i know this is alittle off the subject but being vegan and trying to live as "green" as i can the issue of having children vs. adoption/child free seems to come up from time to time.
i was just wondering what your take on it was...
Posted Answers
A:I think overpopulation is a huge issue that is already a problem - one that will get markedly worse over the next 50 years - and that children in poorer countries will suffer the most. I decided not to have kids at an early age. I still feel the same at 38, and my OH had a vasectomy years ago.
That said, one of my best friends recently had a baby, and I ooh and ah over her sweet little boy and send him onesies - I don't bitch about his carbon footprint. (I can just see that conversation going south fast, lol). It's a hardwired biological imperative, and though that's certainly not the only thing that goes into many people's decisions, you can't underestimate how strong that urge is, so I don't expect much will change until and unless the situation becomes outright unsupportable.
Answer by vecca
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 5:04pm — vecca
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A:Still think the decison not to have children is a sign of despair... Cultural suicide... And who will be around in the future to value the totally restored, well balanced and unspoilt world left behind by non-childbearing humans??????
On a more serious note, I notice many people speak of having children as selfishness... I can only say that I am the eldest of nine children, and my parents put in a great deal of sacrifice to raise us. Selfishness was not part of the bargain... I also know, as the eldest, that having children is a full time commitment, and a demanding one at that.
Answer by Maria
Sat, 09/06/2008 - 9:37am — Maria
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A:' *gregatron: when did being vegan start to mean we do more good than harm? A vegan child will still add to the amount of environmental degradation in the world, albeit to a lesser degree than one born to meateaters. vegans are still responsible for a lot of crap in the world. We still use energy, we still create waste, we are still consumers. Vegan children may still bully other kids. They will still be victims of child abuse and in some cases perpetrators. They will still create suffering. '
You completely misunderstood my point. Vegans do not have negative, or even neutral carbon footprints -- you are right. But I never made that argument!
My point was that if humanity is going to start acting responsibly, in an environmentally sustainable manner, then there will need to be people in the world that understand that the way humanity is living cannot last. We will kill ourselves and the planet. Therefore, what the species and the planet need are more environmentally minded people that understand this!
The original question was phrased incorrectly imo. "Overpopulation" is not the problem. Misuse and overuse of resources is.
Answer by Gregatron
Sun, 08/31/2008 - 12:29pm — Gregatron
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A:*gregatron: when did being vegan start to mean we do more good than harm? A vegan child will still add to the amount of environmental degradation in the world, albeit to a lesser degree than one born to meateaters. vegans are still responsible for a lot of crap in the world. We still use energy, we still create waste, we are still consumers. Vegan children may still bully other kids. They will still be victims of child abuse and in some cases perpetrators. They will still create suffering.
*Unovegan: I decided not to breed in my early twenties, now I'm 35. Some things change, some don't. If anything my reasons for not breeding are stronger now than ever before, and the more I learn about the environment the more I see why I made a good decision.
*cokaru: i was thinking about AMEN's answer, how she understands the issues yet still feels the urge to have more kids. Biology seems to be the best explanation. Smiles answer is another example.
*molly: you deserve some kind of award for that post : )
Answer by adam_antichrist
Sat, 08/30/2008 - 8:04pm — adam_antichrist
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A:But if everyone stopped having children who would make all the clothes we buy at WalMart?
Answer by MollyMormon
Sat, 08/30/2008 - 7:43pm — MollyMormon
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A:Throughout my teens and twenties, I felt I could be extremely happy without a child. Adding a child to this screwed-up, waste-of-a-world would only add to the continued downward spiral of the environment. Now though, seeing all of my friends - about 75% of them or more - with children and how happy they are as a family (yet how screwed-up some of their morals are and knowing how irresponsible they are as "stewards of the planet") and knowing that I'm nearing the end of the "safety years" of pregnancy... I'm feeling a desire that I've never had before.
I understand the whole resource issue with adding another being to the planet and have been continuously trying to figure out how to lessen (or "green") the impact as much as possible. Like many on others on here, I feel that I could raise a child with compassion and concern for the world they live in. But, like V_A said, there's always the possibility that your child could grow up to reject all that you've taught them... and that would make me feel like both a failure as a parent as well as just another contributor to the destruction of the planet.
I would love to adopt, but knowing our extremely limited income, I'm sure we would never be considered viable parents for an adoption. If anyone else knows otherwise, my inbox is waiting.
