What's the point of having kids?

[mistermack]

Is the point of having children evaporating before our eyes?

Here's my list of motives, I'm sure that there are more.

1) Some people love kids and have a very strong urge to be a parent.
2) Keeping the family name or dynasty going.
3) Guarding against loneliness in one's old age.
4) To leave a bit of you living after you die.
5) Security in old age. Mainly in poorer countries.
6) Religious objections to birth controls.

These reasons are getting weaker every day, which is why birth rates are dropping in many developed countries.

Number 1) will never change, but it's getting so expensive to bring up kids that many people are deciding that you can't afford everything you would like, so don't bother.

Number 2) With the spreading knowledge about genetics, it is fast becoming obvious that we all are very nearly identical. An Australian Aboriginal will reproduce 99.9% of your genes, and it doesn't cost you a penny. Why spend your life struggling, just to pass on the other 0.1% ?

Number 3) is not what it was. We have the tv, the phone, the internet, cars, boats and planes. So loneliness can be overcome, and kids often move far away anyway.

Number 4) is covered with 2). Your genes are so identical to everybody else's, it's virtually pointless. Even Chimpanzees leave behind 98% of your genes.

Number 5) Security in old age is still a strong motive in poor countries, but has virtually evaporated in richer ones. It's a part of poverty. If poverty can be eradicated, this motive will die.

Number 6) Religious objections to birth controls are also likely to disappear as a factor along with poverty. Some people will never change, but many religious people just ignore the religious teaching on this subject.

The human population is still exploding, but it's mainly in the third world, and better education and social conditions should eventually reverse it.
It's just sad that most of the planet will be sterile of wildlife, before the growth reverses.

[Warren Dew]

For me, my original motivation was that I was grateful to whatever genes made me me, and I wanted to return the favor. Granted, that's only subtly different from your 2 or 4.

Now that I have children, I really love and enjoy them, so my current attitude is reflective more of your 1. That said, you're absolutely right that they're extremely expensive.

Absent immigration, the population in the U.S. would be stable or ceclining, so I don't feel that guilty about nature destruction. One could argue that with the reintroduction of wolves and such, nature is making a small comeback in the U.S..

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Shakers.

[Animavore]

Miniture slaves

[Bella Fortuna]

Miniture slaves

I read that as 'minotaur slaves.'

[Millefleur]

You forgot 'Whoopsie-daisy, ah well, they're here now'.

[Rum]

You forgot 'fun'. Its great fun (when it isn't miserable!) having kids around!

[normal]

You forgot 'fun'. Its great fun (when it isn't miserable!) having kids around!

This! It's great fun and really interesting to have kids.

And you hope that you can equip them with good enough tools to navigate this world, and perhaps even make it better!

[Bella Fortuna]

You forgot 'fun'. Its great fun (when it isn't miserable!) having kids around!

This! It's great fun and really interesting to have kids.

And you hope that you can equip them with good enough tools to navigate this world, and perhaps even make it better!

Yep.

[mistermack]

You forgot 'fun'. Its great fun (when it isn't miserable!) having kids around!

Hmmmm, that's why everybody wants to be a teacher?

[Cunt]

Good point, mistermack. Most 'parents' gleefully send their kids to daycare, and school (is there a difference?) rather than educate them themselves. I think there are some folks who do want to raise kids, but most of them just want to make them and have others raise them.

Oh, then they accuse teachers of doing a shit job, or being overpaid.

[Geoff]

You forgot 'Whoopsie-daisy, ah well, they're here now'.

[Cunt]

You forgot 'Whoopsie-daisy, ah well, they're here now'.

I can't count the number of young people I knew who were 'never going to have kids', but who suddenly changed their viewpoint to suit a biological event. Anyone want to guess what that event was?

[floppit]

I'm trying to shape a mini slave but it's bloody hard work!

I worked with tots and teens, i enjoyed it, definitely fun, but also a challenge, a thinky, something to shake things up on the belief front (i'd done lots of thinking cos of work). Kids aren't boring, at least trying to do a good job with kids isn't.

Smeg - it's so obvious i'm an old mum!!

[Tero]

The 4 thing! Immortality!