re: #639 kirkspencer

OK, I should stop using the term.

What should I use instead, that gets the attention of the people to whom I am speaking?

Not all attention is good attention. In this case, especially, when you’re trying to make a point about the biological reality of a fetus, you’re using a term that has biological connontations, but is wrong. So, it’s serving to miseducate.

So I need a word that does not easily morph to “baby” in the ears of the people for whom the “it’s like the antislave movement” argument is honestly held.

Why? Is using the term ‘parasite’ suddenly going to make them go “Oh wow, you’re right?” Isn’t it more likely that they’re going to think “Huh, I didn’t think of my fetus as a parasite, not at all, so this person is saying something I can’t connect with in the least.”?

Preferably one that jars the mind enough that I can talk instead of toss talking points back and forth.

I think you overestimate the benefit of being jarring. I think the way to ensure safe and legal abortion access is through the dual tactic of making the practical and legal argument, as Reine has done, and educating people about biology so they understand how limited the capacity of a fetus actually is, and the severe effects that it has on the woman carrying it.

Now, there is a logically good argument, that windsagio often presents, about how the decision to terminate a pregnancy on a woman’s part is not an immoral action, but I’ve never seen it actually convince anyone.

I could be wrong. Maybe all the jarring stuff and the strict moral logic arguments are the way to go. I just don’t think so. I think education and respect for the way the world actual works is better.