Answer by smilesforthesun
Sat, 08/30/2008 - 5:56pm — smilesforthesun
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A:I agree, telling people that they are REALLY looking for ANY rationalization or justification to have kids totally invalidates their well-thought out decisions. That's not cool, and it's not a respectful interchange.
Answer by sassafras
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 11:12pm — sassafras
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A:It does make sense to me that you could call having kids selfish from the perspective that no one really *needs* to have kids (bearing in mind that statement doesn’t account for the huge number of children that weren’t exactly planned). But when someone calls someone else selfish, they’re often enough not digging that deep; it’s usually just tossed in as a form of name calling. Even if no one is calling out anyone here specifically, that word still is going to sting to those who have children.
Personally, I didn’t get the impression that anyone was trying to invalidate anyone else’s perspective because of his/her age. It just often works out that as people get older their attitudes and opinions, especially on matters of family, change. It could also be interpreted as offensive to suggest people’s reasons for having kids can be boiled down to biological urges that have outweighed their rational thought. Many (though arguably not enough!) put a lot of thought and research into their decision to have kids and raise them in a conscious, ethical way. In that fashion, I’d like to think that while we are obviously biological beings, we do have the intellect to make a choice for reasons other than our DNA calling *all* the shots.
- Cokaru (A thirty-something who’s biologicals haven’t yet told her to make babies ;P)
Answer by ...cokaru...
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 10:43pm — ...cokaru...
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A:Nice answer Gregatron. I agree wholeheartedly. We actually need intelligent people to continue to make the changes needed in this society. The trick is to leave as small as possible carbon fingerprint.
You would think we're on here to discuss and not degrade each other. We ARE supposed to be fighting the same fight. But then again, to not eat meat in a carnivorous society requires a mostly alpha personality so of course there will be some rebels among the rebels.
Answer by Unovegan
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 10:41pm — Unovegan
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A:' stop invalidating peoples statements by saying things like "you'll change your mind in a few years... when you're older"
it's totally offensive. '
No, calling someone a "moron" for having a child is totally offensive (see below). Telling someone they will probably feel differently one day is, at worst, mildly condescending (though probably accurate).
My opinion: the harm done by having one more person in the world is far outweighed by having one more compassionate and thoughtful person in the world as a possible example to others and a potential leader for a sustainable future. Vegans should breed like Catholics.
Answer by Gregatron
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 10:25pm — Gregatron
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A:If my answer is offensive then i guess its unfortunate, but im sure that many would find answers to this question offensive as well as answers to other questions on this site so yeah offence will occur.
Answer by lewis
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 9:19pm — lewis
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A:I'd like to say that I personally didn't intentionally try to invalidate anyone's opinion by referencing age. with that said, my experiences and maturity have come into play in this issue.
The simple truth is that over, say 10 years, many of our opinions will change at least a little. Think about your attitudes and thoughts 10 years ago and how they differ from now. With age comes experience and maturity. At least that's the hope.
Answer by Unovegan
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 7:57pm — Unovegan
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A:ah youth. and angst. i remember it well. my twenties were filled with hate and rage and angst. and also alcohol. i tormented my parents and almost died. would they trade me in for a different more perfect model? NO. i am 100% sure that they would not. with all the problems that are in the world your child is your child and you do what you can to make them the best they can. at least that is what my parents did. I still maintain i would like to adopt but i am hearing more and more horror stories of how hard it is! which again, goes along with adoption of animals from shelters, on a different level of course.
since i am with a partner i trust and respect and love beyond my comprehension and he me in return, i do want a child. that is not to say i am not TERRIFIED of everything about it. but i do believe we are capable of raising a child to the best of our ability to be compassionate in the world. and the problems make us stronger. the challenges grow our character.
i feel old reading some of these responses knowing that 10 years ago i would have said many of the same things. it's the plan of the universe that i have no control over to decide whether chris and i have a child or not. that is the best thing, to be able to let go of that obsession over it. whatever will be will be.
xoxoxox
Answer by KitKatKootie
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 7:45pm — KitKatKootie
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A:stop invalidating peoples statements by saying things like "you'll change your mind in a few years... when you're older"
it's totally offensive.
