Is it morally reprehensible to choose not to have children?

[Trassk]

Well its hard to be immoral in that regard, it doesn't pass the "coma test", which is to say if a man was in a coma and didn't have kids it wouldn't be an immoral act (or lack of action).

On that note, though, having kids and being a good parent is virtuous, and to not have children really is a wasted opportunity, especially if you have any remote level of intelligence. We're basically a planet these days where intelligent people are paying for unintelligent people to have kids, where intelligence is HIGHLY hereditary.

While I respect people's right to make the decision to have or not have kids, I don't have to respect that decision itself. I think that people who have the opportunity to be good parents and don't have kids are generally seeking more hedonistic lifestyles and will look back 40 years in the future with regret that they have nothing to show for their younger years.

And I'd say your avoiding the fact there are to many dam people in the world already and we don't need more screwing up the planet, environments, atmosphere, seas, wildlife, all because of the mass of resources needed to support such a huge population. Or isn't the example in japan of people living in micro houses an example there being an overpopulation?

now if some natural disasters, like a super volcano going off, culled the species by a good number, and yeah it will happen eventually, then the argument of 'we need more children' might have some weight to it.

[Deleted]

It's morally questionable to have more children than one child per person. Two children per couple. Two people die, two people are born. Balance.

It's morally reprehensible to have half a dozen children. It's downright evil to have a dozen.

It's morally laudable not to have children, just to balance out the evil some people do by having a dozen children.

[Celista]

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?

Your forum name contains the answers that you seek....

On the miniscule off-chance that this actually happened, it probably happened due to: 1. oppressive religious beliefs 2. people not having children makes them question their life choices, aka deep down they have regrets about having children 3. you insulted them somehow during the conversation.

As an FYI don't refer to people with kids as "breeders" within earshot, I have seen this happen more than once.

[Silver Forte]

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?

It's morally reprehensible for you or anyone else to tell me how to live my life.

[3DTyrant]

No, what's Earth's population? Close to 7.7 billion people, if not slightly more? Is that not enough that there are so many people? Besides, if I was to have kids, there's a chance they could have psoriasis, and trust me I've had it bad on multiple occasions, covering around 95% of my body, just merely moving would cause me agony - I wouldn't wish that on someone I fucking hated.

[PassingBy]

Having kids or not having them is a matter of personal choice.
There is nothing immoral in chosing to have kids, as there is nothing immoral in chosing to not have kids.

However usually the "child free" people feel the need to tell others how stupid they are to have kids and how superior a "child free" person is to a stupid parent having another shitty baby.
To be fair there is quite a lot of peopel that have a child and put the poor child on a pedestal and treat it like if they've got a freaking nobel prize, those are annoying too.

The debate is kinda like the vegan/carnivore one.
You eat what you want and stay away from what other people eat with your stupid morals then noone cares if you are a vegan or not.

Same with children.

[Thage]

Uh, no, I don't think so. As things stand some countries (most notably India and China) are overpopulated (hence China's infamous one-child policy, which I'm not 100% sure is still in effect, but I digress) and others are crowded but have aging populations that will result in some problems before too long. But I don't think forcing people to have children is the answer--there are a great many people simply unfit to parent for numerous reasons, and dropping a kid in their collective lap isn't going to suddenly make them fit parents. Incentivize having kids with tax breaks and the like, certainly. But there's no moral obligation if someone doesn't want to squeeze out a kid or put one in someone else other than whatever moral obligation the individual feels as part of their own personal moral compass.

[Dys]

With no outside influences, as an individual of sound mind with freedom to do as one pleases, nope, not at all.

[Thage]

However usually the "child free" people feel the need to tell others how stupid they are to have kids and how superior a "child free" person is to a stupid parent having another shitty baby.
To be fair there is quite a lot of peopel that have a child and put the poor child on a pedestal and treat it like if they've got a freaking nobel prize, those are annoying too.

