6 ms·

They're just cliche ideas for how to fill the time. Anyone one who tries to break an addiction suddenly finds themselves with a lot of free time they don't know

They're just cliche ideas for how to fill the time. Anyone one who tries to break an addiction suddenly finds themselves with a lot of free time they don't know how to fill. But on that note, have multiple kids AND get a pet. You'll never have a free minute again.

nonamenoslogan 4y ago
Or multiple pets and no kids, got 2 labs, a cat, a fish, and a cockatiel--its never boring at my house.
travisgriggs 4y ago
> But on that note, have multiple kids AND get a pet. You'll never have a free minute again. But then you’ll flock to these addictions because you feel you need an escape. I have four kids and a ShiTsu.
alex_suzuki 4y ago
I would strongly argue against having kids as a solution for any of life‘s problems. Kids are an incredibly demanding venture and can exacerbate existing problems. Speaking from experience here.
- tomcam 4y ago
  YMMV. Kids made my life immeasurably better. And I have some with severe handicaps.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- unclad5968 4y ago
  I think he was being facetious.
  - alex_suzuki 4y ago
    After rereading, I think you’re right.
- maerF0x0 4y ago
  > for any of life‘s problems I understand it was hyperbole, but I would suggest one possible application of having and throwing everything you've got at raising children[1] to help with aimlessness/meaninglessness/purposelessness. Particularly when they're your own the common experience is your instinct/genome takes over and you'll find great imperative to do things you couldn't do for yourself. I learned about this concept from Jordan Peterson who also notes it works with pets[2]. For any bit of resentment about how the world has treated you, pouring yourself into someone else can at least give the solace that for them they will not suffer as much as you have, or at least not in the same insanity producing cyclical way as you had. [1]: (technically can also be someone else's like foster, adopt, church, mentor, nephews/nieces) . [2]: he talks about how people more frequently fill prescriptions for pets than for themselves.
  - birdyrooster 4y ago
    I know enough shitty parents to say this does not have a high rate of success in changing people for the better, but I will leave it to Jordan Peterson, he seems like a real expert type.
    - jokethrowaway 4y ago
      A lot of people nowadays lack responsibility. Society keeps encouraging a lifestyle with less and less responsibility. The government takes care of you (until you start bringing in profits), your employer takes care of you (with no raises). Everything seems engineered to coddle people without making them realise what they're missing. I feel most people are basically unaware cattle, happy to stay in their comfort zone and to keep producing what they tell them to. Sexual promiscuity is cool, relationships don't last, having kids is a suicide, you're a victim. A lot of the shitty parents have way deeper problems than this. The ones doing ok are probably glad they get to use their judice and they enjoy the freedom that comes with responsibility (without forgetting the obligations).
      - maerF0x0 4y ago
        I've heard a hypothesis in the past (cannot recall the data) that people who put themselves under financial responsibility (eg through debt, virtuous or vice) often are pressed into earning more. That is it seems the mechanism might be you get stressed about paying your bills so you pursue a life of higher income. People might become wealthier as home owners not because of the wealth the home generates but because of the consistent act of building a little wealth month by month for 25 years, and for want of a bit more disposable income they chase a promotion, raise, or more valuable skills. I believe there is a similar function in marriages, parenting, and other relationships -- the act of working through challenges makes you a "better" person at least in the regards of perspective, negotiation, less selfishness etc. Of course, like basically everything in every discussion, there are exceptions but lets not focus on those because it makes it difficult to talk about anything save for physical laws.
- sizzle 4y ago
  I mean from a purely evolutionary perspective, the point of life is to pass on your genes to your offspring, so having kids would be winning at this game we call life…
  - tonguez 4y ago
    so life’s greatest winner is genghis khan
    - bko 4y ago
      Do you have an alternative "point of life"? Is it career? If so, that's pretty depressing. Happiness is a superficial emotion. If your loved one was "happy" spending his entire life playing fortnight in his parent's basement, would you be sad for him? Charity? I don't know. Never found a meaning as compelling as having children.
      - tonguez 4y ago
        what a bizarre reaction to my comment
        bko 4y ago
        I read your comment as somewhat dismissive at the point of life being having children because you made a joke of Genghis Khan "winning" the game of life.
      - throwawayboise 4y ago
        Why does there have to be a point? Just go with it.
      - ako 4y ago
        Genghis Khan had many children: https://www.grunge.com/187878/how-many-children-did-genghis-khan-really-have/ https://www.grunge.com/187878/how-many-children-did-genghis-...
      - derangedHorse 4y ago

nonamenoslogan 4y ago

Or multiple pets and no kids, got 2 labs, a cat, a fish, and a cockatiel--its never boring at my house.