Answer by adam_antichrist
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 7:35pm — adam_antichrist
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A:Hmmm i would so like to see some of these people answer this question again in say 5 or 10 years time. My primary reason for being vegan is because i simply cannot ignore the suffering of any animal just for my convenience or comfort, if you've ever spoken to a couple that are desperate to have a child you will see great suffering and hurt, so if it means that i would have to cut back on life's luxury's like fuel for transport, lighting, heating or not have such a green lawn in the summer this is a price i would happily pay to stop the potential suffering of what would be tens of millions of (human) animals. Adoption is truly amazing and nobody can deny the wonder of the human ability to form a bond between an adopted child/parent, but PERSONALY having witnessed the birth of my own two children... well you really do have to experience this to understand it.
Answer by lewis
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 7:23pm — lewis
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A:I see this as a reason from some people to not reproduce:
"look at this world. It's so fucked up and it's only been getting worse."-Cyanide
All I can say is the angst filled experience of youth will pass and hopefully with maturation you will find a more pleasant reality. My younger years sucked ass cause my parents knew nothing of how to raise children healthily. They didn't have the miriad books and knowledge we have now- they wouldn't read them anyway. Also my circle of peers are now amazing people- life is not sucky at all. The world I live in is a rich beautiful place full of awesome treasures. So I erase this argument and render it void- poo and war have always and will always exist, its up to you to be pessimist or optimist, one enjoys life the other finds it distasteful.
My partner and I have one child, adopted by she and biological by me. I did decide and plan his conception with his mother and we both agreed that bringing more than one person would be contributing to overpopulation. Let me say it again to allay confusion: having more than one child contributes to overpopulation and it would go against sound judgment, reason, and good science to do that.
Micah Perry using Moezy's machine (thanks moester)
Answer by moezy
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 7:50am — moezy
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A:There are a few comments on here that seem to suggest that people are selfish for having children. I suppose the way I see it is that nobody needs to have a child unless they need help on their farm.
When people choose to have children, it is because they want to experience the feelings of having children. I think for some people (who want to have kids) it becomes easier to focus on shiny happy thoughts like how much love the child will experience and try and ignore the negative realities of life. Then for others (like myself) who hope to never have children, it may be easier to let the suffering we have endured or seen in others be at the forefront of our minds to strengthen our resolve.
The biological argument that the urge for reproduction stems from our own DNA's drive to persist would explain very much- people here struggle while having the knowledge and understanding of the impacts of bringing new humans into this world still consider doing so. If our biological urges outweigh our rational thought, we are going to justify our decisions and find ways to argue our way around those ideas that tell us it is not the wisest move.
I think religion persists in the same way, there were so many millennia when doing what our DNA told us to do allowed us to live long enough to reproduce successfully but now all of a sudden these things are no longer relevant... we are left with the urges of our ancestors and information from the modern age which tells us to reconsider and this is not easily reconciled.
Answer by adam_antichrist
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 5:53am — adam_antichrist
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A:well you see: i didnt try to have the two children im having now, nor did i ever regret it for a second, i look at the amazing faces, forms, hear them speak and melt,
they are my blessing, and why i have attempted to find the most righteous path. Opening my eyes to so much. Teaching me how to love, and wholeheartedly, non expectant.
Bless,bless,bless.
isnt there a part in the Bible (im agnostic) that say the baren be blessed. HELP ME HERE?!?!?
anyway i believe that is against the true VEGAN ETHIC, so strict in my mind that i cant stick too, TO HAVE ANY CHILDREN AT ALL.
we need to stop.(that was a period)
that doesn't mean im going to.
I KNOW I KNOW
i want another child, NOW.
I WANT FIVE to SEVEN MORE.
its not logical
ethical
or in any way
righteous,
and actually at the moment
I'm in a HUGE : fuck cant find the word (sorry)
trying to decide.
THIS IS A HUGE DEAL, CAN I ETHICALLY REPRODUCE.
IS RE-WILDING AN OPTION,
am i contributing to this all over evil
of raping the earth of its reSOURCES
im vegan
i will never drive
i plant wild food
i pick wild food
i try to learn more
to someday self sastain
to i now get baby coupons,
permitting me to reproduce
without guilt.
NO.
i think about bombs being dropped
starving children
ravaged land
daily
i have no answers,
not real input either
because i am
LUKEWARM
and fighting
to FEEL GUILT
OR NOT.
Answer by Anonymous
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 1:29am — Anonymous
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A:Im not trying to be on the fence here, but Ican see this issue both ways.
