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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be amazed at how many people are still having 4 or more children?

587 replies

JackShit · 26/03/2015 11:57

Yikes! I'm going to get a new one ripped here, but this has been bugging me of late.

Our planet isn't in a particularly marvelous state. Overpopulation is a very real problem. We are responsible for the legacy we leave our children and surely part of loving them is to be concerned for their future quality of life on this planet.

I know there are a lot of people with larger families on MN and I need to understand why, in full knowledge of the facts, people continue to have so many children? Just read a thread on facebook where a woman was proudly stating she has 11! 11 ffs!

I don't go for the argument about some having only one or two so it cancels out and I also don't believe in replacing our ageing population problem with an even bigger one.

So what am I missing here? Do people just not really give a shit? Does biology take over?

I have 1 btw.

OP posts:
lemonade30 · 26/03/2015 22:37

what can I say?

live by the (pork) sword, die by the sword.

you initiated this to rip the arse out of those with more children than you have arbitrarily determined is acceptable and now you're attempting emotional blackmail?

with all the respect I can muster,
try that shit on a bona fide dickhead.
I can't pay it credence.

Original poster
JackShit · 26/03/2015 22:37

Oh dearSad

OP posts:
idiuntno57 · 26/03/2015 22:39

The point is that we can no more all have 1 than all have 4. So we all have however many we think we can manage both financially and emotionally and all is well

this is sense

madreloco · 26/03/2015 22:41

Op you didn't answer why you think its ok to comment on the number of children other people have when you think its so unacceptable for other people to comment on the number you have.

Don't you think its a tad hypocritical?

dorisdog · 26/03/2015 22:41

Population in the UK isn't an issue - birth rates are declining overall. (Ageing populations mean population numbers are technically still rising, but that's due to people living longer, not too many babies).

Global population is predicted to peak in about 2100 and then decline (at about 9bn, I think). The bigger issue is not numbers of people, but their carbon emissions. And we (western people) are responsible for most of the historic and present emissions, So we should probably get building some renewables!

Middlerose · 26/03/2015 22:41

I'm surprised God hasn't been mentioned yet actually.

idiuntno57 · 26/03/2015 22:42

middlerose I think he has - albeit obliquely

myredcardigan · 26/03/2015 22:43

JackShit, your posts come across as if you've not quite reconciled yourself emotionally to the fact that you only have one and therefore, thinking there's a very good reason why it's a good idea just to have 1 is making you feel better. That's not a criticism but it is how your posts come across when they slide from indignation to clear upset.

Original poster
JackShit · 26/03/2015 22:43

madre commenting is one thing, but the attacks I'm getting about having one are a little on the extreme side now. I mean, 'indescribably shit'?

OP posts:
lemonade30 · 26/03/2015 22:44

Satan has the best threads middlerose.

CheerfulYank · 26/03/2015 22:44

The point is that we can no more all have 1 than all have 4. So we all have however many we think we can manage both financially and emotionally

I think we should just end it there really.

SpanishMoss · 26/03/2015 22:44

Best ask the children how they cope emotionally,when they are drowning in siblings.

sosix · 26/03/2015 22:45

I never knew my brood was give such thought by others. Confused
I was perhaps to busy massaging my evergrowing ego snd parading my dcs about.

CheerfulYank · 26/03/2015 22:45

Jack that poster was speaking of her own childhood. It doesn't mean it's going to be your child's experience. :)

lemonade30 · 26/03/2015 22:45

yes In my experience it's indescribably shit.
sorry, did you want that sugar coated?

how arrogant that you suppose its an attack on you rather than a comment on my experience.

sosix · 26/03/2015 22:46

My dh is an only and he thinks its shit too.

Original poster
JackShit · 26/03/2015 22:46

You posted it to hurt me though?

OP posts:
idiuntno57 · 26/03/2015 22:46

to be fair jackshit you set about to 'understand' why people could possibly have more than one to justify your position as a parent of one.

You are quite mean about large families then get upset about the criticism levelled at your position because you perceive it to be below the belt. Lives by the sword dies by the sword (no pun intended lemonade) and all that

Original poster
JackShit · 26/03/2015 22:46

Fucking hell Sad

OP posts:
sosix · 26/03/2015 22:47

Today 22:46 JackShit

You posted it to hurt me though?

So its ok for you to say hurtful things about our broods? Wow

lemonade30 · 26/03/2015 22:47

no. I posted it for posterity.

If it hurts you perhaps thats something which you should reflect upon.

Original poster
JackShit · 26/03/2015 22:48

hmmm, but I haven't been abusive! Some of the posts towards me have. There's the difference.

OP posts:
sosix · 26/03/2015 22:48

Best ask the children how they cope emotionally,when they are drowning in siblings.

Best ask onlies this too when they are well alone

madreloco · 26/03/2015 22:50

I don't think you should be getting personally attacked, but you started this thread, and you know that its quite insulting to people with 4 or more children. You meant it to be, and you knew people who agreed with you would also post insults to larger families.
SO I think its a bit much for you to be surprised and appalled that anyone would insult you back.

Let's not pretend it was just a theoretical argument. Those of us with large families are not theoretical.

lemonade30 · 26/03/2015 22:50

yep as I am at the age of 30.
dead father, possibly (terminally) ill mother.

They had me at 26/27 respectively.
For posterity.

It is indeed shit.

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