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 I think one of the reasons why childbearing has gone out of style, is not necessarily because it limits your agency for a time, but because it is assumed to negate your entire existence.
You are expected to only ever live, think, and act for your offspring, as soon as you become a parent.

This is a corrupt model.
Your offspring are your dependents. That is a lot, and that is enough. Raise them up in the way they should go, and then let them do and offer them guidance and support... 
and you do you.

You are your own person.
You will stand alone, at the gates.
And so will they. 
 loving and being responsible for your spawn until they are adults to navigate the increasingly complex world is not a corrupt model. I bet you won’t feel the way after having a kid. 
 I have two adult children and you should learn to read more carefully, before responding. 
 a depressed student studying websockets, algorithmic design and somehow able to find time to run a relay, post notes all day .. with two adult kids just didn’t make sense to my subconscious mind I guess. 
 I'm a mother. I'm not dead. 
 you’d rarely meet a capitalistic mom studying networking, websockets with two adult children. 
 I'm old. I'm not dead. 😄 
 not sure if serious... 
 We have two. We'll have at least one more. We have new builds all around us. Biggest buildings are old people's homes. If you're looking for a flat / home in Germany that accommodates more than three people, good luck. The state has decided we shouldn't have kids. You can see it in the infrastructure. In the monetary and fiscal policies. Don't get me started on Elterngeld.  
 Yes, we see apartments going up, but it's mostly retirement homes that end up being refugee homes.
Very frustrating. Signs hanging up all over town, from young families looking for a place to stay.

But this will all change, slowly, as the money inflates away and human children rise in societal status. 
 Yeah... If I ever have my own, I'm not going to put them on a pedestal. That's really backwards.  
 This is why people now view children as a crushing burden, rather than as new family members they just have to focus on for a bit. A lot, at first, and usually then less and less, unless they are severely disabled and only children. 
 Yup! 
 Crushing burden? I think the point is to provide a better life than you had, not to obsess or put them on a pedestal. OMG crazy concept you want good for your family. People are opting out because western society is going to shit, like every part, so people don’t want to bring them into a world that sucks, is usually why my friends and I that don’t have them say. 
 Corrupt model 🙄 I don’t have kids or want them but this “edgy” take is extremely cold blooded. Thank god people like you don’t have kids 
 I think it's funny how the people who don't have or desire children are the most critical of this view. Q.E.D. 
 Also, they are terrible at reading comprehension. 
 Opinions are shitcoins.