so....Not having children=Selfish?

[Christopher Callahan]

Fuck that, I work a low-paying, but most importantly, low-stress job that has decent benefits. Sure it means I have to make sacrifices, like buying a 30" TV instead of a 72" (insert 'First World Problems' image) and taking the bus or, you know, walking to work instead of driving my own vehicle. But you know what, I'm happy like this, I've got an awesome group of friends and colleagues who I get to spend a lot of time with because I'm not working stupidly long hours, I've even got spare time enough to watch marathons of My Little Pony, go out to the bar for drinks, or hell, take a weekend off and visit my family once in a while. and anyone who wishes to take that away from me can kindly go frag themselves.

We should hang out. You just matched 90% of my life philiosophy.

What's the other 10%?

 

[ChadSexington]

There are plenty of people who have kids for selfish reasons. Some of them want a real life doll or pet (Pageant mum's) and they live their lives through their children. They sound like pretty fun people lol.

The idea that not having kids is selfish is ridiculous. If you don't think that you're in a good enough financial situation or you simply don't have the time, ability or desire to raise a child then you're better off not having one, otherwise the kid will end up feeling neglected. Furthermore if you have a pretty serious hereditary disease of the body or mind then who could blame you for not wanting to pass that on?

 

[Vault101]

5. who says I have THAT kind of responsibility to my country?

If you don't want to protect your country, don't cry when your country doesn't protect you.

I wish we could ship people with that attitude to Somalia. Hey, you are now in a failed state! No responsibilities!

ohh hurrr huuuur huuurrr nice knee jerk reaction

I like my country just fine...in fact wouldnt want to be anywhere else right now

but Im not having a child "for my country" thank kind of hive metality is outdated

 

[backinthepresentfuture]

well friend, you must remember one thing...humans are idiotic and pathetic creatures,that despite their protestations and insistence of their independence, are nothing but herd animals.

 

[s0nic_al]

Fuck that, I work a low-paying, but most importantly, low-stress job that has decent benefits. Sure it means I have to make sacrifices, like buying a 30" TV instead of a 72" (insert 'First World Problems' image) and taking the bus or, you know, walking to work instead of driving my own vehicle. But you know what, I'm happy like this, I've got an awesome group of friends and colleagues who I get to spend a lot of time with because I'm not working stupidly long hours, I've even got spare time enough to watch marathons of My Little Pony, go out to the bar for drinks, or hell, take a weekend off and visit my family once in a while. and anyone who wishes to take that away from me can kindly go frag themselves.

We should hang out. You just matched 90% of my life philiosophy.

What's the other 10%?

Well, through sheer force of unbelievable odds, I actually managed to have a kid. So the other 10% involves him in some form or another.

Which actually allows me to add a point into this conversation. I am not a good father. I do try, but I suck at the job. It was not selfish of me to not want to have one knowing that I'd be a bad father. It would be selfish if I didn't try now that I have him.

 

[Vault101]

I was thinking about making a well thought-out, eloquent post about how aging, shrinking populations, and culture groups disappearing are massive problems, but instead:

We, as a species, are fucked. Our more developed societies have pretty much given up on existing, and are quickly being supplanted by groups coming from places where indoctrination is the rule, not the exception. Our own laziness, self-interest, and, funny enough, reasoning skills have doomed the species.

ohh lighten up will you...

we anrt anymore fucked now than we were 100 years ago

 

[kgpspyguy]

Not having kids is fine but getting pregnant then aborting your child THAT'S selfish

 

[Vault101]

1. selfish to WHO exactally? who am I harming in not having a child? who am I benefitting in having a child? both answers: myself...oh and my partner

I believe it has to do with your Genome. Your family expects you to have children because, if you don't, your family tree ends with you. If you do, then you pass the genome down another generation, and (as far as evolution is concerned) you are no longer important. By not having children, you are actively harming your genetic line, and betraying the fundamental core of evolution itself that made us what we are.

Of course, that only applies to smart people. The stupid people are being actively selfish BY having children. They are ensuring that their flawed DNA continues.

