Any childfree by choice?

[AK907]

Lol did you really just try comparing cats and dogs to kids? I think you kind of missed the point there.

Yup, sure did and I think you missed my point as well. Not everyone is going to like kids, even if they have kids of their own. Having a kid doesn't automatically change your perspective on the matter. It can, but not always.

[Rob]

Yup, sure did and I think you missed my point as well. Not everyone is going to like kids, even if they have kids of their own. Having a kid doesn't automatically change your perspective on the matter. It can, but not always.

No I got your point, but it doesn't make sense. You can't compare a animal you buy to a human you bring into the world. Apples and oranges.

[Jazi]

No one should be put under pressure to have kids if they don't want them. That being said people that say they don't want kids because they don't like kids, I don't think they get the difference other people's kids and their own. Not many people like kids that are not their own, come on they are loud messy and non stop! But all that doesn't matter when you have your own. The feelings you have for your own kids can't be put into words. And someone that simply doesn't like kids shouldn't let that be the deciding factor about having kids of their own, because believe me you will love them no matter what.

Interestingly enough, even though I don't want my own kids and I really cannot stand baby smell, I actually adore kids. I grew up babysitting for colleagues of my mom and running around after my nephew... you don't go through 5 years of babysitting autistic twins without some real love for kids I tell you that!

Except when I'm at work. Then I hate kids. Usually because their parents bring in 10 of them at a time and let them run around my store screaming and breaking things and then fuss at me when I ask the parents to please tell the children to stop running. I think I'll hang a sign on the front doors that says "No Kids Allowed Without A Leash"!

[SaintTawny]

I'm 22, and I never want to have children. I was raised in a very conservative household where I was constantly playing the role of baby-sitter for young cousins and neighbor kids, and even though they usually behaved I never wanted one of my own. I was always being told that as a woman my job was to get my MRS and put my uterus straight to work, but in 22 years I haven't changed my mind about it. There's nothing appealing about having kids to me. Pregnancy, birth, the infant years, all disgusting and miserable. I don't mind kids so much once they can talk as long as I can discipline them or send them away, but most parents I've met don't like other people disciplining their children and I couldn't send my own kids away for weeks at a time while I recovered my patience. So I'll just never have any.

Every time a kid comes into the pet store where I work, it re-affirms my decision. They scream and run and try to climb into petters, grab things off the shelves and rip open packages, and for some inexplicable reason every single one of them has to spend at least 5 minutes squeaking a dog toy, even if they're 15 years old. Even worse, most of their parents make no attempt to stop them or apologize when they realize their brats are destroying merchandise and irritating everyone else. No, I want nothing to do with parenting or the current culture of parenting. Even if I had children that I raised to be my idea of perfect I would have to deal with their stupid friends and their stupid parents, and that's not happening.

[AK907]

No I got your point, but it doesn't make sense. You can't compare a animal you buy to a human you bring into the world. Apples and oranges.

I think you most certainly can compare the two because a lot of people, myself included, view our pets as family members. Pets are a lot like kids in most respects other than the fact that they didn't come out of our bodies. Adopted children if you will. We care for them, they are messy, loud, annoying, expensive, we love them, you name it.

[Rob]

.....until you have reached the age that your frontal lobe is complete you shouldn't make up your decision about having kids.
No not everyone should have kids, but you should also not be one when you make that decision. If your an adult and you know kids are not for you that's fine and dandy.

[Rob]

I think you most certainly can compare the two because a lot of people, myself included, view our pets as family members. Pets are a lot like kids in most respects other than the fact that they didn't come out of our bodies. Adopted children if you will. We care for them, they are messy, loud, annoying, expensive, we love them, you name it.

There's only one way to see the difference and that is to have a child. I have had pets all my life, and yes all my pets are part of the family. But there is a huge difference between a human and a dog sorry.

[DooLittle]

I think you most certainly can compare the two because a lot of people, myself included, view our pets as family members. Pets are a lot like kids in most respects other than the fact that they didn't come out of our bodies. Adopted children if you will. We care for them, they are messy, loud, annoying, expensive, we love them, you name it.

It is not even the same. I love my animals like family, "kids". When I was sitting in the waiting room awaiting results about a terminal illness on one of my pets, I was so upset, worried, scared, that I couldn't breath. So yes, I love my animals. But it is not even close to the same, doesn't even compare, to how you love and are bonded to a child. Maybe that's not everybody though, and that's why those people shouldn't have kids.

[PitOnTheProwl]

But there is a huge difference between a human and a dog sorry.

Really there isnt......... you chose to breed a child or buy an animal, either way neither of them had the choice to be with you. Your animals that you chose, you will have to care for their entire life with no say so of their own. A child you bred into this mess of a planet can chose to do as it wishes at 18 years so you are only responsible for it for a fraction of its life. Unless it is like me and moves out on its own at 16

[Valentine Pirate]

There's only one way to see the difference and that is to have a child. I have had pets all my life, and yes all my pets are part of the family. But there is a huge difference between a human and a dog sorry.

I don't think anyone is trying to say they're the exact same. But comparisons can be made (as Pit pointed out). There is no perfect analogy, just basic similarities. Both require responsibility (MUCH more on the part of children) and not everyone lives up to it. Money is an issue (doctor visits/vet visits, again more expensive and extreme in the case of children), and if things are wired right you've got some emotional attachment (again, with kids it's much more extreme and binding). No, humans and dogs aren't the same, but comparing the obligations and some patterns gives some people a better idea on the subject