Peaches Geldof

I am not saying that Peaches' children should not be alive. Anyone who thinks so is wilfully misunderstanding what I said.

No, nightowl no such thing as a saint, and Bob Geldof is as fallible as all of us, but I thank him for his efforts in 1985 and subsequently as he influenced multitudes to show compassion across the globe. So did others - I thank them, too!

Addicts regardless of their addiction can never break free. At any time some small thing could de-rail.

Sorry thatbags but on this subject there really is no need to wind everyone up. POGS had made a similar, thought provoking point and in a far more tasteful way. There is no doubt that babies can be born addicts as many wonderful foster carers could testify. Therefore, following my original comment, they cannot totally 'break free' from their addiction.

Peaches' children need to be cared for carefully throughout their lives and I hope their father is capable of taking on the task.

An interesting article about how genes may be seen to impact upon character traits.
An interesting article about how genes may be seen to impact upon character traits

If addicts can never break free, then surely it would be a good thing if whatever causes addiction (genetic or otherwise) could be found and dealt with, in the same way as it would be a good thing if whatever causes, say, cystic fribrosis could be found and dealt with – removed, cured, altered so it doesn't cause a problem. Take your pick. I fail to see what is offensive about this idea. Isn't it what medical research is partly about?

ALL children need to be looked after carefully. Millions aren't, often because of poverty rather than because no-one wants to.

Thanks for the link, ffinn. Off to read it.

I understand what you mean, anniebach.
It has been tried before and we look back in horror at such attempts.

I am sure Peaches was a troubled soul but I understood she tried to work hard and provide for her family as Sir Bob Geldof would not provide financial support. One wonders how much emotional support those girls have received as well. She was obviously looking for love and a family life and thought she had found it. I wonder if the media pressure of trying to be thin contributed as well.
Another victim of the media perhaps.

I do fear for Tiger Lily, our Australian friends wonder how Sir B. ever got custody.

So so sad.

A pertinent quote from that article: "Professor Timothy Bates, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, said that the genetic influence was strongest on a person's sense of self-control."

I should think self-control is quite an important factor in deciding whether a person becomes addicted to a drug. That doesn't mean one blames addicts. It's just a recognition of a need for more knowledge in that area.

Not perpepetuated? How? Abortion? Sterilisation? Possible solutions which might be considered

Not perpetuated by finding a way of altering the outcome of the gene's activity. Some genes act as "switches" where, in certain conditions, a switch will activate what causes an illness. Not perpetuated by deactivating harmful genes. As I see it, this is just another step in our battle against disease, following on from vaccination and treatments like chemotherapy.

I'm talking about treating people, annieb, not killing them. Don't be ridiculous.

Anyway, I'm off to do some work now, feeling somewhat pleased that at least my comment provoked some discussion.

Which was the whole idea.

when where do you get the info from that her husband "allegedly" supplied the heroin? There are also reports that he was completely unaware of her drug use. I know the police are questioning everyone close to her, that would be routine.

bags I like the thought of us all being star dust. You have reminded me of the Crosby Stills Nash song "Woodstock", here are the lyrics (I think written by Joni Mitchell):

"Well, I came upon a child of God
He was walking along the road
And I asked him, Tell where are you going?
This he told me

Said, I'm going down to Yasgur's Farm,
Gonna join in a rock and roll band.
Got to get back to the land and set my soul free.

We are stardust, we are golden,
We are billion year old carbon,
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden".

Enforced sterilization is not killing people thatbag,to think otherwise is most certainly rediculous

Some would call it stirring thatbags.

I don't understand the concern that Tiger Lily may not be protected , would her natural parents have been more stable than the parent she now has

If (I repeat that if) there is a genetic element to drug addiction, then there needs to be research on how can be reversed somehow to help babies at risk. But I don't think there is any certainty about the role played by inheritance.

A decision on the part of the prospective parent to use contraception would be all that is required to "remove any genetic influence from the gene pool", no need for outside intervention and "eugenics", or forced abortion and sterilisation. No need to invoke fears of Brave New World. Nor to assume that Thatbags is a reincarnation of Josef Mengele.

So what, annsixty? I often think gransnet needs stirring. Nothing wrong with provoking a bit of deep thought.

Re the tastefulness remark, OK, I accept I may not have expressed the thought I had very well. Here's a revision in an attempt to be tasteful about a sad subject:

It is a great shame that Peaches Geldof suffered and died in the way she did.
It is a great shame that Paula Yates suffered and died in the way she did.
I do hope that if there is a genetic element in their troubled lives, that it has not been passed on to Peaches' children. It might have been better to have found a cure for whatever causes such addiction and consequent misery first.

All hail the medical research that is attempting to do this for all kinds of inherited disorders.

Now I really am going. Got my boots on and all... S'later, dudes.

rosequartz , I fear any talk of stopping the perpetuation of gene pools. Who decides?who should never be born ?

I have read that Tiger Lily is a confident seventeen year old and that Bob Geldof is a protective father. She has also formed a close bond with his partner (can't remember her name) I doubt she would have been as well brought up by her natural parents but there is a lot of fragility in the family and there will be constant reminders of past events in her life. She will need to be a very strong person to separate good and bad influences in her life and she is still very young.

I agree the genetic influences are vital and should be a matter of priority in the scientific world. Addiction is not just limited to drugs and the numbers of deaths in this way must be vast.

I still find it difficult to see how your comments of 07.51:05 could be misunderstood thatbags and feel your 'windup' was unnecessary, even upsetting to some.

It is a tough subject Debncreme. If everyone is too upset even to contemplate the fact that it is looming there, the elephant in the room, how can it be sensible discussed and decided against? Without open and informed discussion, we could wake up one morning to find that the decision has been made while we slept, and we have no say in the matter.

I think that the death of a young mother, whoever she is and for whatever reason, is always a sad situation. The fact that a death may be preventable because it was caused by mis-use of drugs adds another layer of sadness.

Addictive behaviour comes in many forms: alcohol, drugs, sex, food, gambling, cleaning etc. Most research I have ever read about has indicated that many people with 'addictive' genes do not develop major addictions but it is their environmental experiences that, when combined with the genetic propensity, can cause major addiction. Of course a developing foetus will be affected by drugs in the womb and that damages the development of the brain but presumably it could be possible for a baby to be born, addicted to drugs, but without the addictive gene?

I am undecided about how far genetic research should go. Are we looking for a future where we are all 'standard' humans? Where will we stop? What does it say about how we value those who are born with particular conditions/ disabilities? I agree that finding cures is important, I can see why nobody wants a child to be born with a disease but are we clear where we would draw the line?

Oops Annie whilst writing and re-writing my post yours came between. I would never mean making a decision as to who should or should not be born more a possible eradication of the defective gene if this ever became possible.