Children

[Racoon]

My wife and I haven't had any kids on purpose yet either. :evil: And thank god for both of 'em.

 

haha. :D

 

I'm glad to say that I have No Kids and No Felonies. :D

someday, maybe,sure..

 

But in todays world?? Not a chance I'm going to saddle myself down by creating another life in an already over-populated planet with major problems.

 

People think Childbirth is a miracle.. No its Not. It happens every freaking second.

 

And people also think they are doing humanity a favor by extending their blood. No they are not. They want to try and make a photocopy of themselves for personal psychological reasons...

[maikeru]

No special someone at the moment. So no kids.

[Southtown]

haha. :cup:

 

I'm glad to say that I have No Kids and No Felonies. :)

someday, maybe,sure..

 

But in todays world?? Not a chance I'm going to saddle myself down by creating another life in an already over-populated planet with major problems.

 

People think Childbirth is a miracle.. No its Not. It happens every freaking second.

 

And people also think they are doing humanity a favor by extending their blood. No they are not. They want to try and make a photocopy of themselves for personal psychological reasons...

Amen, brother (except that miracle part, without your own, you wouldn't understand).

 

Although, a large part of the earth's problems could be that it's the wrong people who are reproducing... :shrug:

[Monomer]

haha. :cup:

 

But in todays world?? Not a chance I'm going to saddle myself down by creating another life in an already over-populated planet with major problems.

 

People think Childbirth is a miracle.. No its Not. It happens every freaking second.

 

Although, a large part of the earth's problems could be that it's the wrong people who are reproducing... :shrug:

 

 

I agree. Anybody can have a kid if they try and they don't even need to be a good parent. In the low income suburbs I see way too many tarted-up, uneducated girls popping them out one by one because it seems to be too difficult to at least buy condoms, or more important to buy alcohol and cigarettes, and the government gives them money for each child they have. I see way too many unkempt kids running around yards with beer bottles strewn over the over-grown lawn and sheets and newspapers tacked up on the windows. And I agree we're overpopulating our planet and greedily consuming the limited resources we have.

 

Anyway, I've chosen not to have kids and it's a decision I made many years ago. I haven't had that maternal instinct that drives other women to bear children, and personally I'm a bit of a pod and I think I'd make a rather undesirable parent.

[TheBigDog]

I'm a bit of a pod and I think I'd make a rather undesirable parent.

That may be but check out this government sponsored day care...

 

:shrug: Bill

[Monomer]

That may be but check out this government sponsored day care...

 

:shrug: Bill

 

 

:cup:

 

Well, if it's as easy at that... :)

[InfiniteNow]

Bill,

 

You really need to stop showing off with your fancy, upscale, elite government sponsored day cares. Down here in Texas, we let the lil'uns sit with a coyote and a cactus while we're at work. It's when the coyotes get drinking that it REALLY becomes interesting.

 

 

:hihi:

 

:friday:

[wine]

If you are all worried about overpopulation I suggest reading the Psyche-Genetics theory which proposes solutions to future woes.

No worries. Humans will mature as a whole. If you believe it.

[CraigD]

If you are all worried about overpopulation I suggest reading the Psyche-Genetics theory which proposes solutions to future woes.

For those unfamiliar with the “theory of psyche-genetics”, it’s an extensively developed idea by banned member MagnetMan. Though I personally found MagnetMan’s optimism encouraging and positive, his ideas have not been conventionally peer reviewed, are considered (by consensus, including mine) pseudo-scientific here at hypography and at similar science forums, and were the subject of considerable controversy and acrimony (hence MagnetMan’s regrettable permanent banning).

 

I think most hypographers agreed with MM’s goals (solving future woes), but not the details of his approach (Psyche-Genetics and “the Global Stewardship Mission”).

[wine]

For those unfamiliar with the “theory of psyche-genetics”, it’s an extensively developed idea by banned member MagnetMan. Though I personally found MagnetMan’s optimism encouraging and positive, his ideas have not been conventionally peer reviewed, are considered (by consensus, including mine) pseudo-scientific here at hypography and at similar science forums, and were the subject of considerable controversy and acrimony (hence MagnetMan’s regrettable permanent banning).

 

I think most hypographers agreed with MM’s goals (solving future woes), but not the details of his approach (Psyche-Genetics and “the Global Stewardship Mission”).

Thanks for the clarification (for everyone who didn't know)

If you havn't read his book, then I highly suggest you do so. He puts forth some beautiful ideas. That is all. :)

He also writes about child development. It was very interesting to read his theories about human evolution.

