Joan Ansell
Two things that are brilliant about getting older...time to do FutureLearn courses and having a bus pass.
Location The Fens
Activity
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
The more I see, and the more I am told, the greater my bewilderment at the sheer beauty of the illustrations, and gratitude to those so long ago who sought to illustrate simply for those who only needed simplicity, yet there is also such depth for those who had greater perception.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
As there were no snakes in Ireland, but biblically snakes were the temptors, perhaps some symbolism may be that things outside man beguile to wrong doing and constrain.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I saw the work of other course members and loved the range and quality. It really did make me realize the breathtaking skill of the scribes and illustrators.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
There must have been support from the local communities to facilitate the dedication of those that did such specialist word day after day. Though I love the column notes of missing cats and hangovers.
-
Joan Ansell replied to Robert Finnegan
I am humbled at the knowledge of so many of those that leave comments. This is an amazing course
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I was interested that Anchorites lived above as hermits. What a strange dark existance.
-
I am staggered at the sheer skill and expertise of the craftsmen. Their working conditions could not have been comfortable.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I realize how little I knew, how I just accepted what the media said and built on that! Thank you for such a well constructed week.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
There still seems to be a difference between 'good' and 'bad' refugees. Some countries that have been inhospitable to migrants from the south have given refuge to large numbers of Ukrainians. The pressure is of course intolerable on the first port of call countries.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
The more you delve, the harder it is to hold together all the facets of 'managing' migration. I had no idea about any of this.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
If only the answer was to make their homelands safe with genuine prospects of a fulfilling life free to worship and live as they wish.
-
Joan Ansell replied to Julia Haes
I think this too, then I think of our housing crisis, and problems in the NHS which will not be solved by unskilled migrants who don't know our language, and I don't have any pathway between compassion and realism.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I am amazed that spouting populist rhetoric for personal power has been accepted by so many in America. We all want to keep what we have, and might be prepared to share with those we judge to be acceptable but some of the poverty, exploiation and wars, along with climate change has been instigated by us in the West. Surely it is payback time? I was...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
It is harrowing to think of people living in violent and corrupt societies having so many blocks to being able to live safely, in peace with legitimate work. The policies and solutions to curtail migration seem too simplistic and populist to take into account that each migrant is a person with a need.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I have had to re think some of my attitudes. I expect this to continue as the course progresses.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Germany seemed to have a workable strategy for long term integration of people that just arrive. Canada was able to some extent ration migration to either family or voluntary resources. Having said that, I am in awe of a country like Jordan offering a place of safety, even though they do not have the resources to assist integration.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Despite the faults of the good scheme, it is easier to plan to accept manageable numbers by 'processing' applications abroad. People cannot arrive by foot or small boats which makes such an approach undoable in European countries.
-
Oh..I see, the West puts money into the host countries so they do not actually have the responsibility of hosting migrants/refugees themselves. It is not quite so simplistic I know, but I suspect there is an element of this.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Sobering to see how shifting events and attitudes affect so many aspects that make up a refugees life and how refugees and host nations adapt.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Irregular risk, chance, cost
Regular. despair, fear, courage
I was most surprised to understand about the burden on countries that accept so many migrants.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Although I did not participate fully with the assignments I kept coming up against my assumptions and questioning them. It was unusual subject matter, and I am glad that these things are now being aired more openly and questions are able to be asked about who decides society should follow which rules in different contexts. Thank you
-
Thank you, that teased out several muddled strands for me. I was thinking but not knowing how to get my thoughts clear.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Somewhere deep down inside I feel that religion, which has traveled through the ages driven by male perspectives can be used very effectively to support male lives. I accept that women are not necessarily disadvantaged by their faith, indeed so many are supported by it; however 'women obey your husbands/fathers' is more widely known than 'husbands cherish...
-
As you say, it is rarely simple, but I think of some congregations and religious leaders who demand celibacy from homosexuals, and even expect them to marry against their inclinations which can hardly be healthy for either party in that arrangement.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
relationships that are taboo are either those where a too close genetic mix could result in non viable or damaged births and those where people feel unsafe with those who are supposed to protect them. I might talk about these things with a sister or possibly a very good friend, but probably not anyone much older or much younger. Their perspectives are...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Listening to early teenagers talking about sex was really sad. They superficially understood the mechanics, they understood the drive, but the emotional aspect where it can be an equal expression of care and respect seems to have passed them by.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
So much has changed since the 60s. I think in some respects there was a societal demand that the 'working classes' behaved in an ordered manner so that children were born in wedlock. Thus sexuality was if not repressed, then kept for marriage. Homosexuality was actually illegal and I had no idea about lesbians, such things were just never discussed in my...
