Abortion discussion

What are your thoughts or stances on this?
Any personal experiences to share?

My apologies if this topic has been covered before—could someone please provide a link?

on the idea of women having the option to abort—legally and under safe conditions

I personally could never bring myself to do it—ever (regardless of whether I was single or if the father was in the picture)—but people should have the choice

Absolutely.
Of course people want to go that route, but honestly, the priority should be making sure they don't end up there in the first place.
At the end of the day, an abortion isn't birth control, and it can seriously mess with a woman's physical and mental health. It drives me crazy when I hear someone say they can't afford condoms... you really need to think things through 🙂 🙂 🙂

I wouldn't be able to do it now... back when I was in high school or college... (God forbid that ever happened) I definitely would have had an abortion, but today... no. 🙂

placidjackal97 said:regarding - the option for a woman to have an abortion, legally and under humane conditions

I personally would never do it, regardless of whether I were single or with the father (though that plays a small part), but having the choice is essential.

I completely agree regarding the possibility for a woman to have an abortion, legally and under safe, humane conditions.

My only thought is that since the pill is available to everyone today, we shouldn't be reaching this point so often. I understand condoms are necessary for preventing STIs, of course.

Forty or fifty years ago, it was legally permitted here in America, though only through a doctor under specific conditions.

A lot happened privately back then—it could be a midwife, someone acting on their own, or a gynecologist. It really just depended on who you knew and what you could afford.
Another thing is that STIs weren't nearly as dangerous back then, so condom use wasn't as widespread.

There were many abortions because living conditions, housing, and finances simply weren't what they are today. Many people might claim they'd never do it, but if they had lived through those times, things might have been different.

Nowadays we have the pill, and once we have children, contraception options include sterilization for both men and women.

I have a funny example. I had a Vasectomy when we had our second child (I was 35 at the time), and just a few years later, my wife had a Hysterectomy.

👋

🙂 😉 😎

Pro-Life.

I think there's a justification in cases involving pregnancy from sexual assault or when there are legitimate medical reasons for an abortion.

But in other scenarios, given how many contraceptive options are available now, I feel like abortions are mostly just a result of poor decision-making.

Then again, there's no point in limiting anyone's right to bodily autonomy, so...

As for

I’m definitely all about having the right to choose, so yeah, abortion should absolutely be one of those options.

jadetinker85, man, this whole thing about abortion being some kind of tool for idiots... I’d really watch how you phrase stuff like that. Like, I guess you just don't actually know the women who end up making that decision, you know? You can't really wrap your head around what they're going through since you aren't in their shoes, and honestly, it feels like there isn't really a right to judge them for their choices—especially since they're the ones who have to deal with all the heavy consequences, not you.

placidjackal97 said:regarding the right for a woman to have access—legally and under humane conditions—to an abortion,

I could never bring myself to do it personally, regardless of whether I were single or if the father were involved, but having that choice remains essential.

I don't have much to add; I simply find myself in complete agreement with her.

Mark Clark2 said:jadetinker85, you don't know the women who make that choice. You can't wrap your head around their reasons because you aren't walking in their shoes. You don't get to judge them for what they decide—they’re the ones left dealing with the fallout, not you.

Where did you get the idea that I don't know women who have had abortions? I know several. One woman had three in just two years. Then she gained 20 pounds from the stress. It happens more than you'd think. I even heard about one who had eight. Why bother judging? Honestly, we should just hand out trophies for stupidity and give a new one to the record-holder every year.

One doctor mentioned to me that the largest group of women getting abortions are actually those who end up married or in long-term relationships with kids later on—basically, they feel like they just "missed their shot" at that life path.
If those statistics are actually accurate, then women following that specific path should... I don't want to say blame or point fingers, but there's a certain level of responsibility there that carries more weight than it does for a sixteen-year-old girl.

And before anyone gets the wrong idea, I'm not advocating for a ban!

Where on earth did you get the idea that I don't know women who've had abortions? I actually know a few who have gone through it multiple times. Like, one girl I know had THREE in just two years. And then she ended up gaining like 20 pounds just from all the stress. Honestly, there are plenty of cases like that. I even heard about someone who had eight. Why even judge them? It feels pointless, honestly. We should probably just invent some kind of "idiot award" and hand it out every year to whoever breaks the record.

