If you were really trying to optimize impact on the future, both genetically and memetically, then regular donation of sperm/eggs plus mentoring/writing/educating is clearly more effective.
This is supposing that perhaps one dosen’t come from a line where genetics and memetics co-evolved to a great codependency.
While meme dissemination may find a few people with the right traits to hold on, my (if I was human) biological children seem unlikely to stumble into the proper memes.
Also both parents and educators effect on children is minimal, but a parent can influence a child’s peer group (which does have a considerable influence) far more effectively (he can move) than a teacher or mentor.
In any case optimizing for genetic success is so low cost, I can’t see why everyone, those with children and those without don’t donate sperm/eggs in countries where they can do so anonymously.
Donating sperm is pretty easy. Donating eggs requires some hospital approving you, injecting yourself daily with fertility drugs with unknown long-term effects, making really sure you don’t get pregnant while you’re super-fertile and can’t use normal birth control, a 5% risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and people poking around inside you with a big needle (possibly puncturing something while it’s in there). I would be more likely to consider it if the health risks didn’t make my husband so nervous.
If you were really trying to optimize impact on the future, both genetically and memetically, then regular donation of sperm/eggs plus mentoring/writing/educating is clearly more effective.
This is supposing that perhaps one dosen’t come from a line where genetics and memetics co-evolved to a great codependency.
While meme dissemination may find a few people with the right traits to hold on, my (if I was human) biological children seem unlikely to stumble into the proper memes.
Also both parents and educators effect on children is minimal, but a parent can influence a child’s peer group (which does have a considerable influence) far more effectively (he can move) than a teacher or mentor.
In any case optimizing for genetic success is so low cost, I can’t see why everyone, those with children and those without don’t donate sperm/eggs in countries where they can do so anonymously.
Donating sperm is pretty easy. Donating eggs requires some hospital approving you, injecting yourself daily with fertility drugs with unknown long-term effects, making really sure you don’t get pregnant while you’re super-fertile and can’t use normal birth control, a 5% risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and people poking around inside you with a big needle (possibly puncturing something while it’s in there). I would be more likely to consider it if the health risks didn’t make my husband so nervous.