[OT] The X-Men are not human!

[Maerdwyn]

After years of fighting for acceptance and equal status in society, and after winning the repeal of the Mutant Registration Act, the X-Men have finally lost. A court has declared them to be non-humans.

This from Monday's Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB1043013622300562504,00.html

(Apologies if this has been brought up before)

 

[Ysgarran]

I heard this on NPR the other day. I was going to post something myself but I couldn't find a link online...

Ysgarran.

 

[Ranger REG]

A hypothetical discussion ... albeit fictional but insightful

So what are the legal status of a "non-human"?

Do they have civil rights, including the right to own their property?

If they are victims of a crime, can they be represented in court?

What is the definition of "human" in the eyes of the law, science, and society?

 

[s/LaSH]

Human RIGHTS and human DNA would have to be two different things for mutants (and somatotype mutants like Spidey) to exist on legal parity with Homo sapiens... this is indeed an interesting decision.

I'm reminded of the fact that in some regions animals have legal rights possibly exceeding those of humans...

Anyway, this is going to be an interesting precedent if/when other sentient species come along... whether genetically engineered, mutated, or simply aliens.

I find it interesting that Superman can be classified as non-human (he is, after all... not human). Big Blue is clearly superior to humans, however. This classification cuts two ways...

 

[Black Omega]

I don't think the article ever classifies Superman as non-human. Though more of a case could be made for him than the X-Men, since he's an alien from another world who simply is humanoid in appearence.

 

[Ranger REG]

I can safely say we all agree that Superman, aka Kal-El, Clark Kent (legal name), is definitely an extraterrestrial alien, even though he has apparent physical characteristics resembling humans.

 

[Bagpuss]

I can safely say we all agree that Superman, aka Kal-El, Clark Kent (legal name), is definitely an extraterrestrial alien, even though he has apparent physical characteristics resembling humans.

Yeah this bit confused me about the article to...

Veteran comics fan Christian Cooper, who once worked as a Marvel editor, thinks Judge Barzilay got carried away. If Kraven isn't human, what about the twisted villains in Dick Tracy? Or worse yet, Superman himself?

"Here's a guy who changes his clothes in a phone booth and flies through the air," says Mr. Cooper. "Does that mean he's now an animal?"

Erm well he isn't human that's for sure, you'ld think a "Veteran comics fan" would know that.

Still its a sad day.....

 

[Umbran]

Well, all this really says is that they aren't human for tax purposes. Good ol' Professor X can finally beat his old nemesis, IRS Man! Woohoo!

 

[Wolf72]

Well, all this really says is that they aren't human for tax purposes. Good ol' Professor X can finally beat his old nemesis, IRS Man! Woohoo!

lol, damn that was a good one!

 

[Guilt Puppy]

I can deal with the X-Men, but: They're classifying Barbie as human???