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I think people have felt the same about having children throughout most of history. Do you want a child born into slavery? Do you want a child subject to a to

by larntz 6y ago

I think people have felt the same about having children throughout most of history. Do you want a child born into slavery? Do you want a child subject to a totalitarian government? Do you want a child born into extreme poverty or famine? I feel like if you want to have a kid you have one and you deal with whatever adversity comes along. Take the opportunity to prepare your child to deal with the world that exists regardless of the circumstances. The more children that grow up with thoughtful parents that prepare them to face problems in the more possibility the world will be a better place in the future. I'm sure my argument isn't well thought at being that it's 4:30pm on a Friday, but I really feel like regardless of the issues we face in society today we are living in the best time to be alive ever and if you have the means to care for a child, and you want children, there's nothing that should stop you from having one.

ashtonkem 6y ago
This argument is unconvincing and really annoying. I don’t care about the calculus other people had to go through to have children in other times because I’m not them. Every human makes decisions based on the pressures they experience in their own life, pointing out that times were worse elsewhere is just annoying pedantry. And of course, part of my point was I’m dubious about having a kid in America. As in, I’d be open to going expat and raising a child somewhere I think is safer and more stable.
- larntz 6y ago
  I had no intention of being annoying. Apologies for that. I only meant to offer some optimism. I understand your point of view, and I respect it.
  - ashtonkem 6y ago
    No worries, it's a common response and I clearly have a knee-jerk reaction to it.
neilparikh 6y ago
> I feel like if you want to have a kid you have one and you deal with whatever adversity comes along. The thing is, it's not only you who will be dealing with "whatever adversity comes along". Your child will also have to deal with it, and just because you're okay with dealing with it doesn't mean they will be too. Forcing a child into existence when you think it's likely they will have a negative life, just because "you want to have a kid", is an incredibly selfish decision to make. We shouldn't encourage people to take a gamble on their potential children's lives just because they want a kid.

by larntz 6y ago

ashtonkem 6y ago

This argument is unconvincing and really annoying. I don’t care about the calculus other people had to go through to have children in other times because I’m not them. Every human makes decisions based on the pressures they experience in their own life, pointing out that times were worse elsewhere is just annoying pedantry. And of course, part of my point was I’m dubious about having a kid in America. As in, I’d be open to going expat and raising a child somewhere I think is safer and more stable.

larntz 6y ago
I had no intention of being annoying. Apologies for that. I only meant to offer some optimism. I understand your point of view, and I respect it.
- ashtonkem 6y ago
  No worries, it's a common response and I clearly have a knee-jerk reaction to it.

neilparikh 6y ago

> I feel like if you want to have a kid you have one and you deal with whatever adversity comes along. The thing is, it's not only you who will be dealing with "whatever adversity comes along". Your child will also have to deal with it, and just because you're okay with dealing with it doesn't mean they will be too. Forcing a child into existence when you think it's likely they will have a negative life, just because "you want to have a kid", is an incredibly selfish decision to make. We shouldn't encourage people to take a gamble on their potential children's lives just because they want a kid.