# Abortion. Yes or No? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 25, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791 "2003-07-25T02:56:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nomadic\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/858c86/32.png) [@Nomadic\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nomadic_One)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/21 "2003-07-25T07:57:41Z")
Im weird. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/22 "2003-07-25T12:42:08Z")
Yes, but the alternative (forcing women to bear children they don’t want) is worse, so I’ll change my answer to “no”. ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/23 "2003-07-25T13:26:10Z")
Insufficent data. Next time include whether or not woman in question wants an abortion or not. And pie. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/24 "2003-07-25T13:31:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JThunder \* > \*\*Not true. As **dutchboy208** pointed out in his link (and as echoed in [one of mine](http://www.epigee.org/guide/abortifacient.html)), the matter is far from settled. Quite simply, the medical evidence is conflicted on that matter. \*\* The evidence isn’t conflicted, it doesn’t exist. There is no proven connection between abortion and breast cancer. Period. BTW, there are far more health complications associated with carrying a pregnancy to term than there are with abortion…not that it matters - it’s every woman’s choice to make decisions that affect her own health. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/25 "2003-07-25T14:11:05Z")
No. **Nomadic\_One** : are you interested in debate or did you just want to poll people without actually debating the issue? It seems odd to place a poll in GD. ---
**Author:** ![greck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ab992/32.png) [@greck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greck)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/26 "2003-07-25T14:16:20Z")
Short answer: yes it’s wrong long answer: People should have the right to be wrong if they choose, as long as it hurts no one else. Abortion does, arguably hurt someone else, namely the unborn, which is kind of a life and kind of not. It’s the beginning stages of a little human being, but still not able to sufficiently survive on it’s own (as though a human ever does), so the mother does have more ownership of the little life than the little life itself does. Realizing this should key everyone into the gravity of procreation. It’s a huge, huge thing. My official position: It’s a good thing the option is there, but heaven (or whatever) help the person who takes that option. In summary, freedom, good; killing a child, bad. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/27 "2003-07-25T14:38:56Z")
Y ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/28 "2003-07-25T15:35:18Z")
insufficient data for a meaningful answer ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/29 "2003-07-25T15:38:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > **The evidence isn’t conflicted, it doesn’t exist. There is no proven connection between abortion and breast cancer. Period.** Again, not true. You are confusing _evidence_ with _proof_. There might not be proof, but that doesn’t mean there’s no evidence. As I said, check out **dutchboy208** ’s link. It argues against the breast cancer connection, and yet it candidly states, > [@](#): > > No link has been found between breast cancer and miscarriage or stillbirths. The research is not quite so clear with induced abortions and breast cancer. In other words, a link has been found, even it is inconclusive. There are [numerous studies](http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/ABC_Research.htm) which suggest a link between abortion and breast cancer. [The fact that other studies came to a different conclusion does not mean that there is no evidence.](http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft9705/opinion/brind.html) Therein lies the difference between evidence and proof. ---
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/30 "2003-07-25T15:55:40Z")
Yes (but less than a year ago I would have said no) ---
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/31 "2003-07-25T15:55:46Z")
No, not immoral. though I’m sure that you can construct a situation in which I’d have doubts about it, the alternative of forced pregnancies is always the greater evil. ---
**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/32 "2003-07-25T16:00:45Z")
I think they are alright. If you don’t like them, don’t have one. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/33 "2003-07-25T16:35:21Z")
Nope (But I did protest outside the operating room when my brother had his appendix removed). Don’t agree with **Tramp** , though. If you don’t like 'em, I’ll _make_ you have one. No. No, wait, I won’t touch you. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/34 "2003-07-25T17:17:51Z")
Abortions for some, miniature American flags for others. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/35 "2003-07-25T17:33:46Z")
No. If somebody doesn’t want to have one, they shouldn’t. Nobody is forcing them to (and if anybody does try to force them, _that_ is wrong.) ---
**Author:** ![I\_Know\_Nothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f04885/32.png) [@I\_Know\_Nothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Know_Nothing)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/36 "2003-07-25T17:33:47Z")
Irrelevent. I only deal with real world consequences world and don’t deal with abstractions. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/37 "2003-07-25T17:39:37Z")
I once believed that abortion was moral. Now I am uncertain - and shall remain so until one side or the other convinces me. (You’re both doing a piss poor job of not preaching to the faithful, by the way.) So, to stay on the side of caution, I say yes. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/38 "2003-07-25T18:10:33Z")
This thread has no business in Great Debates. It’s not a debate, it’s a popularity contest on a controversial issue. My anseer: Not being afemal of childbearing age and not having been asked for advice by one, it’s none of my business. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/39 "2003-07-25T18:11:47Z")
I think the OP offers a decidedly loaded question. Take a look. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nomadic\_One \* > \*\*. In a yes or no answer -nothing more. Do you believe abortion is wrong, the way it is practiced today, with a healthy baby, with a healty relationship between its mother and father when the baby was conceived. And there is not health risk attached as to when the mother has the abortion. Is it wrong to have this abort this child? (Wrong with the definition of murdering the child) _wait before you say there are still too many strings still attached_, If you cant do it with a yes or no then please dont post. \*\* It repeatedly emphasized a _healthy_ baby, a _healthy_ parental relationship, and claims that there is no health risk associated with abortion (a very inaccurate claim, BTW) – and then asks for a YES or NO reply. It even attempts to squelch further discussion by saying “If you can’t do it with a yes or no, then please don’t post.” As I said, clearly a loaded question. Moreover, I think it’s guilty of false premises. It postulates that there is no medical risk in conducting an abortion, which simply isn’t so. It also implicitly assumes that _health_ is the only relevant consideration in deciding matters of right or wrong, which throws the concept of intrinsic human rights out the window. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791/40 "2003-07-25T20:40:32Z")
Although some debate may result as a result of some claims made in the thread…the OP, as stated. is most certainly NOT a debate but a poll. What exactly is the point of the OP anyway…what exactly is **Nomadic\_One** hoping to debate or discover through debate? Basically, the OP is asking how many people find the use of abortion in what are politically referred to as the “easy cases” (as opposed to the politically “hard cases” of rape, incest…life of mother) to be moral. (note: I am not making claims about how “easy” an abortion is or isn’t, I’m using the political vernacular of “easy” and “hard” cases that is often used in polling and political debate). If you really want to examine polling on this…try [Gallup](http://www.gallup.com/poll/guest_scholar/gs000112.asp) or any of the other dozens of polling organizations. Summary: Americans have conflicted opinions about abortion. At least half of the respondents would label abortion as “murder”…yet if you phrase the debate as “Would you want to overturn Roe v Wade?” or something similar…more than half would oppose the sort of measure. About 50-55% of Americans favor allowing abortion “in certain circumstances”…while about 25% favor allowing it “in all circumstances”. The “certain circumstances” usually mentioned in that 50-55% group are the so-called “hard cases” mentioned above. (which FWIW, make up about 5% of all reported abortion reasons) IOW, at most… 25% of Americans would favor allowing abortion in the scenario you proposed, according to Gallup. If you’re interested in **labels**. 48% self identify as “pro choice” while 42% self identify as “pro life”. Does this answer the question of the OP? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-yes-or-no/190791.md?page=3)