If you could, would you decide on a 3rd child?

[winth]

Chief, anyway to have threads on extended invitations only?


It’s nerve-wrecking to see skun-bags on the run.

[skunk]

3Boys:

There is a reason why sex is pleasurable......to ensure the continuation of the species!


Steve Levitt (again, in Freakonomics), attributes the fall in crime rate in the big cities in the 1990s to one big societal change in the US.....the legalisation of abortion. Its in chapter one, go read it.

Now, I am against abortion, but there is something to be said about unwanted pregnancies, and their impact on society.

Crime is a very complicated social prob, i'm sure there's a connection between the two, but abortion should not be considered a \"cure for crime.\" To be sure, the cure for crime is the annihilation of the human race. No humans = no crime. Conversely, the annihilation of crime is to remove law and order. No law = no crime, since there is no law to be broken. U see what i'm driving at? It's a simplistic conclusion.

Imagine if Einstein's mother felt it was an unwanted pregnancy, the world would have lost a genius. Similarly, people would have argued, if Hitler's mother felt it was an unwanted pregnancy, the world would have lost a devil, right? Wrong, because the world already has so many criminals and mass murderers, one more wouldn't have made a difference. But one less genius would have really made a difference.

When my mom was pregnant with my youngest bro (No 4), she felt like aborting him, because in those days, there was a penalty to have 4 kids. My dad simply said, \"it's just an extra pair of chopsticks on the table.\" And i'm glad he's so courageous and strong, because my youngest bro is my fav bro. I would have lost a best friend.

My point is, if a pregnancy is \"unwanted\", we simply have to change our attitudes and \"want\" it. It's just hard in this world where ppl put their own benefits and interests above those of a foetus who's unable to speak for himself yet.

[skunk]

Busymom:

Not sure whether to be happy for your kids or sad for them.

nobody wants their kid to be a bad egg, but if they do turn out bad, i wouldn't blame myself or them, some things happen because of many circumstances out of our control. The blame game is not fun to play, i rather be proud of them, whether they're \"bad\" or not

[skunk]

winth:

Chief, anyway to have threads on extended invitations only?


It's nerve-wrecking to see skun-bags on the run.

Am i unwelcome because I expressed different, and very harsh views?

[Funz]

skunk:

Crime is a very complicated social prob, i'm sure there's a connection between the two, but abortion should not be considered a \"cure for crime.\" To be sure, the cure for crime is the annihilation of the human race. No humans = no crime. Conversely, the annihilation of crime is to remove law and order. No law = no crime, since there is no law to be broken. U see what i'm driving at? It's a simplistic conclusion.


Imagine if Einstein's mother felt it was an unwanted pregnancy, the world would have lost a genius. Similarly, people would have argued, if Hitler's mother felt it was an unwanted pregnancy, the world would have lost a devil, right? Wrong, because the world already has so many criminals and mass murderers, one more wouldn't have made a difference. But one less genius would have really made a difference.

When my mom was pregnant with my youngest bro (No 4), she felt like aborting him, because in those days, there was a penalty to have 4 kids. My dad simply said, \"it's just an extra pair of chopsticks on the table.\" And i'm glad he's so courageous and strong, because my youngest bro is my fav bro. I would have lost a best friend.

My point is, if a pregnancy is \"unwanted\", we simply have to change our attitudes and \"want\" it. It's just hard in this world where ppl put their own benefits and interests above those of a foetus who's unable to speak for himself yet.

Abortion should not be the blanket solution to unwanted pregnancies especially so in developed countries where contraceptives are easily and widely available.

[3Boys]

Funz:

Abortion should not be the blanket solution to unwanted pregnancies especially so in developed countries where contraceptives are easily and widely available.

I can't help but feel pretty conflicted about this. On one level, I am strongly against abortion. At the next, however, I am also very persuaded that human development is only really possible when each child has the right amount of nurturing and care. Hence, birth control and the like are essential in modern society. At a third level, I also believe each parent has the right to titrate his/her level of comfort in raising children. i.e. 1,2,3 or more, strictly a personal choice and not open to criticism by others.

To the point about the loss of geniuses. Truth is, genius though he was, Einstein merely was ahead of his time. If there had been no Einstein, someone like him would have followed very shortly. I.e. if he had not discovered the theory of relativity, the state of knowledge of physics and cosmology at the time would have ensured that someone else would have discovered it. This is true of many major scientific discoveries, be they the electric light bulb, evolution, insulin, several people were working simultaneously on the science, its just that we only remember the one who got there first!

No, abortion is not a means to control crime, it can never be. The linkages do shed light on certain anthropological issues though. I.e. standard of care is an important consideration in life outcomes, and we should all be mindlful of that.

P.S. I just contradicted myself in the other thread...haha.....see y I'm conflicted.

[skunk]

3Boys:

At a third level, I also believe each parent has the right to titrate his/her level of comfort in raising children. i.e. 1,2,3 or more, strictly a personal choice and not open to criticism by others.

yes, it's ultimately a personal choice.

Why can't personal choices be criticised by others, as long as no offensive language is used?

If i make a personal choice to kill and cook my own dog, and tell everyone about it, u bet someone will come along and criticise me.

Just don't be so sensitive. Just as I can criticise others, others can criticise me. It's all a normal part of discussions. If we're only looking for ppl who only agree / neutral with us, what's the point of sharing ideas? Might as well look for a parrot

[3Boys]

skunk:

yes, it's ultimately a personal choice.


Why can't personal choices be criticised by others, as long as no offensive language is used?

If i make a personal choice to kill and cook my own dog, and tell everyone about it, u bet someone will come along and criticise me.

Just don't be so sensitive. Just as I can criticise others, others can criticise me. It's all a normal part of discussions. If we're only looking for ppl who only agree / neutral with us, what's the point of sharing ideas? Might as well look for a parrot

So here goes. Judgement is best made with understanding, not dogma. If one does not understand, then one should not criticise. Dogma is unhelpful to productive discussion, particularly where the rules of engagement should be at the very least benefit of the doubt and respect for the other persons point of view. Dogma is for dogs, sliced, or diced, or otherwise consumed.

You will see from my other posts that I am far from an agreeable, head-nodding sycophant, so it is not a parrot I seek. There is nothing wrong in expressing an extreme view, as you have on a number of issues, its quite another thing to p*** on someone else's, if you will pardon my french.

[skunk]

3Boys:

its quite another thing to p*** on someone else's, if you will pardon my french.

u r pardoned.

[skunk]

insider:

To criticise would imply a high & almighty attitude that one holds the RIGHT answer.

nobody in their right frame of mind would believe in something they believe is wrong. \"High and mighty\" is subjective. A person might appear to be arrogant to some but not to others.