Representation of a sad life.
I think Mort is having a little fun (after all, this is the abortion thread). Obviously the gravity of pregnancy and having an abortion is greater than "oops, fuck it." But Mort was focusing on TB's use of the word "can't," which implies that there's some kind of universal standard for reproductive behavior that should prohibit abortions. The funny thing is that, of course, there is no such standard, and in fact women can have abortions in the wake of "irresponsible" behavior.
It's a misconception that there are droves of women having unprotected sex and thinking "Fuck it, I can just have an abortion!" Virtually no one thinks that way. Most either take preventative measures, can't afford to do so, or are unaware of the risks.
I'm not really following along with whatever TB is saying because it's probably something I've heard before and isn't really related to what I'm saying. I'm not going to argue whether it's "right" or "wrong", because there has to be some sort of agreed on premises to base that on. That's what I'm interested in. I'm not "emphasizing" the cell clump/fetus/unborn child/etc. I'm saying the question is bigger than either a given woman or given offspring.
I think I understand. The question is certainly bigger than any single situation; and I think abortions should be handled individually, considering all the factors involved. I also think there are situations in which an abortion isn't advisable (specifically late-term, but I'm not willing to draw a line in the sand and say it should never be allowed).
My problem is that I think blanket assessments of abortion as fundamentally wrong at all junctures are moralistic bullshit. I'm happy to discuss the parameters of what needs to be considered; but my experience has been the more I examine those parameters, the less inclined I am to say abortion shouldn't be allowed (again, there are exceptions).
But generally speaking, I think that if we're talking about a woman who finds out she's pregnant in the first trimester, she should have access to abortion no matter what, pending extenuating circumstances, most of which I probably can't imagine. I absolutely do not believe that appeals to "personal responsibility" should stand in the way of someone getting an abortion,
especially if they can pay for it. Forcing someone to go through an unwanted pregnancy (especially if that person can afford an abortion and learns of the pregnancy early) simply because they were "irresponsible" or whatever strikes me as the height of pretentiousness and lunacy.