-
I understand that such stories open a deeper debate around sex and sexuality in all its forms. However it once again seems to be very much from a male perspective. The concubine had no choice, she was actually given to the men and then punished in a terrible way by the 'master' I hope that somewhere the religious leaders are able to factor in consequences...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I read the section from Judges 19. The comparison with the story of the woman with the issue of blood, and the interpretation of kindness there is stark against what happened to the concubine and the hosts daughter. The pick and choose mentality of Bible morality is questionable and so open to cultural interpretation
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
In my country women can pretty much 'be themselves', they can, to a certain extent have choices. It must be so hard to have a real wish to live in a different way and know that there is no possibility of safely doing that. I don't thing religion is necessarily a cover for, or resistance to other pressures. Belief may be so real and deep seated and is in...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
It has been assumed that it is statistically more likely that older women may give birth to a child with chromosomal changes which could lead to life challenges. I heard a discussion where a point was made that in many cases the husband is older than the wife, and it may be that if age of parent is a factor, the initial problem could lie with the father not...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
To me, a Western woman, I am a bit at odds with the definition of 'protecting' as not passing on an infection. It really has highlighted the difference in the expectations of marriage, and therefore life expectation in different cultures.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I knew of course that some of these attitudes existed, but what shocked me was the comment that a woman might not be woman if she does not experience violence. I was going to write that until men have more hope for their lives then violence will be a measure of their manhood, but I appreciate that could be seen as a Western slant on things..
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I was just left feeling that women who have no economic power are buffeted between attempting to follow religious teaching, whilce caught with the traditional African assumptions about the purpose of women and women's own wishes in their relationships.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Well said.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Former neighbours belonged to a fundamentalist Christian group. They were good people and lived as closely as they humanly could to Biblical values. Sex before marriage was 'prohibited', but people tended to marry when they were very young. Transgression was seen as human, but true repentance had to be expressed.
-
Joan Ansell replied to Joan Ansell
@AlizaT put my reply in the wrong place! I am not sure why the comment appeared under another name as well. If you look at the dates my was posted first and it really was me! However, odd things happen when I use computers.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I cannot add photos to a photowall. I will just say that in my country, (UK) billboards do reflect young people, often with the same basic look, enhanced lips, heavy eyebrows and false lashes for the confident looking women, and posing men often showing muscular bodies. It seems as if a certain limited type is desirable though in recent months I have noticed...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
It seems to me that both religious and secular actors in the debate have a core premise that a stable functioning family results in a manageable solvent society. Until fairly recently most of the actors in the debate have been male. Ideals are seldom met. In many parts of the world a woman has little or no power, and control over her sexual and...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I was surprised to hear Cancer screening was in the list of contentious issues.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I think of sexual health as being physical and well being as emotional, though of course they both interact upon each other
-
Joan Ansell replied to Joan Ansell
not sure, if you look at the dates my comment was posted earlier. Technology does do odd things sometimes.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
It is sexually healthy to understand and be yourself without fear for yourself or judging others.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I realize that I have come to this with entrenched views. Whilst I may see that others have a point, I think on balance that my views are right..as did everyone at the conference!
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Within 'religion' I think maintenance of male power over the way they expect to live affects women's lives and welfare
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Police in Egypt are apparently targeting people using social media for dating. Whilst homosexuality is not illegal they are described as using deviant behavior. There is also the image of Trump flanked by white men legislating on abortion. None of whom will ever have to bear an unwanted or nonviable baby.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Sad statistic..the number of such young girls that give birth in the Philippines, yet we are not told of the ages of the fathers.
-
Joan Ansell replied to Helen King
I loved the enthusiasm of the educators. ...and I have rethink some of my assumptions about ancient thinking. I now realize how resourceful they were to the limit of perceived knowledge at that time. I am glad I was not a woman in those times though.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
hare lip (or being 'hare shotten') was believed to have been caused if a hare crossed a pregnant woman's path. Think of Pru in Precious Bane.
