The mother is harmed and the baby benefits. :3

by Anonymous 14 years ago

Most people do it on purpose, so I don't really see what the issue here is. I'm too lazy to log in, but this is mchalla3.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

To all the knee-jerkers who selected NW, what part of the definition of parasite do you feel is not consistent with the mother-infant relationship in pregnancy? Main Entry: par·a·site Pronunciation: ˈper-ə-ˌsīt, ˈpa-rə- Function: noun Etymology: Middle French, from Latin parasitus, from Greek parasitos, from para- + sitos grain, food Date: 1539 2 : an organism living in, with, or on another organism in parasitism Main Entry: par·a·sit·ism Pronunciation: ˈper-ə-sə-ˌti-zəm, -ˌsī-, ˌpa-rə- Function: noun Date: circa 1611 Main Entry: par·a·sit·ism Pronunciation: ˈper-ə-sə-ˌti-zəm, -ˌsī-, ˌpa-rə- Function: noun Date: circa 1611 2 : an intimate association between organisms of two or more kinds; especially : one in which a parasite obtains benefits from a host which it usually injures

by Anonymous 14 years ago

2. an intimate association between organisms of two or more kinds Keywords here being TWO OR MORE kinds, meaning two humans does not constitute parasitism.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

2 : an organism living in, with, or on another organism in parasitism

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Another organism, though, not an organism of the same species. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasitism you're arguing semantics, but the word parasite has inherent connotations of one species inhabiting another.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Why does it matter if a fetus is literally classified as a parasite? I don't see how species makes any practical difference in the relationship.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Motivation is different, since many babies are wanted. In some cases, the baby could be considered, practically, a parasite, but I would not say those are the rule.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

There used to be motivation for putting leeches on your body to suck out infected blood. Leeches are still parasites.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Yes, but the baby benefits the parents by continuing the genetic lineage. If leeches were sucking out infected blood, it wouldn't be parasitism, it would be mutualism.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

It may not be parasitism, but a leech is still itself, a parasite. Continuing the lineage isn't really a direct benefit to the person though. Whether or not my genes are inherited doesn't affect my health.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I would say it is a benefit for many people who choose to have children, though not a benefit to your health. I wouldn't consider a leech a parasite in that case because it isn't at the host's expense. A baby may well be a parasite, though. I'll retract my vote. I don't believe babies are parasites in the sense of parasitism, but just as parasites I don't want to get so semantical that I rely on them being different organisms.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

True. people vote NW because they automatically think that's a bad thing, but really its just part of life and the OP wasnt trying to be harsh...i dont think.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

OP was intentionally using the negative connotations implicit in the word "parasite," presumably to make a point about abortion. Technically, an infant that is breast feeding is also a parasite. And so is a 15 year old kid who wants money for a PS3

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Last time I checked, teenagers don't live on or in their parents at 15, so biologically they are not parasites. The point is, a fetus is a parasite. Yes, this post probably was meant to make a point about abortion. So what?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

The definition above clearly states living in, *with*, or on another organism. The 15 year old would be living with the mother. I just pointed out that it was a statement about abortion because Mexicanpeanut was acting like it was just a factual statement with no underlying meaning.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I don't know where he got that definition, but I have never heard of something living with another organism being called a parasite. The person who posted that definition was simply trying to prove that an unborn child was a parasite, and just picked the first random definition he/she found. Google search "parasite" or "parasite definition" and very few, if any, will say "in, on, or with."

by Anonymous 11 years ago

In my biology class, (concentration on the domains, kingdoms, phyla etc.,) our professor told us that a growing fetus is a parasite. She's an incredibly knowledgable person, with a phD and several years of field study. So aside from Internet definitions, I trust her as the expert.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

The fetus is TECHNICALLY a parasite. Just because the connotation is generally negative doesn't make it untrue. People wouldn't normallY refer to it as a parasite because most people love their kids and there are better words to use, but technically, it's a parasite. Why's everyone getting so mad over this? I thought it was an interesting perspective.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

it's all technicalities, but it was an interesting thought, give the poster a break

by Anonymous 11 years ago