Is genetic engineering for cosmetic purposes OK?

[Derpface]

So recently a Thai shoe ware company called "Rayfish" has genetically engineered stingrays to create desirable patterns in their skin, this skin is then turned into shoes.

The shoes are sold for 1800$ a piece and can be designed to fit your needs

http://www.rayfish.com/index.php?chapter=about

The family has supposedly grown stingrays for cosmetic purposes for many generations, and the stingray skin is a traditional material that has been used in clothes, shoes and sword hilts in the Thai culture.

Oh, btw. You can also design your own shoe here:http://www.rayfish.com/index.php?chapter=growsneaker

[aNiMaL zEr0]

No thanks, I buy my shoes for $40
WAIT A SHOE DESIGNER?!??
*clicks link*

[Agravaine]

Personally I think it's ridiculous.

[demonic banana]

No it's wrong
I hate factory farming, and the way these thais are just creating stingrays to kill for shoes goes against me.
This may sound hypocritical because I probably use many things like that but still
I avoid if I can

[DarkDestroyerXX]

I'm against it.

[Bean_Boy]

Well, besides the fact that the website is freaking awesome, I'm not sure what to think about GM animals being used for their skins...it just seems wrong.

[Agravaine]

Well, besides the fact that the website is freaking awesome, I'm not sure what to think about GM animals being used for their skins...it just seems wrong.

How is it any different than non-GM animals being used for the same purpose?

(Although, considering I'm against that, I guess I'm against this also.)

[Derpface]

How is it any different than non-GM animals being used for the same purpose?

(Although, considering I'm against that, I guess I'm against this also.)

Well, it all builds up around farming animals for clothes. But there is something that feels a little bit more taboo about creating life in a laboratory just to kill it.

[Agravaine]

Well, it all builds up around farming animals for clothes. But there is something that feels a little bit more taboo about creating life in a laboratory just to kill it.

That's exactly what you'd be doing otherwise. I don't see how killing modified animals is any different from killing normal ones.

[Derpface]

That's exactly what you'd be doing otherwise. I don't see how killing modified animals is any different from killing normal ones.

The "in a laboratory" part was what was important in that sentence.

[Agravaine]

The "in a laboratory" part was what was important in that sentence.

I know. But in this sense how is a laboratory any different from a normal farm? They both create life just to kill later.

[Empoleon]

everytime i look at the name of this thread i try to refuse going into this thread and posting an engineer related TF2 pic

[Derpface]

I know. But in this sense how is a laboratory any different from a normal farm? They both create life just to kill later.

True.

[CPU]

I'm walking on stingrays
I don't like my shoes anymore.

And I don't like the genetic part either. I feel bad for the poor stingrays

[Rammjet]

I'm a vegetarian and hence dislike farming animals for meat or skins etcetera, so I'm immediately biased by the topic- I more disagree with the foundation of this industry than I do with the genetic engineering.

If this were say, GMing roses for pretty patterns, then I wouldn't be opposed to it at all really, as long as garden variety roses were sterile I guess to prevent the gene from entering the ecology of wild roses, which is an advantage over selectively bred roses actually.

So no, although I am against this instance, I am not against GM for cosmetic purposes entirely.

[御坂 美琴]

listen to all you babies.. i see nothing wrong with it. cows and pigs are raised for food, you gonna go picket that too?

[Rammjet]

listen to all you babies.. i see nothing wrong with it. cows and pigs are raised for food, you gonna go picket that too?

As stated I don't eat meat.

[~Twisted]

IMO:
Farming and Killing animals for clothes = Wrong
Growing them to kill for food = I guess it's not right but yet I still eat it. I just try to look the other way. (I know I'm a horrible person and so on... -.-)

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

We must avenge Steve Irwin.

[Lightnin!!!]

Hmm.. Tough one.
I agree with genetic engineering entirely, I have nothing against it, quite the contrary, I want to be a Genetic Engineer.

But using Genetic Engineering to.. Make shoe designs on stingrays?
I think that is fundamentally sick, as well as a waste of scientific resources, what is wrong with using normal textiles?