Every reason you've listed is either wrong or avoidable.
Deep down, you don't want children. If you figure out the reason why and cut through your social-programming, then you'll have them.
Otherwise, thanks for playing!
Ask HN: What are the benefits to having children nowadays?
11–20 of 139 posts
Re: Ask HN: What are the benefits to having children nowadays?
#12Because the world is going to hell in a hand-basket, and no-one else is going to look after you when you get old? (i.e., the original reason for having kids). It it worth noting, I don't have kids (don't like them, they have no conversation)
But arguably if you remain childfree you'll be able to throw money at the problem - you can afford a luxury nursing home.
And it’s cruel to bring someone into existence to be your caretaker. And then they’re forced to have kids to take care of them? It’s a Ponzi scheme.
Re: Ask HN: What are the benefits to having children nowadays?
#13Every reason you've listed is either wrong or avoidable. Deep down, you don't want children. If you figure out the reason why and cut through your social-programming, then you'll have them. Otherwise, thanks for playing!
Here again I ask - what are the reasons?!
Re: Ask HN: What are the benefits to having children nowadays?
#14Every reason you've listed is either wrong or avoidable. Deep down, you don't want children. If you figure out the reason why and cut through your social-programming, then you'll have them. Otherwise, thanks for playing!
Here again I ask - what are the reasons?!
You can't expect others to hand on a silver platter the reasons for you and your progeny's existence!
Re: Ask HN: What are the benefits to having children nowadays?
#15It gives a meaning to your life, if work or saving the world is not doing it.
So then you choose to procreate to create meaning, and your child grows up, finds meaning lacking, and therefore chooses to procreate...
Re: Ask HN: What are the benefits to having children nowadays?
#16Every reason you've listed is either wrong or avoidable. Deep down, you don't want children. If you figure out the reason why and cut through your social-programming, then you'll have them. Otherwise, thanks for playing!
Here again I ask - what are the reasons?!
I don't think anyone's going to argue with you about the points you listed out. People who genuinely want children don't go through exercises like this; the fact you've made this post at all makes it abundantly clear that your decision has already been made.
Re: Ask HN: What are the benefits to having children nowadays?
#17its quite possible there were never any rationalised benefits for having kids - we are motivated to have sex, and kids just happened as an outcome. Sexual revolution and the widespread use / availability of effective contraception is a very modern innovation in evolutionary terms - we might just be witnessing the revealed preference of humanity to have sex and not have kids
Re: Ask HN: What are the benefits to having children nowadays?
#18They’re a luxury good. Decide if that’s the luxury you’re interested in, why, and if you’re willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for each one.
People who don’t have kids have low regret rates not having them. People who do have them either won’t share their regret having had them, or genuinely enjoy the experience. Do what you think is best for you, and own the decision once made.
Re: Ask HN: What are the benefits to having children nowadays?
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
But arguably if you remain childfree you'll be able to throw money at the problem - you can afford a luxury nursing home.
And it’s cruel to bring someone into existence to be your caretaker. And then they’re forced to have kids to take care of them? It’s a Ponzi scheme.
Not sure why this is being downvoted. People who have children just so they have someone to take care of them need to be downvoted into oblivion.
Re: Ask HN: What are the benefits to having children nowadays?
#20It’s one of the most rewarding aspects to my life right now. It’s a long term play and I hope I get to lay in my deathbed proud of my children. That’s really it…