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Anti-natalists: The people who want you to stop having babies
They believe humans shouldn't have children. Who are the anti-natalists - and how far are they willing to push their ideas?
"Wouldn't it just be better to blow a hole in the side of the earth and just have done with everything?" Thomas, 29, lives in the east of England, and although his idea of blowing up the world is something of a thought experiment, he is certain about one thing - humans should not have babies, and our species should gradually go extinct.
It's a philosophy called anti-natalism. While the idea dates back to ancient Greece, it has recently been given a huge boost by social media. On Facebook and Reddit, there are dozens of anti-natalist groups, some with thousands of members. On Reddit, r/antinatalism has nearly 35,000 members, while just one of the dozens of Facebook groups with an anti-natalist theme has more than 6,000.
They are scattered around the world and have a variety of reasons for their beliefs. Among them are concerns about genetic inheritance, not wanting children to suffer, the concept of consent, and worries about overpopulation and the environment. But they are united in their desire to stop human procreation. And although they are a fringe movement, some of their views, particularly on the state of the earth, are increasingly creeping into mainstream discussion. While not an anti-natalist, the Duke of Sussex recently said he and his wife were planning to have a maximum of two children, because of environmental concerns.
(Score: 4, Informative) by qzm on Wednesday August 14 2019, @03:47AM (11 children)
Its not just about children, but who is having them.
Have a look at statistics on number of children versus average IQ, and it is telling.
We are rapidly breeding intelligence out of the human race - basically a reverse survival of the fittest...
Is there a solution? almost certainly not - but its a pretty basic problem really.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by takyon on Wednesday August 14 2019, @03:50AM (1 child)
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(Score: 2) by Mykl on Wednesday August 14 2019, @04:33AM
Some people think this is a comedy. I think it's more accurately described as a documentary about events that haven't yet happened.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 14 2019, @07:36AM (1 child)
And just a followup question - when have the Superior People not thought this to be true?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 14 2019, @08:19AM
IOW, after weeding out some prior bunch of degenerates, and themselves not yet noticing their feet now stepping along the same path.
One human universal is that winners fancy themselves totally better than losers, and eagerly go the same course expecting it surely shall end differently for them.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 14 2019, @10:00AM (2 children)
Here's a dose of reality for you - assuming your mindset is based in reality.
All of those economically disadvantaged women who can't afford birth control? The ones who don't get insurance through work, or whose employers don't include birth control in their coverage? The women who use low cost women's health care clinics? The women whose reproductive rights, including abortion, are being restricted by self-proclaimed "small government" advocates? They are having babies whether they want to or not. And they are having a lot more babies than the people who can afford birth control, or do get full prescription coverage, or who can get access to abortion.
All of those babies, the ones you condemn for not being of your quality, are growing up to be voters. And while they are growing up they are taught that people like you are the enemy. And they will vote you and your ilk out of office. And once their numbers in government are strong enough they will pass laws that treat you and your kind the way you treated them.
You are sealing your own fate by ensuring your population becomes less important. So either start popping out babies or start handing out birth control like it's candy. Because if you don't you're guaranteeing your predictions will come true.
(Score: 0, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 14 2019, @01:21PM
Yes we know how that works out. See: Zimbabwe, South Africa, Detroit, Baltimore, Gary IN, Chicago, etc.
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Wednesday August 14 2019, @06:34PM
You're assuming that people, en mass, think logically and can reasonably identify the source of their problems.
You're also assuming that the elections are fair.
And you're making a few other assumptions that I find dubious.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 14 2019, @10:29AM (2 children)
Then you have lots of kids, I presume? Because that's a fucking stupid conclusion. IQ scores are almost exclusively based on environmental factors, not genetics. Genetic factors only determine brain *size*, not how you use it. IQ is now you use it, not the size of it.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 14 2019, @01:19PM (1 child)
Then you must have fell on the short end of those environmental factors. Genetics affect height, predisposition for myriads of diseases, color, shape, size, hair type, features, and sex but somehow it's TOTALLY disconnected from IQ. Were your parents brother and sister?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 14 2019, @07:09PM
DNA is not totally disconnected from IQ but it is far from the only factor. Environment does play a huge role, from social interactions to nutritional availability. Regardless, that conversation is only one that genocidal eugenecists and other evil fucks care about. The rest of us only care enough to prevent more genocide.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday August 14 2019, @01:35PM
There's a logical conundrum at work as well: anti-child bearing religions have cropped up from time to time, but... after 100 years they are doomed to be a minority of the population no matter how successful they are: as long as they don't reach 100%, and I think most people can agree that is taking a good idea too far...
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