Originally Posted by Analog:
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It doesn't matter that I don't want kids- asserting I should not have children is just as offensive to me as anyone else. If I told you that there are some people who should not reproduce, and listed any kind of reason whatsoever, you would flip out- and rightfully so.
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Sorry to jump in here, but I think it's important to remember that there are other means of having children in your life than becoming one of the senseless breeding masses and reproducing.
And I have to agree what Nikki said, and don't find it offensive at all-it's common sense. If a person doesn't like children-they should
definitely bypass parenthood. You might want to donate your sperm or eggs (I don't know it you're a man or a woman) if you are concerned about your "right" to have your genetics reproduced, but you should go with your gut and not have your genetic progeny living in the house with you - because believe me- if you're starting out not liking kids from the get-go, he or she will definitely get on your nerves and quick...and honestly, reproducing a child for your own pleasure and enjoyment is basically a selfish act anyway. Especially if we're not doing anything to make the world a better place for that child to live in.
I don't think there's anything wrong with saying you don't like kids or you don't want kids in your life. Children and all their attendent needs are an acquired taste. And a lot of people who have kids because they've always "loved" them, find out later they really had no idea how much was involved, and don't really "love" or "enjoy" the actual experience at all. And I think sadly, this is a much more commonly occuring scenario than the one where someone has enough self-awareness to say from the beginning - "I don't think I'd be a good parent - I'm not having kids"- and avoid what often turns out to be harmful fiasco, especially for the child involved.
But I'm interested to know that if anyone else who has had kids in the past would bypass that option now because of these particular times. I find myself thinking all the time now that if I were just starting out, I might think twice about having kids. My children are teen-agers (I biologically produced on and adopted one). I look around now, and think, I would not want to be just starting out with a baby in these times - which seem so much more difficult in terms of appropriate environments and activities, etc for children than even fifteen years ago. So many things have changed- and I think in ways that make parenting harder for people. So although fifteen years ago, I was eager to get on the parenting band wagon, I don't think I'd be so eager today. Does anyone else factor that into their decision?
*also, can someone tell me how to get the "originally posted by" tag on their quotes? Or is that not available in the quick reply - which is what I used? Thanks.