As usual, this week's question comes from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions: If someone you loved was brutally murdered and their killer was acquitted on a technicality, would you seek revenge? I'll be honest—when I first read this question, my immediate gut reaction was something along the lines of "Heck yes, I'd make sure … Continue reading Question of the Week #464
Question of the Week
Question of the Week #463
As usual, this week's question comes from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions: Would you use a safe medical procedure to genetically alter the developing embryo if it would keep your child from being born physically or mentally disabled? If you've been following along with the past two weeks of genetic engineering discussions, you might … Continue reading Question of the Week #463
Question of the Week #462
As usual, this week's question comes from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions: What problems might arise from having a child much brighter and more attractive than yourself? If you caught last week's question about genetic engineering and designer babies (click here if you missed it), you might remember my rather old-fashioned stance: I'd rather … Continue reading Question of the Week #462
Question of the Week #461
As usual, this week's question comes from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions: Would you want to choose the sex of your child? What if you could safely pick other qualities: IQ, height, temperament, looks? Fair warning: If discussions of genetic engineering and the future of human reproduction make you uncomfortable, this might be a … Continue reading Question of the Week #461
Question of the Week #460
Do you ever spit, clean your teeth, or pick your nose in public? Fair warning: If discussions of normal bodily functions make you squeamish, this might be a good time to check your social media feeds instead. For everyone else, welcome to an honest examination of the things we do when we think no one … Continue reading Question of the Week #460
Question of the Week #459
In what ways, if any, would knowing the date of your death help you plan your life? How many more years do you honestly believe you have left? Last week's question about whether we'd open an envelope containing our death date sparked something I wasn't expecting. The responses poured in—thoughtful, conflicted, passionate arguments on both … Continue reading Question of the Week #459
Question of the Week #458
If you were handed an envelope with the date of your death inside, and you knew you could do nothing to alter your fate, would you look? This week's question from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions arrives like a philosophical landmine disguised as innocent curiosity. On the surface, it seems straightforward—a simple binary choice … Continue reading Question of the Week #458
Question of the Week #457
When was the last time you felt real excitement and passion in your work? What about your life in general? How important is passion to you? This week's question from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions arrives loaded with cultural baggage about what passion is supposed to look like, when it's supposed to strike, and … Continue reading Question of the Week #457
Question of the Week #456
What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about? (Assume you aren't at an airport and subject to immediate arrest!) This week's question from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions arrives at a particularly fraught moment in our cultural conversation about humor, offense, and the boundaries of acceptable speech. In an era where comedians … Continue reading Question of the Week #456
Question of the Week #455
What if you were no longer fertile and could not otherwise have your own biological child? This week's question from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions follows naturally from last week's exploration of loss, identity, and genetic connections. While last week we grappled with the devastating reality of losing a child and the temptation to … Continue reading Question of the Week #455
The Confusing Middle 