-
Joan Ansell replied to Susan K
@JeanBernath and In Northampton the shoe making town. Men collected dog waste for the tannin process up until the 50s
-
I think that is why the right hand of thieves was cut off..a degrading double punishment as the only hand for eating was 'unclean'
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
sorry , repeated comment..
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Made me appreciate modern toilets and sewage systems
-
I put apple cider vinegar (with the mother) into a bottle, add a large spoon of honey and drink some diluted every morning. I can't prove it, but I think it does suit my metabolic make up.
-
Joan Ansell replied to Jon Bastow
interesting too to see it on a face mask...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I think you have helped save lives worldwide through the information freely given. Thank you
-
I think you have helped save lives worldwide. Thank you.
-
I too live in a rural area with a lot of bungalows, The local demographic together with type of housing must influence the spread.
-
@IbrahimaDiallo Interesting post. Thank you
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
There are so many interesting and thought provoking comments from people saying what the challenges are in their country, but sometimes not which country they are in! I am interested in how other cultures approach this as opposed to mine (uk)
-
Joan Ansell replied to Anna Seale
I noticed the emphasis on 'voluntary' actions rather than 'forced'. If we see the reason behind the restrictions then we can feel some sort of fulfillment that choosing to comply contributes to defeating the virus.
-
I read that in South Africa police are screaming at and beating the homeless. I hope that is untrue, but I do wonder what we have become, and how it has happened that some have nothing and they have been kept that way.
-
@AnnaSeale In my area lots of windows have pictures of rainbows drawn by children, a cheerful thing when doing my lone walk for exercise. My sister lives in a small town in Ireland where people have been asked to put teddy bears in a window to make something for children to look out for when they are taken out by their parents. Possibly not the social...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Developing, distributing and reading an inexpensive test suitable for whole populations will be important.
-
If a painter is dissatisfied with the result it can be corrected before she sells. Babies however are less easy to perfect and their birth may damage the mother. Whilst I understand the premise behind the question the painter can put down the paintbrush but the baby is there for the duration altering physical and mental states.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Thank you all for such a well presented course. I am so glad I did it, I have learned a lot and had so much to consider.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I am so glad I did this course. It is so important that we do have a basic understanding of the progress and ethics around the technology. I feel as if I have been walked through the arguments for assisted reproduction toward the complex issues surrounding in-utero interventions. I have had a lot to think about, most of which I had no idea about.. and unless...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I can't see how what is learned can now be unlearned. There has been so much progress which opens up choices and opportunities. I would not like governments to be able to refuse these choices, but it is something to be wary of and for the debate to be opened to everyone. I suspect that opinion will be polarized, because you can't accept just a bit of this...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
The decisions for parents are getting very difficult when nothing is certain. Even when all the facts were before me I think I would give weighting to what I thought was right. There might even be a bias unintentionally shown by the clinician.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I just wondered where the donor DNA comes from? This technology is going to be widely used in the future, the benefits are too great to ignore and of course there will be 'collateral damage' while the technique is being perfected.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
In an ideal world this treatment could improve so many lives, but the certainty of cure is a bit elusive. It must mean too that changes could be passed on to future generations. In the hands of the cavalier it could be so damaging. I am however amazed at the progress in this field.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Giving soundbite terms to such an intricate and skilled procedure can change the ethical perception but we live in times of massive changes in society. Only a few years ago such interventions would have seemed like science fiction. As an aside, mitochondria can be used to trace ancestral origins.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I would want to be in a position to access PGD, and how good it is to be able to think through the options before getting pregnant.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Clearly there are benefits but there are questions going round in my head that I am not sure how to phrase. The ethics are complex.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
The rights and wrongs of genetic testing are on a continuum. At what point the line is crossed will pretty much be different for everyone. For some it should never be done and others approve of everything that is now possible. In one video the clip the clinician said things were done on a case by case basis. I would not like to have to make the decisions.
-
Joan Ansell replied to Joan Ansell
Point taken. We cannot know other peoples lives.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Offering an accurate and non invasive test to informed people must be good. Families facing difficult choices after testing all have different circumstances and capacity to cope. There is of course potential for pressure if there is disability from inside and outside the family. I have seen how hard it was for a friend who had a severely disabled child, her...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I am not sure diversity is valued..the best we can hope for in a lot of cases is tolerance and understanding.
