Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Spike89

(1,569 posts)
14. Not a defense, but it is the modern method
Wed Oct 17, 2012, 06:27 PM
Oct 2012

Being natural means being behind. We dope our active kids so they'll do "better" in school. We used to show coffee on TV ads as pleasant tasting and even relaxing--that has been replaced by energy-drink ads touting performance-enhancement as the way to make it through the work day. We all but demand new world records in sports using every "legal" means, but are dismayed when athletes cross an arbitrary line.

So, where do you fall on the blade-runner question in the Olympics? Because it is actually impossible to say "those prosthetics do or don't provide 'extra' performance" what happens when a world record is set by a blade-wearing athlete? What if parents were given the option of enhancing (how about just ensuring it was optimal for its genes?) their fetus' intelligence, physical health? Would you deny your child an equal footing with children who have had that help? If not, what if they could stop/repair birth defects, genetic flaws, would you give that to your child?

Modern medicine is already pushing the limit of what any person's "natural" ability is. A couple generations ago, there were virtually no instances where doctors could perform surgery on an athlete and honestly say "the joint is better than before the injury". That isn't true any more--it is more than theoretically possible to operate on a knee and give the patient a "better" knee than they were born with.

I'm fascinated with how we are and will be dealing with these "post or trans human" issues. I have no respect for those that cheat, but I do wonder how we're going to define fair in the future.

he should have to spend the rest of his life knocking on doors and apologizing CBGLuthier Oct 2012 #1
not only a cheater but the kingpin of cheats...fuck him. spanone Oct 2012 #2
so he really did cheat? Liberal_in_LA Oct 2012 #6
yes. spanone Oct 2012 #7
I've heard both sides of the story. There may be blame on both sides. Those who test, as well. Gregorian Oct 2012 #8
The UCI - cycling's governing body - has looked the other way for decades wtmusic Oct 2012 #12
Wow, I hadn't heard the bribing side of the story. Gregorian Oct 2012 #20
I said back when he stopped "defending" himself, he was just staying ahead of the tidal wave Blue_Tires Oct 2012 #3
He's always been disgraceful, now he's outed as it were. Lionessa Oct 2012 #4
he disgraced himself barbtries Oct 2012 #5
The dark side of corporate sport sponcorship... Javaman Oct 2012 #9
Didn't Armstrong endorse George Bush for president? gopiscrap Oct 2012 #10
No, he's not a repug as far as I know - TBF Oct 2012 #11
No, but they rode cycles together Brother Buzz Oct 2012 #15
He also got dropped by Anheuser-Busch, Trek, Radio Shack, and a few others. DanTex Oct 2012 #13
Not a defense, but it is the modern method Spike89 Oct 2012 #14
I'm thinking of dumping nike jackbenimble Oct 2012 #16
Yup, I agree...nt joeybee12 Oct 2012 #18
Lots of hearsay and allegations...interesting how the haters here joeybee12 Oct 2012 #17
he must have Romney blood in him. n/t Whisp Oct 2012 #19
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»ouch L. Armstrong utterly...»Reply #14