 

From living in Africa, he was able to study parenting from a tribe perspective. Informing me that babies don't cry in tribes. (Bad for survival)

Their mothers keep them very close for 3 years, sometimes without any interaction with the father.

 

I have never been a parent, nor have I seen these tribes. Only discussing what I have read on the topic of Children.

 

Peace

[TheBigDog]

Informing me that babies don't cry in tribes.

Babies have no idea that they are in a tribe or not. Babies cry. Children cry. Adults cry. It is a universal physiological human trait, like laughter.

 

Bill

[Pyrotex]

This is a fascinating thread. Children are wonderful. My two brothers each have had three and have therefore adequately passed on my (our) genetics.

 

I have had no children of my own. I had two young-adult step-children when I was with my first wife, and I have one teenaged step-child, Julian, by my current wife, Gwen.

 

Julian is not a joy to be around, unfortunately. He has ADD, BPD, ODD, BLP, XVD and other mental/emotional disorders. Ironically, he has near normal intelligence. But at his age (17) and size (6 feet, 200 lb), he is too dangerous to be allowed to live at home or roam freely in public. He is getting the best medical attention available in the state of Texas.

[Michaelangelica]

I am dismayed by the number of young people on this thread deciding NOT to have children

I know things are looking bad for the planet

World Population

1900 1.6 billion

1927 2 billion

1950 2.55 billion

1955 2.8 billion

1960 3 billion

1965 3.3 billion

1970 3.7 billion

1975 4 billion

1980 4.5 billion

1985 4.85 billion

1990 5.3 billion

1995 5.7 billion

1999 6 billion

2000 6.1 billion

2005 6.45 billion

2006 6.5 billion

2010 6.8 billion

but that does not mean we don't have the capacity to identify and solve problems of future growth.

EG

We now know about Global Warming so lets do something about it.

(We just need to work out how to do it faster - maybe the Internet will help).

 

A friend once said "My children have given me the most pain and most joy I have ever known"

 

It would be a pity to end your genetic line, which may contain all sorts of genetic treasures (cures for disease etc) because of a misplaced sense of environmental . . .......? (can't find the word).

 

Replacing yourself, 2=1, results in a net slowing of population.

 

There are signs that population growth has slowed or stopped now.

 

Japan and Australia both have government programms to encourage birth. :)

 

Kids are the future don't abort them

[maikeru]

This is just my personal opinion but I think couples should have 2-4 children at most. I'm one of two children in my family. I have many cousins who come from 7-9 children families. Some of my relatives live on welfare, because they are unable to make enough money to support so many children. We are beyond the point where we can afford to have more children than this world, and the future, can support. But I do not think we're to the point where we cannot have children. Work harder to keep this world for tomorrow's generations, including those which fly, run, swim, or flower beneath the sun.

[Michaelangelica]

I have many cousins who come from 7-9 children families. Some of my relatives live on welfare, because they are unable to make enough money to support so many children.

Lovely sentiment in that post maikeru

 

Many people used to have big families as a social security measure.

Your children would look after you when you were old. Child mortality was also much higher. It must be hard for the Chinese to have one ("Little Emperors" apparently) and not be that sure that the government will feed them in their old age.

 

Of course religion and poor contraception also encouraged larger families in the past.

My Irish grandmother was one of thirteen. Her 6 brothers were killed (by the British? or Germans?) in WW1. Her six sisters died of bird flu after the war. She came to Australia leaving her mother behind. She always pined to go back. She had six children

I have two, grown up (?) children. Affording their continuing education has been the biggest $ cost. Most kids left school when they were 15 when I was growing up. Now they are still doing degrees at 25.

 

My cousin has 10 kids, she is a great mum and it is a happy family. She manages well.

 

I don't agree with governments like Australia and Japan encouraging more births with $$s. I think it is racist. If you need more people import some hungry ones from Africa.

********************

On religion and birth:-

I note with disgust that Catholic Cardinals are still debating weather it is OK, or not, for a man who has HIV/AIDs to use a condom when having sex with his wife

[TheBigDog]

I would not say that things are looking bad for the planet. I would not even say that things are looking bad for mankind. I charted the numbers supplied by Mike. The rate of world population increase is declining from its peak from 1975 to 1980. This is expected. Developed nations have a lower reproductive rate than non-developed. And as more areas increase their development and technology it is expectant that the growth rates will drop. Some European countries have declining populations, and only experience growth through immigration.

 

The chart below is all the years from Mike's numbers above beginning in 1950 continuing to 2010. It only includes the 5 year increments.

 

Bill

[InfiniteNow]

While your chart is a pretty one, Bill, it fails to take into account all variables which truly matter. A single medical advance, for example, could change it all.

 

Curing cancer,