More thoughts

[andrewducker]

Following on from discussion in the last post (and chatting to Julie on my lunch break), a couple more thoughts:

1) Of course we know that genes merely provide tendencies - starting grooves and patterns for you to grow from.  So you can't actually blame your genes for _making_ you do something.  But on the other hand you might feel less guilty about not being monogamous - or feel less pressure to act as if you wanted to be monogamous - if you knew there was a genetic component.

2) Society being what it is (see The Rules) many people will instantly base everything on a simplistic marker or method.  Which means that you'll see some people demanding tests (or sneaking them) and basing everything on them (rather than just adding them to the mix).  I expect to see a book based around this within the next five years, telling girls how they can find the right man, with only a blood sample and a testing kit...

A couple of singles ads from the future:

VP sensitive seeks other for pair-bonding and lifelong commitment. No time-wasters - testing administered on first date.

and

VP-immune seeks many others for fun and frolics, with no strings attached. No moaners!

Comments

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

If it's like DNA testing you won't even need a blood sample - just steal a hair..

[d-c-m.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... So uh, did they do anything with women?

[autopope.livejournal.com]

You know, those Rules really don't work for geeks ...!

[zz]

well, if all women followed the same rules, it'd make life a lot easier for aspergersy ppl, as there'd actually be a manual to rtf. :>

otoh, if i met someone among my peers socially-conditionable enough to succumb to such manipulative nonsense, i would find it hard to not push them into traffic.

[andrewducker]

I believe that human behaviour is so complex, and full of interacting factors.
Of course it is! Did I say it wasn't?

[ninox.livejournal.com]

But that was speculated on in Gattaca.

[andrewducker]

Genetic testing for fidelity?

[ninox.livejournal.com]

There is certainly a scene where Uma Turman pinches a hair sample or something and takes it to get tested to see if he would make a good partner. Ages since I watched it though.