> But there's nothing more important than reproduction and the endless family trance? We all have 4 Billion years of ancestors who lived short and brutal lives

> But there's nothing more important than reproduction and the endless family trance? We all have 4 Billion years of ancestors who lived short and brutal lives. They sacrificing everything for their children in the total poverty of nature. Often they would have to watch more than half of their children die in order to raise some that made it to adulthood. Now, I'm fat and lazy, I don't have to search for food, and none of my children are likely to die. If I said raising children was too much work, or my time was too important, or I had more important things to do, I can almost imagine some old german farm woman from 500 years ago rolling with laughter. Fortunately for you your ancestors disagreed (if you enjoy existing). Either you will change your mind when you hit the right point in life, or your genes will drop out of the gene pool and be displaced in the next generation with genes which are slightly more likely to produce a person who wants to reproduce. I agree with you, though, that most people end up not really taking care of their kids, and just letting the TV raise them. That is very annoying. Kids really do require endless attention and time, but I've done both (had kids and previously didn't have kids) and I can tell you that something clicks in your brain, and you wouldn't want to go back. I suppose I could hit you with the categorical imperative or something :)