How would you feel if you found out you were a twin?
By coffeeshot
@coffeeshot (3783)
Australia
October 7, 2007 9:46pm CST
I saw a story on the news last week about twin sisters that didn't know they were a twin until they were in their 40s. The thing that is particularly disturbing about this story is that they were separated in the name of science. The point of this separation was to study the theory of Nature vs Nurture. Of course these days this isn't done anymore as it is seen as highly unethical to purposely split up siblings but in the 1960's they thought this was ok to do. A lady scientist was interviewed about this and she works for the company (i think..) that conducted this experiment. She was asked if there are any more twins out there that were separated in the name of science and don't know about it. She said that she knows of another set of twins that were separated and they do not know that they have a twin out there. When asked why doesn't she let them know she replied 'I don't think I'm in a position to do that.'
For goodness' sake! How can people be so cruel! Even though it would be very difficult to learn after 40 years that you are a twin, it is still their right to know! How do you think you'd cope if you were told you had a twin?
5 people like this
22 responses
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
8 Oct 07
WOW! That's so sad and strange!
I don't know how I'd feel about that!
I'd be weird and really cool at the same time I suppose...though I know in my case it would be pretty unbelievable.
I do think the other set should be told about it.
2 people like this
@didi941741 (14)
• China
8 Oct 07
First,I think I will be very curious,after all,it is fanciful to have a twin,and hear about the twin have a particularly connectdence.sometimes,I will think about if I have a twin sister,how about I?But,I have been 24 years singleton.If,there is a copy of me studdently.I also will feel odd.It is ambivelent,but,I think somedays,you see a copy of you ,anybody will be ambivelent.
@patgalca (18366)
• Orangeville, Ontario
8 Oct 07
Honestly, I would be thrilled. As a child my pretend friend was actually a pretend twin sister. I always wished I had a twin sister. I am so spread apart in age from my siblings that I feel I grew up alone. I am still not very close to them. Having a twin would change my life. I might be a little upset about it having been kept from me but the joy I would feel would be stronger.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
8 Oct 07
I have heard of this sort of situation occuring before. Not only with twins, but with triplets or more. Sometimes it is done in the name of science. Other times it is because the parents feel they can't cope with more than one baby. It is indeed tragic. I certainly agree that a person has a right to know if they have a twin.
1 person likes this
@ketybhagat (4123)
• India
8 Oct 07
I think you shoud read the book by Ken Folliet, The Third Twin. Here also the story is something like this and it gets wierder and wierder. The book is good and worth a read. Many things are done in the name of Science, and maybe they come out with fruitful results, but still one does not like to deceive twins.
@xanatos (38)
• Malaysia
8 Oct 07
I don't know what those person think back then. Yes, it's truly sad and cruel. They only think about science and their whatever project. They never think about others feeling. Those twins has feeling to, they are human being, not a guinea pig. What do they feel if the scientist has a twins, and he do the test and experiment just because of science on his own twins? That is not human anymore. Luckly, now there is no such thing (I thinks) happens in this century. If I have a twins and knows about this, I will take down that company or institution, or even the government. They don't have the right to do this. If they does, they don't have a conscience as a human being.
1 person likes this
@feralwoman (2199)
• Australia
8 Oct 07
I saw that news item too. It was very interesting. I guess in the 60's it was considered OK to do things like that in the name of science and research.
If I found out I had a twin, I'd be absolutely over the moon. I was an only child and dearly wanted siblings - but no such luck.
@sylvia13 (1850)
• Nelson Bay, Australia
8 Oct 07
Yes, it would be kind of strange finding something like that out now! But I think that both twins have the right to know about the other, as the two share the same ancestors. It would be interesting to find out how the other person's life developed and to see whether she is married and has children or not. For many years they might not have existed at all, but one has to realise that they are family after all!
@cassidy22 (2974)
• United States
8 Oct 07
I don't know what I would think of my mother at that point.
But I'd probably be curious to meet my twin. I'd be exceited and nervous at the same time, but I would hope we could meet and get to know each other. It could be pretty cool. That's a heck of a lie for our parents to withhold, but who knows, maybe we were both adopted at birth or something.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
15 Jan 08
Something like that would really freak me out and to think that these ppl did this type of thing with no regard to the family of these kids. I feel sorry for the families and the ones that still don't know.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@dianagnes (1088)
• Singapore
15 Nov 07
its cool to have found out twins..if its happen in reality for me,im sure glad to have one..heheh!im able to know our different and similarities,share things like a friend but this is twins! Unique..but thats is just a dream!
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
8 Oct 07
I would be unbelievably ticked off and the world would know about it! I would sue the socks off the company that did the experiment and I don't know if I could ever forgive my parents for going along with it. No amount of money could make me separate my twins, if I had any. No amount of anything would make me do such a thing.
1 person likes this
@kiobug (2250)
• United States
9 Oct 07
I think it would be hard to have someone that looks just like you but might act different. I would be worried that people would prefer them because they look like me but they like that persons personality better. That would be weird because I was born with a twin so im not used to it.
@p0tterific (73)
• Pakistan
8 Oct 07
it is very disturbing to find out that u have a twin after almost half of your life
@raychill (6525)
• United States
8 Oct 07
Sounds like a movie!
I'd be upset with my parents first. Obviously the parents HAD to know that their child was a twin and one was taken away for science. How could the PARENTS not tell their child? Were they sworn to secrecy? I can't believe you or the article wouldn't have mentioned the parents!
Secondly, I'd be mad at the hospital for allowing this to happen and then I would be mad at the scientists for doing this.
then I would want to get to know my twin. and it would be a whole new exciting life and maybe some past experiences could be explained.
@shadowing (308)
• Malaysia
8 Oct 07
Hi Coffeeshot. Wow, I can't really imagine the mentality of the people in 1960's who did all these. How can they do that?
Anyway, if I know I have a twin I guess I will be really happy with it. Haha. I don't why but I guess I will be really glad to hear that.
@pinoyworx (4)
• Philippines
8 Oct 07
so sad to hear...the 1st thing i would do is find out who is my other twin, wouldn't it be glad to know you have another brother or sister? Wouldn't it be pleasant to know his or her place and if she is in a good condition or not! That's something you want to know for sure!
