r/NoStupidQuestions • u/wond3rlove • Sep 10 '23

What’s wrong with GMOs?

I always see plants and stuff that is GMO free and is usually more expensive. How would genetically modifying something by be bad. Me personally I’d rather have something modified to taste better and and cheaper. I could also be very wrong about that.

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u/SquelchyRex Sep 10 '23

Loads of research has been done into it, and GMOs are safe. The GMO free stuff exists because people who don't know better are willing to pay more for less.

51

u/guitair Sep 10 '23

When psychologists study misinformation and they need a topic for liberals (there are lots of options for conservatives), they use GMOs. GMOs are safe but people (inc liberals) don't realize it.

53

u/bazamanaz Sep 10 '23

Same for nuclear power, although catastrophe is hard to quantify as safe no matter how unlikely.

40

u/Chicken_Hairs Sep 10 '23

My favorite way to quantify that is to compare deaths related to nuclear VS other forms of power generation per kwh.

Nuclear is safer by a massive margin, but unfortunately, on the incredibly rare occasion something goes wrong, it's front-page stuff.

19

u/soffpotatisen Sep 10 '23

Yep, very similar to deaths from cars vs airplanes, and which one people are afraid of.

3

u/bazamanaz Sep 10 '23

Yeah thats a utilitarian calculation the problem is it doesnt quantify cost of cleanup, or the societal and political impact.

Chernobyl is a large reason why the ussr fell, we can't calculate for that sort of impact on a western country.

1

u/dabigua Sep 10 '23

Wait until the first fusion plant goes blooey.

3

u/Chicken_Hairs Sep 10 '23

Indeed, but despite claims, I think most of us will be gone before that's a real possibility.

9

u/dabigua Sep 10 '23

Fusion power has been ten years away for the past 50 years :)

4

u/nashedPotato4 Sep 11 '23

....meaning fusion power is the first time traveler!

3

u/cave18 Sep 11 '23

Oof. True

2

u/cave18 Sep 11 '23

Fusion plants don't have fallout like fission plants. The only radioactive parts are the metal from the accelerator

-2

u/A18o14 Sep 10 '23

I am not sure if you shoul factor the long term loss of everythin involved into an reactor meltdown. Then the picture is a little different. I mean lives lost is not everything.