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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)

#21

Post by kiba »

jstewartmobile wrote: post #8

I 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.

The whole eco-disaster thing is more about our highly environment-unfriendly and inefficient material and energy lifestyle more than another mouth to feed.

The whole planet cannot afford to live like a westerner even if we want to.

Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)

#22

Post by reducesuffering »

Normal_gaussian wrote: post #9

Whilst 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…

Oh wow. Those emails could very well explain why he doesn't have children. Why would he put those up?

Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)

#23

Post by orthoganol »

I think this is the kind of discussion that requires careful disclaimers or self-disqualification from participants. If you have chosen to have kids, or sworn to never have them, your position will be irrevocably slanted. The same goes for discussions about marriage, or fundamental lifestyle choices like being a digital nomad vs. working at a well known tech company. I don't think I have ever seen one side bridge the gap with the other.

EDIT - I'm not saying this applies to all discussion, I'm saying this applies to a special class of discussion. I'm also not saying don't discuss, I'm saying if you're already in one camp, know that your position is irrevocably slanted so take that into consideration.

Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)

#24

Post by raverbashing »

theonemind wrote: post #18

Before you post, 1. Are you a parent? 2. Are you about to post some variation of "Richard Stallman is emotionally broken?" i.e., "What an oversimplification by somebody who sounds like an emotional failure", or "I feel bad for poor Stallman" or "What a sad man" 3. Are you a parent, or have strong feelings about becoming a parent? If you answered yes on step 3, and want to know how I knew, it's because you disregarded…

Every person is somebody's child

"Implications to humanity?" There's no humanity if people don't reproduce. It's that simple

Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)

#25

Post by Dateki »

The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement It fits on a bumper sticker: May we live long and die out.

https://vimeo.com/7652051

"A short film by Nina Paley that explores the topic of human population growth and how it is affecting life on the planet. Using humor and some great clips featuring Les Knight of VHEMT.org, and Cris Korda of the Church of Euthanasia, Paley brings light to a topic that gets little attention in the traditional media."

Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)

#26

Post by Jamesbeam »

I think you should respect his choice, but we can argue about the reasons and argumentations for that choice.

I don't know if Mr. Stallman has siblings. But if not, it means that his bloodline will end with his death. Let that sit for a moment and think about it.

Think about the hundreds of people in your ancestry that lived through world wars and the dark ages and all kinds of other "bad times," compared to the hundred or so years we are currently living in so that you can make a choice to end your bloodline for good.

While he has some pretty compelling reasons, he also potentially denies humanity not only the best version of himself and his values but maybe one of the greatest minds of their time. If you don't have kids, you'll never know or see their real potential.

I personally think you owe it to the people who went through pain and hunger, slavery, world wars, and all of the kind of other terrifying things that we can read up in our history that you keep the bloodline going.

So while I respect the choice he made, I wouldn't necessarily call it clever for a man with his intellect.

It is only one thing for sure and that is egocentrically and selfish. On the other hand, if he truly thinks he has nothing of value to pass down the line, be it genetic material or his values, then it is a good thing he decides to have no kids.

Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)

#27

Post by losteverything »

The only thing that matters is having children that have healthy children that have healthy children. It's our purpose to keep the species going.

Two emerge. Those that keep the species going and those that support those that keep the species going.

Thank you for your contribution to humanity as you stated.

Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)

#28

Post by joecool1029 »

theonemind wrote: post #18

Before you post, 1. Are you a parent? 2. Are you about to post some variation of "Richard Stallman is emotionally broken?" i.e., "What an oversimplification by somebody who sounds like an emotional failure", or "I feel bad for poor Stallman" or "What a sad man" 3. Are you a parent, or have strong feelings about becoming a parent? If you answered yes on step 3, and want to know how I knew, it's because you disregarded…

Thanks for posting this.

It's incredibly frustrating to be attacked for not wanting to have children and continually have to hear negative put downs by people that do.

While I don't see myself in Stallman's personal position, I see the logical big picture and agree.

Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)

#29

Post by throwaway161112 »

I had similar beliefs when I was in my 20s and now I have two children in my late 30s. We all have to row our own canoe. That being said. This is an interesting topic that has to have some academic research and/or modeling behind it. Anyone have some sources? What happens if our best minds do not reproduce? What is the expected outcome of Japan's population decline?

Re: Stallman: Why it is important not to have children (2012)

#30

Post by fourthark »

Jamesbeam wrote: post #26

I think you should respect his choice, but we can argue about the reasons and argumentations for that choice. I don't know if Mr. Stallman has siblings. But if not, it means that his bloodline will end with his death. Let that sit for a moment and think about it. Think about the hundreds of people in your ancestry that lived through world wars and the dark ages and all kinds of other "bad times," compared to the hund…

You can certainly pass values down to the next generation without having kids.
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