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Comment by Spooky23 | Hacker News Reader

Society is bizarre in innumerable ways. The number of people who I know that have contempt for children or people having children is repugnant to me. I think the disdain for the young and old is a sign of decadence.

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Is it the contempt for children, or the contempt for people who believes that having children is the only way to live a life?

Having children is the single most damaging thing to the environment a person will realistically do in their lifetime.

Edit: why all the downvotes?

The way I see it the environment exists for people. Otherwise it has no use at all.

> the environment exists for people. Otherwise it has no use at all.

There's some disgusting and ignorant comments on this page, but this one takes the prize.

"Disgusting and ignorant"? Because I don't share your religion? That's pretty narrow minded.

What???

Your religion claims that the universe is here just for mankind's benefit? You really believe that?

This planet was here for millions of years before mankind came along, and hopefully will be here for millions afterwards.

There is nothing you can ever do to destroy the planet. Check your hubris. Most of what you like about the planet is its suitability for human life, which is to say, it isn't the planet you like, but your descendants.

My religion? What religion is that?

Who cares how long the planet was here before humans? The planet isn't going anywhere no matter what we do.

Arguments usually reinforce delusion.

If the people who care about the environment don't have children, then future generations will just be comprised more of people who don't care about the environment.

More often than not it's contempt for bad parenting, really. Overenthusiastic natalism can be a negative, as taboo as it is to suggest it.

What kind of mental gymnastics are involved in portraying the people who aren't sinking $200K into a child as decadent?

Charles Darwin could probably explain it. :-)

I'd ask what mental gymnastics are involved for a rich country to ignore tens of thousands of elderly to die alone and abandoned until their bank accounts drain?

My grandparents all died when I was young, mainly from alcohol and cigarettes. I never knew my father. My mom is a terrible person. Each elderly person has a story, and it would be wise to review how they got to a scenario that involves them dying alone. I am sure there are some sad tales, but there are probably some less than sad tales involving the life of an asshole.

I would agree that there should be better social safety nets in place for the elderly, not because their family members failed them, but exactly the opposite. It should be intended to free up family members from the burden of being someone's retirement plan. I have heard people say a good reason for having kids is so you have someone to take care of you when you're old. That sounds like a great way to set yourself up to die alone.

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