This is one of those situations where "Both sides have enormously shitty people" is a valid comment. Because there are shitty people who are parents who will "mommyjack" someone's accomplishments and attempt to minimize their importance or the challenge in accomplishing the thing by comparing it to parenting. I'm sure we've all seen that one aunt who goes on a cousin's Facebook post where they excitedly inform all their friends and followers about finishing a Criminal Psych degree (random example pulled out of my ass, swap in other accomplishment as applicable) only to tell them that's nothing compared to raising children, or how much more fulfilled said cousin would be with kids.

And there are smug, smarmy douchebags who will get snide toward ALL parents as though raising a child and providing the child with a loving, stable home in some way amounts to giving up one's dreams and just "settling." Like a child is in some way a burden (see my above post about people who aren't fit to parent and shouldn't be forced into it; someone who thinks that way is going to make a child's formative years hell and stands a good chance of scarring them for life).

[Rennadrel]

No, but this whole notion of growing our population while the job market gets smaller and smaller is absolute horse shit. There's only a finite number of jobs, in due time the world will be just like Anthem with the few controlling the many in a totalitarian society where individualism and free speech are against the law. We are already part way there.

[Stormspark]

not in the slightest?

This. Absolutely not at all. I think it's morally reprehensible to have children knowing what kind of world they would be born into. Also, I don't give a rat's behind about what happens here once I'm gone, so I'm not concerned in the slightest with "replacing myself".

[Thage]

No, but this whole notion of growing our population while the job market gets smaller and smaller is absolute horse shit. There's only a finite number of jobs, in due time the world will be just like Anthem with the few controlling the many in a totalitarian society where individualism and free speech are against the law. We are already part way there.

That or automation opens the way for humanity to enjoy lives of leisure, like we thought we would back in the 1950s with the advent of consumer robotics (or concepts thereof, see the many "house of tomorrow" exhibits that are commonly alluded to in shows like The Jetsons). We're quickly approaching a crossroads in which direction automation can take us in, and we really need to start being more responsible with how we handle that crossroads as a whole, worldwide.

[Poopymonster]

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.

When people talk about having kids or about the kids already have I can't help but think "You chose that side quest"

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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.

What's reprehensible to me is being out with my SO and hearing how she's less of a woman/we are horrible because we choose to not have kids.

[downnola]

When people talk about having kids or about the kids already have I can't help but think "You chose that side quest"

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What's reprehensible to me is being out with my SO and hearing how she's less of a woman/we are horrible because we choose to not have kids.

The part you didn't bold should indicate clearly that I'd be on your side in that situation.

[draganid]

Not necessarily with the kind of people we would like though.

Say for example: Authoritarian Chinese or regions with low education or low social values. When your own 'advanced' society starts declining it is irrelevant whether the global population is rising.

thats the problem with western society though, everyone is so consumed by the rat race that children are an afterthought. which necessitates the need for immigrants into the country to keep the tax base growing to support the population.

[jellmoo]

My wife and have been married for 12 years. We don't have kids. We don't want kids. We have determined that our lives will be richer, fuller and more enjoyable without them. That's our choice. Questioning the morality of an inaction that doesn't impact your life is silly. You may as well label "not liking the colour mauve" or "preferring whole wheat bread" as immoral.

[Nihilist74]

Is it morally reprehensible to have children. To yank a child from a peaceful non existence into this world of suffering and struggle. Also there is more than enough humans in this world. We don't need anymore people.

[downnola]

Is it morally reprehensible to have children. To yank a child from a peaceful non existence into this world of suffering and struggle. Also there is more than enough humans in this world. We don't need anymore people.

It's probably best that you don't propagate your genes into the world.

[Plutarch78]

Is it morally reprehensible to have children. To yank a child from a peaceful non existence into this world of suffering and struggle. Also there is more than enough humans in this world. We don't need anymore people.

Labor market says hello. And besides, life is not meant to be all wine and roses like people in Europe tend to believe.

[Captain N]

According to MMO-Champion its morally reprehensible to be a step-parent for whatever reason.

So how does that exactly work for the millions of us on the planet who cannot have children of their own for endless reasons?