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Is it still ok to have kids in face of climate change?

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Re: Is it still ok to have kids in face of climate change?

#91

Post by carno »

mc32 wrote: post #86
carno wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly? Education happens in school, college, friends, community and, partially, at home. The concept that "my kids" are better than other people kids because they are like me is extremely silly on many levels. They might not share your ideals and even if they do, it promotes a single line of thinking.

Which is why it’s weird so many kids from other countries want to come here for their higher studies, right?

Not sure I get your point. I don't think it's weird at all. Because:

- That happens to every country - One in three top US professors educated overseas https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/one-in-three-top-u... - Most of their classmates will be foreign students too https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2017/10/11/foreign...

Re: Is it still ok to have kids in face of climate change?

#92

Post by wildmanx »

CompelTechnic wrote: post #34

Imagine you were somehow able to choose: 1. Either never exist at all, or 2. Exist as a human in the world of 50 years from now To me, the clear choice is #2. If the moral question is whether human life is worth it to continue in the future, it's obviously worth it. If the moral question is whether our own domination of the planet harms too many wildlife animals, and is therefore immoral, that feels like a more reaso…

> If the moral question is whether our own domination of the planet harms too many wildlife animals, and is therefore immoral, that feels like a more reasonable tradeoff.

We have already killed over 80% of all wild mammals and half of all plants on this planet. And brought hundreds of species to extinction (that we know of .. and an unknown number of those we don't know of).

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/21/human-ra...

Re: Is it still ok to have kids in face of climate change?

#93

Post by thisisweirdok »

astura wrote: post #82
thisisweirdok wrote: post #40

I thought this was an interesting point from the Gates' annual letter, the specific context is Africa but it's true globally. > As more children survive to adulthood, women are having fewer kids than ever before. The result is a global population that’s creeping slowly toward middle age. So people are _already_ having fewer children. Assuming we want to maintain the human species, _someone_ needs to be having childre…

>If you're unsure? Have children. Someone's bound to survive the apocalypse. Maybe it'll be your genetic material. Huh? What? ... I don't really understand why I would care if my "genetic material" survives a future apocalypse vs some other rando's "genetic material?" or anyone's "genetic material" for that matter. This is an especially bizarre reason for having children.

>This is an especially bizarre reason for having children.

This is basically why every species on the planet (with sexual reproduction) has children, whether you're aware of it or not. It's the instinctual drive to propagate. It's why sex feels good (for at least one party involved, for most species).

Re: Is it still ok to have kids in face of climate change?

#94

Post by soVeryTired »

crobertsbmw wrote: post #24

I’ve always believed that if you’re a smart, educated, motivated person (if your reading this than I’m assuming you are one) that probably the best thing you can do for the world is to have kids. Those kids will likely contribute to the world in all sorts of ways that we can’t imagine.

You could always adopt kids and give them the benefit of your intelligence, education, and motivation.

Re: Is it still ok to have kids in face of climate change?

#96

Post by craftyguy »

rayiner wrote: post #74
cortesoft wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get your argument, but in terms of environmental impact on climate change, those ‘smart, educated, and motivated’ kids will likely have a greater negative impact on climate change than less educated kids. It is the successful people who harm the environment the most. I still don’t believe that we should stop having kids, but let’s not pretend that OUR kids won’t harm the environment.

It's also the educated, motivated kids in the developed world that have the greatest chance of averting or remediating climate change.

Some of the worst offenders, which are generally companies and governments, are led by educated, motivated kits in the developed world.

Re: Is it still ok to have kids in face of climate change?

#97

Post by natalyarostova »

umvi wrote: post #61
enraged_camel wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> I would say the expected cost of climate change to the lives of children born today is still far far less then the expected cost in the past due to disease, war, famine (etc). This is exactly why it misses the point. Having kids is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, and therefore climate change.

More significant than cows? I would rather cut back on meat and dairy consumption than be forbidden from raising children.

I guess it depends if your kid is a vegetarian then :^)

Re: Is it still ok to have kids in face of climate change?

#98

Post by craftyguy »

pastor_elm wrote: post #37
patatino wrote: post #9

I have a 4 month old daughter and looking a the history I‘m pretty glad she is born today and not 50 or 100 years ago.

what makes you so sure about that? We are only at the beginning of what could be a plastics apocalypse (among many other issues.) [0] 50 years ago was the golden age to be born in the West imo. [0] https://www.gq.com/story/sperm-count-zero

> 50 years ago was the golden age to be born in the West imo.

I disagree. The western world was more violent, racist, and less tolerant of women/minorities 50 years ago. Average life expectancy was also ~10 years lower. None of these are 'perfect' today, but they are much better overall than they were during your 'golden age'.

Re: Is it still ok to have kids in face of climate change?

#100

Post by vibrato »

carno wrote: post #77
mc32 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If not, why have an education system at all?

Exactly? Education happens in school, college, friends, community and, partially, at home. The concept that "my kids" are better than other people kids because they are like me is extremely silly on many levels. They might not share your ideals and even if they do, it promotes a single line of thinking.

The more we learn about iq the more heritable we believe it to be. Up to 80-85% in more recent studies
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