Opting Out of Parenthood

[Tommeh Brownleh]

Yes, Yes, No, Yes, yes.

I don't blame people for not wanting to raise kids. The human race needs to die out and honestly, the less capable parents there are the more likely that is to happen.

That's a very nihilistic approach. Don't you think that the same effort it would take to exterminate humans would be better spent trying to improve the human race instead? =/

I would say that, but it seems the only things people are good at are destroying, and mocking people who don't destroy. I say give them a taste of their own medicine and wipe them out, and shun them for insisting on having wars over who's government has the biggest ego, or who's god is the biggest best god around, when the simple solution would be to live and let live, except for population control Friday (I think its my best idea ever.) So I would say that we should try to improve the human race, but I doubt the improvements would last long when somebody walked up and said "Hey, remember when we used to be complete idiots and ruin everything for everyone? We should start doing that again."

 

[Farther than stars]

Yes, Yes, No, Yes, yes.

I don't blame people for not wanting to raise kids. The human race needs to die out and honestly, the less capable parents there are the more likely that is to happen.

That's a very nihilistic approach. Don't you think that the same effort it would take to exterminate humans would be better spent trying to improve the human race instead? =/

I would say that, but it seems the only things people are good at are destroying, and mocking people who don't destroy. I say give them a taste of their own medicine and wipe them out, and shun them for insisting on having wars over who's government has the biggest ego, or who's god is the biggest best god around, when the simple solution would be to live and let live, except for population control Friday (I think its my best idea ever.) So I would say that we should try to improve the human race, but I doubt the improvements would last long when somebody walked up and said "Hey, remember when we used to be complete idiots and ruin everything for everyone? We should start doing that again."

That sounds a bit unrealistic to me. I don't believe that the people who actually enjoy mayhem are in the majority and that most people tend to get along fine. It's just a survivalistic need for greed which pushes us to do bad things, but that said I wouldn't say things are on a downwards spiral.
I mean, look at how far we've come. When you compare modern civilization to us as cavemen or in the Dark Ages, when people were still strung up out on the streets, I think we've become a lot more tolerant towards one another. And as I never fail to point out, only 2.84 percent of people die because of injury caused by violence and that's the lowest for any species.
And if lions and bears should still get to live despite their violent nature, then shouldn't the only species which has even been able to calm that same violent nature, be given a shot at improving even more?

 

[BrassButtons]

If they didn't want the child why have it in the first place?

Does it matter? Once the child is born it's too late to say "well, if you didn't want one you shouldn't have had sex." They DID have sex and now there IS a child--which they are unable or unwilling to care for. How it got to that point is irrelevent. Maybe the person was irresponsible. Maybe they were raped. Either way the end result is the same: a person with a kid they are not prepared to raise.

The focus should be on what to do from there--not on what should have happened before. If the person isn't going to make a good parent (because they can't or simply won't try) then making them keep the kid is the wrong thing to do. You don't keep kids in bad homes because you think the parent needs to learn a lesson.

This is like if someone was speeding and got into an accident with someone else, then you told them "hey, what are you doing trying to take that person to the hospital? If you weren't prepared to administer care after an accident, you shouldn't have caused one!" Causing the accident by speeding was stupid, taking the person to the hospital was not. Getting pregnant when you aren't prepared to deal with it may be stupid; making sure the resulting child will be cared for is not.

 

[internetzealot1]

Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes

 

[Takumashii]

The focus should be on what to do from there--not on what should have happened before. If the person isn't going to make a good parent (because they can't or simply won't try) then making them keep the kid is the wrong thing to do. You don't keep kids in bad homes because you think the parent needs to learn a lesson.

I agree with this, children shouldn't be punished just to teach their parents a lesson. I think it's good that some parents realize they won't do a good job of raising their children, it's not easy.

 

[kitolz]

Should courts eliminate parental rights of parents who ask for it without question?
Is it morally justifiable that a parent would give up parental rights in exchange for not having to pay child support?
Should the consent of the other parent be required for one to give up their rights to a child?
Should a parent be able to terminate their rights no matter what age the child is?
If giving a child up for adoption requires the consent of both mother and father, should abortion be given the same consideration?

1. Maybe. My view is that if these parents do not wish to raise the child, they should be allowed to transfer guardianship to the state institution, but that they should be fined for child support still. There has to be consequences, and these child-care are are extremely hard to manage and finance as it is! This will make the children's lives there a little bit better, the least they could do.

2. No, they should just have performed an abortion in that case. These situations didn't happen randomly, they were careless with their fluids, and here we are. Exceptions are to be made for rape victims. It's going to be funny to see women claim rape to avoid child support, that'll scare men into being more careful too I'd bet.

3. Yes. If one wants to take care of the child, let them. Abusive parent, etc. are another matter of course, and in that case it would be up to law enforcement to arrest them.

4. Yes. But this has to be approved by government agencies. I know government agencies are a clusterfuck, but it's a necessity I think.

5. Yes. Personally, I believe one is not a human until the fetus separates from the mother. I'd like the definition to be determined by sapience, but that would be too hard to measure currently. While still under gestation, the fetus is considered a growth as far as I'm concerned. I know, the potential of those cells are immense, as well as the emotional attachment that's formed as soon as you're aware of it, but that mindset can be changed over time. There will be much resistance to the idea I'm sure, not even including abstract concepts like possession of a "soul" and things of a similar vein.

 

[moosek]

Well, my first thought when my ex-girlfriend told me she was pregnant was, "FUCK! Goodbye everything I ever wanted to do ever."

Then when she told me it wasn't mine, "THANK GOD! Back to being irresponsible."