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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To have no time for ‘anti-human’ people?

214 replies

Myfavouritepenguin · 18/08/2023 13:09

I’ve seen it quite a lot recently- mostly on here rather than in real life admittedly. I’m referring to both the ‘I don’t like children people; I much prefer animals’ contingent as well as the ‘wouldn’t it be better if humans just died out’ approach.

I’ve been trying to pinpoint what it is that irks me, and I think it’s that this attitude seems like a slightly different version of “I’m not like other girls.” - an attempt to separate and elevate and basically look down on everyone else in your category.

The thing is, we are all human. Unless you are literally living off grid with wolves or whatever, you have not opted out of humanity. Whatever makes a human, that is what you are, and you are to some degree or other not only invested in but contributing to the whole operation, children and climate change included.

The answer to humanity’s ills and issues is not to reject everyone else who somehow isn’t as special and above humanity as these people seem to imagine they are!

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 18/08/2023 13:11

I always find the 'I hate humans, we should all die out ASAP, for the greater good, being alive and having children is sooo selfish' very very strange!

ShirleyPhallus · 18/08/2023 13:13

I’ve been trying to pinpoint what it is that irks me, and I think it’s that this attitude seems like a slightly different version of “I’m not like other girls.” - an attempt to separate and elevate and basically look down on everyone else in your category.

I get similarly irrationally annoyed with all the posters who say “it must just be me, I don’t like tea”, or some other completely bland middle of the road thing. Or calling them “sheeples” for doing the same thing as other people

it’s like people aren’t happy having similar opinions to other people, like they want to be absolutely unique and different to everyone else

SuperBurgers · 18/08/2023 13:13

I do really hate people. Buts thats because im a miserable loathsome ole bitch. So I accept its a me problem!

Jamtartforme · 18/08/2023 13:13

It’s usually that humans don’t like them so they try to get in there first…

SuperBurgers · 18/08/2023 13:14

Jamtartforme · 18/08/2023 13:13

It’s usually that humans don’t like them so they try to get in there first…

Yes, also this. My face has never fitted.

Ponoka7 · 18/08/2023 13:14

I can't stand it either. I agree that the world's population needs to drop. It's the lack of recognition how that person's life is enhanced because they've got people around them. I often think "good luck going to a hospital/restaurant staffed by dachshunds/parts/hamsters (or their choice of pet). I often wonder if these miseries consider what they add to their community.

TedMullins · 18/08/2023 13:14

I don’t think anyone who says that thinks they’re better or different to other humans. Of course they’re (we’re) still contributing to climate change, capitalism and all other modern ills. But it WOULD be better for the planet if humans as a species died out. I personally don’t understand why some people are so invested in thinking the human race must keep existing at all costs. Nobody has children for the altruistic purposes of furthering our species, it is an entirely selfish decision. Doesn’t make it wrong, but it is selfish!

thedancingbear · 18/08/2023 13:15

It's ironic that the OP has started a thread about hating a particular category of people...

Whatsthepoint1234 · 18/08/2023 13:15

I don’t like people - they stress me out and I always worry I’ve said the wrong thing about them. I’m in the process of having an autism assessment and my ds who’s autistic thinks the same. Some people are just introverts who don’t like people, we know we are human it’s just we don’t want to talk to them!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 18/08/2023 13:16

I wouldn't worry about it. They're none too keen on you in the first place, so I don't suppose they'll be that disappointed in your opinions of them.

Mamette · 18/08/2023 13:16

an attempt to separate and elevate and basically look down on everyone else in your category

Yes. It’s fine to enjoy the benefits of being at the pinnacle of evolution, but let’s just throw away 4m years of humanity scrabbling for survival because of lofty planet ideals.

It’s a bit like women who “aren’t feminists” but are fine to own property, vote and have jobs.

Verv · 18/08/2023 13:17

I prefer animals to children.
This is not a "pick me" statement, it's just factual.
I dont mind if other people prefer children to animals, so why the fuck would my preference get anyone else's knickers in a twist?

It's no different to preferring marmite over marmalade.

KimberleyClark · 18/08/2023 13:21

Why does this thread feel like yet another thinly veiled attack on the childfree?

Mamette · 18/08/2023 13:21

Nobody has children for the altruistic purposes of furthering our species, it is an entirely selfish decision. Doesn’t make it wrong, but it is selfish!

I couldn’t agree less! People have children because of biology pure and simple. The inherent biological drive to procreate. Remove all hormones and people would not have them, it’s a terrible idea on paper! All species have “children”. Eating and reproducing are the top things that all animals do, both driven by biology.

