We all laughed when George Carlin told us to "fark the children" (and trust him - this was Mr. Conductor talking!). Now, years later, we have a 'think of the children' mentality that has produced serious social issues in the U.S. and a nanny state across the pond.

We should have been paying better attention.

The solution is to just stop making the bastards. What are they gonna do about it!?

39, beautiful wife, good job, no kids. Life is great. We are taking off for the week end. ;)

Too many uses of the term "childless" in that article.

Childfree is better.

Children? Healthy? Children are little disease magnets, and they have a habit of passing their illness onto their parents. I call out of work hungover less often than other people call out because either they or their snowflake has the plague.

Plus 'family-friendly' companies raise health insurance rates on healthy single people so the family folk wouldn't have their rates increased.

I bet the same group of people that believe this, think that to be committed to someone you have to be married. Idiots, the lot of them.

Turtles All The Way Down:

Can I ask the origin of your login? I had a calculus teacher who used the expression "elephants all the way down".

As one of seven children, I can with authority say that children are the anti-happiness and anti-healthy life. We are in the process of causing my mom to stroke out.

Generally speaking, however, an equally bad idea would be to allow rates of reproduction to dip below the level needed to maintain current levels of population. Then you run into a whole wash of dangerous situations involving the inability for an ever decreasing workforce to provide for the welfare of the retirees and things get messy ... and I'd wager they'd get messy for the welfare-dependent long before the former.

Ted Kennedy's Brain Tumor: Generally speaking, however, an equally bad idea would be to allow rates of reproduction to dip below the level needed to maintain current levels of population. Then you run into a whole wash of dangerous situations involving the inability for an ever decreasing workforce to provide for the welfare of the retirees and things get messy ... and I'd wager they'd get messy for the welfare-dependent long before the former.

Nah, we just need more robots.

My girlfriend and I have no children, and will never have children. There has been the talk of me getting a vasectomy. We also have no plans to ever get married. We're happy the way things are (living together), so why do anything to change it.

palelizard: Turtles All The Way Down:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtles_all_the_way_down

I've been saying since I was 13 that I did not want children. I am constantly taken aback at how many people can't process this. I have heard "oh you'll see, you'll change" so many times I just want to start smacking people that say this in their teeth with a ball pein hammer. I'm 31. I haven't changed my mind.

I swear it's almost as if some parents regret the life they didn't lead and want to think that EVERYONE wants to be a parent... just like them. I don't mean they regret having their kids. Most parents I meet wouldn't trade their life for anything, but somewhere, in the back of their minds... there is a "what-if" that makes them feel guilty? weird? to even entertain.

The problem is that in order to provide for your kids in the way that modern parenting requires- ie love them, care for them, make them happy, play with them- you have to imagine that they are making you happier, even if they aren't. If you thought they were a detriment to your happiness you wouldn't take care of them or do anything for them.

Ted Kennedy's Brain Tumor: Generally speaking, however, an equally bad idea would be to allow rates of reproduction to dip below the level needed to maintain current levels of population. Then you run into a whole wash of dangerous situations involving the inability for an ever decreasing workforce to provide for the welfare of the retirees and things get messy ... and I'd wager they'd get messy for the welfare-dependent long before the former.

Well, we could just stop paying for retirees. Or eat them.

palelizard: Turtles All The Way Down:

Can I ask the origin of your login? I had a calculus teacher who used the expression "elephants all the way down".

This Wikipedia page (new window) should explain it.

Bootysama: Nah, we just need more robots.

A society totally reliant upon robots? Why does this cunning plan seem ... unwise in the long term?

"Parents experience lower levels of emotional well-being, less frequent positive emotions and more frequent negative emotions than their childless peers,"

Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that it costs anywhere from $134,370 to $237,520 to raise a child from birth to the age of 17-and that's not counting school or college tuition. No wonder parents are feeling a little blue.

Thank FSM I don't have kids.

Double your rubbers, people.

Hollis the Utile: As one of seven children, I can with authority say that children are the anti-happiness and anti-healthy life. We are in the process of causing my mom to stroke out.

Someone should have told your parents that while children may in fact be the key to happiness, there's no need to have a whole farking keychain full of them.

I have no problem with couples not wanting to have children. It's up to them and if they're happier without children, all the power to them. But without children, we'd have no future. At least until we perfect the cloning chambers.....
Some people seem to think that just because they'd prefer not to have kids, everyone should feel that way. I for one want a family with children. It's just what I'd prefer. To each their own.

