Is wanting a large family so bad?

LilacLouisa

Imp wrote: »

My comments in red

I hate it when people just type answers under the original comments, is it really too much trouble to make a fresh post in reply?

I know the theory of self sufficiency, I read John Harrisons book in the 70's. I lived in the Peak District until recently. The Peaks are not very good for much but sheep, you can't keep bees in the Buxton area (or so I was told by a bee keeper) they will come to take the nectar from the heather on the moors, but they go back to their hives in lower terrain. The natural crop in the Peaks is oats, hence Derbyshire oatcakes (also Staffordshire oatcakes).

When you write about efficient farming methods, you don't mean factory farming do you? Cheap food, unless you grow it yourself isn't someone else paying the price?

A population of 60 million, isn`t the forecast for 70 million plus in another 20 years?

Well I am glad that soundproofing of dwellings is being improved, I believe some people find the noise of neighbours quite stressful. You write of a parcel of land, have you any idea how big that parcel of land will be, and how many houses built on it?

With other nations "improving their diet" and eating dairy, it isn't just a case of price increasing and finding a balance, won't more land be needed to keep the animals to provide the milk and cream?

So we can sustainably cope with a much larger population you say, what quality of life will there be? Isn`t it true that descendants of Anglo Saxons require more personal space to feel comfortable? I am sure you have heard of the 'Embassy Shuffle"

No, we didn' go without water whilst the hosepipe ban was on, but we could have if the water in the reservoirs got any lower. Why dont the water companies just build more storage, any water not needed could be moved elsewhere, possibly for profit. People in this country shouldn't really ever be on the brink of having to use standpipes etc.

Possibly it easy to check how many young people of school age there are in this country, but as I posted earlier I didn't feel up to it today.

Your post has not made me feel any less gloomy about the future.

hngrymummy

LilacLouisa wrote: »

I hate it when people just type answers under the original comments, is it really too much trouble to make a fresh post in reply?

With other nations "improving their diet" and eating dairy, it isn't just a case of price increasing and finding a balance, won't more land be needed to keep the animals to provide the milk and cream?

So we can sustainably cope with a much larger population you say, what quality of life will there be? Isn`t it true that descendants of Anglo Saxons require more personal space to feel comfortable? I am sure you have heard of the 'Embassy Shuffle"

No, we didn' go without water whilst the hosepipe ban was on, but we could have if the water in the reservoirs got any lower. Why dont the water companies just build more storage, any water not needed could be moved elsewhere, possibly for profit. People in this country shouldn't really ever be on the brink of having to use standpipes etc.

1: it is often easier to repsond to a bunch of questions within the text rather than having to read through it all again to see which question is being asked.

2: Not all nations 'improving' their diet rely on milk and cream.

3: No, it's not true. There are various reasons for this.

4: Is this not the precious 'greenbelt' land and countryside that folk are so keen on preserving? And you want to put a reservoir on it!! Believe me, the complaints against reservoirs are far higher than for housing (we are currently dealing with a new reservoir, and the local residents would far rather have a housing estate there instead). And you're suggesting that people profiteer from such a basic human need as well.

5: Why not? It's about time we stopped taking water for granted and wasting it.

OrkneyStar

red_devil wrote: »

having large families used to be the norm.

I would imagine there are lots of benefits in being part of a large clan especially if you are all close.

So was ill health and many infants did not survive to reach childhood/adulthood, even in affluent families!

Imp

LilacLouisa wrote: »

I hate it when people just type answers under the original comments, is it really too much trouble to make a fresh post in reply? Yes

I know the theory of self sufficiency, I read John Harrisons book in the 70's. I lived in the Peak District until recently. The Peaks are not very good for much but sheep, you can't keep bees in the Buxton area (or so I was told by a bee keeper) they will come to take the nectar from the heather on the moors, but they go back to their hives in lower terrain. The natural crop in the Peaks is oats, hence Derbyshire oatcakes (also Staffordshire oatcakes).

When you write about efficient farming methods, you don't mean factory farming do you? Cheap food, unless you grow it yourself isn't someone else paying the price?

A population of 60 million, isn`t the forecast for 70 million plus in another 20 years? Depends on the forecast, there aren't many really good fortune tellers out there.

