What kind of world are we living in ..

[Quassia]

when we put material possesions over our own health?? This story saddened me so much. http://uk.news.yahoo....iphone-212819458.html

[jd_here]

Obviously a very sad one!

[Quassia]

It's affected my mood jd, really has!

[emmie]

truly horrible, but not unheard of before.

[Quassia]

Hi em,
are we creating a society of must haves that will sell their soul to get what they want?

[boxtops]

Sadly, this isn't new. In the 1960s when I left school, a group of school pals went to Turkey before starting work - they were able to sell blood there for so much per pint, to make spending money. I've also heard of people on S America selling organs to raise funds. Unfortunately those who get duped are often not those who would fully understand the significance of losing a major body organ.

[Quassia]

So we have people willing to sell parts of themselves, the unscrupulous dealers of human body parts & the demand for that service. Who's to blame? What makes this kind of society? Imagine having someone you love tell you they've sold a body part to buy something out of their reach financially??

[Quassia]

I wish I was more articulate. This case has far reaching consequences doesn't it?

[Quassia]

Have to go out .. back later.

[Dee Sa]

I think some kids here would do it given the opportunity, thank god they cant.

[emmie]

quassia that't what i meant, why would anyone do that for some material gain. would only consider that perhaps to help a loved one survive, as in donate a kidney, but can see that many in society have turned their lives into a material based one, and compassion, caring and indeed love have passed them by

[Count-A-Strong]

I hope he got the 32g version!

[starone]

I would give a kidney for my children and grandchildren, but sell for something like that. Never. I found it truly terrible, I was going to put disgusting, but it is more than that. I cannot find a word to describe it.

[Wrongn3mber]

Interesting story but quassia how many times have you heard of this happening? This is the first time I've heard of this so hardly an uncontrollable surge in this happening. The illegal organ trade however has been going on for a long time and it's usually very poor people selling an organ so that they and their family can have money for food and shelter which is human survival which many of us have the potential to do given the right circumstances. The kid in your link that sold his kidney was nothing more than stupidity and possibly peer pressure just as many kids get piercings, body mods and tattoos as the 'Must Haves" and regret their decisions later. As humans some of us are quite happy to put material possesions and even poisons before our health. Just look at those that take drugs and those that drink and smoke. I think you'll think twice now when you hear a person saying " I'd give my right arm for a fag/drink"

[Quassia]

Hi, just got back!
Dee sa .. you think so?
em - Totally agree .. donation is a completely different thing of course.
Count - You did make me laugh ... seriousness aside.
Starbuck - Yes! Unbelievable
Wrongn3mber - Yes, I'm not naive enough to know it hasn't happened before. I was just so shocked he traded an organ for money to buy this!

[Euphemia]

Very sad. I'm just so glad it can't happen here.

[DTCwordfan]

This doesnt surprise me even though it maybe extreme.

Having lived in the mainland, there is enormous pressure to join the consumer world and show off your "wealth" and brand acquisitions. Its one of the reasons that folf from Louis Vutton to Burberrys, Zegna, Dunhill, Tag-Heuer and all the rest of the so-called luxury brands are piling in there. Even back in 1995 there was demonstrable wealth starting to show with top of the range Porsches, Ferraris, Mercedes, Range Rovers beginning to appear on the streets of Beijing and Shanghai

[Quassia]

Euphemia - It's obscene
DT - Don't you think these so called 'luxury' named brands are targeting the younger end of the market much more than they ever use to? There's a constant flood of advertising campaigns in magazines ect .. Are they at least partly to blame for creating a monster society that in this case, rates possesions higher than life?