From: | Avenger <Avenger@*******.DEMON.CO.UK> |
---|---|
Subject: | Clones and other thingies |
Date: | Thu, 8 Jan 1998 18:48:00 +0000 |
start cloning human beings at the rate of 3-500 per month (infertility
clinic), in complete opposition of President Clinton's opposal to the
cloning of human beings. And, seeing as clones has been a hot topic of
the science fiction genre in general, and... cloned body parts are a
commonly accepted part of Shadowrun. What are the thoughts of the
people here.
I'm not interested in a moralistic opinion of cloning. There are other
forums for that sort of debate, this is a cyberpunk list, so, all views
are encouraged, but let's keep souls, god, politics out of it. OK?
The reason I ask, is because of programs like Space:Above & Beyond (the
cloned memmbers of society described in derogatory terms as tubies) with
no history, memoriers to speak of etc.
Replicants (slightly different but...) from Bladerunner.
(I use these in my games for the same purpose as the film, hard
labour/exploration)
Cloning of body parts, as witnessed in other movies or farming of clones
for body parts.
(I /think/ even FASA canon has this occurring)
Alien: Ressurection - the cloning of a full human with memories intact.
(Not done this yet, I use an accellerated subliminal teaching method
through re-programmable BTL implant)
And of course Star Wars - The Clone Wars (if it means the same thing at
all - Bull???)
Followed by a considerable number of Twilight Zone/Outer Limits episodes
and a few rather sad comedy films.
(A lot of the ideas from these programs are likely to be
implemented in my games at some point for general mayhem value)
I use cloning in Shadowrun, and have done so to my players chagrin on
one occassion, when their clones became more famous then them, but in a
very unpopular way. (but then I use cyborgs and androids as well, so...)
A large number of other possibilities occur to me.
I'm curious to see how other list members view clones/cloning in their
campaigns, and whether they are used simply to repair broken PC's or if
the process is expensive to the point where only those of "wealthier"
status are able to employ such methods. Obviously the applications for
medical use are limitless, but farming body parts? How would that be
viewed by extremist organisations in Shadowrun, does a clone have any
status in society or is it a "tubie" to be treated with contempt and
almost racial hatred?
In a way I'm a bit nervy (those who know me will realise this is not a
natural condition for me) :) of asking this sort of question because it
has a chance of becoming volatile, So, for those who want to get
excited and start screaching at each other over social/religious issues,
please take it somewhere else. After all, Shadowrun is cyberpunk, and
cyberpunk by it's very nature, breaks the boundries of many accepted
social values.
--
Dark Avenger -:- http://www.shalako.demon.co.uk/index.htm -
Unofficial Shadowtk Newbies Guide, Edgerunners Datastore &
Beginnings of the Underseas Sourcebook.
http://freespace.virgin.net/pete.sims/index.htm - Alternative UK Sourcebook
(U/C)