[lee]

> Or because you are just better in being a parent and biological getting satisfaction out of it?

It is totally this. We are biological creatures and we cannot escape that.

Love, sex, friendships, relationships, parenting, happiness, and so forth are all aspects of our biology. We are not automatons living a purely rational life. Satisfaction in life depends on those biological mechanisms and shouldn't be seen through a purely rational lens.

Kids aren't a scapegoat for a meaningful life. They do absolutely make life meaningful. Much in the same way eating a delicious meal brings pleasure. We depend on our biological wiring to feel such things.

[skyhvr]

Thank you for this poignant reminder.

[Defitio]

Yes but is it fair to the new human?

Oversimplified: would you be okay to create a new human if you know they have only 100 days to life? 5 years? 20? Suffering in school, sleep problems etc etc?

Just because it's evolutionary pre programmed?

[amag]

Not everyone who struggles in life would rather not live. I think it's quite arrogant to contemplate whether living is worth it for another human being.

[juniperplant]

I find it arrogant to force a human being to life, especially at this time. I question everyday the fact that somebody else decided for me that life is somewhat worth living.

[Defitio]

When I'm the maker of another human it's definitely worth considering before if it will be worth to do so

[amag]

Even so, that person will not be you. Even if they will go through exactly the same things you've been through they may not have the same experience. You cannot know if it was worth it for them.

I think it's fine if people don't have kids, I just find the reasoning "what if they suffer, etc" a cop-out. You cannot know that beforehand and even if they suffer, they may still find meaning in life.

[logical_ferry]

Last several replies you gave are such high quality. I hate it when people overintellectualize such obvious things like having a kid. I would have flipped out at the other poster, but you stuck in there and gave some really good points. Awesome.

[Defitio]

Having kids is everything but obvious.

Don't dismiss critical thinking with an attack on you just because it feels obvious to you.

[Defitio]

Regret emotions etc. are only possible when you are alive.

Missery etc also can only be felt when you are alive.

You clearly don't take any responsibility at all otherwise I'm lost on how easy you just dismiss concerns.

[amag]

So is joy, happiness and pleasure. I feel sorry for you if your life is only filled with regret and misery. For most people there are ways out of misery but it all starts with the realization that it's not a necessity. When you're depressed it's difficult to imagine ever being able to feel anything else again but knowing that it is possible can put you on the right track.

Maybe your need to pass judgement on my character based on two posts should tell you something about yourself. It really takes an inflated ego to, as a non-parent, talk about responsibility with a parent. Paraphrasing: "Responsibility as a parent is heavy as a mountain, deciding not to have children is light as a feather".

[dmbche]

Well, if you believe that life is worth being experienced as it's pretty unique as far as experiences goes, it's normal to expect to be okay with giving that to your child isn't it? I think most people think of life as a net positive.

There's a song where I'm from with a funny line about that - Life is short, but it's long in small stretches.