Geminiagnel, a pregnancy is not a parasite, read on and find out why, please refute if you feel you have any ground left to stand on.

a) A parasite is defined as an organism of one species living in or on an organism of another species (a heterospecific relationship) and deriving its nourishment from the host (is metabolically dependent on the host). (See Cheng, T.C., General Parasitology, p. 7, 1973.)

b) A human embryo or fetus is an organism of one species (Homo sapiens) living in the uterine cavity of an organism of the same species (Homo sapiens) and deriving its nourishment from the mother (is metabolically dependent on the mother). This homospecific relationship is an obligatory dependent relationship, but not a parasitic relationship.

a) A parasite is an invading organism -- coming to parasitize the host from an outside source.
b) A human embryo or fetus is formed from a fertilized egg -- the egg coming from an inside source, being formed in the ovary of the mother from where it moves into the oviduct where it may be fertilized to form the zygote -- the first cell of the new human being.

a) A parasite is generally harmful to some degree to the host that is harboring the parasite.
b) A human embryo or fetus developing in the uterine cavity does not usually cause harm to the mother, although it may if proper nutrition and care is not maintained by the mother.

a) A parasite makes direct contact with the host's tissues, often holding on by either mouth parts, hooks or suckers to the tissues involved (intestinal lining, lungs, connective tissue, etc.).
b) A human embryo or fetus makes direct contact with the uterine lining of the mother for only a short period of time. It soon becomes isolated inside its own amniotic sac, and from that point on makes indirect contact with the mother only by way of the umbilical cord and placenta.

a) When a parasite invades host tissue, the host tissue will sometimes respond by forming a capsule (of connective tissue) to surround the parasite and cut it off from other surrounding tissue (examples would be Paragonimus westermani, lung fluke, or Oncocerca volvulus, a nematode worm causing cutaneous filariasis in the human).
b) When the human embryo or fetus attaches to and invades the lining tissue of the mother's uterus, the lining tissue responds by surrounding the human embryo and does not cut it off from the mother, but rather establishes a means of close contact (the placenta) between the mother and the new human being.

a) When a parasite invades a host, the host will usually respond by forming antibodies in response to the somatic antigens (molecules comprising the body of the parasite) or metabolic antigens (molecules secreted or excreted by the parasite) of the parasite. Parasitism usually involves an immunological response on the part of the host. (See Cheng, T.C., General Parasitology, p. 8.)
b) New evidence, presented by Beer and Billingham in their article, "The Embryo as a Transplant" (Scientific American, April, 1974), indicates that the mother does react to the presence of the embryo by producing humoral antibodies, but they suggest that the trophoblast -- the jacket of cells surrounding the embryo -- blocks the action of these antibodies and therefore the embryo or fetus is not rejected. This reaction is unique to the embryo-mother relationship.

a) A parasite is generally detrimental to the reproductive capacity of the invaded host. The host may be weakened, diseased or killed by the parasite, thus reducing or eliminating the host's capacity to reproduce.
b) A human embryo or fetus is absolutely essential to the reproductive capacity of the involved mother (and species). The mother is usually not weakened, diseased or killed by the presence of the embryo or fetus, but rather is fully tolerant of this offspring which must begin his or her life in this intimate and highly specialized relationship with the mother.

a) A parasite is an organism that, once it invades the definitive host, will usually remain with host for life (as long as it or the host survives).
b) A human embryo or fetus has a temporary association with the mother, remaining only a number of months in the uterus.

A parasite is an organism that associates with the host in a negative, unhealthy and nonessential (nonessential to the host) manner which will often damage the host and detrimentally affect the procreative capacity of the host (and species).

A human embryo or fetus is a human being that associates with the mother in a positive,healthful essential manner necessary for the procreation of the species.

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You are pro-life, correct? But only for the child and not the mother, correct? So I suppose that makes you pro-benefit, correct? It is to your benefit to decide who lives and who dies because it seems more reasonably sound to you, correct? I assume that makes you God, correct? Ah, but wait: this is not a religious issue.. correct? Eat your heart out, Stalin

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The mother isn't going to die because of her pregnancy. There may be a slight chance, but there is also the chance that she may die or get an infection by having an abortion as well. And my stance on this is that the only time that abortion should be ok is if the mother and the child both are at risk of losing their lifes.

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If a woman participated in unprotected sexual intercourse, she should not have any options regarding abortion. Therefore, the question arises regarding how to determine whether or not the female was unsafe and willingly had sex or if she was raped. In these cases, a psychotherapist's expertise should be mandatory and provided at no cost to the injured party/victim.

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A woman that willing had sex and got pregnant could just lie and say that she was raped. It would just be easier and safer, and would save more lifes if all abortion was out-lawed and only acceptable when both lifes are in danger. This however is just how I feel.

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(there are other ways of getting people not to use abortion as birth control, if we outlaw it the people that want abortions will recur to illegal abortions wich COULD be dangerous).

