Given State of World, my take on it is there's far more hedonism and irresponsibility in having kids.

It's nice they make you happy, but will their lives be happy?

The evidence says it's very unlikely.

My choice is not to inflict that experience on another sentient being. I'm really not seeing anything at the moment that encourages me to question that.

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ptero 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

For a different perspective: the world today is not perfect, but when I compare the current state of the world with how our ancestors lived from the Roman empire to the last century I think my kids have a high chances to do much better than that average.

My direct ancestors lived through some harrowing times without losing their will to live and if they were alive today they would likely feel this is a great time to be alive. My 2c.

	▲	bombcar a day ago \| parent [-]
		And the very act of hope that having kids is (and it is a strong act of hope, no denial) changes your outlook on life and the state of the world, too. Sometimes to more abject despair, but often to more hope. People shouldn't be forced at gunpoint to have children, but they also shouldn't be dragged down into insecurity and despair that it's financially impossible.

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stinkbeetle a day ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It will be "inflicted" on other people whether you choose it or not.

People and cultures that don't want children will give way to those who do.

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close04 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Given State of World, my take on it is there's far more hedonism and irresponsibility in having kids.

Compared to what? We're living in some of the best times humanity as a whole ever had. Deciding en-masse to not have kids is the irresponsible thing because it literally condemns humanity to extinction and creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. You're cursing the world because you stubbed your toe. Social media inflicted this kind of feeling a lot over the last couple of decades.

> but will their lives be happy?

You'd have to ask them. Humans overwhelmingly choose to live so you could conclude that they prefer existing over the alternative. Happiness is very relative and you'd have a hard time defining it even for yourself, let alone for your hypothetical unborn child.

> The evidence says it's very unlikely.

There's absolutely no evidence to support anything you said. It's your personal preference and you're entitled to it. Why don't you own your choice instead of putting it on fictitious evidence that your unborn child will be unhappy?

> My choice is not to inflict that experience on another sentient being

Whatever you pick you're making that choice for you, not for them.

	▲	bombcar a day ago \| parent [-]
		And at least in my experience, children do not get existential despair about the state of the world until adulthood, unless it is given to them from outside forces. Children don't know the world exists beyond their town until they're instructed on it!

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monero-xmr 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

You can choose to end your bloodline, and your opinion is the human race should go extinct now like a race of eunuchs have taken over. But I could personally not disagree more