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

[BirdPlanet]

Increasingly I've heard people saying some variation of the statement 'I don't like children'. I don't see why this is in any way acceptable. You wouldn't say that you 'don't like' any other category of person. If I said I didn't like the elderly or middle-aged women as a group, I'd get slapped down, yet somehow people think it's okay to talk about children as if they aren't human beings. Is it because they can't speak or advocate for themselves? Children aren't some kind of homogeneous entity. They have personalities and different temperaments, just as adults do.

Inevitably people will say that it's used as a shorthand for disliking the behaviour of some children, but even so, that’s more of a reflection of poor parenting than anything else.

DH's sister doesn't like children. She doesn't have any herself. And is single.

No - I'm saying that saying derogatory things about an entire group of people changes how people think about them and how people treat them.

This is a fact - there's countless examples throughout history. And children are a vulnerable group - unable to have power or make their own choices or live independently, reliant on others to survive. They're very vulnerable.

I think I've struck a nerve because you've started just insulting me rather than actually arguing the point that it's apparently fine to say you dislike an entire group of vulnerable people.

There are so many ‘adult only’ places - hotels, cruises, that I guess that means there’s also a lot of people who don’t like children in their spaces. I wouldn’t say I dislike children, but I dislike them being in my personal space, which is maybe what some people mean when they say they don’t like them?

YABU, Who are you to police what people say?

I don’t really like cats . I also don’t really like children.

It’s only when you travel abroad, or spend time with people from other cultures that you realise how weird the British views towards children are.
It’s as if Brits would prefer a fully grown adult to pop out at birth, and anything before this is unacceptable.
We’ve all been around those types who ‘tut’ at just the mere sight of a child, and this seems to be more and more common sadly.
I love visiting countries which have a more accepting view of kids and families - it reminds me that the UK is abnormal on this topic and that it’s not the norm in most other places.

Its not that I don’t like them, I just find children boring. I have to make a huge effort with nieces and nephews. I genuinely have no interest in them.

It's weird like people who dont like animals, just because you choose to not have children or animals saying you dislike them or hate them is just weird and a massive red flag

I think this is fine though it's more those people who say they hate kids or dislike them having no interest in things isn't an issue

It’s a bit of a strange thing to say… children have their parents, extended families and teachers/carers to look after/care for them…

‘I don’t like being around children who are irritating’ is better. Some kids are great to be around, some are utterly draining.

Okay, you are exactly the reason I rarely venture out of the feminist board. The woman there debate (often robustly) and don't tolerate people twisting words and hyperbole. I actually read your post until I got to 'hatred of a particular vulnerable group'
People are saying, they don't like annoying kids, don't like twatty old people pushing in, don't like obnoxious men spreading themselves on public transport.
I didn't invent anything.. I mentioned behaviours. As far as I'm aware ginger people can't do anything because they the are ginger. They might be absolute arseholes, but the colour of their hair is irrelevant. If you reply to this, I suggest you come up with a better argument

@OneWildBee No, we’re talking about people who say ‘O don’t like kids’, none of the caveats you’ve invented - you can’t just make up they don’t mean xyz ones, the OP is literally referring to the generalisation of ‘I don’t like kids’.
So I’m asking that poster who keeps saying it’s an opinion to dislike a particular societal group where the line is? How do you police which groups are acceptable to vocalise your disdain for and which aren’t? Because they’re saying that it’s okay to publicly share your hatred for one particular vulnerable group, so which groups are we allowed to dislike vocally and which aren’t and who gets to decide where the line is?

Posted without quoting the above

Kids can’t do anything about being kids either, they might be absolute arseholes but their age is irrelevant.

Now YOU come up with a better argument, eh? Because why is what about what you have said about people with red hair different to what I have said about kids, hm?

My point, which was to another poster originally, was about vocalising your feelings publicly and where you draw the line. I am asking then about the practice of vocalising dislike for certain groups. You have jumped on this and are missing the point that I am actually making.

Saying 'i don't like kids' is pretty much the same as saying ' I don't like adults/people'

It is in no way comparable to : I don't like jewish/disabled/gay/. Children / adults.

Hatred for vulnerable groups? Give your head a wobble

So what was the difference between our two statements, huh? They were exactly the same, which somewhat vindicates my argument.

Again, you’re not listening to anything I am saying. Yes, it IS like saying ‘I hate old people’ or ‘I hate women’ or ‘I hate a person with this particular characteristic’ and I am asking about where you draw the line to vocalising that in certain situations. If you have nothing to comment upon the VOCALISATION of these views, then go take your argument to someone else because you’ve shared your opinion with me, it wasn’t what I was asking about in the slightest. So thank you for sharing it, but it is irrelevant to my point.

@OneWildBee I've actually missed a few posts and I think my comment was in response to someone else's post. I do apologise for responding in haste. We do a really agree . I feel a bit silly now

Of course people could say they don’t like children. Children can be annoying and quite difficult for people to relate to. FWIW I like children and work as high school teacher so spend my days around them but I have allowed my DS9 to have play dates etc and more that one 7/8/9 year old is HARD WORK! For me personally as well, I’m not too keen on babies, they’re cute and all but I’m not someone who would ever want to just hold someone’s baby unless they need to me to, to help out.

The people hopping on here to say they, too, don't like children - you are not really engaging with OP's argument.

Do you consider you would also be well within your rights to state that you didn't like old people, or you didn't like black people or gay men or whatever? You would not have a problem with somebody making statements like this?

Because children are a diçerse group of people linked by one characteristic. None of you are explaining why you believe you are entitled to stereotype them and speak of them disparagingly......

Depending on how we define "child", there could even potentially be people on here reading this thread - I am sure some kids occasionally come across the forum. So you are fine, genuinely, with them reading an expression of your hatred towards them?

It is weird, as well as quite wrong. I work with kids and know absolutely loads who don't fit any of the stereotypes being aired on here - plenty who are calm, quiet, helpful and predictable in their conduct.

It might help to read the thread - I've already said way back that I only have one child who is currently a baby who can't even talk. So no, I don't think my child has gotten on anyone's nerves, except maybe by existing? I don't know.

Thanks, you've summarised it really well. People are actually just proving my point by continuing to say they don't like children - that it's okay to admit to disliking an entire group of distinct vulnerable humans with their own personalities, who can't defend or advocate for themselves.

I don’t like children, so what? doesn’t mean I’d treat any of them badly or act like the child catcher. I just prefer not to be around them, big deal. It’s perfectly acceptable to hold an opinion that doesn’t match yours.

Not hatred! Surely it's fine to not like/not enjoy something? If it helps I'm sure people who don't like children also dislike other groups of people (groups of chavs, football fans etc)

@Ilovelurchers Depending on how we define "child", there could even potentially be people on here reading this thread - I am sure some kids occasionally come across the forum

Depending on how we define child? Seriously?.
I assume small children won't be scrolling Mumsnet. I'd be surprised if teenagers are.

If you reach any further you may touch the moon.

Mumsnet is bonkers sometimes

People are also not engaging with how socially acceptable it is to say you dislike children. There may be those who dislike women or the elderly or gay people etc etc, but this is not socially acceptable to say. When it comes to children though, it seems perfectly fine to say you dislike them, as if they're not even humans (they've been compared to animals and inanimate objects quite a few times on this thread) - look how many people have said it on this thread!