Anti-Child Society

[Kolby Jack]

I love kids (awaiting the FBI now), and don't see how anyone could truly hate them. Kids are the most important people on the planet and it's our responsibility to see to it that the world they inherit is worthwhile and make sure they grow up to be happy. But American families not having as many kids is nothing to worry about. Back in the day, people died a lot more so having more kids was necessary. Today, not so much, and society's attitude towards having kids reflects that.

Do you mean that it is "our" responsibility meaning parents' responsibility? Or "our" responsibility meaning society's burden? I would agree with the first one but not the second one. Someone else's kid is not my problem and I consider no child to be my obligation. And I'd hardly call kids the most important people. I don't think there truly is a most important people.

(I really don't mean this to sound nasty towards you. Those are just my feelings.)

Of course it is not your responsibility to raise someone else's child (unless you want to), but as they say: Children are the future. They absorb information like a sponge and everything they see you do is reflected in the way they behave as adults. You don't know if this kid will be the next president or the guy who gives you your medicine when you're old and feeble. It's just something I hope you keep in mind when you interact with kids.

 

[Vault101]

In my opinion, I believe people are starting to finally break away from the social conformity that comes with having a child. People are expected to reproduce at some point in their lives and not doing so usually carries a great stigma to it. I think the faster we can get over this stigma, the faster we can build a better society where people can choose to live the way that they want.

/

The faster people stop having children, the faster the human race ends. I get what you're trying to say, but if birth rates dropped to the point of there being a huge influx of old people compared with other age groups in society which caused significant economic and social strain, something that dwarfed the baby boom of the 40s, 50s and 60s, then I wouldn't have any sympathy for those who didn't have children having to deal with this situation.

the human race isnt going to die off anytime soon if people who dont feel they want children in their lives...dont have children

I mean it makes sense that if you DONT want children...you probably should have them

 

[KoalaKid]

Less people is a good thing.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Probably Nature re-affirming herself on our COMPLETELY RATIONAL brains.

We're running out of resources, and market forces are pushing us towards using them all.

Therefore biological forces are finding ways for us to reduce the population.

 

[Smiles]

I don't like children and I don't get along with children, at best I can put up with them for a little while(though my patience is short). At the moment I intend never to have children, but there may be a slight possibility in the distant future perhaps that I may consider changing my mind.

oddly enough infants seem to like me, but older than toddlers don't get along with me well...

 

[The Lesbian Flower]

Of course it is not your responsibility to raise someone else's child (unless you want to), but as they say: Children are the future. They absorb information like a sponge and everything they see you do is reflected in the way they behave as adults. You don't know if this kid will be the next president or the guy who gives you your medicine when you're old and feeble. It's just something I hope you keep in mind when you interact with kids.

I always find it hilarious when people say that. If children are the future then how come we're still being run by ancient, undead white guys? Again, I don't mean to sound nasty, it's actually a funny thought to me.

 

[SirDoom]

I don't like most kids. Babies and toddlers in particular. Actually, no. Loud babies and toddlers in particular. I have no problem with "brat bans" in restaurants as long as it's only the brats being banned, not all kids. A nice quiet kid is not disruptive to the environment. A baby screaming loudly the entire time it's there is, on the other hand, very disruptive.

It's really easy to see why people don't want kids though. Without kids, you have so much freedom. Sure, you may have to work a full time job, but the rest of your day is yours. You and your partner want to walk around the house naked, or leave for a romantic weekend getaway on a whim? You can.

Once you have kids, you don't have that luxury. You lose freedom, you lose sleep, you lose... well, a lot. I personally don't think the feeling of being a parent would make up for all that's lost in the process, so I choose not to be a parent. Simple as that.

 

[Kolby Jack]

Of course it is not your responsibility to raise someone else's child (unless you want to), but as they say: Children are the future. They absorb information like a sponge and everything they see you do is reflected in the way they behave as adults. You don't know if this kid will be the next president or the guy who gives you your medicine when you're old and feeble. It's just something I hope you keep in mind when you interact with kids.

I always find it hilarious when people say that. If children are the future then how come we're still being run by ancient, undead white guys? Again, I don't mean to sound nasty, it's actually a funny thought to me.

