy were not the end result there is an advantage as by bettering the bond between individuals, you may in turn better the social cohesion of the group. So no not necessarily for the purpose of pregnancy. Pregnancy is one purpose of sex, it is not by any means the only purpose of sex.

I'm asexual, and I get along with people just fine.

Asexuality itself may have evolutionary advantages, the same as homosexuality.

[Vaklor]

Well yes, but sex is still based around pregnancy (by pregnancy I mean continuation of our species). If the human race was dying out due to varying levels of fertility and decreased fertility with age then I'm sure that would change.

No again, it is based around social bonding. Sex can also be about pregnancy. At this point, with our ability to artificially inseminate, the later does not matter. Actually, the limited fertility thing may be an evolutionary advantage.

Yes, true, social bonding is a part of it. Though I don't think evolution knows we have artificial insemination.

Which means that sex is not "designed to achieve pregnancy."

How so?

[Agymnum]

I'm asexual, and I get along with people just fine.

Asexuality itself may have evolutionary advantages, the same as homosexuality.

For example, I don't waste my time slapping sweaty, dirty bodies with someone for an hour or so. That's already an advantage right there. Saving time.

[Neutraligon]

No again, it is based around social bonding. Sex can also be about pregnancy. At this point, with our ability to artificially inseminate, the later does not matter. Actually, the limited fertility thing may be an evolutionary advantage.

No, it's based on reproduction, that's the point of the male and female genetic material combining.

Pregnancy is indeed the point of male and female genetic material combining. However, there are many purposes to sex, one of which is to form a closer bond.

[Mavorpen]

How so?

Because again, if that were true, we would only engage in sex during times when the females are most fertile. In simple terms, we would only have sex during "heat."

[Neutraligon]

Asexuality itself may have evolutionary advantages, the same as homosexuality.

For example, I don't waste my time slapping sweaty, dirty bodies with someone for an hour or so. That's already an advantage right there. Saving time.

Actually, that is exactly why it might be useful. The gay uncle theory fits just as well for asexuality as it does for homosexuality.

[New Spoderman]

You can't kill what isn't alive yet.

[Agymnum]

For example, I don't waste my time slapping sweaty, dirty bodies with someone for an hour or so. That's already an advantage right there. Saving time.

Actually, that is exactly why it might be useful. The gay uncle theory fits just as well for asexuality as it does for homosexuality.

Except with homosexuality that sorta falls off because in a tolerant society a homosexual person would probably be in a relationship, hence still having sex.

Regardless of society, an asexual person doesn't have sex.

[United Marxist Nations]

Even though I had a part in it, we seem to have made a thread about the legality of abortion about the biological and evolutionary reasons for sex.

[Khodoristan]

Depends. If some 16-year old gets drunk at a party and gets knocked up by some equally stupid male, than no. Fuck that. You live with your consequences.

If you're a woman walking her dog, and gets thrown behind a dumpster and raped, than yes. Get an abortion.

[Neutraligon]

Actually, that is exactly why it might be useful. The gay uncle theory fits just as well for asexuality as it does for homosexuality.

Except with homosexuality that sorta falls off because in a tolerant society a homosexual person would probably be in a relationship, hence still having sex.

Regardless of society, an asexual person doesn't have sex.

Indeed, and the fact that you do not have sex may distance you a little from the society you are in, however, you would still have more time to deal with issues besides raising or taking care of a child, or could assist in such situations. An asexual person could bond with the community through different methods.

[Vaklor]

How so?

Because again, if that were true, we would only engage in sex during times when the females are most fertile. In simple terms, we would only have sex during "heat."

Well, sex is based off of pregnancy and social bonding, I forgot that second part. But maybe we did when we were primates.

[Neutraligon]

Depends. If some 16-year old gets drunk at a party and gets knocked up by some equally stupid male, than no. Fuck that. You live with your consequences.

If you're a woman walking her dog, and gets thrown behind a dumpster and raped, than yes. Get an abortion.

So, that slut deserves it?

[Mavorpen]

Because again, if that were true, we would only engage in sex during times when the females are most fertile. In simple terms, we would only have sex during "heat."

Well, sex is based off of pregnancy and social bonding, I forgot that second part. But maybe we did when we were primates.

The fuck? Humans are primates.

[United Marxist Nations]

Depends. If some 16-year old gets drunk at a party and gets knocked up by some equally stupid male, than no. Fuck that. You live with your consequences.

If you're a woman walking her dog, and gets thrown behind a dumpster and raped, than yes. Get an abortion.

On the first one, what if someone doesn't want their tax-money going to help her raise a child she doesn't even want?

[Agymnum]

Depends. If some 16-year old gets drunk at a party and gets knocked up by some equally stupid male, than no. Fuck that. You live with your consequences.

If you're a woman walking her dog, and gets thrown behind a dumpster and raped, than yes. Get an abortion.

"You live with your consequences."

So if I lose my legs in a hiking accident, no more hiking for me? I can't get prosthetic, because, y'know, "It's my fault and I have to live with my consequences".

Fuck that.

[United Marxist Nations]

Well, sex is based off of pregnancy and social bonding, I forgot that second part. But maybe we did when we were primates.

The fuck? Humans are primates.

Source? Just kidding, that's well-established.

[Agymnum]

Except with homosexuality that sorta falls off because in a tolerant society a homosexual person would probably be in a relationship, hence still having sex.

Regardless of society, an asexual person doesn't have sex.

Indeed, and the fact that you do not have sex may distance you a little from the society you are in, however, you would still have more time to deal with issues besides raising or taking care of a child, or could assist in such situations. An asexual person could bond with the community through different methods.

If I may offer input as an asexual, it's not like we're cold, unfeeling machines.

Well, I am, but that's not true for most asexuals.

Asexuals can have friendships - they can even have relationships. They just don't find physical affection interesting. And if someone needs physical affection to constitute a relationship, then... Wow, that's just shallow.