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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: 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.