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Children and happiness [Archive] - RonFez.net Messageboard

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nickeye
12-09-2001, 09:32 AM
Question for HordeKing.

In "How the Mind Works", Stephen Pinker discusses psychology from an evolutionary point of view. He states that the reason that we have a desire to have kids is that we're hard-coded that way; during the evolution of humans, those that did not have this desire did not procreate and their genes were not passed down.

This makes sense, but Pinker goes on to say that he's decided not to have children, and if his genes don't like it, they can go screw.

My question: if we're programmed to feel happiness when we have children and anxiety if we don't, does simply knowing the scientific reason for the emotion make you exempt from having the feeling? Can Pinker (or anyone else) really reason his way out of evolution?

--NickEye

TheGameHHH
12-09-2001, 09:38 AM
Anybody can reason their way out of evolution. You don't need to write a book to do so.

IT'S TIME TO PLAY THE GAME-AHHH!

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Alice S. Fuzzybutt
12-09-2001, 10:09 AM
Actually, the thought of having children fills me with anxiety. I'm much happier knowing I won't be having kids.

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Gwen
12-09-2001, 10:57 AM
Actually, the thought of having children fills me with anxiety. I'm much happier knowing I won't be having kids.


Its nice to see someone else who doesnt want to have kids and is fine with it.
Im not sure that I want to have kids or could handle having kids and everyone always makes me feel so guilty about it.

<img src=http://members.hometown.aol.com/_ht_a/sheeplovr2/images/1gwensquirrel.jpg>
Thanks Sheepy!

Zipgun
12-09-2001, 12:05 PM
I am completely on the "no kids" wagon.

<img src=http://www.virtue.nu/atamichimpo/skidmarksig2.jpg width="300" height="100>

Se7en
12-09-2001, 08:56 PM
I've always favored Nurture above Nature (although I fucking hated "Walden Two"). We can overcome evolutionary imperatives such as the desire to procreate.

I don't want to have kids for a simple reason: I've had such a dysfunctional family life so far, that I'd probably just screw up my kids like I was messed up by my parents. So, out of compassion for my unborn offspring and to the world that would have to suffer them, I'm gonna make sure the damn condom doesn't break.

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Thank you, WWFallon! You are my Olympic Hero!

"Being a bastard WORKS."
--Spider Jerusalem

Sheeplovr
12-10-2001, 09:12 AM
What about me mom your miricale child?

number 333 its the way to be
http://members.hometown.aol.com/_ht_a/walrus701/images/breadsig.jpg
POWER AND CHAOS

nellie
12-10-2001, 09:30 AM
i am NEVER having children. i'm not about to pass my mom's genetic makeup onto some poor unsuspecting embryo.

i am the inner child..... quiet, sensitive, and shy

MikeyD
12-10-2001, 09:33 AM
WOW !!!! I never thought so many people would be against having kids. I too felt the same but when Helen & I decided to have one, we have never looked back or regreted it. Lenay is the joy of our lives - hopefully, some of you will think differently as you get older. We try to be as open & honest with Lenay as we can, and so far she's turned out to be ok !!!! Pretty crazy, when she has the 2 of us as her parents ---Anyway, please don't be so down on the idea !!!! But do what you all think is right for yourselves ---
Love & Peace
Mikey & Helen

Alice S. Fuzzybutt
12-10-2001, 04:55 PM
What about me mom your
miricale child?



You, son, are the apple of my
eye!!

<IMG SRC="http://members.home.net/vitamin.d/referencepix/fuzzybutt.jpg">

HordeKing1
12-10-2001, 06:25 PM
Wow, lots of interesting ideas here.

NICKEYE - some sociobiologists beleive that all our emotions, cognitive abilities artistic expressions, etc, are merely incidental to the real purpose of our existence - to allow our DNA to replicate. It's a really interesting perspective.

Pinker doesn't preclude happiness for people who don't have kids. He just says that we have a genetic imperative to do so.

The flaw of Pinker's arguments is that he assumes that the desire to have children is biological. He ignores all input from the environment that contributes to the decision as to whether to have children.

He also ignores the fact that until very recently, effective birth control wasn't available.


Many people have children and aren't happy. Many people don't have children and are happy.

The decision to have children is a big one, not one to be entered into lightly. It's the right decision for some and not for others. But the way you feel about children at 20 may differ from the way you feel at 30.

http://members.aol.com/rnfpantera/hking2

nickeye
12-10-2001, 07:03 PM
I actually agree with most of the sentiments here.

I just think that the idea of trying to use your brain to overcome its own structure is surreal. Kinda like trying to use a hammer to pound a nail into its own handle.

--NickEye
"Thats some catch, that Catch-22" - Yossarian

Sheeplovr
12-11-2001, 10:37 AM
You, son, are the apple of my
eye!!



Thankyou Fuzzmom

number 333 its the way to be
http://members.hometown.aol.com/_ht_a/walrus701/images/breadsig.jpg
POWER AND CHAOS

Charlie The Drops Kid
12-11-2001, 10:40 AM
Don't have kids, if you need to know why, call my parents.

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