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[–]FlanJam 13 insightful - 1 fun13 insightful - 0 fun14 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

I think those sciencey questions are best suited for biologists. GC would probably have more to say about the social implications of that technology (if it existed), but the science part should be left to scientists.

That there might be neopenises that look, feel and function exactly like natural penises? Or neovaginas that look, feel and function exactly like natural vaginas?

QT believes we've already achieved this. Apparently even a gynecologist can't tell the difference lol.

Is there a reason why a neopenis that looks, feels, and functions exactly like natural penises can not be considered a real penis? Or a neovagina that looks, feels, and functions exactly like natural vaginas can not be considered a real vagina? Despite doing the same things? Wouldn't a laboratory meat that tastes, looks, feels and functions exactly like natural meat be considered real meat?

If we go by dictionary definitions, something's "realness" depends on whether it is natural or artificial. Neo-genitals and laboratory meat are man-made, they are artificial. So they are not "real" by definition. They could appear and function identically to the real thing, but the fact they are artificially produced is what makes them, well, artificial.

[–]HeimdeklediROAR 1 insightful - 5 fun1 insightful - 4 fun2 insightful - 5 fun -  (6 children)

Not really. An artificial diamond is still a diamond. Artificial just means produced by humans, it doesn’t mean it isn’t “real”.

[–]FlanJam 12 insightful - 1 fun12 insightful - 0 fun13 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

Real literally means 'not artificial'. So if its artificial, its not real.

According to Merriam Webster:

: not artificial, fraudulent, or illusory : genuine

[–]HeimdeklediROAR 1 insightful - 5 fun1 insightful - 4 fun2 insightful - 5 fun -  (4 children)

A meaning that has become associated with the word, but artificial’s primary meaning is made by humans. Things made by humans can be real members of a category of things that occur in nature. Artificial insemination is for instance is not fake insemination.

[–]FlanJam 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

I don't quite understand what you're saying, perhaps you could clarify or rephrase.

[–]HeimdeklediROAR 2 insightful - 4 fun2 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 4 fun -  (2 children)

Is artificial insemination “real” insemination? Obviously it is. Ergo artificial primarily means “made by humans” even if it has a secondary association of being “not real” in some instances.

[–]FlanJam 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I think you're using "real" differently from how the dictionary uses it.

[–]MarkTwainiac 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

But artificial insemination doesn't mean that it's not real insemination, LOL. It means insemination that is done in a way that is not the natural way insemination most commonly occurs. Artificial in this sense really means human-assisted insemination.

Also, AI is not done using a synthetic ersatz sperm or egg made by humans in an artificial way. The eggs & sperm in AI still have to be genuine gametes made by ovaries & testes.