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Mutant laws - where to draw the line?

5 points · submitted Jul 2022 by u/psilorder · archived

One thing i've started thinking about recently is "mutants are dangerous". because yeah, they can be. (Yes, it should probably be all superhumans....)

Not in the "they're going to take over the world! Replace us! We need to eliminate them!" way but in the "uncontrolled powers" way like with "J" who killed his whole town without realizing it.

So, where is it reasonable to draw the line on scanning people for the mutant gene?

On the one hand it is an intrusion into peoples privacy but on the other hand once they have actually manifested it may be too late.

If the price of not knowing is an entire town dying, aren't humans justified in wanting to know who the mutants are? Not justified in killing them, but in wanting to know and try to contain the destruction?

Assuming a universe that is at least somewhat more reasonable than the Marvel universe where the mutants would just be de-powered or killed if they lost anonymity.

If there was one mutant with a power that wiped out a city accidentally, is it reasonable to assume there will not be another?

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BobbySaccaro 4 points · Jul 2022

This is where I feel like the mutant metaphor breaks down somewhat. Because mutants actually are a threat to humanity in a sense, due to the issues you bring up.

I think in the real world, it would be absolutely viable to at least scan for mutations and then, I dunno, assuming you had no way to figuring out what the mutation was ahead of time, have them spend the year or two where powers most frequently manifest in a place where they can be watched closely.

Deadpoolforpres 3 points · Jul 2022

The mutant classification system is kinda already a thing, Alpha, Omega, etc. Knowing the powers isn't the main problem, it's figuring out when they manifest.

What you would want to do is figure out first is, who has the X-gene, and offer them a chance to go somewhere like The Xavier School and figure out their powers in a specialized/secure setting.

Realistically, if there was some way of publicly identifying them, you run the risk of them being ostracized and becoming victims of hate crimes, racist protests, etc. There's unfortunately a very thin line between offering specialized help, and requiring people of a certain racial group (in this case homo superiors) to have to segregate or be publicly identified. Hence the metaphor/comparison to real life minority groups.

I would personally say that if there was a way to test for the gene during adolescence (since many Mutants may start developing powers after that), it would be best to find out who's a mutant and treat it like we do medical records. If the person wants to let others know, they can. Most mutations aren't that powerful (the X-Teams are the exception, not the rule). In the case of destructive powers, if they can't be controlled, then trained mutant professionals (like the X-Men) should be called in to help.

Government interference is typically how we end up in the Days of Future's Past timeline.

HumanRobotTime 2 points · Aug 2022

In the lore I wrote for my comic, they didn't even bother with that. They just genocided everyone with powers until the general public could no longer stomach it. They then choose to sterilize them instead, and when that got banned as well, they drafted the few survivors into penal battalions.

psilorder [OP] 1 points · Aug 2022

So they still waited until after the powers had manifested?

HumanRobotTime 1 points · Aug 2022

There was an event that gave ordinary people powers. Almost all of them were able to keep them in check, while others were contained, though still morally sound. The few that turned evil did so much damage that humanity fought back, conducting reprisal attacks on an equally medieval scale. This culminated in the "red steps" incident. Afterward, everyone on both sides was pretty much so disgusted and appalled that they ceased all hostilities.

psilorder [OP] 1 points · Aug 2022

I see, a somewhat different scenario than in Marvel where anyone can turn out to be a mutant and the question is how to handle them before the manifest.

But you say they sterlized them. They were able to pass powers on to their children then? Or was it a thing where it wasn't known but they did it just in case?

HumanRobotTime 1 points · Aug 2022

only those that had powers after the incident will have offspring that might have a slight chance of having powers. Most of humanity that survive systematically wipe them out no matter the outcome. In doing so , there are lots of collateral damages from entities and humans alike.

psilorder [OP] 1 points · Aug 2022

So, how do you think a Marvel mutant type of scenario should be handled?

HumanRobotTime 1 points · Aug 2022

Have them all tested, registered, and monitored. Create incentive structures to have them work for the government, be it through research initiatives or national defense. Create a circle of accountability within the higher-tier mutants, or create the illusion of mutually assured destruction.