patrick.net

wthrfrk80 says

When did banks, billionaires, and investors ever care about anything but the bottom line?
Agree.

Woo Hoo! Glad somebody got it. (or already knew)

Sad there are so many poorly nourished under loved kids walking around.

Lately, I have seen children under 10 completely unescorted walking about, amazing to me anyway.

I fully encourage other people not to procreate. Leaves more room for my descendants, who will be well worth it.

Is there a charity that offers sterilization with a signing bonus? I'd be happy to contribute.

David9 says

Sad there are so many poorly nourished under loved kids walking around.

Oh man....this brings back a funny memory.

Back in college, some of my friends were having a discussion about having kids. They came to the conclusion that it is immoral to have your own kids in our society because there are so many unwanted or uncared-for children out there as it is (you should adopt instead). Well, my buddy Dan's GF was in the other room, and on her period (and she was one of the unlucky ones whose hormones got REALLY out of what at that time). She came bursting out of that room, crying, screaming "well why are we even together then?!?!?!?" My buddy Rob couldn't stifle his snickering, and man, her face got RED and she stormed off.

Then a day or so later she apologized for being crazy. She didn't want kids then, and still isn't there (we all keep in contact). I guess it was just "one of those periods" or something.

Vicente says

Is there a charity that offers sterilization with a signing bonus? I'd be happy to contribute.

Dude, this is my plan to fix America when I am president. $10k, cash, for anyone on welfare that goes in for voluntary sterilization. Inmates that are serving time for non-violent crimes are also eligible. The benefits won't arrive for 12-20 years, but they surely will.

wthrfrk80 says

leoj707 says

Yes, those are huge worries I have for my children's future.

Then isn't it a bit irresponsible to have them? We have birth-control and abortion. Use them.

Perhaps, but we cannot know the future and we can't live our lives on "what ifs" and "maybes".

What is irresponsible is to have kids then ignore that fossil fuel depletion, global warming, and over-population are issues that they will have to confront in their lives.

Also, it is irresponsible to leave breading it to only the irresponsible. That makes the worries about the future all that more realistic.

bmwman91 says

Dude, this is my plan to fix America when I am president. $10k, cash, for anyone on welfare that goes in for voluntary sterilization. Inmates that are serving time for non-violent crimes are also eligible. The benefits won't arrive for 12-20 years, but they surely will.

That is actually a good plan. Glad I brought back the funny memory.

bmwman91 says

$10k, cash, for anyone on welfare that goes in for voluntary sterilization. Inmates that are serving time for non-violent crimes are also eligible.

Why stop at welfare and non-violent criminals? It should be an open program.

You could also probably still be effective with it being a lot less; perhaps about the same price as an iPad.

leoj707 says

Perhaps, but we cannot know the future and we can't live our lives on "what ifs" and "maybes".

Yes we can. 100 years from now all of us will be dead. In the long run, everyone dies.

That alone should be reason enough to not have children.

a lot of fucking worry warts on this site. it reminds me of the "duck and cover days".

Maybe Patrick should have a new logo:

bmwman91 says

They came to the conclusion that it is immoral to have your own kids in our society because there are so many unwanted or uncared-for children out there as it is (you should adopt instead).

Well, there is a big difference between unwanted and improperly cared for. The idea that there are all these kids that need adopting is a bit of a myth.

People want healthy kids, there are very few kids that are unwanted that do not have serious issues. The demand for healthy adoptable children, especially babies, far outstrips the supply. With westerners willing to drop $30-40k on a third world adoption the results are predictable:
http://www.brandeis.edu/investigate/adoption/GuatemalaNews.html

Adoptions from third world countries are actually often a very immoral choice. Believe it or not even the poor love and want to keep their health babies.

The most moral adoptions are foster-to-adopt programs.

rowemoore says

a lot of f*cking worry warts on this site.

Um, maybe it's because we have been screwed over before and we wish to consciously avoid such behavior and wrong choices.

rowemoore says

Maybe Patrick should have a new logo:

Why bother, the water will just get spilled anyway.

wthrfrk80 says

That alone should be reason enough to not have children.

Not have kids because they are going to die?

Why do you continue to choose to live your life?

leoj707 says

Why do you continue to choose to live your life?

I've been asking myself that question a lot lately.

rowemoore says

I understand your miserable

LOL, actually I am not, but if that is your perception that is ok, after all, you are just a blog stranger on the internet.,

wthrfrk80 says

leoj707 says

Why do you continue to choose to live your life?

I've been asking myself that question a lot lately.

Well, OK then your comments make more sense.

Death, pain, suffering are all part of life. I accept that and as much as it may add additional pain to my life I accept that my children are going to have to experience them as well.

In spite of this life is a beautiful thing…

Love, happiness, hope are all also a part of life.

Humans could build a better world that limits suffering and increases joy. We seem to be currently choosing to go another route. Hopefully the people that I add to the mix help to nudge humanity in a better direction.

LOL @ the buyer remorse in this thread.

leoj707 says

Well, OK then your comments make more sense.

What do you mean by that?

wthrfrk80 says

What do you mean by that?

I mean that it is unsurprising that a person who is questioning whether they should choose to go on living would reason that the inevitability of death is the reason new life should not start.

bmwman91 says

$10k, cash, for anyone on welfare that goes in for voluntary sterilization. Inmates that are serving time for non-violent crimes are also eligible. The benefits won't arrive for 12-20 years, but they surely will.

Why be so specific? This is America, we are supposed to be egalitarian. Offer it to anyone. If you are going to discriminate IMO you'd have to include huge bonus for OctoMom or Kardashians, and particularly bigger fish like white collar criminals who cause much more damage than some pothead. But I don't see the point in that.

You are a college kid who wants to make tuition and are sure you never want children? Fine, here's your money thanks for removing your contribution to the gene pool.

leoj707 says

the inevitability of death is the reason new life should not start.

It certainly isn't the only reason.

Both kids and the girl to go along are kinda expensive all by themselves. They call it the two income trap.

Kids bring intangible benefits to their parents if the kids turn out into nice adults. This of course it the hope of all parents.
A guy has to be stable, successful, make a great living and be fearless in the face of divorce, financial ruin, and all the rest of it. It takes a certain kind of bravery that many no longer have.
The several times I was about to marry some job change or other circumstance put the kibosh on it.
I've even dated a couple of girls in Mexico who actually did NOT want children because they had been forced to care for a couple of very young siblings so they were done with "parenting". Generally it's rare there that an adult has no children. I would be asked "Why don't you have any?" often.
As you age you'll meet many women who have kids already of various ages, and you can get into that milieu if you desire to. They're possibly going to be almost as loyal to you as their biological fathers if you are generous,etc.
My friend worries constantly about his adult children, as does my older brother. He often says he must work forever because of his kids.
Another friend of mine moved to a very undesireable state for a job simply so he could keep paying his adult children's tuition and grad school. He was actually well off enough to retire early.
Those who do not have children will maybe say they are happy to have the money instead, but probably it's only a rationalization.

leoj707 says

Love, happiness, hope are all also a part of life.

For some people. Certainly not for everyone.