I'm normally hard to offend but this pushed ALL my buttons.
By Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
Northampton, England
May 13, 2017 2:21pm CST
Yesterday a Facebook friend - he's the ex-partner of a girl I know only through a cancer charity we both support - posted that it was probably a good thing that Theresa May (the Prime Minister of the UK) COULDN'T have children as she'd be a horrible mother.
That's pretty offensive before I even get on to the bit that annoyed me.
I pointed out that it's not appropriate to always assume that the wife is the one who can't have children. It's just as likely to be her husband who is infertile.
I was then horrified to be told by this guy - a chap with a long history of drug problems who is not the father of my friend's young son and I'm not sure if he ever adopted him - that nobody should ever be allowed to run a country if they don't have children because such people have 'no investment' in the future.
I've got to say I consider that total rubbish. My retort that there are plenty of people WITH children who shouldn't be allowed to run a bath let alone a country, led his idiot sister and mother to start ranting.
I am horrified. It would appear that in an era where it's wholly inappropriate to criticise people for their beliefs, their ethnic origins, the colour of their skin or their sexuality, it's apparently perfectly OK to suggest that people who don't have children are 'defective' when judged against how a human being should be.
No, I'm not interpreting, I'm quoting. "You're not a WHOLE person without children, your own or adopted".
Oh I'd tell you what I think of that but the 'bad word' filters would stop me posting.
Would you like a list of just a few fabulous people who don't have children and did plenty for the world? Let's start with Jesus himself (not a man who gets into many of my posts, but totally justified in this case). How about the Dalai Lama? Joan of Arc, Mother Theresa, Rosa Parks, most but admittedly not all of the Popes, Beethoven, Vivaldi, J.M. Barrie (of Peter Pan fame who left all the royalties from his books to a children's hospital) and many many more.
24 people like this
22 responses
@topffer (42156)
• France
13 May 17
Living in a country where singles are paying more taxes to pay family allowances to "good" citizen having children (more you have children, more you earn this "fly money" in France), I have heard this kind of argument several times.
You can add to your list Blaise Pascal, René Descartes, Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Brahms, Friedrich Nietzsche, Orville and Wilbur Wright...
5 people like this
.@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
13 May 17
Of course NONE of those people contributed ANYTHING to society did they? It's ridiculous, isn't it. We pay the taxes to educate other people's kids, to keep them healthy and to give their parents family allowances and they claim WE are the selfish ones.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
14 May 17
People are such ninnies and prejudiced hypocrites. I like your list. This is a good site to rant and blow up about the stupid people of facebook.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79858)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13 May 17
I highly applaud what you have said. First of all you are right and second through personal problems I too have no children. However none the less I do quite well online with many friends, my blogs and other writings. I don't feel that I am not a whole person.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 May 17
Some people have really outlandish views. I love the 'shouldn't be allowed to run a bath'. Hilarious. We have a friend, very devout, who thinks homosexuals should be encouraged to change their leaning and we should all be loving in the meantime but trying to help them along the path. I couldn't believe my ears. She has a son who is a priest and how unnatural is that type of lifestyle anyway?
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
13 May 17
@boiboing
To say that to a Woman is a very low thing to do.
How does he know that she maybe could not have had children anyway?
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
13 May 17
@lovinangelsinstead21 He knows nothing - he just assumes that SHE couldn't, and never asks if it's her husband who had the problems. We do know that they would have liked to have children.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68032)
• United States
14 May 17
Well, just call me not a whole person. I had an ovarian tumor and had to have it (and everything else) removed.
And I concur with you: the "profanity filter" blocks things, but I can think of several words I heard in the Navy that would be appropriate to say to this individual....
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 May 17
Thank you. I've also heard it said that people without children are 'selfish'. I always counter that there's nothing more selfish than wanting to fill the world with mini versions of yourself. That usually shuts them up - or leads to a fight.
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
13 May 17
Totally agree with all you have said apart from mother teresa as I think she was a bit dodgy with some of her opinions and actions.
The man you describe sounds like a bit of a tool
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
13 May 17
Having read the Christopher Hitchens book 'Missionary Position', I agree with you - but in terms of people who are considered to have made a big contribution, she's probably a valid example of not letting childlessness stop you helping others.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
13 May 17
@boiboing That's true.
Having kids or not having kids is pretty much irrelevant.
Except those of us who pay tax fund child benefit for those that choose to have kids...so they should be greatful
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37355)
• Toccoa, Georgia
14 May 17
Oh, I totally agree with you! It is very offensive to me when someone thinks you are not a whole person if you never had kids. That is so wrong. I know people who have never had kids and they are good people who have contributed to good things in this world.
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
13 May 17
Too bad you can't fix stupid. This man obviously is clueless. Having children or not having children is not a measure of a persons abilities.
@JediYoda (1646)
• Samoa
14 May 17
You are absolutely right on your position/perspectives on the matter.
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
14 May 17
Thank you for that. I'm sure I'm not absolutely right but I think I'm not completely wrong. You are a wise Yoda.