Also, I am assuming that you are smart because, well, you sound smart in your OP (and because you have often been a voice of intelligence and interest in other threads). Therefore, I hope that you do choose to have at least one child - because your DNA is important to the continued evolution of the human race.

so your essentially talking about how its often the "uneducated plebs" that breed like rabbits and the intilligent poeple who dont (perhaps theres a reason for that?)

I have brothers/sister..they might have kids

while the theory is there..I dont know..smart people still breed,

and I mean that argument is stating to sound a little like eugenics (not trying to acuse you of that or anything), how do you measure intelligence? put out 1q tests to determine if people are allowed to breed? I doubt that would end well

mabye its less about bad parenting/upbringing and lack of education..you know, the story of the woman having her 10th child so she can claim welfare

sure preserving my genome is one thing....but I at least want to do somthing or try and do somthing with my life first before I start thinking about putting out spawn

[sub/] I dont really consider myself all that intilligent, but thanks for saying so....I cant at least "look" like Im smart while arguing on the internet [/sub]

 

[Zakarath]

IMO it's not at all selfish to not have a kid. They're already more than enough humans on the planet, we don't need more.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Selfish? For not contributing to creating another useless mouth for a highly apathetic population on an overpopulated planet? Surely they jest...

Yeah.. anyone accusing me of being of "breeding age" and not committing can go ahead and fuck themselves; or perhaps each other, then they can fart out their own kids.

Cripes, I already pay taxes.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

and I mean that argument is stating to sound a little like eugenics (not trying to acuse you of that or anything), how do you measure intelligence? put out 1q tests to determine if people are allowed to breed? I doubt that would end well

I'm not suggesting we stop stupid people from breeding. ... not in this thread, anyway. I'm just suggesting that smart people need to make the effort so that our numbers don't drop.

Also, I may perhaps be exaggerating my position slightly for the sake of humor.

Edit: Oh, but the stuff about women being blamed for not continuing the family line, irregardless of siblings and their breeding plans - that is very true and very common. I believe that is the genetic reason that the instinct is there (whatever the excuse given by the individual is). I'm not saying that women being pressured to have kids is right or fair (I don't) but it does have a biological purpose.

[sub]Also, inb4 "irregardless isn't a word" - Spellchecker disagrees, it's part of the common vernacular, and of all the grammar pet peeves, that one is the lamest. I know the rule - therefore I am allowed to break it.[/sub]

 

[triggrhappy94]

I think it's selfless. You're holding off what's suppose to be one of the most full-filling experiences in life, because you don't want to put additional strain on your's and your community's reasourses.

 

[tthor]

That depends, do you live in a country such as Japan where the population i dropping? Then possibly. Otherwise, no, not really

 

[CaptainOctopus]

Quite the opposite if you care about the well being of the living people (and other animals) of this planet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZvDwu6qCOY

Or as the standup comedian Stanhope expressed it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmgbSjLT1xE

 

[Mcupobob]

I always though it was between the persons or person if they wanted kids or not.

I think it would only be selfish or self-sacrificing depending on the context of the situation. If you're a couple or single and just don't won't kids then cool on you.

 

[theheroofaction]

Well, of course having kids intentionally is altruistic, in the case that it isn't obvious, the person who benefits is the kid who didn't exist before some blokes made it.

Now, obviously it isn't always a good idea, and what's alruistic and what's good can seperate under many circumstances.

As well, it would take a very weird sense of morality to say that somebody is a bad person for not intentionally going through what is a very burdening process to do as such, especially should one of the aforementioned circumstances occur.

But also remember that a lot of people, including several good people, are "accidental babies."

As well, keep in mind, that, Unless we're at dysfunction junction ( which I will admit, is somewhat likely), most of the people reading this were born of people who wanted to have children.


Ultimately though, dear reader, is that the best judge as to whether you should have children is you.