I never planned on having a child because largely i believe humans are parasites. I thought one day if i ever had child id adopt and teach it to live right. Not put a strain on the earth. give a little back etc.
But 16 years later. My teenage daugher makes me proud everydy. I have let her discover values and morals. She lives a pretty green lifestyle and has more empathy than you could imagine.
personal choice.
Answer by Lupustheurge
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 11:19pm — Lupustheurge
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A:I ain't makin' no babies! If I ever get myself hooked up in a marriage type situation, I'm adopting! Yeah, yeah, hormones help women deal with if not enjoy pregnancy but I won't enjoy it. I had a girlfriend that got sick all the time, for example. If she had sour throat, I would get a sore throat minutes later because I had to suffer along with her. I can't imagine what would happen if I had got her pregnant. Yeah, yeah, the dolting husband is cute but it ain't cute to the husband.
Plus there is the whole over-crowding thing and there's plenty of kids out in the world that need a good family. Heck, if I can talk my wife-type into it, I'll adopt teenagers. It would be a good thing to give kids a family to help them set up their adult lives. This might be a little offensive but I think a lot people have kids just for egotistical reasons. There's plenty of children who need families already out there. They just won't look like you.
Answer by shoogie
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 3:58pm — shoogie
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A:that's a good question. I think having a small family is key. I personally believe that a very important part of changing the world for the better begins with the family. if you're going to have a family, educate them to the fullest. Having more progressive educated folks on the planet is always a plus.
If vegs didn't have children, who would continue to promote it? i think that's key. i understand the overpopulation belief. But animal slaughter will continue unabated if there's not people out there fighting the system one way or another.
I also agree with Veg girl on this. a lot of these pretty hardcore anti kid opinions seem to come from younger/non committed relationship folk. When i was in my 20's i wasn't anti kid but didn't possibly see me having any. Now, voila. I have to question the motives of why people want to be so anti this. I think there's some deeper reasons than said.
Answer by Unovegan
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 10:52am — Unovegan
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A:this is a tough question. i'm still on then fence about it. over the last year, i've been having the strong desire to be pregnant...possibly because more than a handful of people around me are. these are the thoughts that run thru my head...motherhood can be the most wonderful thing, i'm sure. and bringing another life into this world must be an amazing experience. BUT is this really the world you want to bring a child into? and yes i can try my hardest to raise my child with good morals and to live a compassionate life, but that doesn't mean my child will do so. it's a huge risk to take...most kids rebel...what if my child grows up to eat meat, do drugs, and be a wasteful person?! i guess it's a chance one has to take? And then I think about all the parent-less children in this world. why not give them a loving home? i work with many children who are homeless/parents in jail etc. they are the ones that need our help. how beautiful it must be to actually save a child.
Answer by TaraEdge
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 6:41am — TaraEdge
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A:I don't think that thing about having enough resources to feed the entire world is true Maria. Right now there is a global food shortage as many staple grains are used to produce biofuels. And if it is true for 6 billion, it certainly isn't true for 9 billion.
Here is a good article called Human Carrying Capacity and Human Health which discusses (among other things) how overpopulation is a taboo subject. Note the section at the bottom about carrying capacity, this is an ecological ceiling on any species meaning that since resources are finite there is an inevitable limit that any species can reach. Our species has already pushed this limit by innovative farming/fishing practices and the clearing of forests to produce food. Personally I think there needs to be less of this kind of innovation, not more.
Answer by adam_antichrist
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 5:03am — adam_antichrist
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A:I have to say that several of the answers here make me sad. They seem so devoid of hope and joy. The world is what we make it, and just think of the future in front of us without children! I think the novel and film of same name, "Children of Men" shows great insight. A society which stops having children is a society on the way to suicide, a society in depair.
I also wonder how many of the people speaking of adoption as an option will actually adopt a child/children when pinch comes to crunch...
It also seems that the over-population figures predicted for the future are unsubstanciated. There are now 6 billion people on Earth. The planet's population will most likely continue to climb until 2050, when it will peak at 9 billion. Other predictions have the world's population peaking at 7.5 billion in 2040. In either case, it will then go into a sharp decline. The world may soon be facing an under-population crisis -- a prospect that has all but escaped media scrutiny.
To learn more, see: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&friendID=373717170&blo...
Another fact worth considering when speaking of "over-population" is the fact that there ARE enough resources in the world to go around if we all lived a little more simply... That is something all of us need to constantly reflect and act upon in our consumeristic societies.
