| >>I believe somewhere at the core of the issue lies inadequate recognition of the critical importance and difficulty of parenthood. I am not sure that's a problem. I've chosen to remain childless because of it and I've never ever met a person who would downplay how hard it is to raise children and not make their (and your) life miserable in the process. >>But it's so obvious that being a parent is crucial to the society! Well, my view is that we have way too many people. We have already taken all the land, we are polluting, cutting down forests and there are so many of us we even make the world a worse place to live for ourselves (let alone other species). >>A civilization that sacrifices reproduction over GDP is bound to disappear. There is a middle ground between disappearing and having way less people. Machines are coming, we don't need that many to sustain the civilization. >>Muslim culture, where children are the main source of pride of the mother. Yeah, and Muslim countries are overcrowded, poor and unstable (at least vast majority of them). >>At the risk of sounding condescending (I'm not) let's thank our mothers for bringing us into this world. Well done job moms, you really are the best. At the risk of sounding nihilist: I am not thankful and I will not bring children myself. Too much risk of them being unhappy, breathing polluted air and getting cancer. They would also use a lot of resources, produce a lot of trash and compete over ever decreasing land to build houses on. I support people who are fit to have children (which includes resources, a good mate, mental health and ability to make them happy) but I don't think we should incentivize it today environment. |
true, but only for quantity. quality people, meaning happy, educated, highly moral, caring, contributing to society, etc people we definitely don't have enough. you cannot guarantee to raise such a person no matter how hard you try, but you (anybody) can do your best.