On the Separation of Conjoined Twins

In which John discusses his obsession with books about conjoined twins, Chang and Eng (who were the original Siamese Twins), and Alice Dreger's fascinating book One of Us: http://amzn.to/dfP3JW

Also check out the new book I wrote with David Levithan, Will Grayson Will Grayson: http://amzn.to/dwueSK

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• conjoined
• twins
• unusual
• anatomy
• john
• green
• hank
• nerdfighters

[JawsofLight]

Voldemort and Quirrel are conjoined 'twins'! Why should Harry seperate them?

[TheDinothunder2048]

...Catdog

[airnbobo]

Conjoined Twins books: ASSEMBLE!!

[BNBazel]

Unless both are going to die right off together, they really shouldn't be separated until they're old enough to decide.

[iWantThatPoster]

Do you think the twins could feel when the other one was done... you know, planting the seed?

[LoveMyBBM]

Conjoined twins should be separated at birth only if there condition is fatal or if the other twin is affecting the other's health. Usually, conjoined twins don't live very long due to failed attempts at separation. I don't think they would want to be separated when they grow up because they've known each other their loves.

Ps. If they both get a job would they get double the salary?

[Katieethekitty]

@vidkid42 We can only hope :L

[vidkid42]

So..given the heavy metaphorical implications, I'm wondering when he's going to write a book with a pair of conjoined twins.

[MerelyMandy]

I'm not certain which way I lean on this issue: it definitely resists simplicity. But I think that one thing that should be taken into account is that everyone has a slightly different experience of normal, and the way we experience the world affects our "normal".

For example, if you ask someone who's colourblind what it's like to be colourblind, I imagine they would find it difficult to answer: they only know what they're missing by hearsay. The same could be true of conjoindness and "normal".

[moonlady3000]

@JawsofLight should they have been put in the evil baby orphanage instead?

[sbcflirter]

Well I completely agree with him, especially with the fact that it should be their decision! And yes, normal is completely overrated!