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They willing have sex, and know what may or may not come from this, they try to abort illegal and they as well would know what could come of this and yet its risk they are willing to take. And still with the few that MAY get injured and harmed by illegal abortion would not compare to the many children that are killed by abortion.

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It's not called murder, it is involuntary manslaughter. SO there goes your theory.

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Ok then, abortion would be voluntary manslaughter which is worse.

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A fetus is not the same as a person who has been born. And I'll be nice and leave it at that

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Yeah its not born yet. It's not any less human, and not any less alive then anyone thats born.

So the unborn child is now a parasite?!? That is the demonization that I referred to on a seperate board.

And do not take Jamaica's insane blather as a reflection of real pro-lifers.

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Websters definition of parasite is as follows:Parasite:An organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered on or in a different organism while contributing nothing to the survival of its host ... Pregnancy:the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus

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The fetus cannot survive without the host. The fetus grows, feeds, is sheltered in the uterus of the host, and contributes NOTHING to the survival of its host. Maybe in your magical, fairy-dust phantasmagoria a pseudo-human ball of cells benefits its host. Spare me the bull, please.

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While you would like to act like you think a fetus is a parasite, it is not a different organism, it is in fact the young of a species and necessary to carry on the species. If you are legitimitly trying to argue that a pregnant mother of ANY species is harboring a parasite... well, you are a joke to the scientific community. Get your definitions straight

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You fail to understand, so I will re-explain: anything developing inside another organism is, by definition, a parasite. This includes offspring; hence my point. Abortion is defined as the expulsion before full term of a conceptus that is incapable of independent life because it is dependent on the organism it is attached to.

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Gem, I have not brought God into this issue at all. This is not a religious issue, as many of you think. And since many non-religious people think that this is a religious issue, they feel that they have to rebel and be against the pro-life side, for the sole fact that it is the “religious” side. But again, this is not a religious issue and I have not used God in my argument. So, the "all" in your statement made your statement false and a lie. Also, the “everything” made your statement false and a lie, as well – I don’t bring God into baseball or lasagna.

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You are telling me that God has not been a decisive factor in the superfluity of abortion threads on this site? I do not correlate myself with people like you, jamaica, or most anyone else on YN; therefore, expect to be jostled into a generic category. My previous comment still stands in full force of its implicit meaning.

You are pro-life, correct? But only for the child and not the mother, correct? So I suppose that makes you pro-benefit, correct? It is to your benefit to decide who lives and who dies because it seems more reasonably sound to you, correct? I assume that makes you God, correct? Ah, but wait: this is not a religious issue.. correct? Eat your heart out, Stalin.

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Okay, after reviewing your posts, one thought came into my mind and it was: What the hell was Gem trying to prove, all I said was, “I love how the term ‘fanatical, religious dolts’ is bestowed upon people who want to defend innocent human lives”? For the record, I also love how people that play baseball are called “Baseball Players.”

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A comatose crackhead could have effortlessly deciphered my posts. I clearly dissected your diction because you ambiguously felt a bit of noteworthy transgression towards me. If you still have questions about the definitions and/or examples I provided, refer back to Merriam-Webster. I did not write the dictionary; I am simply able to utilize it to its fullest extent.

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Anyway, I’ll ask this then: Why is someone “stupid” for trying to defend innocent human lives?

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You're not stupid for holding the opinion you have; after all, your beliefs are as valid as anyone else’s.

It is your reasoning and faulty logic that manages to both simultaneously disgust and baffle me. Refer to my examples; did you even read them?

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You claim that the unborn is a parasite that the mother has total control over. You claim that the mother should be allowed to get rid of it if she wants to (I don't agree with this stance, but fine, it's your stance).

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But here is where I really get baffled. After you just said that the unborn is pretty much property of the mother in which the mother can dispose of it, you now say that the mother should not be able to dispose of this "parasite" in her body if she was "irresponsible" during sex. How can your stance change so quickly?

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I have this incredibly awkward notion that you did not really read what I posted. Here you go:

Also, I do not always agree with abortion. The aforementioned explanation applies to all women except those who simply failed to use protection AND have consequently decided not to keep the child after the first trimester.

If an individual is too stupid to protect herself, her punishment should be to carry that fetus for nine or more months. If she was raped, her life/the child's life is in jeopardy, or she chooses to abort during the first trimester, her rights should not be questioned.

If she simply wants an abortion out of convenience, I do not agree.

Abortion should not be a pro-life or pro-choice debate; it should be a pro-circumstance decision.

My entire post, and at no cost to you.

My straightforward stance on abortion:

If a woman is raped, she should have the right to have an abortion before the first trimester.

If a woman will die during pregnancy and/or the fetus will consequently die, abortion should be an available option, regardless of time.

If a woman participated in unprotected sexual intercourse, she should not have any options regarding abortion. Therefore, the question arises regarding how to determine whether or not the female was unsafe and willingly had sex or if she was raped. In these cases, a psychotherapist's expertise should be mandatory and provided at no cost to the injured party/victim.