/keep in mind I didn't say clown-car, I said family with kids. As in 2, or maybe even 3. Not seven.
//slashies

I need a Summon Serpent Sky card or something.

Good. There's too many friggin' people on this planet. And it seems more and more likely that today's kids will face some real environmental crap (and some hellish, brutal truths) in the next few decades.

/No kids. Planning on having zero.

Another sad fact is that to live the modern concept of a comfortable material life (whether that's an effect of advertising or not) both parents often have to work and spend less time with the kids they are trying to make comfortable.

It's sad really.

I always tell people, "My DNA chain stops here. It is my gift to the world. You should be thanking me."

My mom wants future grandkids more than I want future kids. She had me looking at christening gowns a couple weeks ago. Really, I'm starting to wig out a little; I'm not even out of college yet.

/would rather have a puppy

Lagaidh: I've been saying since I was 13 that I did not want children. I am constantly taken aback at how many people can't process this. I have heard "oh you'll see, you'll change" so many times I just want to start smacking people that say this in their teeth with a ball pein hammer. I'm 31. I haven't changed my mind.

I swear it's almost as if some parents regret the life they didn't lead and want to think that EVERYONE wants to be a parent... just like them. I don't mean they regret having their kids. Most parents I meet wouldn't trade their life for anything, but somewhere, in the back of their minds... there is a "what-if" that makes them feel guilty? weird? to even entertain.

Obviously a lot is social programming, but a lot of it is also biological programming. If we didn't have some inherent urge to reproduce we'd probably do it at rates far beneath those needed to maintain the species.

From TFA:

Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that it costs anywhere from $134,370 to $237,520 to raise a child from birth to the age of 17-and that's not counting school or college tuition. No wonder parents who didn't farking plan ahead are feeling a little blue.

Fixed that for the author.

qwave54:
Some people seem to think that just because they'd prefer not to have kids, everyone should feel that way.

You must be kidding.

sloppy shoes: The problem is that in order to provide for your kids in the way that modern parenting requires- ie love them, care for them, make them happy, play with them- you have to imagine that they are making you happier, even if they aren't. If you thought they were a detriment to your happiness you wouldn't take care of them or do anything for them.

You don't have any children do you? My parenting is done because I feel I have a responsibility to raise my daughter so she is a positive influence on this world. I think it is a dick move to have children and not take on that responsibility. While she make me very happy that is not the core reason that I try to be a good parent.

Bootysama: Nah, we just need more robots.

Robots are good. I'd vote for a robot.

mr_zero: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtles_all_the_way_down

Thank you.

qwave54: I have no problem with couples not wanting to have children. It's up to them and if they're happier without children, all the power to them. But without children, we'd have no future. At least until we perfect the cloning chambers.....
Some people seem to think that just because they'd prefer not to have kids, everyone should feel that way. I for one want a family with children. It's just what I'd prefer. To each their own.

/keep in mind I didn't say clown-car, I said family with kids. As in 2, or maybe even 3. Not seven.
//slashies

See this is a reversal of what seems to happen to me in conversation. So many of the parents I end up speaking to insist that I will change (or must?) and join the parent club.

I know that someone needs to squeeze out the next generation. I'm like you, if you want and love kids, more power to you. To each their own.

Shrugging Atlas: there's no need to have a whole farking keychain full of them.

My dad is all but deaf and my mom is just a stubborn biatch who loves babies. We tried. Trust me.

/more for me.
//2nd born. fark little siblings.

sloppy shoes: Lagaidh: I've been saying since I was 13 that I did not want children. I am constantly taken aback at how many people can't process this. I have heard "oh you'll see, you'll change" so many times I just want to start smacking people that say this in their teeth with a ball pein hammer. I'm 31. I haven't changed my mind.

I swear it's almost as if some parents regret the life they didn't lead and want to think that EVERYONE wants to be a parent... just like them. I don't mean they regret having their kids. Most parents I meet wouldn't trade their life for anything, but somewhere, in the back of their minds... there is a "what-if" that makes them feel guilty? weird? to even entertain.

Obviously a lot is social programming, but a lot of it is also biological programming. If we didn't have some inherent urge to reproduce we'd probably do it at rates far beneath those needed to maintain the species.

Hehe. Yeah I used to joke that I was more highly evolved in that I refused to submit to my genetic programming.