travisgriggs 4y ago

> But on that note, have multiple kids AND get a pet. You'll never have a free minute again. But then you’ll flock to these addictions because you feel you need an escape. I have four kids and a ShiTsu.

alex_suzuki 4y ago

I would strongly argue against having kids as a solution for any of life‘s problems. Kids are an incredibly demanding venture and can exacerbate existing problems. Speaking from experience here.

tomcam 4y ago
YMMV. Kids made my life immeasurably better. And I have some with severe handicaps.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
unclad5968 4y ago
I think he was being facetious.
- alex_suzuki 4y ago
  After rereading, I think you’re right.
maerF0x0 4y ago
> for any of life‘s problems I understand it was hyperbole, but I would suggest one possible application of having and throwing everything you've got at raising children[1] to help with aimlessness/meaninglessness/purposelessness. Particularly when they're your own the common experience is your instinct/genome takes over and you'll find great imperative to do things you couldn't do for yourself. I learned about this concept from Jordan Peterson who also notes it works with pets[2]. For any bit of resentment about how the world has treated you, pouring yourself into someone else can at least give the solace that for them they will not suffer as much as you have, or at least not in the same insanity producing cyclical way as you had. [1]: (technically can also be someone else's like foster, adopt, church, mentor, nephews/nieces) . [2]: he talks about how people more frequently fill prescriptions for pets than for themselves.
- birdyrooster 4y ago
  I know enough shitty parents to say this does not have a high rate of success in changing people for the better, but I will leave it to Jordan Peterson, he seems like a real expert type.
  - jokethrowaway 4y ago
    A lot of people nowadays lack responsibility. Society keeps encouraging a lifestyle with less and less responsibility. The government takes care of you (until you start bringing in profits), your employer takes care of you (with no raises). Everything seems engineered to coddle people without making them realise what they're missing. I feel most people are basically unaware cattle, happy to stay in their comfort zone and to keep producing what they tell them to. Sexual promiscuity is cool, relationships don't last, having kids is a suicide, you're a victim. A lot of the shitty parents have way deeper problems than this. The ones doing ok are probably glad they get to use their judice and they enjoy the freedom that comes with responsibility (without forgetting the obligations).
    - maerF0x0 4y ago
      I've heard a hypothesis in the past (cannot recall the data) that people who put themselves under financial responsibility (eg through debt, virtuous or vice) often are pressed into earning more. That is it seems the mechanism might be you get stressed about paying your bills so you pursue a life of higher income. People might become wealthier as home owners not because of the wealth the home generates but because of the consistent act of building a little wealth month by month for 25 years, and for want of a bit more disposable income they chase a promotion, raise, or more valuable skills. I believe there is a similar function in marriages, parenting, and other relationships -- the act of working through challenges makes you a "better" person at least in the regards of perspective, negotiation, less selfishness etc. Of course, like basically everything in every discussion, there are exceptions but lets not focus on those because it makes it difficult to talk about anything save for physical laws.
sizzle 4y ago
I mean from a purely evolutionary perspective, the point of life is to pass on your genes to your offspring, so having kids would be winning at this game we call life…
- tonguez 4y ago
  so life’s greatest winner is genghis khan
  - bko 4y ago
    Do you have an alternative "point of life"? Is it career? If so, that's pretty depressing. Happiness is a superficial emotion. If your loved one was "happy" spending his entire life playing fortnight in his parent's basement, would you be sad for him? Charity? I don't know. Never found a meaning as compelling as having children.
    - tonguez 4y ago
      what a bizarre reaction to my comment
      - bko 4y ago
        I read your comment as somewhat dismissive at the point of life being having children because you made a joke of Genghis Khan "winning" the game of life.
    - throwawayboise 4y ago
      Why does there have to be a point? Just go with it.
    - ako 4y ago
      Genghis Khan had many children: https://www.grunge.com/187878/how-many-children-did-genghis-khan-really-have/ https://www.grunge.com/187878/how-many-children-did-genghis-...
    - derangedHorse 4y ago