Do you want Children?

[Thirsk]

Of course. When you boil it down, the meaning of life is basically surviving and getting some offspring into the world. I'm not planning to get any anytime soon, but in a ten years time or so I'm sure to have some.

We all do, sooner or later. Even those who say they won't. That's instincts for ya.

 

[Blackmagic1515]

Not right now definately. I'd have no way to support them and I'm far to selfish to bother with a kid. Maybe that'll change in the far future when I'm settled down but as for now, no way in hell.

 

[conflictofinterests]

I want to get pregnant once, and you may think that means I want one kid, but there's a history of twins in my family, so I'm a little wary of saying that. Anyways, I've found the person who I want to spend the rest of my life with, and I also have a really strong urge to have a kid with him at some point. I'm sure I could rationalize it more than that, but I reaallly want to have a kid with him. I want the two of us to combine and make a baby. And I want to raise that baby in a loving comfortable household with everything she could ever want (He's set on having a girl, but I explained that it's a 50/50 shot) and I want to teach her how to see the rules of culture so she can interact in it but not be bound by it. I want to watch her grow into a person all her own...

Before I met him I wasn't sure I was ever getting married or having kids. But with him... Yeah. I want to. I really want to.

 

[Mythdefied]

Yes, I want them. Breaded and stir-fried with ginger and heavy on the garlic.

Despite what many people seem to think, no, not all people want them, not even as they get older. Can't stand the little bastards, myself. They creep me out and as I've grown older, I only get more disgusted by them. They all look like those fugly troll dolls and their shrieking/speech/babble is like the Antichrist on sound waves. Had myself spayed a few years ago and it's the best decision I've ever made, something I'm even more certain of with each passing year.

 

[KingGolem]

I've always like the idea of raising a son as a jewel in my crown and the ultimate monument to my arrogance, but the problem is you almost always have to get a woman involved. Women are too much trouble to include in any long term plans, so I'm definitely not getting a son through conventional means. The ideal situation for me would be to have a clone of myself grown in an artificial womb, so that I may raise it as a son. Two things are tragic about this idea: one, it will never happen, and two, I'm sure we have the technology to pull it off. Anyway, it's still a huge monetary investment, and I wouldn't even take a clone until I was in a position of iron-clad financial stability.

 

[honestdiscussioner]

Yes.

 

[conflictofinterests]

I'm going to go ahead and assume that we can mostly agree that the world is ridiculously overpopulated right now.

No, you can't assume that. I disagree completely. There are vast areas that are underpopulated. Many "western" nations have immigration programs because of low population and low population growth.

People are dying in the streets. There isn't enough food to go around.

On a world wide basis there is plenty, that isn't why they are starving. They are starving due to war, politics, greed, luck, and many other factors. Billions of tonnes of food are wasted or allowed to rot every year. In some areas farmers are paid NOT to grow food or to destroy perfectly good food to keep the prices at artificial price points.

So, I've got to know, do any of you want children and, if so, why?

Most people are genetically wired to want to reproduce. Even people who think they don't want kids suddenly see things a whole new way as they age, or as they/their partner become pregnant. Nothing in my life has been as rewarding as having a child.

1) Seriously? I can't assume things anymore? I guess I'm just getting stubborn. I'm forgetting to observe the laws of the Secret Mental Police. Just because I assume something doesn't mean it absolutely has to be right. Actually, you proved my point of "mostly agreeing" because mostly doesn't count everyone.

2) You happily proved my point of there not being enough food to go around. Yes a lot of it is lost to fire and neglect. Yes a lot of it is stockpiled away from those who need. So between losing and withholding food, there really isn't enough to go around.

3) I can agree with what you're saying. I'm pretty sure that I'll think differently on having kids or not once I've felt the need to lay down roots. Still, why was having your child such an incredible reward, if you don't mind me asking?

To point 2, How would more food (or aid, or what have you) thrown at the problem sites actually circumvent the greed, neglect, incompetence, what have you? The people stockpiling the food will, in all likelihood, stockpile the extra food you give out. The food that rots in the fields would be accompanied by the extra food that you insist on growing. The problem is not a lack of food. A lack of food (for starving people) is a symptom of failings in the chain of delivery or production.

 

[jamesworkshop]

Yeah, in fact as many as I possibly can manage

 

[Bneuf]

I don't want to have children unless its necessary to repopulate after some event, or if its by some order or something.

 

[Fawcks]

I hate kids.

So, no.

 

[The SettingSun]

When I was younger I always thought that people grew up and had kids and it was really rare for a person not to do so. Now i'm older I've discovered there are alternatives and I've gone off the idea a little. I'm still young though, things may change in the future.

 

[Anti Nudist Cupcake]

I'm too young, I certainly do not want children in the foreseeable future.
I cant' arrogantly decide how I'll feel when I'm much older though.

But damn it, I have no brothers to carry the family name so I'll just have to do it.

 

[Rusty pumpkin]

No. I probably won't ever marry either. My families fine I suppose, but I'm 15 and I can't put up with them anymore. Just imagining how badly I'd handle raising a set of kids, I think the future generations better off without any of my spawn.

 

[GWarface]

Depends on how the world situation is going in the next 10-20 years i would say.. Dont want to bring any children into a corrupt and morally fucked up world like this..

Would rather save an unfortunate soul, so i might go for adoption..

 

[Lionsfan1986]

Yes I do! I feel I am at the point of my life where I want to be able yo kids with someone.

 

[norwegian-guy]

I don't think I really want kids (nor do I think I would be a good dad.) but if my brother don't get any kids it becomes more of a duty than a choice. (It's old fashion but the family name must be carried on)

 

[Cap'n Ninja]

But at the same time I can say that the idea of bringing even more children into the world instead of adopting the nearly endless sea of orphaned young sounds selfish.

There is a sea of orphaned young, but you have to fight tooth and claw to get one. I'd know, I was one of that sea. Though technically I'm not orphaned, I have a birth mother somewhere out there, and presumably a father lest I be some freak of nature or human cloning experiment gone horribly right, but I digress. My parents had to jump through more hoops than a horse on a flaming ring factory conveyor belt to get their hands on me, and from what I can tell, a lot of those hoops are necessary, all things considered.

OT: Theoretically, yes I do, a girl and a boy in that order, but practically, it might not be such a good idea, all things considered. Pregnancy seems like a lot of work for a little reward that then sucks your bank account dry for the next twenty-five years.

 

[pixiejedi]

I do someday. I had a rough childhood too with divorce and a mess of emotional abuse. My dad had it even worse as a kid and he worked his ass off to make it better for me and my brother. I would like to do the same.

There was a while ago that the idea became very off-putting. Working in public education for 8 years showed me the yucky side of kids. I believe though that my kids will be different then those morons so I need to get my foot in the genetic door to decrease the odds of those stupid kids ruining the world.

 

[Emilox The Great]

I think the real question is : Do children want me?

OT : yeah at some point in the future. then i will give them all the attention they will need (not going to turn them into spoiled brats though) so they won't turn out as fucked up as me...
BUT i think it is too early to start thinking about having kids, i'm only 16... and the odds of me ever getting a girlfriend are very slim...