It probably means that I am broken on some level. Good. It allows me to buy more guitars, amplifiers, computer parts and coins.

caramel corn for president please: My mom wants future grandkids more than I want future kids. She had me looking at christening gowns a couple weeks ago. Really, I'm starting to wig out a little; I'm not even out of college yet.

/would rather have a puppy

So get a puppy. I did and love it. And if you want your mom to leave you alone, have the puppy christened.

Childfree and unmarried (despite being with the same woman for 8 years.) Don't regret it for a second. I'd like to live vicariously through myself rather than through some wee fleshen money vortex.

mr_zero: sloppy shoes: The problem is that in order to provide for your kids in the way that modern parenting requires- ie love them, care for them, make them happy, play with them- you have to imagine that they are making you happier, even if they aren't. If you thought they were a detriment to your happiness you wouldn't take care of them or do anything for them.

You don't have any children do you? My parenting is done because I feel I have a responsibility to raise my daughter so she is a positive influence on this world. I think it is a dick move to have children and not take on that responsibility. While she make me very happy that is not the core reason that I try to be a good parent.

Not all parents have the values/ethics you have. Do you take care of every human being that needs counseling, advice, or other services? NO. Well if parents believed kids were a burden, some/many would just ignore them or provide the minimum legal burdens. It's more of a commentary on society rather than a personal statement.

mr_zero: sloppy shoes: The problem is that in order to provide for your kids in the way that modern parenting requires- ie love them, care for them, make them happy, play with them- you have to imagine that they are making you happier, even if they aren't. If you thought they were a detriment to your happiness you wouldn't take care of them or do anything for them.

You don't have any children do you? My parenting is done because I feel I have a responsibility to raise my daughter so she is a positive influence on this world. I think it is a dick move to have children and not take on that responsibility. While she make me very happy that is not the core reason that I try to be a good parent.

Hear, hear man. This is also one of the primary reasons I don't want to procreate. I understand what is necessary to do the job right... and I'm not willing to put forth that effort. Every now and then an older parent will say something along the lines of "Well, it's good you know that about yourself."

/Yeah I'm a greedy prick.
//The dogs are spoiled rotten, though.

Flashman73: caramel corn for president please: My mom wants future grandkids more than I want future kids. She had me looking at christening gowns a couple weeks ago. Really, I'm starting to wig out a little; I'm not even out of college yet.

/would rather have a puppy

So get a puppy. I did and love it. And if you want your mom to leave you alone, have the puppy christened.

Oh, I plan on it, once I have room enough and time. I like the puppy christening idea, though. Thanks!

ninjakirby: The solution is to just stop making the bastards. What are they gonna do about it!?

I need someone to wipe my butt when I'm 80. Alzheimers and you punk kids aren't going to do i..i forgot. what?

/I'm already in the basket

fanbladesaresharp: I need someone to wipe my butt when I'm 80. Alzheimers and you punk kids aren't going to do i..i forgot. what?

Seriously dude, robots.

I feel bad that I don't want kids. My mom and dad probably would love to have a grandchild, and since I'm the only child, I'm their only hope for that...but I realize that I'm too delightfully selfish to be a parent. I enjoy my me-time too much to want to give it up. I also like having a spontaneous life. Last minute trips, drinking beer in the afternoon, staying up all night watching old tv shows, swearing for swearing's sake, and spending money on stupid crap for myself would have to end. Plus, there have been days where my cats have had to remind me to give them water cuz I forgot. I don't want to forget to water my kid. That would be bad.

Lagaidh: mr_zero: sloppy shoes: The problem is that in order to provide for your kids in the way that modern parenting requires- ie love them, care for them, make them happy, play with them- you have to imagine that they are making you happier, even if they aren't. If you thought they were a detriment to your happiness you wouldn't take care of them or do anything for them.

You don't have any children do you? My parenting is done because I feel I have a responsibility to raise my daughter so she is a positive influence on this world. I think it is a dick move to have children and not take on that responsibility. While she make me very happy that is not the core reason that I try to be a good parent.

Hear, hear man. This is also one of the primary reasons I don't want to procreate. I understand what is necessary to do the job right... and I'm not willing to put forth that effort. Every now and then an older parent will say something along the lines of "Well, it's good you know that about yourself."

/Yeah I'm a greedy prick.
//The dogs are spoiled rotten, though.



That is great that you realize it. I wish more people did.