Answer by Maria
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 4:00am — Maria
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A:I think the world is wonderful and having children is beautiful.
We have the power to impact the world in either a positive or a negative way. And we get the world we make.
Calling people stupid is silly and sad. =-(
Answer by lessthanthree
Wed, 08/27/2008 - 9:16pm — lessthanthree
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A:veg_grrrl, I not only applaud you, I admire you. Thank you for doing what you can to increase the compassion and caring in the world by raising your child in such a positive way - we need so much more of that in this world.
Answer by Amaris
Wed, 08/27/2008 - 9:07pm — Amaris
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A:It's the old Thomas Malphus conundrum about population increasing geometrically, finite resources etc.
Having said that, here in the UK, for the first time ever this year the elderly population outnumbers the under 18s. What this will eventually mean is that there won't be enough taxpayers to fund state pensions.
Copulate like the wind I say so that I might enjoy an ex pat retirement in Malaga.
Answer by Anonymous
Wed, 08/27/2008 - 2:42pm — Anonymous
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A:People who have children are morons. haha seriously.
For one, look at this world. It's so fucked up and it's only been getting worse. How cruel are you to bring a life into THIS!? We are well on our way to global catastrophe and WW3 and you think its okay to bring that child into that? Then don't even get me started on lack of ethics in this country alone. Expecting to raise a child to grow up to be a good fabulous citizen while living in such a fucked up place at this point is just a dream.
And its sad when my grandfather was born fvr ago, back his day it was tending to a farm and horse + carriage. Also known as HARD LABOR. Then he was drafted into WW2 which im sure was a barrel of joy YET what does he say when he sees a baby "I feel sorry for that kid" ok and this is coming from a man who didnt have a life a easy as we do(no refrigerator,washing machine, cell phones, internet, cars) but just knowing whats coming makes him disturbed for that childs future is already dead.
Secondly HOW many kids are starving, dying, and have no parents now? ADOPT. stop being selfish and help the people that are ALREADY HERE. Dont tell me its difficult either. this woman came here from Poland, she works at Walmart aka doesn't make an insane amount of money, yet she was able to adopt kids and did so for the very reason that there are too many homeless starving children out there making it completely senseless to bring new children into this world.
As for me i will never have children. If i wanted kids i would adopt however as of now i would say never. Why? because i dont want to have the burden when my kid ends up abusing drugs/alcohol or getting pregnant which are very likely scenarios in this day in age. Then what do you say when this happens? Obviously you have to support/help them BUT can you blame them for what happened? We created this world, drugs are everywhere now, alcohol abuse is fully accepted and "cool" here, sex is in everything, our ads movies EVERYTHING - its sold everywhere. Women are completely exploited and its accepted. Every town has its strip clubs. Yet you have to say "no its not right" when it appears to them the whole world is saying "yes it is right" Any parent will tell you how hard it is to keep their kid on the right path these days and any older generation will tell you how much easier it was in their day.
Answer by Cyanide
Wed, 08/27/2008 - 6:14am — Cyanide
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A:Betsy! Thank You! Yes! Full Agreement!!!
Answer by Anonymous
Wed, 08/27/2008 - 5:21am — Anonymous
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A:Most of these answers really make me sad. Who are we to say someone should not give birth to a baby? Several of my friends are doulas or midwives and I get to hear such wonderful stories from them about the families they work with. I believe that adoption is a beautiful thing as well but why would anyone say that they would adopt from a 3rd world country only. Being parentless is being parentless regardless of what country you are from. A child raised with good ethics and morals, being taught kindness, compassion and belief in ones self whether being adopted or not is a pretty special thing if you ask me.....
XO-tmar
Answer by tmar
Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:47am — tmar
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A:I am planning on having children. They will wear cloth diapers, be vegan, and taught not to waste. The world will be in big trouble if the only people reproducing are wasteful, uncompassionate meateaters!
Answer by betsy
Wed, 08/27/2008 - 1:15am — betsy
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A:I think that there is a poulation problem. I would rather adopt if I ever want kids (though not likely) some physically or economically disabled child who is in need.
