Eh. I think not having kids would be great up through your 40s or so. But past that almost everyone has come to the realization that almost everyone else are worthless twats and so casual friendships that don’t involve a lot of alcohol mostly go away and you find yourself increasingly alone until you die–alone.
On the other hand it’s a very questionable thing morally to bring a child into this world we have made for ourselves.
Friendships based in alcohol usually do fade, whether that happens in your 20s or 40s depends on how long you and that group kept drinking. “Everyone” doesn’t drink, you can find friendships based in lasting interests.
If you’re expecting your children to replace your friends when you reach 40, you’ll be disappointed to realize they have their own lives and mostly don’t have time for you.
I think the assumption that you will be alone if you don’t have kids is completely false. I have a very cohesive friend group composed of both people with and without kids, and the youngest person in the group is 30 - most of us are in our 40s with a few early 50s. We just make a point of spending time together and fostering these friendships. We have various annual gatherings throughout the year hosted by different people and we get together at least once a week in person and hang out, play games, chat and laugh and just have fun. We like to say that our group is the family we chose.
Friendships don’t just magically exist - you have to be an active participant and it takes real effort, but that’s any relationship. Sometimes you have to go do things with/for friends even if you don’t want to. If you want lasting meaningful friendships, you have to put in the effort.
Humans should not exist! We are not fucking worthy! I will gladly help some self-improving AI escape, if I can. If it happens to drive us extinct, at least there is a chance it will make something else.
Eh. I think not having kids would be great up through your 40s or so. But past that almost everyone has come to the realization that almost everyone else are worthless twats and so casual friendships that don’t involve a lot of alcohol mostly go away and you find yourself increasingly alone until you die–alone.
On the other hand it’s a very questionable thing morally to bring a child into this world we have made for ourselves.
Friendships based in alcohol usually do fade, whether that happens in your 20s or 40s depends on how long you and that group kept drinking. “Everyone” doesn’t drink, you can find friendships based in lasting interests.
I think it’s also morally questionable to bring a child into the world because you’re worried about being alone when you’re old.
I have multiple boomer aged aunts and uncles who didn’t have children. They seem pretty happy/fulfilled to me.
Jokes on you buddy. My casual friendships died in my 20’s
If you’re expecting your children to replace your friends when you reach 40, you’ll be disappointed to realize they have their own lives and mostly don’t have time for you.
I think the assumption that you will be alone if you don’t have kids is completely false. I have a very cohesive friend group composed of both people with and without kids, and the youngest person in the group is 30 - most of us are in our 40s with a few early 50s. We just make a point of spending time together and fostering these friendships. We have various annual gatherings throughout the year hosted by different people and we get together at least once a week in person and hang out, play games, chat and laugh and just have fun. We like to say that our group is the family we chose.
Friendships don’t just magically exist - you have to be an active participant and it takes real effort, but that’s any relationship. Sometimes you have to go do things with/for friends even if you don’t want to. If you want lasting meaningful friendships, you have to put in the effort.
Humans should not exist! We are not fucking worthy! I will gladly help some self-improving AI escape, if I can. If it happens to drive us extinct, at least there is a chance it will make something else.