An Abortion Conundrum - Don't Worry, Just Read It

from JoeUser Forums
I found myself breifly channel surfing yesterday and stumbled upon the rarely watched by anyone sitcom "Yes Dear." The main charcters of the show are two married couples living in close quarters - two homes that share a yard and largely share their lives together. Little did I know that this crappy sitcom would present a real-life possible philosophical question. The plot of the particular episode I was watching one of the men was visited by his high school girlfriend and her husband. His old girlfriend and her husband were having trouble having a child and came to visit to ask if he would donate his sperm to them to have a child since his old gf had fond memories of him and felt more comfortable being impregnated by the sperm of a man she knew rather than picking from a catalog of donors neither she nor her husband knew. When the asked to donate man actually begins to consider donating to them his wife gets upset that she feels she should have equal say in whether he goes through with it. This leads to the punch line of "it's my body, and a man's right to choose."

Joking aside, this may possibly be the closest parallel situation to a woman's right to choose an abortion. Should a man's wife have equal say in whether or not he donates sperm or put another way, helps create life outside of their marriage? Should she have any say?

Personally - I've come to the conclusion that while I'd prefer to have some say (or at least be consulted) if my partner was deciding whether or not to have a child I would never feel that I should be given anymore than 49% say. But I haven't had enough time to think about the other factors as to whether I think the flip side should be the outcome if a man wishes to donate his sperm.

I really hope they don't cancel that stupid show.
2,765 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Personally - I've come to the conclusion that while I'd prefer to have some say (or at least be consulted) if my partner was deciding whether or not to have a child I would never feel that I should be given anymore than 49% say. But I haven't had enough time to think about the other factors as to whether I think the flip side should be the outcome if a man wishes to donate his sperm.


Disclaimer: I haven't bumped into anyone asking for my sperm That said, I've experienced the abortion issue. Point - holding 49% is = to ZIPPO, much like vapor ware or holding 49% of the stock in business partnership, which I've experienced also.

I recall seeing that show. I liked the woman co-star...yummy. Anyways, now that I think about it, that example is the best I've heard of. Her having a say in giving away sperm would be as equal as having say in abortion. Imagine in the future, how relationships and or casual sex will be affected by detailed pre-contracts stipulating how one must act if or when....
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thanks again Titan for your thoughts. I must say that I feel, for argument's sake, that 49% is a pretty large consideration, and definitely not equal to zero. While I would like my opinion to hold some water, I'm even somewhat relieved that, even at best, my preference can't tip the scales in such a decision before a woman. The ultimate weight is on her shoulders, or growing in her belly I should say.
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

On the higher plain of Debate topics, I agree with the wife.  On the lower plain of real life, it will never happen.  But the real issue is that in either case (sperm or abortion), if one partner decides not to consult with the other, that relationship is over.  At the very least it has some major problems.

And like Titan, no one wants my near sighted genes other than my children I guess!

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
First Macky posts, and then you! Something is in the air.
I thought they had cancelled that stupid show.

felt more comfortable being impregnated by the sperm of a man she knew rather than picking from a catalog of donors neither she nor her husband knew.


I find that odd. Mostly that it was her ex, and not just another male friend. I'm guessing that the ex and she were not going to actually 'do it'.

If I were the wife, I'd feel similarly.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
eventually the guy's ex and husband decide that they no longer want to use his sperm after they over hear an argument in which they discover he has a large number of alergies.