Heya Kieren
In the interest of the Elitist Who Say No To Evil Kids Movement, I feel compelled to answer. We're right, but then again, we're the elite. I don't think that you poor plebeians will have a chance of understanding what I'm saying, but my views are so clear, concise and correct that it's joyful for me just to give them for free.
[n]Parenthood is perhaps the greatest joy of life, and the ultimate expression of love. It is the fountain of youth, whereupon we (the aged) live again vicariously through the eyes of our children.[/b]
You only got one life. Live it right in the first place and there'll be no need to have a poor substitute such as kids.
It is where we pass on the vital piece of ourselves that will outlast our mortal shells. It is the fulfillment of our purpose as people.Boooh, hisss. When we're dead, we're dead. Just think about it; first generation, half yer DNA is passed. Second, only a fourth. Move on a few hundred years and your DNA will be almost completely wiped out. You might as well just pack some cells and freeze 'um down; they're more potent as replicas of you and more "you" than some other person.
And, we're not banana flies. Well, you the grey unschooled masses are, but we, the Elite, aren't. Our purpose in life is not to procreate and ensure the continuation of human life. Sure, that's what evolution has engrained in us and it's an instinctual thing, but it can be overcome. The meaning of life is the same as the meaning of coffee - anything we define it to be. note I say "we", but what I mean with "we" is the Elite, and only a subset of the Elite; those agreeing with my views.
It is the great teacher, where our theories of psychology are put to the true test. It is a teacher of cooperation and compromise, a teacher of sacrifice and the existance of something greater than self.You can do all this without having kids. If yer good at it, chances are you'll get more outta life.
And if you pardon this religious context it is the true metaphor of God's love. Love for our children is unquestioning and unwavering, and because of it we can begin to understand God's love for us.I can come up with numerous cases where parents aren't particularly pleased about their kids. Some cases where they downright don't love 'um. Perhaps the same is true for an eventual God.
Heheh, now seriously, I see your point.
Seen from an evolutionary point of view, it's in our best interests to select a mate which will produce offspring with qualities that'll aid in the survival of said offspring. In the human species it's not enough just to mate and give birth however; like with most intelligent mammals, the offspring is very vulnerable initially and has a lot of learning to do. So, we have in us a mechanism that ensures we take care of this step too.
But if I have to choose between a life of compromises, sacrifices, stupid boring routines and being tied up for 18 years and a life of freedom, at this point in my life the choice is very easy.
I also recognize that the pleasures we get outta life comes from our primitive sides - sex is one. Subjecting oneself to danger, perceived or real, also gives us a thrill. Being in love is a big time kick. Simple touches from a loved one the same and so on and so forth. Or so I've heard. Anyway.
With a little luck, that instinctual need won't manifest itself til I'm much older and have done more fun stuff with no obligations or unnecessary responsibilities lying around in the back of my mind.
My bro has got three kids now, and I think I have a quite good idea of what you're talking about - and it's a tempting concept! I just feel that too many fall for the temptation without thinking about the consequences and as a result we have kids growing up with bad parents. Which in turn affects me, because they're out there doing annoying stuff that hurt others.
Who knows, mayhap I'll remain childless for my entire life. I don't worry too much about dying alone, because that's what we all will do; death is the ultimate private thing and can only be done by the person doing the dying (duh, obviously). Living alone isn't bad either, because it frees one of a lot of responsibility and emotional strain and adds a great deal of personal freedom.
So what I'm asking with this tirade is: how many have actually considered the consequences of having a kid? It seems to me that even some of the people who HAVE kids are utterly unaware of the responsibilities involved, and *that* scares me a lot - if they are and they actually have kids, who knows what consequences I haven't foreseen?
Seems like a risky, life limiting endevour to me, and I certainly hope all the primitive rewards one gets from having kids make up for the added responsibility and the limits on actions having kids means.
