Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)
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Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)
#2Having kids is the best thing that ever happened to me.
Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)
#3Having kids is the best thing that ever happened to me.
Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)
#4What an oversimplification by somebody who sounds like an emotional failure. I am very active in writing OSS (probably more so than with my primary job). I also have two jobs (corporate web developer for a major dot com and army reserves) and yet still find time for the healthy marriage and kids (of whom are now teenagers). It certainly can be done. It certainly hasn't made me wealthy though.
I wouldn't be able to make this happen at all if it weren't for personality. A certain amount of charisma, dedication, humor, and patience. I am also a bit more hyper than the average person and require far less sleep than average and don't spend any time on Twitter or Facebook.
Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)
#5i can't tell if Stallman is trying to become an amalgam of Roald Dahl antagonists to maintain his lore, or if it's just his baseline demeanor.
Also his point that you can't get anything worthwhile accomplished while being a competent parent misses quite a few amazing parents and contributors to humanity.
Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)
#6As a new father, what he said about fathers doing what it takes to support their kids hit home. That said, I have made a decision (it wasn't a grand plan but sort of happened over the past few months) to put my family over my career. This meant forgoing a promo to management when I was next in line, and some other things. I'm not going to say it doesn't hurt .. but when I see my kids smile, I know it was the right decision for me.
Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)
#7A very smart programmer who's made a large contribution to society decides not to have kids while people of which neither can be said breed like rabbits. Looks like we'll be watering crops with Brawndo pretty soon.
Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)
#8I am so glad I had children. I enjoy their company tremendously, and the added responsibility has sharpened my game.
That, and the whole eco-disaster angle is overblown. Thanks to birth control, Westernized peoples are barely replacing themselves.
I feel bad for poor Stallman. Too focused on saving the world to save himself.
Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)
#9Whilst in principle I agree with him the piece reads as a desperate post-event justification for not having had children.
I think the real reasons he has no children can be found in the last email on this page: https://stallman.org/ex-boyfriends-list.html
As for having children - it is something I am greatly concerned about. Personally I really want children, though I do not want them unless I am convinced I am with the right person. My motivation is both selfish and a desire to put better individuals than myself into future society. Adoption and sponsorship spring to mind as incredibly likely occurrences even if I have children.
Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)
#10I think it boils down to the fact that you can't give 100% to multiple things. If you're passionate about your work and want to give 100% to that, your social life, your home life, your health, or any other portion of your life simply won't get 100%.
That said, this'll get a bunch of people jumping on him. People hear this in general and and it makes sense, but hearing it with respect to childcare tends to elicit a more combative reaction. Which is understandable, nobody likes to be made to feel like they're a bad parent.