I do not support abortion; I support women's rights. As I said before, abortion should be decided on a circumstantial basis; this is why I become progressively more goaded at these blatantly obdurate individuals: you're all debating whether or not abortion should be legal or not, and you all pick either a pro-life or pro-choice side without any consideration for those who fall "beneath the cracks." It is ridiculous and I would rather not have to waste my time.

Good Call Bushsupporter.

If you don't want to go down and read the most recent posts, I will summarize it for you. B=Bauhaus, J=Jamaica, OK?

B-What is good?
J-Good is...
B-Don't avoid my question.
J-What question?
B-My question
J-I don't know what you're talking about.
B-Don't play dumb.
J-What question did you say?
B-You are a huge doofus.

I think that Bauhaus won that ridiculous conversation of ambiguous questions and responses since he did originally ask a question.

On topic, there really isn't a compromise available on this one. This is a moral question and there are no compromises on that. If it is wrong, then it is wrong. If you think it is right, then it is right to you. There can be no compromises on this moral question.

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Why is there a pro-life banner ad at the bottom of this post? I thought that this was supposed to be an unbiased site

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The ads come from an outside source, in this case, Google. They base their ads on things that they read on the page. In this case, Abortion. I do not agree that there should be either pro-life or pro-choice ads on this site because, like you said, this is supposed to be an unbiased site. However, it does not seem like the Mods have control over the ads, so I guess it's just: C'est la vie.

Why is there a pro-life banner ad at the bottom of this post? I thought that this was supposed to be an unbiased site.

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Originally posted by jam_18:

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dont play dumb.

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what exactly did you ask?

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oops wrong thread. just make a new thread calling me out about sex and drugs and whatever you want. I can teach you a thing or two. I love talking to you about these things. I dare you to make a post trying to make me look stupid.

oh yeah... if i was a mod for YN, I wouldnt have banned you. I think you help make YN what it is, this is what makes people keep coming back.

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dont play dumb.

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what exactly did you ask?

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Originally posted by jam_18:

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avoiding the question is what you do best.

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What question did i avoid???

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dont play dumb.

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avoiding the question is what you do best.

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What question did i avoid???

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Why should i be a slave?? In fact, i am free because i know that i have done what is good and right..

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...to you(what is good and right to you). I think it is great if you don't want to do drugs, have sex until marriage and all that, but you cannot impose YOUR beliefs on someone else(what is good to you may not be good to someone else), that would be depriving them of their freedom.

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Originally posted by jam_18:

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this is written out, someone told you this. You are doing what they say.. a slave. no freedom to do what you want.

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Why should i be a slave?? In fact, i am free because i know that i have done what is good and right.. and those who indulge in vices?? like drugs or alcohol? they are the ones bound up in chains for they get addicted to it. Have you seen AJ Maclean (one of the Backstreet Boys) in Oprah??? he was sent to rehab for using of drugs and alcohol.. and did it set him free??? NO!! because of his choice in saying YES to drugs and drinking, he made himself prisoner through his vices.

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avoiding the question is what you do best.

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this is written out, someone told you this. You are doing what they say.. a slave. no freedom to do what you want.

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Why should i be a slave?? In fact, i am free because i know that i have done what is good and right.. and those who indulge in vices?? like drugs or alcohol? they are the ones bound up in chains for they get addicted to it. Have you seen AJ Maclean (one of the Backstreet Boys) in Oprah??? he was sent to rehab for using of drugs and alcohol.. and did it set him free??? NO!! because of his choice in saying YES to drugs and drinking, he made himself prisoner through his vices.

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Originally posted by jam_18:

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Don't make me laugh. What is the path of good? Could you define for me these words: good and bad?

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Good: anything that does not harm anyone, or anything that does not promote vices such as drinking alcohol, suicide, drugs, teen sex, abortion, cussing, etc
Bad: anything that harms anyone, be it your own life or someone else's, anything that promotes the use of drinking, suicide, drugs, teen sex, abortion, cussing, etc

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this is written out, someone told you this. You are doing what they say.. a slave. no freedom to do what you want.

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that path of good is written out for you, so that alone is not freedom.

if you are hurt by seeing other people drink you're weak.

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Doing anything good is freedom alone.

And no, im not hurt, it makes me all the more stronger to influence them NOT to indulge in those vices.

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Don't make me laugh. What is the path of good? Could you define for me these words: good and bad?

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Good: anything that does not harm anyone, or anything that does not promote vices such as drinking alcohol, suicide, drugs, teen sex, abortion, cussing, etc
Bad: anything that harms anyone, be it your own life or someone else's, anything that promotes the use of drinking, suicide, drugs, teen sex, abortion, cussing, etc

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of course i like freedom. Freedom to do whatever you want as long as it is toward the path of good.

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Don't make me laugh. What is the path of good? Could you define these words: good and bad