2 ms·

When I reflect on the folks I've rubbed shoulders with over the last couple decades, I think there has been this implicit anti-natal bias. I think it mostly cre

When I reflect on the folks I've rubbed shoulders with over the last couple decades, I think there has been this implicit anti-natal bias. I think it mostly creeped in because of environmental and social concerns, and it seems to correlate with a kind of hip urbanite mentality. It's pretty shocking to me how long it took me to actually confront these assumptions. In the 80's overpopulation seemed like one of the most pressing concerns, but the situation is a lot more context-specific and nuanced than the message I received. Many people still haven't updated their programming, and act like I'm a raving lunatic when I bring up concerns around demographics in advanced societies. This despite us knowing about this generally for a _long_ time in places like South Korea and Japan. I'm sure I have lots of other similar blind spots, but those buggers are hard to find.

imtringued 3y ago
There is nothing worse than telling people who don't want to have children to have children. You do realize that we are biological creatures? If someone genuinely doesn't want to have children, then they must have overcome their evolved natural tendency and that means they probably have a very good reason. Natalists don't understand that a system of optimistic procreation also requires the children created in this process to decide whether the blood line should be continued. Parents don't know what kind of life their children are going to lead and whether those children are going to lead a life worth living or not. So the natalist is utterly, utterly dependent on the anti-natalist for his procreation strategy to be moral. The anti-natalist has the task of reducing the amount of life that is not worth living, so that only life that is worth living ends up reproducing. In short, the anti-natalist must improve life, whereas the natalist simply hopes that they give birth to an anti-natalist. For the natalist to attempt to improve life is proof that they are not a natalist.
- adamisom 3y ago
  >whether those children are going to lead a life worth living or not' >so that only life that is worth living ends up reproducing But... most people's lives are worth living, per their own revealed or even stated preferences, despite an apparent contagion of anxiety/depression/etc. >For the natalist to attempt to improve life is proof that they are not a natalist An assertion with no reasoning. Generally, I can think something is good and simultaneously wish it to be better.

imtringued 3y ago

There is nothing worse than telling people who don't want to have children to have children. You do realize that we are biological creatures? If someone genuinely doesn't want to have children, then they must have overcome their evolved natural tendency and that means they probably have a very good reason. Natalists don't understand that a system of optimistic procreation also requires the children created in this process to decide whether the blood line should be continued. Parents don't know what kind of life their children are going to lead and whether those children are going to lead a life worth living or not. So the natalist is utterly, utterly dependent on the anti-natalist for his procreation strategy to be moral. The anti-natalist has the task of reducing the amount of life that is not worth living, so that only life that is worth living ends up reproducing. In short, the anti-natalist must improve life, whereas the natalist simply hopes that they give birth to an anti-natalist. For the natalist to attempt to improve life is proof that they are not a natalist.

adamisom 3y ago
>whether those children are going to lead a life worth living or not' >so that only life that is worth living ends up reproducing But... most people's lives are worth living, per their own revealed or even stated preferences, despite an apparent contagion of anxiety/depression/etc. >For the natalist to attempt to improve life is proof that they are not a natalist An assertion with no reasoning. Generally, I can think something is good and simultaneously wish it to be better.