Do you want Children?

[Mr S]

I'm going to go ahead and assume that we can mostly agree that the world is ridiculously overpopulated right now. People are dying in the streets. There isn't enough food to go around. Yet, for every plague, famine and genocide you hear about the world population still seems to be rising or at least maintaining itself.

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

Its a strange thing to ask people. There are many in the world who just go through life the way other people are (a process known as Social Validation) and readily cling to the idea that life has a specific progression. Some people get married and have children, not because they really want to, but because they figure its about time they did. I know everyone talks about "oh, it was the greatest moment of my life when I saw my newborn boy/girl" and I can't argue with that. 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. Also, my childhood was pretty bad. Not that I was ever starving but, emotionally, that stuff sucked. I don't think I could consciously put another human being through the same experience I had growing up. But, hey, thats just me.

So how about it? Do you want kids? State your reasoning (Full credit will not be awarded to partial answers of Yes or No).



EDIT - Yes, I do realize there are two other threads that are roughly like this but I feel ashamed about grave digging.

Yes, but not quite yet if you don't mind.
I think 17 is a little young to start having kids.
Ask me again in a couple of years ok?

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Don't know, I don't even know what I'm going to do for a career. Let the time come to me.

 

[Vern5]

I'm going to go ahead and assume that we can mostly agree that the world is ridiculously overpopulated right now. People are dying in the streets. There isn't enough food to go around. Yet, for every plague, famine and genocide you hear about the world population still seems to be rising or at least maintaining itself.

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

Its a strange thing to ask people. There are many in the world who just go through life the way other people are (a process known as Social Validation) and readily cling to the idea that life has a specific progression. Some people get married and have children, not because they really want to, but because they figure its about time they did. I know everyone talks about "oh, it was the greatest moment of my life when I saw my newborn boy/girl" and I can't argue with that. 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. Also, my childhood was pretty bad. Not that I was ever starving but, emotionally, that stuff sucked. I don't think I could consciously put another human being through the same experience I had growing up. But, hey, thats just me.

So how about it? Do you want kids? State your reasoning (Full credit will not be awarded to partial answers of Yes or No).



EDIT - Yes, I do realize there are two other threads that are roughly like this but I feel ashamed about grave digging.

Yes, but not quite yet if you don't mind.
I think 17 is a little young to start having kids.
Ask me again in a couple of years ok?

Absolutely Not! I demand you start breeding immediately!!!

 

[Mr S]

I would like to have kids someday. The wierd thing is, I have plenty of names for daughters, but only one or two for sons.

How about Max?

Seriously though, what is it with women having a bunch of names already for their hypothetical children? I've actually met a girl (16) and she has a complete notebook full of them!

You have to admit that's a bit crazy.

 

[Mr S]

I'm going to go ahead and assume that we can mostly agree that the world is ridiculously overpopulated right now. People are dying in the streets. There isn't enough food to go around. Yet, for every plague, famine and genocide you hear about the world population still seems to be rising or at least maintaining itself.

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

Its a strange thing to ask people. There are many in the world who just go through life the way other people are (a process known as Social Validation) and readily cling to the idea that life has a specific progression. Some people get married and have children, not because they really want to, but because they figure its about time they did. I know everyone talks about "oh, it was the greatest moment of my life when I saw my newborn boy/girl" and I can't argue with that. 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. Also, my childhood was pretty bad. Not that I was ever starving but, emotionally, that stuff sucked. I don't think I could consciously put another human being through the same experience I had growing up. But, hey, thats just me.

So how about it? Do you want kids? State your reasoning (Full credit will not be awarded to partial answers of Yes or No).



EDIT - Yes, I do realize there are two other threads that are roughly like this but I feel ashamed about grave digging.

Yes, but not quite yet if you don't mind.
I think 17 is a little young to start having kids.
Ask me again in a couple of years ok?

Absolutely Not! I demand you start breeding immediately!!!

Well I don't mind the breeding part. That part I like.
I just don't like it when there are some actual... results.
Not quite yet.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

I'd like to in the future, maybe ten years time or so. Hopefully by then I'll have a stable job, a loving partner and a bit more mental fortitude for dealing with it.

I think I'd do an mediocre to okay job now, but just out of uni either I'd be working a very low paid job that barely scraped by, or I'd be away from home all the time. Like I say better to have done the groundwork first.

 

[DoctorPhil]

Yes, I want kids, but I'm lesbian, so I'd probably just adopt. There's plenty of spare kids in the world, I don't need to go that far out of my way to make my own (sperm donors, artificial insemination... no thanks). I'd want the child to be as young as possible though, so she (I assume I'll only have daughters) would feel more like mine.

And her name will be Revan.

That's an awesome name, I'll have to remember than one if I ever get kids. Did you think it up yourself?

