Do you want Children?

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Maybe have one, before I'm too old.

 

[SuperSuperSuperGuy]

No. No, no, no. I detest the little buggers. They shriek like banshees and can do nothing but sit on their asses all day at first. As they get older, they become less lazy, but worse because of it. They break things, hurt themselves and cry at the slightest provocation. They yell, scream and babble like morons. I can't blame them for being stupid. Y'know, they're just kids, right? I still don't like it. They take up all of your time AND money. You have to watch them, feed them, clothe them and bathe them. They don't know when to shut up, either! They're a lifelong commitment, meaning that, once you have a kid, you can't change your mind or give up. There's no actual reward for raising children, either! People say that it's rewarding, but that's just a temporary feeling that you get after you're done. What else does having a kid get you? Stress, lots of it.

TL;DR: No. Kids are annoying, they are physically, mentally and financially draining, they're too much responsibility and I hate them. There's no reason to have one.

I hate it when people say "You were once a kid! How can you hate them?" My response to that is "Yes, I was once a kid. But I grew out of that disability."

 

[loc978]

I don't want kids, and it's for completely selfish reasons. I am completely unwilling to give up enough of my time to properly educate the damn things. I firmly believe that most people feel the same way, yet refuse to admit it and have kids anyway... which is why so few kids are properly educated these days.

 

[Vern5]

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.

I insisted on growing more food? And I said we should throw that food at the problem sites? Damn, I'm really stupid. I'm also forgetful because I don't remember saying either of those things. I'm not a politician nor am I some kind of activist trying to save every human life from starvation (disregarding the homeless people I help feed whenever I can) so I can't really say how to fix world hunger. I'm just pointing out that it does exist as there are people in the world who are, indeed, going hungry.

If you're going to talk about problems in food distribution then I'll gladly open up a "Problems in World Food Distribution" thread if I have to. But this thread is about having children and not just as food, as some Escapists have been hinting at, you silly bunch

 

[Kolosus]

This thread makes me lose a little faith in humanity... Seriously, if everyone answered the same way 80% of people here do, our civilization would be doomed.


/Thread
Myself: Yup, Definitely. I'm the oldest of a family of 4 children, which means i've been around children (and still is) alot. I'm not sure if i want more than 2 though.

I'm only 18 at the moment, and still in highschool, and i'm determined in getting a long education (for the moneyz), so it's impossible for me to even consider having kids now... 28 - 32 seems like a considerable age though.

Edit: I'm going to give my children middle names based on the greek mythology, such as Athene or Apollon

 

[Baldry]

YES. And he will be the most awesome child since me...What's that you say, what will his name be, why it will be Chewbacca Gatsby Alexius Oliver Rockerfeller Baldry!

 

[Vern5]

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.

First off... your avatar is... just... hypnotic...

*Ahem* It is a crying shame that its relatively easy to birth more children than it is to provide a parent for a child who really NEEDS a parent.

 

[Tomster595]

I'l admit, I'm pretty scared about raising someone who will have to one day function in society, but hey, I love a challenge.

 

[tzimize]

I might be selfish, but I want my time on earth to be about me, and I want to be able to decide for myself when that time is up (not counting dying in freak accidents/old age).

If I have a kid, I sure as hell aint going to be a bad parent, so my life will be all about that kid. Honestly, I already feel like I have way too much responsibility and way too little free time. Why the hell people have kids is beyond me.

I'd rather be 60 and regret I didnt have one, than 30 and regret I DID have one.

 

[tzimize]

I don't want kids, and it's for completely selfish reasons. I am completely unwilling to give up enough of my time to properly educate the damn things. I firmly believe that most people feel the same way, yet refuse to admit it and have kids anyway... which is why so few kids are properly educated these days.

Well said. Man, I cant stand people sometimes. Often.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Yes, I want children.

Because my genetic code is better than 95% of the rest of human kind, and must be preserved. At all costs.

 

[spartandude]

No, i hate children, i have rubbish genes and i have no idea how to be a father

 

[DaJoW]

Having 7 nieces and nephews - only if they're born 2 years old and then go away for a long time. 2-year olds are a lot of fun to play around with, the rest of the ages my nieces and nephews have reached (7, been getting one a year for 7 years now) I'm not too fond of.

 

[Iwana Humpalot]

Population (discounting immigration) is actually sinking in most developed nations.
It's only on the rise in developing nations.

I might want children some day. I still don't really know yet. Hell, I don't even know if I really want a girlfriend any time soon.
Time will show, but I suspect I will succumb to the biological imperative at some point.

This, it might bee to early for me to get kids, i have so many more things to do before i get those bastards. Maybe in 6-12 years i might get some, we will see.

 

[RatRace123]

Nope, I dislike children. That's mainly it, though I also don't feel I'd be a good parent and I'm afraid if my child had some sort of physical or mental disease I couldn't properly care for it.

 

[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.

First off... your avatar is... just... hypnotic...

*Ahem* It is a crying shame that its relatively easy to birth more children than it is to provide a parent for a child who really NEEDS a parent.

Better that said child gets a home that can support it than one where it will be mistreated, have an exceptionally poor quality of life or simply not get the care it needs.
Besides no child NEEDS a parent, a lot of children do perfectly well in homes and foster care, where they don't have parents.

 

[Alanj95]

No. I believe that I'll do better in the eccentric uncle role than as a father.

And I don't enjoy children after an hour, despite being a soon-to-be uncle.

 

[Link_to_Future]

Yes, I want children someday. Leave at least some sort of legacy in this world.

However, I need to be certain that I have the right partner before any procreation takes place. I've seen the results of far too many broken families. I don't want to force a child through that sort of environment because I was hasty.

 

[Slenn]

I'm seeing quite a lot of people that don't want kids. It's not surprising though. A lot of friends from my highschool wanted to get married and have children very badly.

OT: I want to have kids, but not until I am absolutely sure. I'd expect to have them at about the same time as my parents had me at around 35 years or so. Right now I'm 21, and I'm still looking for that special someone.