Bluevelvetsofa · 18/08/2023 13:21

I prefer people to animals. I accept that some people prefer animals to people. I don’t like watching football, but I do like watching dance. I accept that others are the opposite.

I would just prefer that we accepted the preferences of others, without shouting them down.

Idrankyourbananamilk · 18/08/2023 13:24

KimberleyClark · 18/08/2023 13:21

Why does this thread feel like yet another thinly veiled attack on the childfree?

Yeah, I thought this too.

Optionyougot · 18/08/2023 13:24

Surely if you don't like a subset (people who don't like children) and think that's "anti-human" you are also anti-human for having no time for that subset? There's an amazing irony and lack of self awareness here.

The impact on the environment if humans didn't exist is just a simple fact. Some people don't enjoy being around kids. The idea either of those are a "pick me" stance says more about your scope of experience than it does them.

Mamette · 18/08/2023 13:24

Personally I have nothing against child free people. I thought this thread was more about the attitude that people are a terrible blight on the planet.

I mean, we are. But we all are, just saying it doesn’t remove anyone’s own part it that, or “elevate” anyone out of it, as op said.

Myfavouritepenguin · 18/08/2023 13:26

thedancingbear · 18/08/2023 13:15

It's ironic that the OP has started a thread about hating a particular category of people...

I don’t see any irony here really. Firstly, I haven’t said I ‘hate’ anyone. But even if I had, I think singling out a group of people based on a specific thing they say/do is very different from trying to set yourself apart from all of humanity 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
AllProperTeaIsTheft · 18/08/2023 13:26

Mamette · 18/08/2023 13:21

Nobody has children for the altruistic purposes of furthering our species, it is an entirely selfish decision. Doesn’t make it wrong, but it is selfish!

I couldn’t agree less! People have children because of biology pure and simple. The inherent biological drive to procreate. Remove all hormones and people would not have them, it’s a terrible idea on paper! All species have “children”. Eating and reproducing are the top things that all animals do, both driven by biology.

The fact that people submit to their drive to procreate doesn't make it not selfish. That drive makes you want to have children. Therefore having children is doing what you want, which is inherently selfish. It's not as if humans have no choice about fulfilling the urge.

I'm not remotely anti-human and I have 2 children and have worked with thousands of them btw. I'm just saying there is nothing remotely altruistic about having children!

Idrankyourbananamilk · 18/08/2023 13:29

OP, I don’t like kids and I don’t want any. That doesn’t make me anti-human. You are making a false comparison there. I am overjoyed for my friends who have the (in their eyes) beautiful children they want. I appreciate that of people don’t have kids, the species does out. It just doesn’t need to be me.

Why should I have a child I don’t want and wouldn’t like? I’m not childfree to be cool. I don’t think it makes me different to other women (I’m not a girl). I’m exercising the right my grandmother didn’t have, because of contraception and women’s rights. I’m childfree because people who dislike children shouldn’t have them. Kids should be loved and wanted and cherished. Just not by me.

Idrankyourbananamilk · 18/08/2023 13:30

God the typos. Must not type angry! 😂

Myfavouritepenguin · 18/08/2023 13:30

Verv · 18/08/2023 13:17

I prefer animals to children.
This is not a "pick me" statement, it's just factual.
I dont mind if other people prefer children to animals, so why the fuck would my preference get anyone else's knickers in a twist?

It's no different to preferring marmite over marmalade.

It’s a bit different from preferring marmite when people say ‘I hate all children’ though isn’t it? I mean, for one thing, children aren’t a homogeneous mass like marmite. Imagine if someone said they hated all women…

Also, I wasn’t really talking about just preferring but actually rejecting humanity on mass.

OP posts:
Myfavouritepenguin · 18/08/2023 13:31

*en masse!

OP posts:
LadyOfTheCanyon · 18/08/2023 13:34

I'm child free as I actively don't like children. I do prefer animals but it's not a binary choice.

I'm ambivalent about the human race dying out. We're just a blip in the grand scheme of things, and I also like a pp don't get why people are so invested in having children when in the future there will be less need for people if AI continues on its current trajectory. Less food to feed everyone, less jobs to go round, terrifying water shortages, climate catastrophes on a horrific scale ( that appear to only just be getting started). Why would you want your children, or children's children to inherit this mess?

And yet here on MN people are cheerfully having 3 or 4 kids and driving them round in their massive 4X4s, but it's all ok because they're using string bags and recycling their milk cartons.