If you don't reproduce, you quite literally failed at life.
How do you figure? I will use Scott as an example. Say he never wants and never has any kids. Does he now fail at life? I think he is living quite a success filled and gratifying life right now. I can't see why not having kids would fail his life of hard work.
How do you figure? I will use Scott as an example. Say he never wants and never has any kids. Does he now fail at life? I think he is living quite a success filled and gratifying life right now. I can't see why not having kids would fail his life of hard work.
I think of kids more as the reward rather than the means to the end. If I work for myself, and have made moneys and a nice house, having kids will be a pleasure. If I have the kids first, it will become infinitely more difficult to get those other things first.
How do you figure? I will use Scott as an example. Say he never wants and never has any kids. Does he now fail at life? I think he is living quite a success filled and gratifying life right now. I can't see why not having kids would fail his life of hard work.
What is the point of biological life? Pass on our genes to strengthen the species. If you don't reproduce, you haven't done this job. Besides, the statement was made with a certain degree of jest.
How do you figure? I will use Scott as an example. Say he never wants and never has any kids. Does he now fail at life? I think he is living quite a success filled and gratifying life right now. I can't see why not having kids would fail his life of hard work.
What is the point of biological life? Pass on our genes to strengthen the species. If you don't reproduce, you haven't done this job. Besides, the statement was made with a certain degree of jest.
Biological systems do have a natural tendency towards continued existence via reproduction. However just because reproduction and continued existence is an emergent tendency of biological systems, does not mean it is the purpose or point of it. All matter has gravity, and has a tendency to clump up due to gravity. Does that mean the purpose of matter is to gravitate?
Those people who want you to have kids are just jealous. They had kids that took away the best years of their lives, so they want everyone else to do the same.
Not true. I think it may be more of a case of your friends having kids and looking at you still living like a kid and they want you to join them.
Yeah, life was pretty crappy for a while when all I had was a poop machine but she got bigger and now she is a mini-adult. Having a kid has made my life better.
Biological systems do have a natural tendency towards continued existence via reproduction.
This is the only way they can exist. Without reproduction, biological species would cease to exist. When it comes to matter, it can always exist and it's still just matter when it gravitates together albeit in a different state.
The only thing that DNA does is replicate. Replicate, replicate, replicate; this is all it does. What has happened is that after millions of years the DNA has replicated to sufficient complexity that at least one species has become self aware; they have attained consciousness. It's an emergent behavior of the sufficient complexity of our biological system. What effect this has on the evolution of the human species, I'm not sure.
Yes, biology likes to replicate a lot. Yes, it needs to do so to continue existing. That doesn't mean that is it's purpose. For something to have a purpose that implies it is a means to an end. For something to be a means to an end, there has to be an end, and there has to be a consciousness directing that means.
For example, a pen is sitting on my desk. You might think the pen has a purpose to write, but you are wrong. I could use it to stab. I could use it to make a mess. I could use it to play games with. The purpose of things is derived from how they are used towards a goal.
Biology isn't being used towards any goal. It's just being itself.
For something to have a purpose that implies it is a means to an end. For something to be a means to an end, there has to be an end, and there has to be a consciousness directing that means.
A purpose could also be the avoidance of an end. We are trying to avoid extinction. Also, I don't agree with you that something requires a consciousness to direct a means. It could just be an emergent behavior based upon the very nature of biological life.
For example, a pen is sitting on my desk. You might think the pen has a purpose to write, but you are wrong. I could use it to stab. I could use it to make a mess. I could use it to play games with. The purpose of things is derived from how they are used towards a goal.
This is very scarily similar to the type of analogy that an intelligent design proponent might make. Pens are neither alive nor can they respond to stimuli, so your analogy is moot.
Biology isn't being used towards any goal. It's just being itself.
Agreed, but the very nature of life is based upon reproduction. Reproduction is part of the definition of life. The idea of purpose or point is not completely literal, I just don't think we (or maybe just me) can express it in our language.
As humans we apply purpose to behaviour. It is much in the same way that we apply the ideas of math or time, but they are not things which really exist. Purpose is a human idea layered on top of reality, which is just things happening. There is no reason to it. The reasons are only in your mind.
Purpose is a human idea layered on top of reality, which is just things happening. There is no reason to it. The reasons are only in your mind.
Did I say there was a reason for it? Jeeze, the point I've been trying to make is that if you don't reproduce, you are not helping the species survive. That is all. If you want to deconstruct my exact diction in making my comments (which were originally intended to be witty), you can go ahead if you want. I'm not looking to get into a discussion on the existential nature of the human species.
You reproduce and you win from an evolutionary standpoint; you don't and you fail.
You reproduce and you win from an evolutionary standpoint; you don't and you fail.
