Anyone Child Free By Choice?

Person_one

Frugalista, maybe you should try to be the bigger person and lead by example? Yes there are lots of annoying people out there who think we're weird for not wanting children, but that doesn't make it right to attack in return.

I've been practicing my fixed smile and cool politeness for such occasions. A few stock phrases are useful: "So kind of you to take an interest" "What an interesting assumption!" "I'm sorry you feel that way" and walking away is always a lovely option.

glossgal

Zippychick, it's not 'disrespectful' to dislike children or have no interest in them, nor is it stranger than someone disliking cats, dogs etc, it's just a preference. I have never subscribed to the theory that children deserve automatic worship just for existing, that way of thinking doesn't make any sense to me as an evolved arguement. If people are uncomfortable with the level of honesty on this thread then i think that's a good thing that these issues are being acknowledged-believe me we are not as much of a minority as you may think.

What I am curious about is why in the context of this discussion 'dislike' is misinterpreted to imply some sort of active malice, now that is strange...

Frugalista

Excellent post glossgal :T:T.

ninky_2

i like dogs but i don't want a dog. i don't want the responsibility of a dog plus i don't like the idea of humans keeping animals and determining when they are fed, what activities they can do etc. i also recently found out that the average dog has the same carbon footprint as an SUV driven for 10 thousand miles....

i like children but i don't want a child. i don't want the responsibility of a child plus i don't like the whole fighting to get your kid in the best school, indoctrinating them to fit into a highly flawed society etc. plus there are too many people in the world already.

however, if i had to choose between either banning having children or having pets i'd definitely ban having pets. the latter being far more weird and unnatural.

zippychick

glossgal wrote: »

Zippychick, it's not 'disrespectful' to dislike children or have no interest in them, nor is it stranger than someone disliking cats, dogs etc, it's just a preference. I have never subscribed to the theory that children deserve automatic worship just for existing, that way of thinking doesn't make any sense to me as an evolved arguement.

I didn't say it was - or that everyone was being so. Just it had taken a bit of a turn that way. I should have specified, I meant some people - I never once suggested all. There are plenty of things (like you mention) I don't like - it doesn't mean I spend a lot of time calling them bad names or speaking of them with general disdain. I actually respect others choices, and earlier in this thread applauded people for their choice. No time to get the link now.
Also, i never suggested children deserve automatic worship.?

glossgal wrote: »

If people are uncomfortable with the level of honesty on this thread then i think that's a good thing that these issues are being acknowledged-believe me we are not as much of a minority as you may think.

What I am curious about is why in the context of this discussion 'dislike' is misinterpreted to imply some sort of active malice, now that is strange...

Never once said I was uncomfortable actually. I just said I thought the thread had taken an odd turn. I also never insinutated CFBC were in the minority

BubblyMumbles

ninky wrote: »

i like dogs but i don't want a dog. i don't want the responsibility of a dog plus i don't like the idea of humans keeping animals and determining when they are fed, what activities they can do etc. i also recently found out that the average dog has the same carbon footprint as an SUV driven for 10 thousand miles....

i like children but i don't want a child. i don't want the responsibility of a child plus i don't like the whole fighting to get your kid in the best school, indoctrinating them to fit into a highly flawed society etc. plus there are too many people in the world already.

however, if i had to choose between either banning having children or having pets i'd definitely ban having pets. the latter being far more weird and unnatural.

I'm an animal person, I'd ban kids in a heartbeat.

Each to their own.

Person_one

BubblyMumbles wrote: »

I'm an animal person, I'd ban kids in a heartbeat.

Each to their own.

Ever read 'Children of Men'?

glossgal

zippychick wrote: »

I didn't say it was - or that everyone was being so. Just it had taken a bit of a turn that way. I should have specified, I meant some people - I never once suggested all. There are plenty of things (like you mention) I don't like - it doesn't mean I spend a lot of time calling them bad names or speaking of them with general disdain. I actually respect others choices, and earlier in this thread applauded people for their choice. No time to get the link now.
Also, i never suggested children deserve automatic worship.?

Never once said I was uncomfortable actually. I just said I thought the thread had taken an odd turn. I also never insinutated CFBC were in the minority

Just as your comments were general so were mine, I'm only responding to you in the first instance, I'm not accusing you of opinion one way or another. Although I still don't see why people without kids can't have disdain for them? why not? As long as I don't harm or wish harm on something or someone Im entitled to be as bored of it and annoyed by it as I want, man woman or beast! Bit extreme maybe but you get my point..

Those that have expressed unease with some of the comments on the thread, again not directed at any one person, do so I think because the taboo remains-even amongst those who respect our desire not to have em, very few are willing to accept the fact that some people just do not like 'em.

BubblyMumbles

Person_one wrote: »

Ever read 'Children of Men'?

No, but I've seen the movie.

Lunar_Eclipse

glossgal wrote: »

Just as your comments were general so were mine, I'm only responding to you in the first instance, I'm not accusing you of opinion one way or another. Although I still don't see why people without kids can't have disdain for them? why not? As long as I don't harm or wish harm on something or someone Im entitled to be as bored of it and annoyed by it as I want, man woman or beast! Bit extreme maybe but you get my point..

Those that have expressed unease with some of the comments on the thread, again not directed at any one person, do so I think because the taboo remains-even amongst those who respect our desire not to have em, very few are willing to accept the fact that some people just do not like 'em.

I can only speak for myself, but that would not be my reason for feeling unease.

For me, it is because of the lack of respect for a significant portion of society. To say one does not like children is saying 'I don't like what we all used to be', which for starters I think is somewhat odd and a little worrying from a life perspective.

It is also a sweeping generalisation that really can't be true. Is it really possible to dislike all children? I doubt it. What I would find more believable is people who say they dislike children not really knowing many well or having only experienced the downsides of children. You have to know what you are speaking about to comitt to liking it after all.

Having responded I'm in two minds whether to post, since I'm not the least bit interested in persuading others to like children or have them really. You need to be 110% into having them to do a half decent job in raising them. Each to their own etc.