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Americans Uncomfortable With Possibility of Ubiquitous Drones, Designer Babies
alphadogg writes: "Americans are optimistic about scientific inventions on the horizon, though are cautious about future uses of DNA, robots, drones and always-on implants, according to the latest Pew Research Center survey on future technology (PDF). Asked about the likelihood of certain advances 50 years from now, survey respondents were most sure that lab-grown custom organs for transplant will happen (81%). Only 19% expect humans will be able to control the weather by then. When asked how they felt about possible near-term advances, 65% thought robot caregivers for the elderly is a bad idea, 63% didn't want to see personal drones in U.S. airspace, and 66% thought parents altering the DNA of prospective children was a bad idea."
Everybody who is not properly trained in their use having a drone is a horrible idea, kind of like giving everyone who is not properly trained in their use a gun is a bad idea.
FTFY. Proper training has a tendency to fix a lot of the issues with people misusing tools, outliers notwithstanding.
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Just as the strongest argument against communism is to simply point at every attempt to implement it, likewise the strongest argument against Eugenics is to look at all the times we (US, Germany, etc) attempted it.
Its not a good path to go down. It invariably leads towards first/second class citizens, people whose ability to reproduce is considered detrimental to society, and a tyranny of the masses.
"...66% thought parents altering the DNA of prospective children was a bad idea..."
Unfortunately, nearly half of Americans still have no problem surgically altering the genitals of their sons in order to suit their own aesthetic and sexual preferences or to satisfy their own religious blood rituals.
A drone is just a remote controlled aircraft with a camera. I had several "drones" in the late 1980's as a teenager, for fuck's sake. Get over the knee-jerk raction equating "drone" with "terminator T-1000" and come back to sanity.
You would be surprised, but sometimes the unlikely movie scenarios do happen. Happened to me recently. Luckily, I had the 'other' lethal weapon with me, which resulted in the other guy having broken bones, not me. You don't need a gun 99.9% days of your life, but when you do, it can decide the outcome between life and death.