When the world is going so wrong, isn't it selfish to bring children into it?

Question

I have always wondered, isn't it selfish to bring children into such a horrible world (overall with all the war, rape, killings ect) ? If you see that this life has so many negatives, why would you have children, when if you thought about it they would be subject to all of it??

Answer 1

We all have the gift of choice. We can either look at the brighter side of things or focus on its negative aspects. War, rape, crime, oppression and poverty have always been present since the beginning of time. It is the way of the World but it doesnt make it horrible, that's just the way it is.
As i see it the world is somehow a better place now than say a couple of centuries or a millenia ago, when countries were just bent on conquering each other, when crime and punishment was equally brutal (e.g. crucifixion, beheadings were all done in public) and the regard for a persons life was so low. These days, there's always someone watching out for human rights, animal rights, ecological balance and everything else. There is also someone ready to extend a helping hand from somewhere. The world has become a smaller place and everything has become interactive.
We have been given the gift to give life (not all people can have kids), in order to correct the mistakes of the past, to make our world even better than it is now. It would be selfish not to give our children the chance, our parents gave us. We owe it to them.
It is the circle of life.

Answer 2

There has always been trouble and horrible happenings in the world, ever since mankind has been around. To decide whether to have children or not based on world events is not logical. A family is where you are personally, how you feel about raising or not raising a child or children, if you feel the nurturing within yourself and you want to give to your own children that special love that parents should have (some don't seem to have it, but most do). That decision comes from a deep inner place that does not touch on what wars are being fought or if there are rapes or killings going on down the street or in other cities. It is just between you, your partner, and the children you decide to bring into the world. I personally am thrilled that I could have two children, and am extra thrilled to have my three grandsons. It is not because of carrying on a bloodline or anything like that. We just felt the desire to have children, and still delight in that feeling with our grandchildren. Like I said before, there has always been trouble in the world, and always will be. That is part of life. It is not a reason to base on having or not having children. And having a child is not selfish. (Besides, what if the child you did not have would have been one that would have made a major GREAT difference in the world years from now? That would be selfish in the same way that you speak of, even though you were not aware of it, as it could affect humanity as a whole...)

Answer 3

The U.S. alone just hit the 300 million population mark. I agree that the world has always been a horrible place, so that doesn't really matter. The question is why are we bringing so many more lives into this world? Looking at the population, to say it's because we don't want the human race to dye off doesn't really make sense. I would have to say it is definitely selfishness.

Answer 4

There is always the possibility of children the future generation cleaning up the perverse mess we left them to start out with.

In the end, they are the future, to not have them would mean you do not see the future ever getting better, and to assume that we hold all the answers... some times the young are more wiser then their predecessors. You would be denying the ability of change, and you would be denying that no one can fix anything if we can't fix it now, which is certainty full of one's self.

On the other hand, it is a good thought to provoke people who don't seem to understand that it's their mess they are making the future take responsibility for instead of taking it themselves. That is what would be the "selfish" act.

Answer 5

people that have NO CLUE how to raise good children are having children and they will never stop, so i think if you are an educated person that cares about the world...its almost your duty to have children so they can combat the ignorant children that everyone else is having. You can contribute to making our world a better place by raising a child the right way and making a good person to go into the world and make a difference.

Answer 6

You know it's not all that bad. Our media sure doesn't have any good news. I have two kids . Son and a daughter. There is some truth to what your saying. Like whats it going to be like in 25 years. I think children are awesome. Some parents suk. It takes planning (most of the time) and parents should be able to feed and take care of their children. So many depend on our Gov. for this.. WRONG...

Answer 7

It is right to bring children into the world because who knows for sure if the child you bring into the world may possibly be responsible for discovering a cure for cancer or bring about world peace One just doesn't know.

Answer 8

Yes, very selfish. But people keep on doing it. And I'll tell you what else is selfish: having kids and then abandoning them, abusing them or even killing them. And yet sadly it is happening all the time.

Answer 9

Well It´s not selfish, someone have to carry on the human kind, and keep the species alive, Yes the world is going so wrong, but read some history, When The world have been doing GREAT!? Wars, Hunger, Racism, Slavery, so yeah its awful, but thats human nature

Answer 10

The world (humanity at least) is no worse now than it ever has been. There are just more of us.......The problem is that the media shows us all of the 'bad' from everywhere.

Look at your own day-to-day life. Is it that bad (maybe it is, i don't know)

I want to have children, because it is a symbol of hope and will drive me to try and make the world a place that they deserve. And i will rasioe them to make it better for their own.