Is it morally reprehensible to choose not to have children?

[McTroll]

Welp. There was this debate during lunchtime at my workplace regarding whether it is morally reprehensible or not to choose not having children...

...and let's just say it wasn't too far off from what an MMO-C thread on that topic could muster. Two people even stormed off out of the building, presumably home, because they were so riled up.

Let's just say lunchtime was more animated than usual. And that was an understatement!


Now what do you guys think? Is it morally reprehensible to choose not to have children?

[Deleted]

I'll answer that with another question, is it morally correct to have children if you are certain that you would not be the best parent that you could be?

[Rudol Von Stroheim]

Welp. There was this debate during lunchtime at my workplace regarding whether it is morally reprehensible or not to choose not having children...

...and let's just say it wasn't too far off from what an MMO-C thread on that topic could muster. Two people even stormed off out of the building, presumably home, because they were so riled up.

Let's just say lunchtime was more animated than usual. And that was an understatement!


Now what do you guys think? Is it morally reprehensible to choose not to have children?

I'd say just the opposite. It's often selfish to have them.

[aviger]

frankly in this day and age its a great idea not to have kids.
I have a 2.5 year old and sometimes i honestly wonder if i didn't do the kid a big disservice having him at this time on this shitty planet :P
We got to many people and to many stupid people. At least i hope im raising a smart kid and not a trumpnut

Not having kids is a great idea and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot.

[Darkeon]

I have troubles imagining what sort of routes did that conversation take for this simple topic to cause people to storm off.

[Collegeguy]

Idk, but too many children certainly is.

[Cæli]

no it is not ?

[Toogoodman]

If someone decides they don't want children, that's their decision, not the choice of someone else.

I would say the only people to talk about it would probably be your parents, as they probably would like grand children, but in a world of 7+ Billion people, I don't think one couple not having kids would "end the world". One might even say its morally responsible to forego having children if you don't make enough to afford them, don't consider yourself a good enough person to be a parent (not that you're a bad person), have medical issue you don't wish to continue within your lineage, or just generally detest kids.

[Deleted]

its fine to not have children if you are gay

[McTroll]

I have troubles imagining what sort of routes did that conversation take for this simple topic to cause people to storm off.

People on one side saying "Oh, you'll see when you get yours" vs "it's my choice", followed by "you'll have nobody to take care of you when you grow old", along with "you guys don't have any kids and you think you can tell me how to parent mine all the time!". It got ugly with tempers flaring.

And to answer the question myself: no it's not. It's a matter of choice. Period. No ifs and buts about it.

[Sky High]

not in the slightest?

[Queen of Hamsters]

How... How can it be "morally reprehensible" to not have children...? I'd love to see some talking points in favor of that notion, since I can't think of any...

[Deleted]

[Louisa Bannon]

Is it morally reprehensible to choose not to have children?

Probably. My children would most likely be very beautiful and very intelligent if they weren't actually on the spectrum.

But hey, fuck the lot of you! My line ends with me.

MWM seeks partners in oblivion.

[EnclosedOne]

having kids or not having them are both selfish but for different reasons. I don't have kids nor do I ever want them but if it happens then it happens. Is it just me or is it always only those with kids who are trying to force and/or guilt trip those without them into having them? It's really quite annoying. People with kids need to stop assuming that those without kids don't want them - some couples CANT have them and you make them feel like shit every time you bring up the subject!

[Deleted]

Welp. There was this debate during lunchtime at my workplace regarding whether it is morally reprehensible or not to choose not having children...

...and let's just say it wasn't too far off from what an MMO-C thread on that topic could muster. Two people even stormed off out of the building, presumably home, because they were so riled up.

Let's just say lunchtime was more animated than usual. And that was an understatement!


Now what do you guys think? Is it morally reprehensible to choose not to have children?

no.

How can there possibly be another answer.

in fact, whilst its not morally reprehensible to choose to not have children (in fact an arguement can be made that its much more morally justifiable given the state of the planet etc to choose this), it can easily be morally reprehensible to choose to have children.

Too many people choose to have kids they cant support, to have kids in an environment that detrimental to their upbringing, their health, their mental well being. Too many people dont even choose, they have kids by accident.

Getting pregnant, or fathering a child is no guarantee of being a good, or even competent, parent.

Add in wider ethical issues regarding population levels, resource consumption etc, its pretty easy to make a case that too many people are having children. Thats before you even get into medical issues regarding inherited and heritable conditions.

[downnola]

How many children people have, or choose not to have, is ultimately left up to them. What's reprehensible to me is when someone tries to convince others not to have children out of their own contempt for kids or other human beings.

[Molis]

Have children...dont have children I could care less.
It is your choice and no one should be made to feel shitty either way for their choice.

[McTroll]

How... How can it be "morally reprehensible" to not have children...? I'd love to see some talking points in favor of that notion, since I can't think of any...

But hey, fuck the lot of you! My line ends with me.

Ask and thou shalt receive.

[Doctor Amadeus]

Only if you believe you are the fucking descendants of Elves or some shit and that your blood line should go on forever, and that the sperm and seaman of specific people is in danger of drying up LMFAO.

No it's more like critically fucking stupid to place such burdens and importance on dumb shit like people not choosing to have kids on a fucking planet that is pushing near 8 billion people.