How common was it for parents to lose a child? • Hacker News Board

Re: How common was it for parents to lose a child?

#81

Post by tomjen3 » Sat, Sep 14, 2019, 1:22 PM UTC

agumonkey wrote: post #26

marktangotango wrote: post #2

This is something that struck me when reading Dickens; people died, a lot. One thing it highlights to me is the importance of modern medicine and antibiotics. Another thing is how different the human experience is now for most of the world; children and death are much less common (for most) than previous centuries. Sure this is common knowledge, but taken for granted I believe.

Pardon the seemingly naive idea. How much life is worse when you're shielded from harsh. I wonder if people weren't more mentally stronger due to the fact that they knew how fragile and dangerous things were. You have to overcome fear and sublimate your existence. Nowadays I (maybe many others) feel like always wondering if I should dive in the pool. And the recent VR era is not helping, someone on IRC was complainin…

How much is life better when you don't have to burry half of your kids?

You don't get mentally though for that, you just get jaded and even more fearful.

Re: How common was it for parents to lose a child?

#82

Post by tomjen3 » Sat, Sep 14, 2019, 1:24 PM UTC

AstralStorm wrote: post #80

bena wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He apparently only did two things: Compose and have sex.

He also played organ in cathedral. That was his day job.

Can you imagine that? Going to mass and think the guy playing is pretty good, but then it is Bach?

I mean that is like going to a meeting with your sons HS teacher and it is Einstein.

Re: How common was it for parents to lose a child?

#83

Post by dredmorbius » Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 10:11 AM UTC

riffraff wrote: post #8

One thing that shocked me was finding out J.S. Bach had 20 children, out of two marriages. Of these, 4 died during birth, and 6 died within the first five years. I can't even imagine what losing ten kids would be like, even if you have ten more.

And of all of those, there are no living descendants.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bach_family

Re: How common was it for parents to lose a child?

#84

Post by woodandsteel » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 2:05 AM UTC

amasad wrote: post #72

woodandsteel wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, I didn't say that's your position, I asked. The reason I asked is your position that vaccines are of minimal importance for childhood mortality is one the anti-vaxxers take, but I am aware that doesn't prove you are one, so I asked. And I am happy to learn you are not an anti-vaxxer.

I think where your mind is going is a form of Mccarthyism or "guilt by association." In a public conversation, connecting someone to a label like "anti-vaxxer" or "truther," even if you don't make the actual accusation is a form of slander. Then holding someone intellectually hostage and saying "I'm glad you're not X," as if I'm beholden to what you think of me, is sleazy to say the least. You might not be doing this…

Well, ok, you're right. I should have said something more like, "you are presenting an argument that is normally made by anti-vaxxers, so that makes me think you are one. But perhaps I am completely wrong about that." Or maybe said nothing at all.