Okay, but I guess it’s just not right to generalize and say that every woman who chooses an abortion—when it isn't for health reasons, or because of something like sexual assault, etc.—is just an idiot. I mean, sure, there are idiots everywhere, and I’m definitely not saying that there aren't some people making questionable choices in those situations, but they aren't ALL idiots, and we really shouldn't call them that... It surely can't be easy to make that decision, and it's even harder to deal with everything that follows—you know, both physically and mentally—so they really don't need someone else coming along to lecture them or call them names. Either they actually are being reckless and chose that path (in which case, why bother explaining it to them?), or they aren't idiots at all and have reasons that were clearly heavy enough to drive that choice... and either way, they don't need us preaching to them, since they're already carrying the weight of that decision themselves.

Alright, look, I'm feeling pretty remorseful here 😢 . Is there any hope you'll forgive my mistake 😁

Melissa Cruz2 said:One doctor I spoke with mentioned that the vast majority of women seeking abortions are actually older—women who are already married or in long-term relationships and have children, essentially feeling like they've just hit a run of bad luck.
If those statistics hold any weight, then women following that specific life pattern should... well, I won't go so far as to say they deserve blame, but there’s an undeniable level of responsibility there that simply doesn't apply to a sixteen-year-old girl.

To be clear, I'm not advocating for a ban!

Yes, that is unfortunately the reality—there's this common misconception that most abortions are performed by teenagers, but the data tells a different story. It's a sad fact that abortion is far too often used as a primary method of contraception. 😢The question is, what else can be done when faced with those circumstances? I don't have a simple answer, but I am firmly in favor of legal access because the alternatives are significantly worse.

Betty Bennett10 said:Yeah, unfortunately, that's just the reality... people always assume it's mostly young girls getting abortions, but that’s actually not even true. It’s sadly used as a form of birth control way too often. 😢 I mean, what are you supposed to do in that situation? I don't know—I'm completely pro-choice because the alternative is honestly so much worse.

I don't really know what to do about it either. I feel like maybe we shouldn't underestimate their mental state, though... it doesn't seem like they all have massive psychological issues. But man, just look at the three-year-old you already have sitting there, and then you just go through with an abortion anyway... even when you know that one day, that's going to be a three-year-old just like the one at home. It's just so irresponsible...

I believe abortion is an incredibly delicate issue, and I’m honestly not sure what the "right" answer even is... However, what strikes me as particularly unsettling about the whole subject is how these procedures actually play out behind closed doors—assuming they aren't more common than people care to admit. I’ve heard stories along the lines of $200, where you're just held there one night and then it's over. It feels somewhat cheap, clinical, and profoundly cold. Just imagine if you end up with some volatile doctor or a nurse who is a hardcore Pro-Life advocate—someone like a strict traditionalist from the heartland—who decides to 🤔 you psychologically until the very end.

Melissa Cruz2 said:I’m honestly at a loss here too. I suppose I’m hesitant to make any assumptions about their mental state, as they don't seem to be dealing with anything particularly severe psychologically. But honestly, damn it, you look at the three-year-old you already have and then you just go ahead with an abortion; you should be fully aware that one day, that child is going to grow into a three-year-old just like the one currently running around the house. It feels incredibly irresponsible.

That wasn't really my angle, though. I can certainly see how a woman who already has a child might find herself in the exact same dead-end situation as a younger girl—where getting an abortion doesn't feel like a massive hurdle—but I still believe there’s a higher expectation of responsibility when you're a mature woman.

Sarah Long said:I honestly think abortion is such a sensitive subject that I’m not entirely sure what my own stance would be... but what strikes me as interesting about the whole thing is how these procedures actually play out over here in the States (though I highly doubt they're rare)... I’ve heard stories where it’s just like $200, you stay overnight and then it's over? It all feels somewhat cheap and incredibly clinical to me... plus, you have to imagine if you end up with some angry doctor or a nurse who is fiercely Pro-Life, like a real old-school type, they might just try to 🤔 you mentally until the very end.

An abortion costs roughly $467, and I'm not even certain people are kept overnight—why exactly do you think that's a bad thing? Are you suggesting it should cost more, or that patients ought to be required to stay in the hospital longer?

Heading home in a couple of hours... it’s gonna be even colder by then.

Betty Bennett10 said:An abortion costs roughly $467, and I’m not even sure they keep you overnight—not that staying longer is necessarily a good thing. Are you suggesting it should be more expensive and require a longer hospital stay?

Well, I suppose it isn't entirely inconsequential, which is why I was thinking that having someone monitor you for a few nights might actually be beneficial. When an abortion is performed for medical reasons, you receive 24/7 supervision and constant care...
$1,400? That sounds much more reasonable, though even $200 feels a bit steep... and wait, is that actually legal here in the States? (I'm asking because I genuinely don't know)

Alright, fine, Lord, I repent! I’m so sorry. Is there any hope you'll forgive my sins?

It’s not too bad—I guess I’ll see if I can get you wiped from the black book.😁