Lagaidh: Hehe. Yeah I used to joke that I was more highly evolved in that I refused to submit to my genetic programming.

It probably means that I am broken on some level. Good. It allows me to buy more guitars, amplifiers, computer parts and coins.

I go back and forth on whether or not I want kids, but most of the time I don't want them. However, I feel that with the right partner I would stand up to the challenge of parenting.

But in general there are people who want it more than I do, the world is overpopulated, and there are many things that I'd like to do (such as travel or work for the UN) that having kids would show a lack of responsibility.

Ted Kennedy's Brain Tumor: Generally speaking, however, an equally bad idea would be to allow rates of reproduction to dip below the level needed to maintain current levels of population. Then you run into a whole wash of dangerous situations involving the inability for an ever decreasing workforce to provide for the welfare of the retirees and things get messy ... and I'd wager they'd get messy for the welfare-dependent long before the former.

Wait, who said we actually had to keep the Boomer-leeches alive?

sloppy shoes: The problem is that in order to provide for your kids in the way that modern parenting requires- ie love them, care for them, make them happy, play with them- you have to imagine that they are making you happier, even if they aren't. If you thought they were a detriment to your happiness you wouldn't take care of them or do anything for them.

It just goes to show how selfish people are becoming. If there's no immediate gratification in it for them, why do it?

Of course, this is not the only reason to avoid having kids... and those who have kids, they also too often want instant gratification in things (which is why we have so many bratty spoiled kids out there).

There's joy in many things besides hitting the pleasure center over and over again through whatever maximizes your utility in any given moment in time. Wiping my baby boy's ass isn't particularly fun as a task, but it's not just about what I want all of the time. (And these days, "sacrifice" means getting someone else to change their lifestyle so that you feel better... that seems to be what the whole "Green" revolution is in America, but I digress.)

This article just reminds me that children are often seen as parasites these days, from conception to adulthood... whether it's a clump of cells or a kid that just won't leave their parents' basement. It's kind of sick... sociopathic, I think. This line of thinking won't end well.

The faster America prostitutes its children & trashes them for no good reason, the quicker this country can be finished with. It's not President So-and-So that makes me want to leave the United States, it's the rest of the citizens that are so disturbing... but then, where do you go?

Britney & her ilk are just symptoms of a greater sickness in all of us.

/It's not the idea that people don't need children to lead a fulfilling life that is problematic to me... it's the idea that children are a burden that makes me want to get the fark out of this country.

Ted Kennedy's Brain Tumor: Generally speaking, however, an equally bad idea would be to allow rates of reproduction to dip below the level needed to maintain current levels of population. Then you run into a whole wash of dangerous situations involving the inability for an ever decreasing workforce to provide for the welfare of the retirees and things get messy ... and I'd wager they'd get messy for the welfare-dependent long before the former.

In a few years we will have robots that can do that.

legion_of_doo: /It's not the idea that people don't need children to lead a fulfilling life that is problematic to me... it's the idea that children are a burden that makes me want to get the fark out of this country.


So, when are you leaving? Need help packing?

legion_of_doo:
It just goes to show how selfish people are becoming. If there's no immediate gratification in it for them, why do it?

Of course, this is not the only reason to avoid having kids... and those who have kids, they also too often want instant gratification in things (which is why we have so many bratty spoiled kids out there).

There's joy in many things besides hitting the pleasure center over and over again through whatever maximizes your utility in any given moment in time. Wiping my baby boy's ass isn't particularly fun as a task, but it's not just about what I want all of the time. (And these days, "sacrifice" means getting someone else to change their lifestyle so that you feel better... that seems to be what the whole "Green" revolution is in America, but I digress.)

This article just reminds me that children are often seen as parasites these days, from conception to adulthood... whether it's a clump of cells or a kid that just won't leave their parents' basement. It's kind of sick... sociopathic, I think. This line of thinking won't end well.

The faster America prostitutes its children & trashes them for no good reason, the quicker this country can be finished with. It's not President So-and-So that makes me want to leave the United States, it's the rest of the citizens that are so disturbing... but then, where do you go?

Britney & her ilk are just symptoms of a greater sickness in all of us.

/It's not the idea that people don't need children to lead a fulfilling life that is problematic to me... it's the idea that children are a burden that makes me want to get the fark out of this country.

I give you an 8/10 for making the troll personal and talking about your babies ass. But wishing for the end of the country? Really?