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Don’t think of consumerism as consumer products. Think of it as “consumption”, rather than creation. A focus on consuming and experiencing things in the world,

Don’t think of consumerism as consumer products. Think of it as “consumption”, rather than creation. A focus on consuming and experiencing things in the world, not building them - of which a family with children is a prime example.

wkat4242 3y ago
But I build a lot. Most of my hobbies involve creativity and making of things like electronics and 3D printing. I don't think having a family would be as valuable even.
- keiferski 3y ago
  Well I don’t want to be too harsh, but from my point of view, the idea that your hobbies are more important than the creation of life is a very shallow consumeristic one. It’s a very limited, self-focused way of being in the world. That’s not even mentioning the fact that you can share your hobbies with your children.
  - wkat4242 3y ago
    I just don't think creating life is that special :) or necessary. There's already too many humans in this world. And I don't view it as something sacred. In fact if I'd want a child I'd adopt one and give them a better life. I think it's better to lift an orphan out of poverty than to reproduce myself. Also, I have too many mental issues I would not want to bestow upon a child. But I'm just not interested in either. None of my friends who have kids have done this out of a sense of community or purpose though. It was a choice driven by their own desire, just as selfish as my own reasons not to have any.
    - anthonypasq 3y ago
      > There's already too many humans in this world. what does this actually mean? people say this but i dont understand it.
  - satvikpendem 3y ago
    Why is a hobby shallow but the creation of life deep? Surely that depends on the hobby as well. Having a child can be seen, in one aspect, as a very expensive and time consuming hobby. What is so special about creating life, anyway?
    - legutierr 3y ago
      Everything humans create depends on humanity existing, and humanity ceases to be without children. Human life is a prerequisite for everything humans create.
      - satvikpendem 3y ago
        It's not as if humans will go extinct. The UN predicts we will peak at 10 billion in 2100 and stabilize at 5 billion overall afterwards. When we were last at 5 billion, it was 1987, so it's not like we didn't build human societies before then. Those who want kids will have them and those who don't will not.

wkat4242 3y ago

But I build a lot. Most of my hobbies involve creativity and making of things like electronics and 3D printing. I don't think having a family would be as valuable even.

keiferski 3y ago
Well I don’t want to be too harsh, but from my point of view, the idea that your hobbies are more important than the creation of life is a very shallow consumeristic one. It’s a very limited, self-focused way of being in the world. That’s not even mentioning the fact that you can share your hobbies with your children.
- wkat4242 3y ago
  I just don't think creating life is that special :) or necessary. There's already too many humans in this world. And I don't view it as something sacred. In fact if I'd want a child I'd adopt one and give them a better life. I think it's better to lift an orphan out of poverty than to reproduce myself. Also, I have too many mental issues I would not want to bestow upon a child. But I'm just not interested in either. None of my friends who have kids have done this out of a sense of community or purpose though. It was a choice driven by their own desire, just as selfish as my own reasons not to have any.
  - anthonypasq 3y ago
    > There's already too many humans in this world. what does this actually mean? people say this but i dont understand it.
- satvikpendem 3y ago
  Why is a hobby shallow but the creation of life deep? Surely that depends on the hobby as well. Having a child can be seen, in one aspect, as a very expensive and time consuming hobby. What is so special about creating life, anyway?
  - legutierr 3y ago
    Everything humans create depends on humanity existing, and humanity ceases to be without children. Human life is a prerequisite for everything humans create.
    - satvikpendem 3y ago
      It's not as if humans will go extinct. The UN predicts we will peak at 10 billion in 2100 and stabilize at 5 billion overall afterwards. When we were last at 5 billion, it was 1987, so it's not like we didn't build human societies before then. Those who want kids will have them and those who don't will not.