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Jozrael · 06-04-2009, 10:18 AM

@latenter: I fully cognize the fact that it affects others. Specifically, the unborn child. However, I can sufficiently rationalize this to myself (to help with the dissonance

) that I am ok with not putting off sex for several years to prevent the chance of requiring an abortion.

Here are the primary rationalizations:

One: Likelihood. With my gf having a nigh perfect attendance record on her pill (being off by an hour twice...in two years), we should have a 99.7% protection rating. This is lessened slightly by our use of condoms twice. (We're not exactly rabbits since the availability of safe (as in uninterrupted) sex times is infrequent). The chance of actually having to resort to an abortion is relatively miniscule.

Two: Cost-benefit analysis, taking #1 into effect. We could not have sex, and not risk an abortion. Or, we could have sex with the above protections, and risk an abortion. Apply a moral 'cost' to having an abortion. It would be quite high for me and my gf. Now, multiply it by .003 (chance of it occurring). Does that outweigh the benefits of several years of sex?

Three: It's a fetus, and while I am killing a potential life (where the murder aspect of it comes for me)...it's not actually a life yet. It won't understand what I'm doing to it. That makes it more impersonal, and more of a decision I'm able to live with. Could I have sex if I had a .003 chance of having to pull out a gun and shoot a living child (and not be punished for it?). I don't think so. So I guess all three of these rationalizations are needed for me to be ok with it

Taking that logical approach to it, I decided it wasn't worth it to wait, despite having a very high moral cost. It's kind of the same way that companies place a value on human lives. Did you know that your insurance company places about $50,000 on yours? Although, if new legistlation is passed, that figure will rise to $129,000.

EDIT: A clarification in light of my new post. I don't intend to say that it being a fetus makes it less of a future person, but that it makes it more impersonal to me and therefore I'm able to table my misgivings far more easily.

06-04-2009, 10:18 AM	#61 (permalink)
Jozrael Junkie	@latenter: I fully cognize the fact that it affects others. Specifically, the unborn child. However, I can sufficiently rationalize this to myself (to help with the dissonance ) that I am ok with not putting off sex for several years to prevent the chance of requiring an abortion. Here are the primary rationalizations: One: Likelihood. With my gf having a nigh perfect attendance record on her pill (being off by an hour twice...in two years), we should have a 99.7% protection rating. This is lessened slightly by our use of condoms twice. (We're not exactly rabbits since the availability of safe (as in uninterrupted) sex times is infrequent). The chance of actually having to resort to an abortion is relatively miniscule. Two: Cost-benefit analysis, taking #1 into effect. We could not have sex, and not risk an abortion. Or, we could have sex with the above protections, and risk an abortion. Apply a moral 'cost' to having an abortion. It would be quite high for me and my gf. Now, multiply it by .003 (chance of it occurring). Does that outweigh the benefits of several years of sex? Three: It's a fetus, and while I am killing a potential life (where the murder aspect of it comes for me)...it's not actually a life yet. It won't understand what I'm doing to it. That makes it more impersonal, and more of a decision I'm able to live with. Could I have sex if I had a .003 chance of having to pull out a gun and shoot a living child (and not be punished for it?). I don't think so. So I guess all three of these rationalizations are needed for me to be ok with it Taking that logical approach to it, I decided it wasn't worth it to wait, despite having a very high moral cost. It's kind of the same way that companies place a value on human lives. Did you know that your insurance company places about $50,000 on yours? Although, if new legistlation is passed, that figure will rise to $129,000. EDIT: A clarification in light of my new post. I don't intend to say that it being a fetus makes it less of a future person, but that it makes it more impersonal to me and therefore I'm able to table my misgivings far more easily. Last edited by Jozrael; 06-04-2009 at 10:57 AM..