You can't fail at something if it isn't your goal. In fact, scoring on the wrong goal is disastrous. The ball might really like rolling towards the wrong goal, but that doesn't mean you have to let it get in there.
I'm 30 with 3 kids (aged 6, 4, and 1). The choice was made to have kids sooner rather than later, so that the difficult parts are done during our youthful, energetic years. Later, when the wife and I are older and ready to relax, we can enjoy all the benefits of having adult rather than school-age children (vacations have a different meaning when everyone involved is an adult). Having children is definitely a choice to be made with eyes open and plenty of forethought.
My oldest two are girls, and while being very into princesses and fairies they are also very much open to the stereotypical geekeries. They'll have tea-parties, they'll play dress-up, sure ... but then they'll watch an anime, or help me tinker with a computer, or challenge me on the Wii. It's all about allowing them to experience as many things as possible; don't pidgeon-hole them, and don't try to force things.
What happens when we "over-reproduce?" There will be a point in time, for any species, where the population outnumbers the resources needed. In order to keep the species alive, "non-reproduction" will be the key to survival as a species. And when the numbers go down, reproduction is good again.
My step-brother and his wife just had their kid and his first birthday is coming up. He is 36 now which means he will be in his 50's before the kid is gone. I will be in my 40's when my daughter moves out.
I always tell me friends that if they are planning to have kids you want to be sure to add twenty years to your age because that is about how old you will be before they move out.
My wife is older than me and the things that take more energy in parenting fall to me while the things that take more patience fall to her. When we work as a team we are unstoppable!
What happens when we "over-reproduce?" There will be a point in time, for any species, where the population outnumbers the resources needed. In order to keep the species alive, "non-reproduction" will be the key to survival as a species. And when the numbers go down, reproduction is good again.
Scott's wife's friend: So, you about ready to get in the car and meet us over at the park? Scott's wife: Almost, I just have to get the kids into the car. Scott's wife's friend: Oh, does your son have a friend over? Scott's wife: [silence] Scott's wife's friend: Oh yeah... forgot about Scott.
I will be between 28 and 32 when I have my child (assuming all the equipment works correctly) and my husband will be between 32 and 37. I don't think that is too old to have a child at all, but I say this never having had a kid so....?
I will be between 28 and 32 when I have my child (assuming all the equipment works correctly) and my husband will be between 32 and 37. I don't think that is too old to have a child at all, but I say this never having had a kid so....?
Bilogicaly you are fine. You don't need to worry until you hit your late 30's.
As far as dealing with the kid, do you feel young for your age or old for your age? Do you still have a lot of energy?
The MacRoss Family would make awesome children. They would sing and draw and be very hilarious. I think they are both "old" enough to be very responsible, but "young" enough to be very fun parents.
The MacRoss Family would make awesome children. They would sing and draw and be very hilarious. I think they are both "old" enough to be very responsible, but "young" enough to be very fun parents.
I am old for my age, Adam is young for his age, and we are both geeky goofs! Plus, he is an art teacher and I am going into secondary English education and curriculum/test development, so our energies and patience with children are pretty high.
The MacRoss Family would make awesome children. They would sing and draw and be very hilarious. I think they are both "old" enough to be very responsible, but "young" enough to be very fun parents.
I am old for my age, Adam is young for his age, and we are both geeky goofs! Plus, he is an art teacher and I am going into secondary English education and curriculum/test development, so our energies and patience with children are pretty high.
I'm sure you two will do fine. Just one question, what will you do if your child grows up to become a Conservative?
Other than considering physical reasons, the age of having babies can depend on what is "acceptable." Where I come from (a podunk town in Georgia) it is acceptable to get married and have kids right after high school or during college. Facebook tells me all the time that someone I knew in high school is engaged or preggers already. Other people think you should be in your 30s for that stuff. Those people put success (getting a great job and making lots of moolah) over marriage and babies. I guess for those people that choose to get married and have babies (or get stuck with it) when they are young, family is more important to them than success. I'm not saying you can't have both, but I think it would be harder and take longer to be successful if you have a kid to worry about. I don't have any kids, but I remember how much money my parents had to dish out to take care of me. I just don't think I could handle that until I'm out of college and making the moneys.
Since many people equate getting married with having babies, getting married young will be a bad idea to them. I think as long as you've found that person you want to spend the rest of your life with and your life is in a stable-ish state, you can get married when you want. In my opinion, if you get married young and wait to have babies way later, you are just being smart.
My wife is ten years older than me. When my daughter was born I was 26 and she was 36. Adjusting to being a parent was easier for me than it was for her because she had spent the last 18 years in a situation where her job was the defining characteristic of her life (if that makes any sense). Going from being a respected member of the workplace with lots of experience to having a small whiny poop machine that gives you zero respect is hard, to say the least.
