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This might be a collective defense mechanism: if it's destigmatized, many people might no longer feel the need to enter long-lasting relationships, and birth ra

This might be a collective defense mechanism: if it's destigmatized, many people might no longer feel the need to enter long-lasting relationships, and birth rates - already low in Western countries - might decrease even more.

aaomidi 6y ago
Birth rates are low because it's expensive as fuck to have a child. Not just the immediate costs and the cost of raising them, but the opportunity cost of having a child is extremely high too. Our modern economic system is to blame for low birth rates, not the prevalence of porn.
- dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
  These arguments are not mutually exclusive. It's expensive, it's risky in general (health issues etc.), it's risky for the mother (can be left alone with the child), it's risky for the father (can be left alone and be forced to pay a lot of money each month), it takes time, it takes energy. But before all this happens, you need to have the intention to have a child. Most males wouldn't think about having a child if they're not in a stable relationship. And if all your needs are satisfied, why even bother?
waterhouse 6y ago
I think the people on the margin here, who would enter a long-lasting relationship only because they can't get a prostitute instead, rank highly on the list of people we don't want to encourage to enter long-term relationships or have children.
- dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
  I remember at one of my first jobs as IT staff we sometimes had to do some jobs with warehouse workers in another building, very friendly folks but quite blunt. One of them told my colleague: I married because it was cheaper than spending money on girls. At that time this comment put me off as terribly jerky on his part, I was really disgusted. Thirty years later, having observed social dynamics, talking to many people of both genders, I’m no longer that judgmental. Moreover, I think the guy was probably a good husband and good father.
  - waterhouse 6y ago
    Well, it can go well. People develop and change; for example, I'm sure it's possible for a reckless and careless guy to unintentionally get a girl pregnant, and rise to the occasion and make a commitment and end up raising the child very competently. It may not even be rare; evolutionary instincts are a powerful thing, and if you've never seen him in that situation before, you may be surprised. However, we work with likelihoods. Is an irresponsible jerk, or a horndog who doesn't want a long-term relationship, likely to end up as good a parent as someone who says "I planned to have kids and made sure I had a decent career first"? It's possible, but I don't think it's likely, although I haven't seriously looked into it.

aaomidi 6y ago

Birth rates are low because it's expensive as fuck to have a child. Not just the immediate costs and the cost of raising them, but the opportunity cost of having a child is extremely high too. Our modern economic system is to blame for low birth rates, not the prevalence of porn.

dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
These arguments are not mutually exclusive. It's expensive, it's risky in general (health issues etc.), it's risky for the mother (can be left alone with the child), it's risky for the father (can be left alone and be forced to pay a lot of money each month), it takes time, it takes energy. But before all this happens, you need to have the intention to have a child. Most males wouldn't think about having a child if they're not in a stable relationship. And if all your needs are satisfied, why even bother?

waterhouse 6y ago

I think the people on the margin here, who would enter a long-lasting relationship only because they can't get a prostitute instead, rank highly on the list of people we don't want to encourage to enter long-term relationships or have children.

dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
I remember at one of my first jobs as IT staff we sometimes had to do some jobs with warehouse workers in another building, very friendly folks but quite blunt. One of them told my colleague: I married because it was cheaper than spending money on girls. At that time this comment put me off as terribly jerky on his part, I was really disgusted. Thirty years later, having observed social dynamics, talking to many people of both genders, I’m no longer that judgmental. Moreover, I think the guy was probably a good husband and good father.
- waterhouse 6y ago
  Well, it can go well. People develop and change; for example, I'm sure it's possible for a reckless and careless guy to unintentionally get a girl pregnant, and rise to the occasion and make a commitment and end up raising the child very competently. It may not even be rare; evolutionary instincts are a powerful thing, and if you've never seen him in that situation before, you may be surprised. However, we work with likelihoods. Is an irresponsible jerk, or a horndog who doesn't want a long-term relationship, likely to end up as good a parent as someone who says "I planned to have kids and made sure I had a decent career first"? It's possible, but I don't think it's likely, although I haven't seriously looked into it.