 
Answer by veganvampira
Mon, 08/04/2008 - 7:15pm — veganvampira
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A:That is the only reason I don't EVER want to have my own kids. There are plenty of children who are already in the world today who need a loving family. I understand that people want their own "seed" in the world (including my old fashioned father) but there comes a time like now when we really need to stop and think about what we're doing. That said you can already guess that I am pro-choice and support the idea of everybody going on birth control. I'm not ever going to push my beliefs on someone but come on now?! If we could all stop producing for one generation (hell, even one year) I believe the world could take a breath and catch up with us.
Answer by veggiegirl620
Sun, 06/15/2008 - 11:03pm — veggiegirl620
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A:So for the people that think having kids is stupid, are you calling your parents stupid? (I can't say mine are because I AM adopted from Guatemala. )If so, it's not to late, tell your parents to put YOU up for adoption or RID yourself of this world so that it'll help with the over population instead of calling everyone selfish. Most of you aren't even 18 yet or old enough to know about child birth. Adoption is a lot of money and not everyone has that kind of money. I'll be shocked to see how many of you ACTUALLY adopt. You all think you know the world and that you have nothing else to learn. But you have it comming. Once you're in a secure relationship and actually love someone and want to spend the rest of your life with I'm sure at least ONE of you will want to "pro-create".
Answer by mommy2sophia
Sat, 05/31/2008 - 9:51pm — mommy2sophia
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A:Cyanide, stupid?! I am raising my child to be compassionate and aware. I think that should be applauded.
Answer by veg_grrrl
Fri, 05/30/2008 - 5:50pm — veg_grrrl
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A:I agree with the person under me. There's so many kids that need raising. I don't think I could feel good about making a new one. If I had the means and desire to parent a child, I think I'd devote them to one that already needs me. I feel that love has nothing to do with genes.
Answer by nickurffer
Fri, 05/30/2008 - 5:18pm — nickurffer
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A:It so beyond stupid to have children. Not only because our futures are getting worse day by day but the fact is there are millions of starving and homeless children out there and yet we keep on brining more in.
Answer by Cyanide
Thu, 05/29/2008 - 9:05am — Cyanide
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A:To be honest, i really don't know. One part of me says no because there's NO WAY i want a child to come into this sick world, but another part say ''yes! This world needs more compassionate people'', haha We need to take over the world!;]
Answer by komaweiss
Sun, 05/25/2008 - 8:09pm — komaweiss
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A:I don't plan on having children.
I don't know, but it seems to me that giving birth isn't inherently selfish. That would depend on something we simply don't have knowledge of...the motivation of the person bringing a child into the world.
I think having a child can be green. It seems probable that people can grow up to be quite caring and ethical people. Look around vegifide and those you spend time with daily. Many of them are quite compassionate.
Giving birth and raising a child can produce a person who is either totally selfish or in very few cases totally selfless.
Most people can be somewhat selfless in many cases.
Answer by lessthanthree
Sun, 05/25/2008 - 4:17pm — lessthanthree
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A:I have noticed a lot of ppl who say "breeding is selfish" are either very young and/or not in a permanent relationship (life partner/marriage/whatever). When I was young(er) and single, I had no intentions of ever getting married or having children. Things change, opinions change. Now I am happily married and am a very proud parent. It is a beautiful thing to bring a child into the world. I hope to have another. Maybe 2 more. I am/will be raising my children to be compassionate, honest, forward-thinking, respectful adults. There is no way I will ever think that is wrong. Now ppl who have 18 kids....dont get me started.
Another issue is those of you saying you will adopt, that is a very honorable and wonderful thing. But also remember how difficult it is to do so. You don't just sign up and get a baby. It takes a lot of work and even that sometimes doesn't get you your child. Look at freaking Madonna. All the money and influence in the world and she can't persuade the Malowan (sp?) government to let her adopt her hopeful son.
Answer by veg_grrrl
Sat, 05/24/2008 - 12:05am — veg_grrrl
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A:i plan on fostering and/or adopting kids, but i have no intention of giving birth. i don't feel the urge to pass on my genes, no urge to be pregnant, a strong desire to *not* be pregnant, and there are lots of kids that don't have families that are just as deserving as anything that comes from between my legs. i don't want a baby so would adopt a kid that is at least four, and i'd be willing to have a sibling group. the county where i live is really bad about returning kids to their families after they're removed so that's really sad :( i'm actually looking forward to adopting!