So for some people becoming a parent is hard simply because they have been doing the same thing for so long. In that respect having kids early can be better because you are not giving up as much. Having them later in life can sometimes lead to resentment building up in the marriage when one parent stays home to care for the kid while the other continues with their career. The one who gives up their career for their new career (poop machine monitor) may feel resentful (and or worthless) because the focal point of their life has changed so drastically. They may also feel worthless because they are no longer bring money into the home (money = power). These are extreme situations but they do happen.
The MacRoss Family would make awesome children. They would sing and draw and be very hilarious. I think they are both "old" enough to be very responsible, but "young" enough to be very fun parents.
I am old for my age, Adam is young for his age, and we are both geeky goofs! Plus, he is an art teacher and I am going into secondary English education and curriculum/test development, so our energies and patience with children are pretty high.
I'm sure you two will do fine. Just one question, what will you do if your child grows up to become a Conservative?
Love them and have heated debates, but love them just the same. I would assume it is the same for you if your daughter grows up and becomes a liberal.
The MacRoss Family would make awesome children. They would sing and draw and be very hilarious. I think they are both "old" enough to be very responsible, but "young" enough to be very fun parents.
I am old for my age, Adam is young for his age, and we are both geeky goofs! Plus, he is an art teacher and I am going into secondary English education and curriculum/test development, so our energies and patience with children are pretty high.
I'm sure you two will do fine. Just one question, what will you do if your child grows up to become a Conservative?
Love them and have heated debates, but love them just the same. I would assume it is the same for you if your daughter grows up and becomes a liberal.
Yup!
Also, make sure your support network is in place before you begin making the baby. Make a list of the people who would be willing to take the kid so that you two can get some adult time as needed. Then go over that list and remove the names of people who you would not want to leave your kid with. Having a support network is very important as a new parent.
I am old for my age, Adam is young for his age, and we are both geeky goofs! Plus, he is an art teacher and I am going into secondary English education and curriculum/test development, so our energies and patience with children are pretty high.
Comments
There is no purpose to anything. There just is.
Yeah, life was pretty crappy for a while when all I had was a poop machine but she got bigger and now she is a mini-adult. Having a kid has made my life better.
The only thing that DNA does is replicate. Replicate, replicate, replicate; this is all it does. What has happened is that after millions of years the DNA has replicated to sufficient complexity that at least one species has become self aware; they have attained consciousness. It's an emergent behavior of the sufficient complexity of our biological system. What effect this has on the evolution of the human species, I'm not sure.
For example, a pen is sitting on my desk. You might think the pen has a purpose to write, but you are wrong. I could use it to stab. I could use it to make a mess. I could use it to play games with. The purpose of things is derived from how they are used towards a goal.
Biology isn't being used towards any goal. It's just being itself.
You reproduce and you win from an evolutionary standpoint; you don't and you fail.
My oldest two are girls, and while being very into princesses and fairies they are also very much open to the stereotypical geekeries. They'll have tea-parties, they'll play dress-up, sure ... but then they'll watch an anime, or help me tinker with a computer, or challenge me on the Wii. It's all about allowing them to experience as many things as possible; don't pidgeon-hole them, and don't try to force things.
I always tell me friends that if they are planning to have kids you want to be sure to add twenty years to your age because that is about how old you will be before they move out.
My wife is older than me and the things that take more energy in parenting fall to me while the things that take more patience fall to her. When we work as a team we are unstoppable!
Scott's wife: Almost, I just have to get the kids into the car.
Scott's wife's friend: Oh, does your son have a friend over?
Scott's wife: [silence]
Scott's wife's friend: Oh yeah... forgot about Scott.
As far as dealing with the kid, do you feel young for your age or old for your age? Do you still have a lot of energy?
Since many people equate getting married with having babies, getting married young will be a bad idea to them. I think as long as you've found that person you want to spend the rest of your life with and your life is in a stable-ish state, you can get married when you want. In my opinion, if you get married young and wait to have babies way later, you are just being smart.
So for some people becoming a parent is hard simply because they have been doing the same thing for so long. In that respect having kids early can be better because you are not giving up as much. Having them later in life can sometimes lead to resentment building up in the marriage when one parent stays home to care for the kid while the other continues with their career. The one who gives up their career for their new career (poop machine monitor) may feel resentful (and or worthless) because the focal point of their life has changed so drastically. They may also feel worthless because they are no longer bring money into the home (money = power). These are extreme situations but they do happen.
Also, make sure your support network is in place before you begin making the baby. Make a list of the people who would be willing to take the kid so that you two can get some adult time as needed. Then go over that list and remove the names of people who you would not want to leave your kid with. Having a support network is very important as a new parent.