You choosing not to breed isn't curing the overpopulation problem. So, I don't know why you are leaning on it so hard. Similar to the bolded statement but on the other side of the coin.

If you look at the stats, people are actually waiting later in life to procreate and the numbers have been going down over the years.

Also not all children are monsters that don't know how to act around animals. I go back to your own personal experience with your kitty as a kid. Were you a monster around it? Did your parents hold your hand and teach you how to act appropriately around animals? There are some children that are born to be animal lovers just like you.

I'm not looking to "cure" the overpopulation problem; I'm just tired of idiots thinking that it's going to destroy mankind if a couple million people don't want to breed.

Some children are just right. Others are too rough. But their parents can't fathom that their little angel might be acting like an asshole.

:beer:

I just think kids are a huge waste of money. I don't see them bringing me the satisfaction that a yearly vacation to some exotic place for the same amount of money would bring.

Not to mention more beer money.

Yes, more importantly, that.

It's about $10,000 a year to raise a kid. Fucckkkkkk that.

basically what it boils down to is if you want a child you suffer from narcissism, low self esteem, and essentially hate money and/or living your own life.

Yep. 100%.

Are any of you childless adults in a relationship with someone who wants to have kids? Has it effected your relationship or your opinion of the person?

I'm the one wanting the kids, but I also realize the chances of that happening are slim to none and haven't gone baby crazy so I'm pretty sure my SO hasn't been too negatively affected by it. I sort of have the best of both worlds in my line of work, I get to spend time with the kids but give them back at the end of the day.

I still don't know if I want kids. I just feel like my parents love and a partner will be enough for me. I don't feel I'm mature enough or ready to commit to having a child. I've thought about adoption and also would consider being a surrogate. But honestly I want to travel and not be tied down. I think I'll most likely end up as a crazy cat lady (nb: who looks after her cats properly).

Same. Ki and I have created a lovely living space (mostly with cats in mind because their reign of terror is limited and they're not known to utterly destroy everything) and without money, it wouldn't have been possible. Because we don't have any damn kids, and never will.

The other day I was at the grocery (mostly for the liquor) and I noticed a sign for some sort of like, 24-48 pack of diapers or whatever and they were $35. I'd have to work for about 3.5 hours to afford that. And all the kid does is shit in them and they go in the garbage. Yeah, fuck that. Anyone could buy a box of condoms (10-15pk) for an average of $7-10 AND a box of tampons (average qty 18-24) for about $5-7. I'll take my safe sex and lifelong periods until I figure out a way to get sterilized or have a hysterectomy without some asshole doctor telling me he THINKS he knows what's best for me (a woman!).

Schnapps: $8 for hours and hours of enjoyment. HELL YEAH.

I was once engaged to someone who wanted children and he'd say stupid stuff like "wouldn't you want a little me or a little you running around??" UM SORRY NO

good riddance, what an assface

My boyfriend wants kids for sure. He's acknowledged that it's ridiculous to justify procreating as merely a desire to "pass on his seed" and we've talked about how adoption is the only option I would consider, but I can see that it makes him sad to not ultimately be on the same page.

I worry that it will eventually be a deal-breaker despite the strength of our relationship otherwise. He's essentially left hoping I'll change my mind and that's hard for both of us.

I'm lucky, my boyfriend doesn't want kids either. He always says he's too selfish for children though, which is kinda the typical response. I hope he means it.

Well if you're looking for a self-absorbed man child who couldn't nurture a goldfish then look no further.


http://x1.fjcdn.com/thumbnails/comme...531cc53b66.gif

Nah, dude... nah.... lack of interest in you or anyone not him aside, I like pets. We recently, mutually, decided our first dog will be a bulldog. ****in goofy little bastards.

I was using hyperbole. I'm actually an animal nut.

Kids are the reason my ex-wife and I divorced. She wanted 'em. I didn't. And that was the end of that.

Kids are the reason my wife and I become closer and fell in love again.

You're an animal testicle?

Yeah, I used to be a Cocker Spaniel's right nut before he got neutered. It's why I'm so bitter.

i'm not the kind of person to have pets. they are kind of entertaining once in a while... but mostly they are just a burden. i don't dislike animals... i just like them as other people's pets, not mine. i would probably rather have kids than pets because at least kids eventually turn into real people.

also i think for the most part anything that isn't a dog or a cat shouldn't be a pet. the more exotic the less i agree with letting people own it. seems utterly pointless to me to keep a snake around... the only thing you accomplish is making one reptile's life very boring in exchange for impressing some of your more easily amused friends.

That's really rather sweet. :)

not true, when I used to help run open house at our rescue they were really good with the cats, and you know how cats are so they can't be that bad lol. (Mind you these were cats of varying degrees of sociability, not kittens) Most of them didn't approach them until I showed them how to properly "introduce" themselves. I only had to show them how to hold the cats and how to approach them once each and they did how I showed them with all the cats they interacted with. I can only recall one kid who didn't follow my instruction, probably because she was too young to properly get it but she had a kitten that didn't particularly give a **** she was carrying him around the torso, lulz

I introduce myself to cats as Mr. CattyCatMan The Cat Loving Man, but they don't seem to like it and hiss at me. It's like they know I'm a twat.

I really like children and hope to have babies one day but definitely not yet. Too much to see and do before all that happens.

SMH:



Seriously people are so mean. They don't not deserve children! Letting babies walk up stairs with NO adult behind them for safety is just idiotic. And when the parents laugh I seriously want to punch someone. And putting a baby in the sea with no life jacket (you know the floaty ones), uggghhh.

I don't understand why there's so much hostility on both sides of the to have kids or not to have kids debate. It's not really anyone's business or place to be looking down upon or glorifying being another breeder or for not seeing importance in raising a family. Why do so many people always wanna make their own way of life out to be better than everyone elses?

To convince the mob/public/3rd-party to support their lifestyle before the other guys do. Because when the other guys do it first, sometimes they then proceed to round up your children and torture them.

Another good reason not to have kids.

I've known several couples that have had children not because they really wanted to have a family but because they thought it was a natural progression in their relationship, that's just seems wrong to me.

I knew from a young age I didn't want children, everyone said I'd feel different as I got older or when I got married. No, I didn't, even when close friends and family had babies it never stirred any maternal feelings. I see people go gaga on seeing a new born, I feel nothing.

I've been questioned all throughout my adult life why I chose not to be a mother, like its the only thing I'm here to do. I'm very secure in my reasons and choices and have never once regretted my decision.

Question:

In the opinion of the board, does being child free also refer to parents with adopted or foster children?

Or does child free mean dependent free?

Dependent free

Adopting is far more moral but still questionable considering it undermines abortion

You wanna adopt but still keep that cool tag?

It still means you get no peace when you get home. How the **** anyone could choose to have a kid instead of silence is beyond me.

Oh what a surprise, WWWP is gonna have a kid so she can have her generic middle class cracker fantasy life.

I'm just hypothesizing. I work with a lot of foster families and there's a huge need in our community. I've thought about fostering way later, like if I ever get to retire. My whole thing has always been don't make new babies but take care of the ones already here.

Yes I'm sure you have very sophisticated rationalizations, mommy.

That's awesome Steph. The world needs more people thinking like that.

Lol. Haters gonna hate.