I understand the anti-natalist policies, vaguely they just want the greater good for mankind. Overpopulation is a serious issue but I wouldn't call myself an anti-natalist. I'm going to have kids and I'll do everything I can to make sure we both live happy.
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Not everything you do will prevent all potential suffering that would be imposed on your child(ren). Any amount of debilities could be imposed, and you won't be able to do a thing to prevent it. It's vastly irresponsible and presumptuous of you to assume you have any ability to do "everything you can" to make sure their lives [i]don't[/i] suck.
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[quote]It's vastly irresponsible and presumptuous of you to assume you have any ability to do "everything you can" to make sure their lives don't suck.[/quote] Um. Why?
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Because you [b]don't[/b].
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I would argue that most people who are in a decent socioeconomic standing are in the proper position to have a kid and very likely provide everything that child needs to grow healthy, productive, and happy.
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Because that's how you ended up? Yeah, probably. Focus on the words I'm using. I'm not saying it's impossible, I used these two words: Irresponsible and presumptuous. Did you watch the video I posted? The metaphors he uses are perfect. It's not good to gamble with someone's welfare, quite obviously. How would you like it if I took [i]all[/i] of your money, all of it, and spent it all on lottery tickets, with the intent of making you a millionaire. And then I don't do it. If I flipped a coin, heads, I achieve nirvana, tails, I die painfully, I wouldn't flip the coin. Just because I'm able to call heads 50% of the time doesn't make it a very wise or responsible or rational decision.
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[quote]Because that's how you ended up? Yeah, probably.[/quote] Yes, I don't view that as a flawed position. As a parent, it's my responsibility to take the necessary actions to best ensure my child grows up to live happily. Let me clarify something; I don't, nor have I ever, believed everyone has the right to bear children. However, I would argue that there exist people who display a [i]significantly,[/i] though not certainly, better chance of giving a child a healthy life. Of course, I can't guarantee that my child isn't going to be mauled by a cougar and painfully slaughtered in the process. This is where parenting skills come in; I do everything in my power to advise the child against dangerous or stupid activities. Most people succeed in avoiding these situations. [quote]Focus on the words I'm using. I'm not saying it's impossible, I used these two words: Irresponsible and presumptuous. Did you watch the video I posted? The metaphors he uses are perfect. It's not good to gamble with someone's welfare, quite obviously.[/quote] If you can, link me to the specific time. I'm more interested in that than anything else. I agree there is an obvious degree of presumption in my statement "I'm fit to raise a child to be healthy," but don't necessarily agree that I am being irresponsible in doing bearing a child. [quote]Just because I'm able to call heads 50% of the time doesn't make it a very wise or responsible or rational decision.[/quote] I'm not sure if the ensuring of life quality or the prevention of an excessively painful death is a 50/50 bargain. As I was saying earlier, parenting skills come into play and seem to shift the likelihood of those tragedies by a very significant amount.