Ye Shall Be As Gods? - Class 4, Period 3

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

Juli was leaning against the front of her desk, hands crossed neatly over her stomach, while she waited for her class to assemble. When they had, she began to speak. “This week,” she said, “marks the first of several weeks that we’ll be talking about human modification—-the practise of enabling humans to go past the limits of their genetic code by altering it significantly.”

“Just so we’re all clear on the terminology,” a faint smile, “we’ll be discussing the differences between various words that have all be applied to people who have been modified. Let’s start with one of the most obvious. ‘Mutant’. From a geneticists standpoint this is the most accurate—-a mutation is, very simply, deviation from the norm that springs from an alteration in your genes. ‘Special’ is another word used, quite often in fact. This is, possibly, a very blatant example of the human ego at work. That which is not the norm, must automatically be better—special. What assumptions, and difficulties, can you see arising from the usage of this word? How would it feel to be known as ‘not special’ as opposed to ‘special’?”

“The next two words are both highly similar and yet distinct, at the same time. ‘Different’ and ‘Other’. The devil is in the details, if you wish to notice such things. ‘Different’ implies that there is a norm that should be followed, while ‘Other’ can make it sound as if there are no connecting factors, or relations, between those that have been modified and those that have not.”

“In your own words, which word would you be most likely to consistently apply to other people? To yourself?” Juli shook her head very slightly, “I’ll remind you all that in this class there are no right or wrong answers. I am merely interested in what you are thinking.”

“After answering that, please pair off and discuss the various reasons why each word might be applied. What are the good sides to each of them? The downsides? What preconceptions occur to you when you hear each word?”

“Consider those questions as you discuss,” Juli said, “but also, simply use your own heads and think outside the box. There is no point in learning anything if you cannot think effectively with what you already know."

[Wait for the OCD is up! Have at it~!]

Comments

Answer the Question

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

In your own words, which word would you be most likely to consistently apply? And why?

Re: Answer the Question

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"No matter what term you decide to use in your own notes, they're all altered, aren't they? I doesn't matter what they're called." Kabuto had written a few more words in his notes, just to underscore that there were many different words that could be used.

Re: Answer the Question

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

"It matters in the sense that the public's perception of the alterations is often varied--the terminology they use to refer as such tells a lot about their opinions on the matter. No matter what else they may say. If you keep saying someone is equal to you then, in the same breath, call them a 'mutant' it's not hard to discern your actual prejudice."

Re: Answer the Question

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Mutant, I suppose," Bridge says, still fiddling with his gloves. "Different, too. I've heard both."

Re: Answer the Question

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

"And if you had to pick a label," Juli said serenely, "which would you prefer?"

Re: Answer the Question

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Different," he admits.

Re: Answer the Question

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

"It depends on the nature of the alteration," she said coolly. "Are we talking about those who started out as baseline human and were altered after birth, or someone born with a pre-existing mutation? There isn't one catch-all term."

"As for what word would apply to me, I think the most accurate term would be hybrid." Pulling her hair back, Anemone exposed the receptor on the side of her neck. "I'm a human-Coralian mix created through introducing Coralian DNA to this body and making other alterations through surgeries. It isn't the only thing I've been called, but it's one of the more technical terms."

Re: Answer the Question

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

The scientist in her was quite interested in the receptor. Juli merely nodded. "There is not," she agreed, "but that does not stop people from attempting to apply the same label. Primarily, today, I'd like to focus on those who've been altered. Would you say 'hybrid' is a positive or negative term to the general populace?"

Re: Answer the Question

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

"I think it was intended as a neutral term for use by the members of the Ageha Project, since my, ah, 'qualifications' weren't made public until recently. Even my handler didn't know what I was. Right now?" Anemone made a face. "It's the most flattering term being used."

Re: Answer the Question

[multiplez]

"I guess I'm a mutant," Z said listlessly, staring at her hands.

Re: Answer the Question

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

Both the wording and the tone made Juli's eyebrows raise slightly. "You guess?"

Re: Answer the Question

[multiplez]

"Mostly I get called a freak?" Z tried.

Re: Answer the Question

[redintraining.livejournal.com]

"Technically, I'd be a mutant," said Sky. "I've also been called different, though."

Re: Answer the Question

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

"And which did you rather? Which was more hurtful?" Teaching by asking questions was her favourite way to go.

Re: Answer the Question

[redintraining.livejournal.com]

Sky thought about that for a long while.

"I would much rather not have a label at all," he finally replied. "Or if I have to have one, be labelled a 'human being', which is what I am. I'd say being called 'different' was the worst, though. Because to me, it implies that I'm somehow not human or not the same kind of human as everybody else. At least the technical definition of 'mutant', as you said in the lecture, just means that my genes are mutated, not that I'm less human."

Re: Answer the Question

[practicaldevice.livejournal.com]

"Well...I'd have to say that I'm fairly normal. I guess different is the best word for me."

Re: Answer the Question

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

"Is that not a contradiction of terms?" Juli wondered, "How can you both be 'fairly normal' and yet 'different' at the same time?"

Re: Answer the Question

[practicaldevice.livejournal.com]

"I mean, I have no special powers nor can I do anything weird and as far as I know I'm 100% human, so I'm fairly normal that way. But I act differently."

Re: Answer the Question

[twohalvesofaphd.livejournal.com]

"What's wrong with 'genetically modified human'?" Zack asked. "It's an accurate and fairly neutral term."

Let's all take a moment to be grateful he was planning spending most of his life in a lab environment, where pesky little things like human interaction where somewhat less important.

Re: Answer the Question

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

Juli kept a sigh to herself. "It is accurate," she admitted, "however, I would like to see how many of your classmates react favourably to you referring to them that way. Neutrality is not something that many of us find comes easy."

Re: Answer the Question

[time-flyer-5.livejournal.com]

"The norm, where I come from," Jen said tersely. "'Mutant,' with apologies to my fellow students, came to mean anyone whose genetic modifications went badly wrong."

Re: Answer the Question

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

"The norm?" Juli asked, "Interesting. How would you refer to those then without any modifications at all?"

Re: Answer the Question

[time-flyer-5.livejournal.com]

Jen turned the triangular badge in her hands over a couple of times as she thought, running her fingers over the ridges of the design.

"It was a little odd, but nothing too extreme," she said finally. "Most of the modifications were things like the color of someone's eyes or hair, or their height . . . occasionally intelligence level or athletic ability. In fact, I'd hazard a guess that the technology we used for those modifications came from . . ." She shot a quick glance in Bridge, Z, and Sky's direction, and there was an undertone of apology in her voice. "Well, it evolved from research done in their time. If people chose not to have their kids 'customized,' it was a lifestyle choice. Maybe a political statement, or just a sociological one. Sort of like veganism is today."

Re: Answer the Question

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

"Officially speaking, on my world people with unnaturally altered genetic states are classified as 'genetic mutations.' And those are generally completely illegal," Peter explained. "And then there's the mutants, who were born with their genetic differences. I think those terms lack a certain warmth, though, so I'm going to suggest a new name: Bob. It's short, it's catchy, and it sounds friendly."

Re: Answer the Question

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

Juli was starting to think that Peter lived to try and give her a headache. "Bob also lacks any sort of distinguishing features," she pointed out, "which rather negates the point of a label."