-
I too wondered about the unselected embryos. I feel distressed to think they may go for experimentation, although I cannot clarify for myself at what stage human life really begins. I know it is controversial and there are many well thought out opinions but I just have a sense of unease, although I fully understand the longing for a healthy child.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Interesting that the implication was that women have the options. Are there situations where both parents have to agree to the testing and decisions arising from the testing.
-
You have made many relevant points, especially that testing is not a reality for many. I can imagine the distress of carrying a baby unsure about the quality or length of life for the child. How fast this technology has progressed and how many issues are exposed.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
What a thought provoking video. The more science can intervene the more there are unforeseen consequences.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
It is a little overwhelming to see how far things have moved. I am so glad for parents that do go on to have a family but there is just a little bit of me that is unsure about how much is now possible.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
The differing rules and legalities.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I would guess that the UK is a net importer of services, not surrogates but maybe eggs or sperm. Interesting question.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
I did not know that the commissioning person could refuse to take the child. That seems an inexcusable clause. Nor had I ever considered what happens to the surrogate should there be on going medical problems. This course is really making me think.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Someone somewhere makes money from women willing to be surrogates. I found it disturbing in one of the videos which showed the women being kept away from their families (for their own good to be sure they took the suppliments)treated in a patronising way, even so far as to be told to learn English so they could ask for the same fee as a fellow surrogate....
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
It matters a lot. As said in the video, a mothers poor nutrition can lead to the child being prone to diabetes. There may be other factors which in the surrogate mothers culture and lifestyle have no effect on her own children, but the child for whom she is a surrogate may respond badly go a different det of circumstances.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Thought provoking video. I had never considered that perspective.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
This world is very unequal. I understand that when well and honestly managed all parties benefit but when I read of wealthy celebrities hiring surrogates so their lives are not interrupted my heart sinks.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Exploitation and lack of clarity should the child have mental or physical problems
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
A report in the Guardian suggested that as many as 4% of children have been fathered by men who believe themselves to be the child's father, but are not. For whatever reasons, the secret is there. These families are not forced to tell the child the truth, and nor should families using donors. I believe that families should do what the judge to be right for...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
We do now, because we can. These changes are taking place after thousands of years for some of enforced barrenness,grief and a lower status. It is new territory and until we have lived here for a while we cannot know the full extent of how society in general will change to accommodate. ..The only point I make is that we cannot know for sure where this...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Retrospective removal of anonymity seems wrong unless there was informed agreement of the donor. As to 'forcing' parents to disclose how the child was conceived...I spoke to a lady who had gone through the process and she would have agreed to anything to be allowed to proceed with the process. hoping for a child. There are of course very sound arguments for...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Like snowflakes, every situation is similar but different. Rules may work for some but not others but I have no idea how you know if you have taken the right action until after you have done it. Experts can advise, but they are not living in the family.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Generally in England among the people I know there is support and sympathy for people going down this challenging route to have a family. There are codiciles though, this sympathy is more freely given to people who are childless. There is judgement where the NHS is used to help people in subsequent marriages where there already are children.
-
Joan Ansell replied to Martina Hurbánková
That part resonated with me too, to perhaps realize the honest intention to do good was actually harmful, but equally, she would not have existed at all without his help. This course is exposing all sorts of issues I never really considered.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
The rules in the UK have changed and now some information about the donor is available to the 'child' at the age of 16, and more at the age of 18. At 18 the donor could be identified. This applies to registered clinics only. The onus is on the donor to keep details current, so in theory the 'child' could find it difficult to get information about the donor. ...
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
The whole process of egg freezing and later implantation is not easy. With certain safeguards ( such as screening) I would not judge any woman who took this difficult technological route to have a family. It is staggering how far the technology has come in so short a time and of course there are ethical issues but one coat does not fit all.
-
Joan Ansell made a comment
Companies paying for egg freezing? I think they must be very much in the minority. Of course women are valuable employees but in so many cases they are replaceable, the women that are offered this must be very skilled, and had I such unique and valuable skills, probably achieved by hard work and dedication I might well want to take it up. I suspect this is...