They were children once, who's experiences as a child made them into the old white guys we see today. When they were children, their future is what is now the present, thus: children are the future.

 

[Samurai Silhouette]

1 and 3 probably go hand in hand.

 

[Pegghead]

Y'know, I once heard somewhere that in some colonies of...salamander, when the population becomes too large for the habitat then a generation of salamander in that area will be born with bigger teeth and better strength and end up clearing the numbers a bit.

Now I'm not supporting murder or anything of that ilk here (In fact despite OP I love children...non-pedophically...and plan on definitely being a father someday) but in response to OP I often wonder if things like an engrained hatred of the young and, to a further extent, things like serial killers are anything like what happens with the salamander.

 

[Callate]

Contraception, economics, changing sexual mores that mean many people are less likely to form long-term romantic bonds that make children seem like a feasible choice...

I'm never going to suggest anyone is required to have children. Having or not having children is a matter of choice, and certainly having children is a big responsibility (at least, if you're doing your job) that not everyone feels they need in their life.

I would, however, caution against trying to revise society into something that's actively hostile to children, as doing so is likely to promote an extremely unpleasant backlash. I would also note that if young college-educated professionals choose not to have children, in twenty years or so you're going to be awash in the progeny of those who don't fit that description.

Around which time I'm going to see if I can move to New Zealand.

 

[Vicarious Reality]

I heard a child somewhere outside yesterday, probably in a store, who kept yelling MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MAMA.

Sometimes i wonder what goes on in the parents head when they do not pay any attention to their child whatsoever.
You have to use a child's instincts in order to get them to realize what may or may not be acceptable behavior. Telling them ''no'' when they ask for a toy and nothing else is not going to lead to peace.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Don't remember the article but the issue is advanced society depression, basically any business competitive society has the population strung out on fear how to stay ahead of the curve, media bombards them every day with dangers on everything and everyone feels the increasing need to take care only of themselves because it's a jungle law out there, screw people or be screwed.

Now when the people constantly fear for their livelihood there isn't much room for them to be comfortable with the idea of a child.

 

[Yopaz]

It's funny. I work with kids all day and while I understand that yes, kids can be annoying, I generally find them still much more... eh let's say mature than the majority of adults I deal with.

I find it disheartening that kids, who haven't had as long of time to develop moral and logical reasoning as adults get "banned" from let's say a restaurant but I can still watch a full grown adult in that same restaurant whine to the waiter/manager that his bill is too high simply because he neglected to either read the price on the menu or add it up properly.

We blame kids for acting like monsters but once the reach some arbitrary age then all that douchebaggery gets re-branded as "thrifty" or "skilled manipulator" or "charismatic". Adults possess all the same traits as kids yet we value them as adults and undermine them as kids? Interesting.

Kids can be annoying. Adults are assholes.
Kids do what they do because they haven't adopted to the culture completely. Adults have no such excuse. I agree with you. Even though I don't like listening to a crying kid while I am eating my dinner I don't want all kids banned from restaurants. I have more against adults talking loud enough to be heard from the outside and those who get drunk and argue with the staff.

OT: the reason there are less births is that we feel we need to be settles before we can have kids. This usually means we have to finish high school and often get a university degree. Women top the statistics of getting more education so they're probably not done before they're at least in their mid 20's. Then they have to find a job and a place to live. They have to be sure they will be able to keep the job even if they get pregnant (which in USA seems to be an issue). If they can't keep their job and have a kid they will worry about money and push the date they plan to have kids. Then with age some decide that the dangers of Downs or other birth defects is too big to take the chance, or that getting a kid will change too much of the familiar life.
Those who are settled into the good ol' familiar life will often have little experience with children and thus get easily annoyed by them thus creating the anti-child society you're talking about.

At least this is my hypothesis of it.

 

[DarthSka]

I'll be honest. People with your outlook on kids annoy the hell out of me. To me, people who whine and complain about kids and call for bans seem to be just as bad as the whiny kids they seem to hate. Yeah, I plan to have kids. To me, the child is never the issue, it's the parent. And because some kids are bad means you ban all of them? Whoo, generalizations! Whenever I have kids to raise, I actually plan on giving a damn so that they can hopefully change the minds of guys like you.

 

[Marmalade]

Snippy

I would say you got it completely right.