"......... I am saying that a BETTER way of fulfilling BOTH the parental desire AND the childs sense of connection, would be to take a sperm donation from the brother or close relative of the infertile father." (Quote:BOAZ).

Just to clarify; I agree with the concerns of the child of a sperm donor. I do NOT agree with the above. This has the potential to cause further distress.

"Boazy's claim that he is talking about the "real STOLEN GENERATION" is both inappropriate and offensive to Aboriginal people who suffered from removal from their families and kin by governments, and churches acting on governments' behalf." (Quote:CJ Morgan)

You have my word that I am not attempting to complicate matters CJ; but the main issue I would have is with one word only, and that is "real". (Hmmmmmmm......; and perhaps 'stolen generation' in relation to what David is saying. That phraseology is recognised for exactly what it is, and how it has affected those who were removed under false pretences).

And 'stolen generation' DOES apply to the white population too. The removal of many children from their British families, being told they were orphans, and in many cases being worked like slaves, and suffering physical and sexual abuse, MUST also be acknowledged.

I completely acknowledge both.

I WILL complicate things here...........;David;- most of this was done in the Name of the Father...........

Ginx-even though you resorted to a pretty woeful effort of personal abuse to me, (which doesn't bother me) I quite happy with your last post. Yes.. I've been wondering why no one took me to task earlier on the question of the Aboriginal removals. I don't deny that for a moment, but I reserve the decision on the wisdom and impact for a case by case look. I cannot call it a stolen 'generation' as such.

PERICLES resorts here to 'ur out of ur depth' and dabbles in a bit of intellectual supremacism there.. he draws the wrong conclusions from my posts, (as he often does) and then blames me for his own shoddy thinking. (not to mention a 'WHACK A BOAZ' poke)

Moving on..

CJ.. aah.. as usual, also in 'whack-a-Boaz' mode, seeks to undermine the whole thing with a "I know more than you do" kind like a school yard bully..or..the private school kid at the bus stop with the kid from the Technical school".. we all know that type.
The problem is... CJ also is in denial along with Pericles.
From his of intellectual ivory pulpit 6 feet above contradition, he preaches to we, his congregation as follows:

"Children who feel some sort of loss from not knowing their biological paternity do so because they have learnt to, rather than experiencing some kind of innate yearning."

Well golly gosh.. gee.. I suppose the parents of these children have spent a considerable time 'educating' their sperm donor children to LONG for their biological fathers ? duh... your conclusion flies in the face of reality CJ.. given the strong (very) sense of individual identity enculturated into Western Children, (specially american) it simply won't do to draw such a conclusion. Western societies are NOT strong on Patriarchal or patrilineal culture, so that does NOT explain the longing these real world children experience.

Pericles.. you need another whack here.. (I'm not yet satisfied) criticizing me for openly sharing my thinking is a work in progress is lame. You could have chosen to 'contribute' rather than just trying to tear down

Actually, Boazy, your starting points are not very good really. I especially think that the idea of brother or close male family memebers should be donors where possible is particularly ill-concieved, for want of a better pun. This is because there are so many exceptions to this situation, that it itself would be the exception rather than the rule. Consider that most families these days have only 2 children, what is the chance out of all those that the father-to-be has a brother? Or even those that have a brother, those eligible to donate? Considering that the father-to-be may have a genetic disease or some other condition that has made him sterile or whatever and may also be carried by his brother. Or how many men that cannot conceive have brothers that they wouldn't ask for whatever reason (alcohol/drugs/disease/estrangemnt/embarrassment etc.) So, narrowing this down, it would be a relatively "lucky" few that ever got to do this sort of thing for their siblings. Let alone having it as a standard policy for donations.

So, eliminating that idea, many men (approximately half or more according to sperm bank sources) would prefer to be anonymous and would seriously consider not donating if that was not guaranteed. Of those who would consider not being anonymous, most would prefer to have only a one-off meeting, probably out of curiosity. If they were counselled before donating and told that their offspring could follow them up and attempt to have a relationship with them later in life, a majority would decline to donate.

But to follow up your statement that "Western societies are NOT strong on Patriarchal or patrilineal culture, so that does NOT explain the longing these real world children experience".

This statemnet is not true, what have you based this on? Western society is overwhelmingly patriarchal and family oriented. All education does not come from parents, as you should be painfully aware Boazy, the signs and lessons are all around you, you yourself say that knowing your biological fathers is important, this is not a biological "longing" it is society saying that family is important and biological parents are somehow family. It is in movies, books, stories, and attitudes everywhere.

I say that family is important, but biological parents that do not want anything to do with you and are in fact complete strangers do not need to be counted as "family", the people who raised you and count you as their own are your family. In this way children can certainly "get over it". Unless you are genetically predisposed to mental illness (which should be weeded out at the donation stage), it won't make them suffer either and shouldn't bother them unless everyone keeps telling them how important it is to know their biological father. It isn't, and it isn't a biological longing or innate yearning.

And when you think that it is much easier to say "they can get over it when you aren't one of 'them'", what makes you think that I am not one of "them" (whatever "them" means).

Thanks Bugsy - you've said pretty well what I would have in response to Boazy's little spray.

Face it, Boazy - with the exception of your biblical references, you haven't a clue as to what you're talking about here. Best leave it alone, eh?

You can't expect to post controversial, offensive and silly ideas in this forum and avoid criticism by claiming that you're thinking "on the fly". Next time you feel the need to share your thoughts with us, I suggest you think them through and research them before publishing. That way you might at least have some kind of credible response to the criticism you will inevitably provoke.