 

[KAPTAINmORGANnWo4life]

I was thinking about making a well thought-out, eloquent post about how aging, shrinking populations, and culture groups disappearing are massive problems, but instead:

We, as a species, are fucked. Our more developed societies have pretty much given up on existing, and are quickly being supplanted by groups coming from places where indoctrination is the rule, not the exception. Our own laziness, self-interest, and, funny enough, reasoning skills have doomed the species.

ohh lighten up will you...

we anrt anymore fucked now than we were 100 years ago

100 years ago Europe wasn't collapsing both financially and demographically, the United States was as trustworthy a nation as any, China was the center of massive jumps in philosophy and technology, my home nation of Canada held kinship with much of the known world, the Balkans were kept peaceful by the Russians, Serbs, and Habsburgs, Africans, while not treated well, were at least protected from marauding gangs of raiders and lunatic dictators, the worlds of Science and Faith were reconciling and integrating, great minds were being put to uses greater than the next brand of plastic food, the Islamic world wasn't filled with the same kind of lunatic dictators that afflict Africa, the horrors of the World Wars hadn't happened yet, governments controlled corporations (instead of the other way 'round), and people actually had children.

We are far closer to the end than we were 100 years ago by any metric.

 

[theheroofaction]

snip

You do raise a point, however, the person to know somebody the best is Usually that same person.

Of course, I am assuming those who read this are, considering they read the other posts as opposed to simply offering a rebuttal, the type of person who would think of the logical consequences.

I will agree though, that one shouldn't make a decision such as this based solely on impulse, and that it should only be done after contemplating the consequences.

Again, this is all assuming the intelligence I expect from my potential audience.

 

[Vault101]

I was thinking about making a well thought-out, eloquent post about how aging, shrinking populations, and culture groups disappearing are massive problems, but instead:

We, as a species, are fucked. Our more developed societies have pretty much given up on existing, and are quickly being supplanted by groups coming from places where indoctrination is the rule, not the exception. Our own laziness, self-interest, and, funny enough, reasoning skills have doomed the species.

ohh lighten up will you...

we anrt anymore fucked now than we were 100 years ago

100 years ago Europe wasn't collapsing both financially and demographically, the United States was as trustworthy a nation as any, China was the center of massive jumps in philosophy and technology, my home nation of Canada held kinship with much of the known world, the Balkans were kept peaceful by the Russians, Serbs, and Habsburgs, Africans, while not treated well, were at least protected from marauding gangs of raiders and lunatic dictators, the worlds of Science and Faith were reconciling and integrating, great minds were being put to uses greater than the next brand of plastic food, the Islamic world wasn't filled with the same kind of lunatic dictators that afflict Africa, the horrors of the World Wars hadn't happened yet, governments controlled corporations (instead of the other way 'round), and people actually had children.

We are far closer to the end than we were 100 years ago by any metric.

and a few years later there were a couple of world wars....then a cold war and a massive freak out about nukes

and a great depression in there as well

 

[Slayer_2]

1. selfish to WHO exactally? who am I harming in not having a child? who am I benefitting in having a child? both answers: myself...oh and my partner

Calling it selfish makes no sense, really, I think if anything, holding off on making more babies is great. You'll help reduce the world population, and you will have more money for yourself (kids cost something like 1.1 million USD from ages 0-18).

2. Its more selfish to want to have your own...than..say..adoption, I mean if your thinking of child-rearing as an "anti-selfish" act then why wouldt adoption be your first choice? because its hard..yes, and perhaps because having children can be somthing of an ego-boost in itself (for some peopel, not most) because you want "your own"...obviously its biological but I dont see anything overly altruistic about it

Adoption is a nice alternative, lots of kids need homes, but it can take over a year (depending where you live), and cost more, plus they aren't "yours", and that puts a lot of people off.

3.Child rearing is a lifestyle choice, is it selfish of me to not have children because I want to pursue my own goals...rather than have children and be a terrible parent because I dont want to give up everything to raise them?

Putting your career first is your choice, if someone tells you otherwise, tell them to go suck a fat one.

the ony logic I get from this comment is "YOU MUST SUFFER LIKE THE REST OF US" (one of us, one of us, one of us)

JOOIINNNN UUUSSSSSSSS!!!!