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[Yoink]

A prominent news network in Australia just referred to police as thugs in a headline.
I mean, this is awesome, but still a WTF given how pro-cops they usually are. Perhaps it was just a very, very amusing typo?

Edit: Apparently it was a Brazilian police officer they were referring to, so they have different standards for that I guess.

[Dutchling]

How is that awesome D:

[Putnam]

"GMO crops are a great idea!"

no shit

seriously my wtf is the state of mind that leads people to think that these are dangerous at all?

[Yoink]

(flaming removed)

[Putnam]

okay I asked a question and got dumbassed over it but whatever

[Baffler]

"GMO crops are a great idea!"

no shit

seriously my wtf is the state of mind that leads people to think that these are dangerous at all?

The only legitimate criticism I've ever heard is that they encourage the overuse of environmentally damaging pest and herbicides. Which is a pretty big problem, to say the least.

[ArKFallen]

seriously my wtf is the state of mind that leads people to think that these are dangerous at all?

Do you trust the ones doing the modification to do so in your best interest? Do you trust that they always know what they're doing and have extensively tested the ramifications of doing so?

If you can think of a reason to ever say 'no' to one of these questions you understand more than you think.

[Yoink]

It's interesting that one of the first changes made is usually to make things seedless...

[Dutchling]

And they put genes in them D:!

And sometimes even chemicals!?

[Putnam]

"GMO crops are a great idea!"

no shit

seriously my wtf is the state of mind that leads people to think that these are dangerous at all?

The only legitimate criticism I've ever heard is that they encourage the overuse of environmentally damaging pest and herbicides. Which is a pretty big problem, to say the least.

...but that's literally the opposite of true?

seriously my wtf is the state of mind that leads people to think that these are dangerous at all?

Do you trust the ones doing the modification to do so in your best interest? Do you trust that they always know what they're doing and have extensively tested the ramifications of doing so?

If you can think of a reason to ever say 'no' to one of these questions you understand more than you think.

It's not so much the problems with them as the problems with the alternative (I.E "organic" pesticides that cause horrific water pollution).

[Rose]

I've noticed that most people seem to assume that the practices of one particular GMO company are representative of the entire practice.

[Arcvasti]

My only real beef with GM crops is that it lets companies patent the gene thingies and end up with a monopoly on a certain type of plant.

It's interesting that one of the first changes made is usually to make things seedless...

I'd say the reasons for that are fourfold:

A) Because no one likes to eat seeds. Some people eat them anyways or don't mind them, but the seed is rarely the omnomnom part of the plant.

B) So it can't grow in the wild and push out other plants by cheating. Although this is probably more of a side effect then anything else.

C) So they can make a killing off of selling seeds to farmers.

D) So the genetics don't mutate too much from the approved template.

C) is a pretty douche move and that needs to be regulated more. GM crops are totally a bad idea, at least until we can evolve some half-decent laws for policing the people who peddle them.

I've noticed that most people seem to assume that the practices of one particular GMO company are representative of the entire practice.

The pessimist is always either right, or pleasantly surprised.

^Probably irrelevant quote.

[Yoink]

I've noticed that most people seem to assume that the practices of one particular GMO company are representative of the entire practice.

The whole idea is bad, really.
Warping and changing the environment through science that may-or-may-not be sufficiently tested with the goal of feeding more humans as overpopulation increases nonstop... well, it really drives home what a plague we are. 

@Arcvasti: Well sure, A and D might be small reasons in favour of it.
But I'm pretty sure reason C is the main one here. They want to keep seeds to themselves, otherwise people can just grow their own food and save a heap of money once they get the hang of doing so.

[Putnam]

I've noticed that most people seem to assume that the practices of one particular GMO company are representative of the entire practice.

may-or-may-not be sufficiently tested

You don't know enough about it to know if it's sufficiently tested? Not sure if having such a strong opinion is wise in that case.

[AlleeCat]

We've technically been genetically modifying plants and animals since the dawn of herding/farming. It just took a lot longer back then through selective breeding.