To think it's unacceptable to say you don't like children?

I don’t like most children. They’re mainly irritating. My own DC are mostly lovely and a tiny bit irritating 😂

Totally agree. But then I don’t much like old people….

edited to clarify I’m joking!

But finding a group difficult is very different to saying you don't like them.

That’s what most people do say. But people interpret that as not liking them.

I think they would be better saying that they are not interested in having children, rather than not liking them, which would be less likely to offend people.

This.

I don't like elderly people and, with a few exceptions, I don't really enjoy their company. Is it unacceptable to say that?

Well yes for us to be extinct would be for the planet’s best interests but…. I enjoy life too much and want my children to enjoy their lives too for me to remotely consider prioritising what is in the planet’s best interests re the existence of humans!

worth as that would be

Yes, should have qualified. From the planet's (and every single other living thing on it) pov.

I agree op. Yes kids can be annoying but they’re also hilarious. You want the truth? Ask a child !

Well it’s not for anyone to say what another person can and can’t like. I don’t think it’s particularly socially acceptable to say it out loud though. You’re right, people don’t say they dislike other groups in society and where they do, it definitely is not acceptable, I’m thinking of racism or homophobia. I know people will say ‘oh you can’t compare not liking children to those things’ but actually why not? Children are a group of people in society! The key thing is saying it loud is what makes it problematic.

I guess some people just might not be comfortable with how full on children can be, or might not be comfortable communicating with them or struggle to relate to them.

I'm not sure badly behaved= badly brought up. DS can be badly behaved. He has firm boundaries and discipline but it doesn't stop him.

I don't much like children. And there's huge swathes of people I'd also say I don't like. Doesn't mean I'm entitled to a world where they don't exist. Same as I don't like jelly. I'm not entitled to a world in which it isn't on any menu.

ah, now that's a different discussion! 😂

If you’re happy in life, excited for the adventures and prospects that await your children - then yes a bad thing

I am guessing not so for you?

or were you very earnestly meaning from the planet pov

You are missing the point entirely

I have a child, but I don't really like any other children. I lie though and pretend to for social reasons. But generally, hard work, poor conversationalist, self centred, etc.

Extinction of the human race is a bad thing?

There’s been quite a few suggestions on this thread that anyone who says they don’t like children is a bit thick.
wouldn’t the exact opposite be true?
children don’t offer any information to most adults that they don’t already know, so it’s a bit like talking to an adult who doesn’t have anything interesting to say. Why would someone who doesn’t like a group of people who don’t have anything interesting to say, be thick? If one was to be unkind, but only in keeping with the comments I’m referring to, you could argue that if you do enjoy the conversation of children, it’s you that might be a bit thick?

Advanced societies

You see the trap you have fallen into is not recognising that societies themselves decide whether they are an advanced society. There is no such thing in reality. Or a backward society.

This is a great point.

Animals are far superior

It's OK to not like dogs.

Some people think they're scary
Some people think they're dirty
Some people think they're attention seeking
Some people think they're noisy
Some people think they have disgusting toilet habits.

Oh, sorry, the last bits were about children.

You have them
You love them

I won't actively harm them

But why should I have to LIKE them.

I don´t like children. I don´t hate them, but I don't want to have anything to do with them either.

Why am I on this board? Because it's largely female posters (until the AI bots take over) and it's gender-critical. There are not many places only the internet left where you can say that.

As for the comparison with saying "I don't like old-people/women", I consider that a false equivalence. Children won't be children forever, but while they are they are their parents' responsibility. Old people will be old till they die and women will be women till they die. Women and old people are also independent (mostly), therefore this is no comparison at all.

‘ on the whole I wouldn't choose to spend time with children’

this is true and a good point. Surely every adult in the land if they were say going on holiday as a single person in a group of strangers and were offered the choice of two groups

1. group 1 - you and 10 children
2. group 2 - you and 10 adults

suggesting that all adults prefer the company of other adults given the choice and whilst most don’t actually voice ‘I don’t like kids’ it’s actually true that whilst it isn’t that they hate them, they would never choose to seek out their company.

I don't really like children. But that's probably because so many children these days are noisy,badly behaved brats who think they are the centre of the universe. I have one DD of my own, and a lovely DGD and I love them both dearly. I was never particularly maternal,that's probably why I stopped at one! And I couldn't imagine never having a child. I think as I've got older,I've got a lot less tolerant of people's shit (and people in general tbh!) so I noticed more when kids are behaving badly. But... I don't go around announcing to everyone I meet that I don't like kids. The only people irl that know are my 3 closest friends, and my DD and DGD. One of my friends said that if I don't like children,why did I have one? I said it's different when they're you're own. She doesn't really understand it,she's baby and small child 'mad',whereas I prefer animals! I will coo over a dog or cat the same way a lot of people coo over a baby.