From:	Fade <runefo@***.UIO.NO>
Subject:	Re: Giving blood in 205X: common or rare?
Date:	Wed, 20 May 1998 13:10:13 +0000

> >| In our modern world, giving blood is no big deal; as long as there's no
> >| risk of infection or you're not a haemophiliac, it's not a danger.

Not entirely true - haemophiliacs may give blood, but they are a risk
group for blood diseases so they are usually not wanted.
(Almost all severe-degree haemophiliacs has Hepatithis C, for
instance.).

> >| In
> >| Shadowrun, though, a blood sample can be used for ritual sendings, blood
> >| magic, and lots of other creative nastiness.

Very good point. I don't think it would necessarily be much of a
problem, though. I'd imagine that it's a 'colder' world, where a lot
less would be *willing* to give blood, though...

What, you want why??
For most people the risk of someone using magic against them through
a blood sample would be minimal - it's more risky walking outside or
taking a stroll in the park.

If you have powerful enemies that wouldn't mind shelling
out the cost of a ritual team and can get at that blood donation, you
have a problem. (Blood bank or no blood bank! :).

On the other hand, it's a cool idea for nasty plots. A hospital might
'hire' a serial killer to nuke people through the blood donations
of a competing hospital, whatever. And that would be just another
aspect of the times, and one more excuse not to bother giving blood.

As for artificial blood, it should be easily manufactured by then,
and more like full blood than most people get today. When you're
given blood in most hospitals, unless you're in deep trouble, you're
given blood which has been drained of most agents except red blod
cells.

Whaddoi mean easily manufactured?

Image: A clinically clean chamber. The lighting is from large UV
lamps, bathing a cold, blue light on row upon row of cloned bodies
fed nourishment through IV's, twitching from electroshocks to keep
their bodies exercised, slowly drained of blood. One of them, almost
awake despite the checmical lobotomization, looks at you, not
comprehending why...

That's the SR method. In RL they are planning to milk it from
genetically altered sheep/pigs. Or perhaps, instead of clones, they
use 'lobotomized' prisoners? Or just people snatched off the
streets...

*sniff* *BrRRrrdt* Ahhh.. YUCK!

I hate spring flu.

--
Fade

And the Prince of Lies said:
"To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell:
Better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven."
-John Milton, Paradise Lost