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analog · 09-23-2007, 03:56 AM

filtherton:

I disagree that there's no such thing as a "good parent". I know lots of great parents, including my own.

I agree, though, that it would be pretty near impossible to laundry list what makes a good parent. There are, however, going to be some items on the list that seem obvious and universal to all good parents, no matter who is reading the list: love, affection, protection...

There will also be things that immediately conjure an image of a bad parent, such as someone who abuses or neglects their kid. I don't think it's entirely unreasonable that some people conjecture about what might fit on either "list".

The bottom line is, people with kids often have a sense of entitlement that their opinion is king and the only one that matters, and that's plain nonsense. For every good parent, I could undoubtedly show you 1 or 2 bad ones- that's not exactly a great foundation on which to base your monopoly of opinion for the subject.

If half to one-third of all people in a given group are a bad example to that group, saying that you know what you're talking about just because you're a member of that group is asinine. Many people who beat their kids say they're good parents, because they've justified the violence as a form of punishment. Those people could have 15 kids, and they still won't be good parents. Experience isn't everything.

And just as having kids doesn't automatically make a person's opinion valid, not having kids doesn't automatically make a person's opinion invalid.

I mean really... your entire argument revolves on someone not having ejaculated into a woman and caused issue. If I went out right now and impregnated a chick, you'd have nothing to say in 9 months, because I'd be another one of your breeder pals... and God help you then, if you tried to tell a fellow parent how to be a good parent! The earth would implode!

I can't wait to condescend to people and tell them their opinions are worthless and only mine matter, because I participated in making a baby. Then I can live under the delusion that childbirth is a miracle- whee!

But seriously.
I may yet end up as a parent one day. I know, it's a very popular (but very incorrect) perception that I hate kids. I don't. I hate ill-mannered children. It just so happens that they make up the vast majority of children that I encounter in life, and therefore I tend to generalize all children in the same light. Some children, on the other hand, are quite pleasant.

In my professional capacity, I enjoy helping children- they're tenfolds more appreciative of help and care than your average adult. Even when they're scared and confused, they genuinely seem to be thankful for taking care of them. I love that. I love helping people, and I don't do what I do so I can get recognition or thanks... but getting a thank you or an appreciative smile out of someone is the best perk there is.

I almost just left this thread alone, but I know that some of you see me as famous- or maybe infamous- for this subject, and I didn't want to disappoint.

09-23-2007, 03:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
analog Banned	filtherton: I disagree that there's no such thing as a "good parent". I know lots of great parents, including my own. I agree, though, that it would be pretty near impossible to laundry list what makes a good parent. There are, however, going to be some items on the list that seem obvious and universal to all good parents, no matter who is reading the list: love, affection, protection... There will also be things that immediately conjure an image of a bad parent, such as someone who abuses or neglects their kid. I don't think it's entirely unreasonable that some people conjecture about what might fit on either "list". The bottom line is, people with kids often have a sense of entitlement that their opinion is king and the only one that matters, and that's plain nonsense. For every good parent, I could undoubtedly show you 1 or 2 bad ones- that's not exactly a great foundation on which to base your monopoly of opinion for the subject. If half to one-third of all people in a given group are a bad example to that group, saying that you know what you're talking about just because you're a member of that group is asinine. Many people who beat their kids say they're good parents, because they've justified the violence as a form of punishment. Those people could have 15 kids, and they still won't be good parents. Experience isn't everything. And just as having kids doesn't automatically make a person's opinion valid, not having kids doesn't automatically make a person's opinion invalid. I mean really... your entire argument revolves on someone not having ejaculated into a woman and caused issue. If I went out right now and impregnated a chick, you'd have nothing to say in 9 months, because I'd be another one of your breeder pals... and God help you then, if you tried to tell a fellow parent how to be a good parent! The earth would implode! I can't wait to condescend to people and tell them their opinions are worthless and only mine matter, because I participated in making a baby. Then I can live under the delusion that childbirth is a miracle- whee! But seriously. I may yet end up as a parent one day. I know, it's a very popular (but very incorrect) perception that I hate kids. I don't. I hate ill-mannered children. It just so happens that they make up the vast majority of children that I encounter in life, and therefore I tend to generalize all children in the same light. Some children, on the other hand, are quite pleasant. In my professional capacity, I enjoy helping children- they're tenfolds more appreciative of help and care than your average adult. Even when they're scared and confused, they genuinely seem to be thankful for taking care of them. I love that. I love helping people, and I don't do what I do so I can get recognition or thanks... but getting a thank you or an appreciative smile out of someone is the best perk there is. I almost just left this thread alone, but I know that some of you see me as famous- or maybe infamous- for this subject, and I didn't want to disappoint. Last edited by analog; 09-23-2007 at 04:05 AM..