Do you have kids?

[Andrew NDB]

There shouldn't be any debates. Big G just needs to step in and make it happen.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Storm Eagle

She told me that one person told her that she's selfish for not having kids,

That...doesn't make any sense. Why would someone think a person is "selfish" for not having kids? I mean...do people think there's some rule everyone must create offspring?

[Sumac]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

That...doesn't make any sense. Why would someone think a person is "selfish" for not having kids? I mean...do people think there's some rule everyone must create offspring?

Religious ******** aside, some people genuinely believe that it's DUTY of family to make an offspring, because, they have obligations to their ancestors to continue the lineage and because they need to support country.

I think, I don't need to state how absurd both of those points are.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Guess we've done our part then. I am an only child and Mr D's brother has no children, so ours is the only child of either of our family lines. But she was adopted by others so she doesn't have our family name. I don't consider that of great importance, though I did choose to give her a name that reflects our Irish heritage as a reminder of where she came from, should she ever want to know.

Personally, I've always felt that many people put far too much meaning on a family name, when often historically the child did not even carry the "father's" blood. Matrilenial lines are the only certain ones, yet legal standing is generally based on the patrilenial side. Makes no sense to me.

[Sumac]

Originally Posted by MsMarvelDuckie

Guess we've done our part then. I am an only child and Mr D's brother has no children, so ours is the only child of either of our family lines. But she was adopted by others so she doesn't have our family name. I don't consider that of great importance, though I did choose to give her a name that reflects our Irish heritage as a reminder of where she came from, should she ever want to know.

Personally, I've always felt that many people put far too much meaning on a family name, when often historically the child did not even carry the "father's" blood. Matrilenial lines are the only certain ones, yet legal standing is generally based on the patrilenial side. Makes no sense to me.

Since all people originated from the same bunch of proto-humans in Africa, I consider all people on the Earth to be relatives, so I give less then a **** about family names. Especially since all of them are nothing, but fictional designations.

Also, I agree - the fact that most societies care about preserving only father's name is idiotic.

[CyberCubed]

Many people have the same or similar last names that aren't related too. I just typed in my last name to google and found like 10 other people in the U.S. alone with it who aren't related to me or my family. And my last name isn't common.

You type in some spanish name like, "Gonzales" in google, you'll get 10,000 results.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

Regardless of last names, we are all related.

Inbreeding was essential and inevitable for humans to survive and keep the population from dwindling. No matter what people's beliefs on the origins of life were, all mostly agreed on this.

Fun Fact: It has been estimated that historically, 80% of marriages have been between second cousins or closer. Today, atleast 10% of marriages are like that.

[TurtleWA]

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

Regardless of last names, we are all related.

Inbreeding was essential and inevitable for humans to survive and keep the population from dwindling. No matter what people's beliefs on the origins of life were, all mostly agreed on this.

Fun Fact: It has been estimated that historically, 80% of marriages have been between second cousins or closer. Today, atleast 10% of marriages are like that.

Yeah survival and population growth as well as property and wealth. Marriage to a cousin kept assets in the family. If two families wanted to become in-laws but didn’t have two sets of children available for marriage a contract could be drafted between one son or daughter and a family dog. Love is a relatively new concept for marriage.

http://www.stephaniecoontz.com/articles/article25.htm

[plastroncafe]

The book referenced at the end of that article is really great.
"Marriage, A History: How Love Conquered Marriage" (goodreads)

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

Fun Fact: It has been estimated that historically, 80% of marriages have been between second cousins or closer. Today, atleast 10% of marriages are like that.

I don't think that's true now that there's 8 billion people on Earth. In ancient times up to say the 1800's sure, but from 1900+ onward? There's just too many people in the world now for everyone to be related by distant cousins.

I live in New York with 8 million people. I find it hard to believe most of these 8 million people have any relation to me or my distant relatives.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Many people have the same or similar last names that aren't related too. I just typed in my last name to google and found like 10 other people in the U.S. alone with it who aren't related to me or my family. And my last name isn't common.

You type in some spanish name like, "Gonzales" in google, you'll get 10,000 results.

That's because a lot of surnames are of patronymic origin. In the case of Gonzales, I assume it means "son of Gonzalo". In a country like Iceland, for example, people still adopt this practice. Hence why Icelanders tend to have names such as Tor Torsson for example.

So no, just because your surname or one of your surnames is Gonzalez, Johnson, Fernandes, wtv. doesn't mean you're related to someone bearing that/those names at all.

Also, a lot of last names are also related to jobs/professions Miller for example. And Miller can be translated into many different languages. Müller in German. Ferreira in Portuguese. Herrera in Spanish. I assume Ferrara in Italian?

And ofc, names of certain "nationalities" spread to other countries often. I know people who have names of French, Spanish and Italian origin, but are as Portuguese as I am, and have no foreign relatives up to their great parents generation.

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I don't think that's true now that there's 8 billion people on Earth. In ancient times up to say the 1800's sure, but from 1900+ onward? There's just too many people in the world now for everyone to be related by distant cousins.

I live in New York with 8 million people. I find it hard to believe most of these 8 million people have any relation to me or my distant relatives.

Didn't science prove that people with blue eyes were all related somehow? I remember reading something like that. I guess it's because it's a recessive gene and thus it's more likely to pop up through inbreeding?

And who cares if the guy walking past you on the street tomorrow is a long distance relative of yours? Most people don't really consider distant relatives as family. Notice how tons of people only met a distant cousin or two once or twice in their lives?

As for cousin marriage, in some European countries that is still legal. And it's also legal in Japan, I believe. But that being said, I don't know anyone that has married their cousin. Clearly it's not a common practice these days.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I don't think that's true now that there's 8 billion people on Earth. In ancient times up to say the 1800's sure, but from 1900+ onward? There's just too many people in the world now for everyone to be related by distant cousins.

Wouldn't the odds just go up?

[FredWolfLeonardo]

All humans who are not your ancestor, your descendant, your aunt, your uncle, your niece or nephew is a cousin to some degree.

So ToTheNines married his cousin.

[Mad Dog McMutt]

I almost had a child a little over 10 years ago, but my ex had a miscarriage. It turned out to be for the best in my opinion.

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

All humans who are not your ancestor, your descendant, your aunt, your uncle, your niece or nephew is a cousin to some degree.

So ToTheNines married his cousin.

Hey if you’re trying to Jedi mind trick me out of being horny, it will never work.

[Prowler]

I never understood why when I was a kid/teenager, saying you never wanted to have kids was met with chuckles, laughs or even sad reactions from others. It's like no one took you seriously for saying that. "You'll change your mind as you get older".

Well, I'm now 35 years old and still have zero kids and definitely still don't want any either.

[Coola Yagami]

I'll always be my own kid.

To be fair, it's almost a crime to bring a kid into the current state of the world.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

I'll always be my own kid.

To be fair, it's almost a crime to bring a kid into the current state of the world.

If anything, people who want kids are more selfish than those of us who don't want them are.

A lot of people don't have the financial means or good parental skills to have kids. Yet, they have them, and then those kids will suffer from their parents irresponsible actions.

Call me mean, whatever, but this is a very strong argument for abortion. I'd rather see many more fetuses getting destroyed than seeing many more people being born into poverty or broken homes.