Am I Being Scammed?

[Anonymous]

For some reason, PT Barnum entered my thoughts.

[Anonymous]

If your kid ends up stupid, which I'm betting it likely will based on your original post, do you get a refund?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid ends up stupid, which I'm betting it likely will based on your original post, do you get a refund?

No that is not how this works. It is a probabilistic estimate. It is more likely to work out better than having kids the natural way. Why leave things up to random chance when you don’t have to anymore. Eventually most people will be doing (embryo selection) and the people who don’t will be seen as antiquated and backwards. People spend absurd amounts of money on private school, tutoring, etc. I don’t see how this is any different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid ends up stupid, which I'm betting it likely will based on your original post, do you get a refund?

No that is not how this works. It is a probabilistic estimate. It is more likely to work out better than having kids the natural way. Why leave things up to random chance when you don’t have to anymore. Eventually most people will be doing (embryo selection) and the people who don’t will be seen as antiquated and backwards. People spend absurd amounts of money on private school, tutoring, etc. I don’t see how this is any different.

GATTACA.

I've got some probabilistic estimates right here on who is going to win the NBA playoffs. $40K and they're yours

[Anonymous]

Oh FFS. I am not going to read this whole thread, and I'm guessing y'all have explained the world to OP already.

But OP -- yes you are being scammed, and even if you weren't, 2-3 points doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid ends up stupid, which I'm betting it likely will based on your original post, do you get a refund?

No that is not how this works. It is a probabilistic estimate. It is more likely to work out better than having kids the natural way. Why leave things up to random chance when you don’t have to anymore. Eventually most people will be doing (embryo selection) and the people who don’t will be seen as antiquated and backwards. People spend absurd amounts of money on private school, tutoring, etc. I don’t see how this is any different.

GATTACA.

I've got some probabilistic estimates right here on who is going to win the NBA playoffs. $40K and they're yours

Alright well you can stay in the dark ages if you want. I’m going to do what’s best for my family.

[Anonymous]

You’d be an idiot to spend that kind of money especially given you are starting with a low IQ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh FFS. I am not going to read this whole thread, and I'm guessing y'all have explained the world to OP already.

But OP -- yes you are being scammed, and even if you weren't, 2-3 points doesn't matter.

I’m think it matters statistically speaking, but it’s difficult to calculate the economic value of 2-3 iq points. So that’s why I’m trying to figure out whether it is a good investment. There are two questions here 1)Whether I am being scammed and 2) What is the value of 2-3 IQ points
I’m surprised the general consensus for part 1 of this question has been almost unanimous that I’m being scammed. However, part 2 has not been discussed as thoroughly. I’m trying to figure out whether the boost to lifetime earnings and health outcomes from 2-3 IQ points is worth 40k.

[Anonymous]

How would you even prove they did what they claimed?

Yes this is a scam. Put that $40k into a 529 for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’d be an idiot to spend that kind of money especially given you are starting with a low IQ.

Clearly there are a lot of other “idiots” that disagree with this statement. There are already a few hundred to a few thousand people that have done this (for polygenic disease risk) in the US. There are at multiple companies in the (Orchid, Genomic Prediction, Myome, etc.) that offer probabilistic disease risk scores for IVF. Other people are doing this already and there is a risk that families who don’t do it will fall behind within in a couple generations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would you even prove they did what they claimed?

Yes this is a scam. Put that $40k into a 529 for your kid.

Theses companies have validated their models using sibling data. The use large datasets of sibling pairs and they can predict more accurately than random chance (using DNA alone) which one will get heart disease, diabetes, have higher IQ, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’d be an idiot to spend that kind of money especially given you are starting with a low IQ.

Clearly there are a lot of other “idiots” that disagree with this statement. There are already a few hundred to a few thousand people that have done this (for polygenic disease risk) in the US. There are at multiple companies in the (Orchid, Genomic Prediction, Myome, etc.) that offer probabilistic disease risk scores for IVF. Other people are doing this already and there is a risk that families who don’t do it will fall behind within in a couple generations.

You absolute simpleton. Disease risk is not the same as predicting IQ, so no: there are not a few thousand people that have done "this."

You sound like the perfect customer for what they're selling, so go buy it. But don't kid yourself that the unanimous consensus here that you're being scammed and this is not worth $40k even if it could be proved accurate is a sign that everyone but you lives in the Dark Ages or cannot understand the benefits as they've been explained to you (and eagerly swallowed). You're just a mark with extra money, which is everyone's favorite kind of mark.

[Anonymous]

I'm beginning to think those Alabama judges had it right.

[Anonymous]

Intelligence is inherited. If you are dumb enough to fall for this, the likelihood your children will be intelligent is minuscule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm beginning to think those Alabama judges had it right.

Ok, you don’t do it then. That is your right. However, public opinion does not seem to be on your side in this matter considering the voter backlash to this decision.