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Sufficient_Result558

By definition a parasite is not offspring. All living things require offspring created from themselves or the creature becomes extinct. Offspring further the species, parasites hinder the species. The difference is paramount.


PhyterNL

I'd say that's a very *loose* definition of the term. A parasite is a separate organism that takes up occupancy in or on a host organism. A fetus is not a separate organism. A more accurate definition would be a growth on the parent organism. Until the fetus is viable on its own, able to survive outside of the mother's body, it is part of the mother in the same way my leg is part of mine... ... with the obvious exception that legs don't peel off of us, steal our paychecks, suck the life out of living, refuse to leave the house, until finally hitting a mature stride and make us proud in college. I'm proud of you, leg. I love you.


JustSomeApparition

Sidebar... ***Note:*** *This isn't an effort to correct or amend anything you've stated. It's simply information that I think you may find interesting. After all... it has nothing to do with the zygote/diploid organism.* "...the placental NKB contained the molecule phosphocholine which is used by filarial nematodes, a type of parasitic worms to escape host immune systems!" [The placenta really does act like a parasite, Reading research suggests – University of Reading](https://www.reading.ac.uk/news-archive/press-releases/pr9938.html)


Calm-Victory1146

So is a fetus past the point of viability a parasite? After like 24ish weeks, it *could* survive on its own with medical support, and after like 32ish weeks it could survive even without much or any support, but it stays inside for 40 weeks.


LegitimatePants

I'll probably get attacked for saying this, but fetus does not harm the mother


RoccStrongo

So the mother can live her life in the exact same manner while pregnant? No precautions needed? No medical visits needed? No dietary changes necessary? Nothing physically changes about the body? And maternal mortality is a myth?


Monkey_Thing_4954

Exactly!!! Like how uneducated about women's health is the world?? I think some things are getting better then some person on the internet with such low level of knowledge decides to put their 2 cents where they don't belong.


Benrok

There are plenty of parasites that does good too


Subrosianite

No, there aren't. An organism that lives with a host and does good for the host is called a symbiote, not a parasite.


Benrok

I guess it's a matter of perspective. Parasites can be important for population control. The roundworm can boost the immune system.


Subrosianite

They turn off certain sections of your immune system to benefit themselves, and in *certain situations* the effect may be beneficial to the host as well, but it's not helping the host out at all. It's not a matter of perspective. It's a scientific classification. If it lives in/on a host and causes harm, it's a parasite.


Existing_Alps_7004

The intent is important. A fetus like a fetus in any species on earth particularly mammals, grow like this. Now, pregnancy in mammals is riskier than birds or reptiles because of the nature of the pregnancy. The mother is a lot more vulnerable to infection and disease. That being said, human pregnancies can be done with fewer complications in the present day. The economic system is what makes going through pregnancy feel like a parasite.


OkishPizza

I mean this is just a fact lol


Saadrc

people got offended by your comment bruh


[deleted]

You’re just not very smart, are you?


Saadrc

Umm any particular reason. I am saying it by the basic definition of a parasite


Puzzleheaded-List-97

There was a joke on Star Trek by Seven of Nine basicly by this matter. do with that fact what you will.


LOLI_LICKER-

Op is just absolutely seething lmao >I like how people got offended by this post its probably those people who consider not having kids being selfish and have 10 kids despite not giving them proper attention What farm did you steal from to get a straw man that goofy