Answer by chrysee
Fri, 05/23/2008 - 10:21pm — chrysee
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A:Having kids is a blessing and we were ment to make kids. I don't think it's "selfish" i think the people that say that are fucking stupid. Just because I'd rather make my own kids does not make me selfish. I would however adopt. If i were to adopt it'd be from a poor country and not the US. I have had thoughts on adopting since I'm adopted from Guatemala I'm lucky to have been adopted by a mother that loves me and has been able to give me the things my birthmother wouldn't have been able to give me. But for people to say that not adopting is "selfish" can fuck off and get their shit together.
Answer by mommy2sophia
Fri, 05/23/2008 - 2:52pm — mommy2sophia
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A:adopt! it's rather selfish to add a new person to an already human overpopulated planet. check out www.vhemt.org !!!
Answer by ponyboy.
Thu, 05/22/2008 - 11:04pm — ponyboy.
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A:First off I'm a total wuss and don't think I would handle pregnancy well. Second, it doesn't really make sense to me to have my own kids when there are so many that need adopted. Evey kid that is born puts more strain on the planets resources and I have enough trouble reducing my own impact. Whatevs
Answer by SaraMonster
Thu, 05/22/2008 - 12:52pm — SaraMonster
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A:Adoption!
Notice it is often only the people who have kids or really want to have kids that will say kids aren't an issue... just like the people who really want to eat meat.
Answer by Animalia_Libero
Thu, 05/22/2008 - 12:26pm — Animalia_Libero
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A:I actually always had planned to adopt children... because although making a child from yourself and your lover is a beautiful thing - I think giving a child who has no home, no family, no love is a much more beautiful way to live.
I said I wanted to adopt kids since i was 17, that is 10 years ago and I still want to adopt kids !
Answer by Castara
Wed, 05/21/2008 - 5:32pm — Castara
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A:Even if making a child is a beautiful thing, i thinking of adopting one day...
Answer by Micocoulier
Wed, 05/21/2008 - 5:24pm — Micocoulier
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A:Good question.
I don't have kids myself, and I'm not certain I will. Without question, giving a child in need a loving home is a wonderful, compassionate (if difficult and expensive) thing. But while I respect what you all are saying, people aren't going to stop having kids. I'd personally become a little concerned if all the smart, compassionate people decide to not have kids...
Answer by ...cokaru...
Wed, 05/21/2008 - 5:16pm — ...cokaru...
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A:Adding just one new human is singularly the most destructive thing you can possibly think to do to the earth and it's inhabitants. Worse than consuming animal products, worse than driving around in a fleet of hummers, worse than developing a piece of wild land. Consider for a moment all of the resources that one human will need to survive for several decades and all of the resources it will consume beyond what it needs to survive.
You can only teach your child so much before it grows up to resent you and reject all of the ethics you tried to instill in it's little brain. Them's the facts.
Answer by Vegan Avenger
Wed, 05/21/2008 - 2:48pm — Vegan Avenger
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A:I think procreation is selfish. There are too many kid on this planet that need good homes. A lot of people who birth children are doing it because they want there child to have similar features to them. Similar eyes, hair, noses. Which ties to what I think love is. An attraction of genes. People pick out the most attractive person and subconsciously they think, “damn, I’d make some mighty fine babies with that piece of specimen.” When I turn 18, as a promise to myself that I will never have children, I plan to get a vasectomy.
Answer by gibraltar
Wed, 05/21/2008 - 12:24pm — gibraltar
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A:I decided years ago to never breed, primarily as I have psychiatric issues which I don't want to pass on; but when I thought about it it just makes no sense to bring new humans into the world when there are too many to be supported by our system. If there were only 3 billion in the world and no growth, it wouldn't matter how much oil, coal etc we used as there would be enough to go around.
I also don't really plan to ever have a serious girlfriend again, but if I did I would like to adopt children from a poor country. These are kids already here who need love and they are suffering. Some children are disfigured by burns or acid to their faces so they can make more money begging. There is an ophanage full of such kids in cambodia. Breaks your heart. Why bring a new life into the world when these kids need us so badly?
Answer by adam_antichrist
Wed, 05/21/2008 - 11:28am — adam_antichrist
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A:They say the problem is over population I think it's how people live their lives cosuming more than there fair share overeating over cosumerism more more if people lived more green more respectful of this planet and fellow earthians things would be better
Answer by cocoherbivore
Tue, 05/20/2008 - 6:46pm — cocoherbivore
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Tue, 05/20/2008 - 2:07pm — amanda
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