This person has made their choice. They didn't ask to be offered an alternative perspective, and they've evidently thought it through. What do you gain by try

This person has made their choice. They didn't ask to be offered an alternative perspective, and they've evidently thought it through. What do you gain by trying to convince them they're wrong or to change their mind? And this goes both ways! I often see parents talk about how rewarding parenthood is, only to be replied to by folks who insist on pointing out how difficult it can be, even if those comments were entirely unsolicited. I often wonder if comments like this are borne of defensiveness. The GP, in their comment, made mention of all the things they can do absent children, and that could be seen as an indictment of parenthood. Unfortunately, this makes it impossible for folks with and without children to have a rational conversation, since it's all but impossible for each to speak of the advantages of their lifestyle without implicitly criticising the lifestyle of the other person.