Well I am glad that soundproofing of dwellings is being improved, I believe some people find the noise of neighbours quite stressful. You write of a parcel of land, have you any idea how big that parcel of land will be, and how many houses built on it? I know exactly how big the parcel of land is in my council's local plan. If you want to know the housing density required where you live, look in your council's local plan.

With other nations "improving their diet" and eating dairy, it isn't just a case of price increasing and finding a balance, won't more land be needed to keep the animals to provide the milk and cream? Yes, but there is plenty of unused land on this planet

So we can sustainably cope with a much larger population you say, what quality of life will there be? Isn`t it true that descendants of Anglo Saxons require more personal space to feel comfortable? I am sure you have heard of the 'Embassy Shuffle" No

No, we didn' go without water whilst the hosepipe ban was on, but we could have if the water in the reservoirs got any lower. Why dont the water companies just build more storage, any water not needed could be moved elsewhere, possibly for profit. People in this country shouldn't really ever be on the brink of having to use standpipes etc. When a hose pipe ban is implemented, other measures are put in place which you don't know about. Restrictions on abstraction of ground and surface water are lifted allowing the companies to send more water out to customers.

Possibly it easy to check how many young people of school age there are in this country, but as I posted earlier I didn't feel up to it today.

Your post has not made me feel any less gloomy about the future. I feel wonderfully cheerful about the future. We live on a wonderful planet, in a fabulous country, among interesting people, and it is just getting better every day.

My comments in red.

LilacLouisa

hngrymummy wrote: »

1: it is often easier to repsond to a bunch of questions within the text rather than having to read through it all again to see which question is being asked.

2: Not all nations 'improving' their diet rely on milk and cream.

3: No, it's not true. There are various reasons for this.

4: Is this not the precious 'greenbelt' land and countryside that folk are so keen on preserving? And you want to put a reservoir on it!! Believe me, the complaints against reservoirs are far higher than for housing (we are currently dealing with a new reservoir, and the local residents would far rather have a housing estate there instead). And you're suggesting that people profiteer from such a basic human need as well.

5: Why not? It's about time we stopped taking water for granted and wasting it.

Ah well, just so long as it is easier for the poster, that's ok then, never mind if others find it difficult to read.

I didn't say that all nations improving their diet rely on milk and cream. My comments were with regard to a post on a previous thread, where the Chinese are now eating dairy, something not traditional for them. I suppose they want the opportunity to have what we in the West have, and why not, but land will be required for the dairy herds.

What is not true?

As someone who has lived in an area where there are several reservoirs, I can assure you that they are very picturesque. Unfortunately valleys had to be flooded to create them, but the result is extremely pleasant epsecially if you like walking or sailing.


I think that people are already profiteering from the supply of water aren't they? Or do water companies in your area not charge water rates? If they do and they can't supply you with water sometimes do they still charge you?. I would be happy to have underground storage tanks built to store more water, being able to sell it to other areas in case of drought where they are and presumably the money would help to offset the cost of building the storage.

Who says I take water for granted and waste it? you take too much for granted.

You sound extremely judgemental (you are making assumptions without knowing the facts) and unpleasant. Is this natural for you or have you had a bad day?

LilacLouisa

Imp wrote: »

My comments in red.

Too much trouble to write a proper reply? too much trouble for me to read what you have posted then!

Oldernotwiser

turn3r wrote: »

These people on benefits who continue to produce children without being able to support them really angers me, but the governments who continue to allow this abuse of the benefits system angers me even more!! They should be helping more of those that try and help themselves.

You seem to be forgetting the large amount of benefits that even working families receive these days when they have children.

VK-2008

if you can afford it and you have the time and love to give to more children go for.
there is nothing wrong with it

i personally would like a lot of kids my DH is 26 and comes from a family of 12

GracieP

ceridwen wrote: »

We can't just count British babies here - meaning English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish.

Ireland isn't part of Britain and Ireland has quite a low population density, over 3 and a half times lower than Britain's. The small portion of Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the title gives it away that Ireland and Britain are two separate islands) has a population density nearly twice that of the Republics. And yet it's the Irish catholics who get mocked for having all the babies.

stingeylass

I agree with what people here are saying about overpopulation, but on the other hand i think it must be awful to have a desire for more children but be told that you shouldn't have them. Have you considered adopting?