OT: No I don't think so, as I feel I'd be wasting my life on it even though the world doesn't need more kids. Getting kids also appeals to me on a level though, so maybe one day I'll change my mind.

 

[sageoftruth]

I really don't know. My first thought would be "HELL NO!" I gave up a future of teaching because I knew I couldn't stand kids. I pretty much can't stand anyone who resembles me in an earlier stage of development. The sight of parenting does not look pleasant, and when I see people going nuts over a baby, I can't help but visualize it as a bunch of flies hovering towards an electric light.
The reason I'm not sure is because I once felt the same way about dogs, and once my parents got one without telling me, I warmed up to her quickly. As a result, I wonder if a baby would do the same. However, we all know you can't back out once you have had a baby, and I'm not much of a risk-taker.

 

[similar.squirrel]

I occasionally have a halfhearted kind of yearning to reproduce, but I usually manage to crush it quite fast. It would not be good for me, the world or the child. May consider adopting, but I would much prefer to 'sponsor' a child or a charitable foundation. Also, the temptation of a relationship with two full-time earners, minus the financial drain that is a child, sounds amazing. Still, even during the last pregnancy-scare I had, I felt somewhat..odd. I fucking hate instinct.

 

[thylasos]

I vary between thinking I'd be a terrible father and realising I'm actually quite a nice person with an ability to teach.

 

[Kuroji]

No. Naturally however, I am often told that I am wrong and just don't realise it. I am just not very maternal.

Seriously though, what is it with women having a bunch of names already for their hypothetical children?

I have a long list of names for future pets.. I'm not sure if that's better or worse.

 

[Macgyvercas]

I would like to have kids someday. The wierd thing is, I have plenty of names for daughters, but only one or two for sons.

How about Max?

Seriously though, what is it with women having a bunch of names already for their hypothetical children? I've actually met a girl (16) and she has a complete notebook full of them!

You have to admit that's a bit crazy.

I'm male and I do that, albeit to a much lesser extent.

 

[Biodeamon]

Yes, but only to right the wrongs of my own upbringings, teach my kids the correct way of living(not what this illogical society thinks), and pass on my genetic legacy past my death.

 

[JoJo]

Yes, I do, 2-3 of them actually. Why is it selfish to not adopt? Not that the idea ever bothered me, but it still isn't my Child, it's just someones else's child I just happen to be paying for.

They wouldn't be your child biologically but once they are adopted they would become your child in every other respect, so it wouldn't be "someone else's child". I wouldn't mind adopting a daughter one day and if I did she wouldn't be anyone elses child but mine! (except my partner...)

Sure, but I'm talking of a strictly biological sense. I would take a kid in someday, maybe if I have the Money and my own Kids are out of the house or own their way out. But I don't see adoption as a necessity, while I do respect those who do it out of the kindness of their hearts and not because they don't have any other option.

I agree adoption certainly isn't a necessity, it's much more difficult than birthing your own child and should only be done if the adopter is really serious about it. I wouldn't mind doing it because I naturally get on well with all children regardless of whether they're related to me or not, but I understand a lot of people can only tolerate their own children, which I accept, everyone should have a free choice.

 

[DarthFennec]

Hell no. Considering how badly my parents fucked up, I really don't feel like unintentionally putting anyone though the same thing.

 

[Rascarin]

Yes, I want kids, but I'm lesbian, so I'd probably just adopt. There's plenty of spare kids in the world, I don't need to go that far out of my way to make my own (sperm donors, artificial insemination... no thanks). I'd want the child to be as young as possible though, so she (I assume I'll only have daughters) would feel more like mine.

And her name will be Revan.

That's an awesome name, I'll have to remember than one if I ever get kids. Did you think it up yourself?

OT: No I don't think so, as I feel I'd be wasting my life on it even though the world doesn't need more kids. Getting kids also appeals to me on a level though, so maybe one day I'll change my mind.

Haha, no I didn't make it up - it's a name from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the name of one of my favourite Star Wars characters ever.

 

[thegrimfandango]

No, I'm 28 years old and have never felt a spark of maternal instinct for children. I have no intention of deliberately trying for a baby, and as a lesbian it's not gonna happen accidentally and I'm happy with that.
A partner who wants kids is an absolute deal-breaker for me.

 

[DanDeFool]

No.

I just... don't want to. Partly it's because of the population boom, not necessarily because my children will be born into an overcrowded region stepped in poverty and suffering, but because they'll end up in a world that has to deal with gross overcrowding in general.

Also, I imagine I'll have to deal with enough risk and uncertainty in the future without having to bear the risk and uncertainty of multiple dependents as well.

 

[Hiphophippo]

I didn't want one, but now I have a daughter. She is the single best thing to ever happen to me.