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I think the often unstated issue is that westernizing societies have been in a subtle, implicit race to extend childhood and adolescence. An educational arms r

I think the often unstated issue is that westernizing societies have been in a subtle, implicit race to extend childhood and adolescence. An educational arms race demands that young "adults" stay non-productive and dependent for longer and longer, home affordability stretches further out from early career professionals, and parent-child relationships have become increasingly about the parent generously supporting the child as long as they can rather than just seeing them out of the nest safely. These are all cultural shifts that mimic aristocratic lifestyles, but ultimately engender inadequacy and helplessness in young adults who aspire to middle class life and make it a very reasonable choice for them to narrow the window in which they start building a secure family.

deleted 4y ago
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bluetomcat 4y ago
This ultimately leads to an increase in the pregnancy age in women, and that unlocks additional second-order effects. Having a first baby at 35 makes it more unlikely that the woman will want and be able to bear a second one. Attention to aging parents may also compete with the possibility for more children. The single child will be given more attention and will grow in a “dust-free” environment. This completes the whole cycle of the cultural shift towards egocentrism.
throw-ru-938 4y ago
If it's an arms race, then the solution should be a strategic education reduction treaty?
- whstl 4y ago
  Well, it should be pragmatism. The several years, sometimes up to a decade of higher education is not necessary for a lot of professions. I myself could have become a good electrical engineer in half the time I did, because half my classes were absolute bullshit. I learned more about sociology and politics from friends than by the two-semester mandatory classes I had on it. And I certainly learned WAY more about entrepreneurship from HN than from my shitty "Entrepreneurship" classes, which were also mandatory. Also notice that while I graduated in electrical engineering, I'm a software engineer now. So about 80% or 90% of what I studied is completely unrelated (unless I have to redo the electrical wiring of the office). However, after interviews I still sometimes have to show my bullshit diploma (which is ironically in a language they don't understand) to work in certain companies or to immigrate to certain countries.
  - idontwantthis 4y ago
    I got a CS degree and literally two of my classes were relevant to software engineering. Fortunately I recognized that and focused on paid work while still in school.

deleted 4y ago

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bluetomcat 4y ago

This ultimately leads to an increase in the pregnancy age in women, and that unlocks additional second-order effects. Having a first baby at 35 makes it more unlikely that the woman will want and be able to bear a second one. Attention to aging parents may also compete with the possibility for more children. The single child will be given more attention and will grow in a “dust-free” environment. This completes the whole cycle of the cultural shift towards egocentrism.

throw-ru-938 4y ago

If it's an arms race, then the solution should be a strategic education reduction treaty?

whstl 4y ago
Well, it should be pragmatism. The several years, sometimes up to a decade of higher education is not necessary for a lot of professions. I myself could have become a good electrical engineer in half the time I did, because half my classes were absolute bullshit. I learned more about sociology and politics from friends than by the two-semester mandatory classes I had on it. And I certainly learned WAY more about entrepreneurship from HN than from my shitty "Entrepreneurship" classes, which were also mandatory. Also notice that while I graduated in electrical engineering, I'm a software engineer now. So about 80% or 90% of what I studied is completely unrelated (unless I have to redo the electrical wiring of the office). However, after interviews I still sometimes have to show my bullshit diploma (which is ironically in a language they don't understand) to work in certain companies or to immigrate to certain countries.
- idontwantthis 4y ago
  I got a CS degree and literally two of my classes were relevant to software engineering. Fortunately I recognized that and focused on paid work while still in school.