Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!caip!topaz!husc6!seismo!rochester!cornell!batcomputer!olson From: olson@batcomputer.TN.CORNELL.EDU (olson) Newsgroups: net.women,net.social Subject: Re: Re: more of the same and a related topic Message-ID: <887@batcomputer.TN.CORNELL.EDU> Date: Fri, 15-Aug-86 10:16:25 EDT Article-I.D.: batcompu.887 Posted: Fri Aug 15 10:16:25 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 21-Aug-86 06:42:02 EDT References: <1056@watdragon.UUCP> <15040@ucla-cs.ARPA> Reply-To: olson@batcomputer.UUCP (olson) Organization: Theory Center, Cornell University, Ithaca NY Lines: 82 Xref: watmath net.women:12184 net.social:1354 In article <690@uvacs.UUCP> mac@uvacs.UUCP (Pat Wilson) writes: >... >> the reasons for not wanting to have alot (or a few kids).....So, I have a >> general question for women out there....Are there any of you who are willing >> to have more than two children? >> >> _Glen >> ihnp4!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!ssc-bee!fuji > >Well, I *think* I'm willing. I'd like four - this might be an overreaction > >Pat Wilson >UVa Medical School >UUCP: ...!cbosgd!uvacs!krebs!paw3c > ...!decvax!mcnc!ncsu!uvacs!krebs!paw3c >CSNET: krebs!paw3c@virginia Um, ah, one question ... Is it necessary that all these children be made by you? Would you be willing aquire some of these children by adoption? Since I find this to be a fairly serious point, let me back up to the beginning. In my own ruminating on families, I have felt that given the right cicumstances (ie. adequate economics and the ability to help all the people involved be 'nice' people) large families can be pleasent. On the other hand, there are really a rather lot of people in the world, and I shudder to think what it will be like when I'm 65 or 75. If you think that some of our elderly have trouble getting by now, think what it might be like in your old age. (being crowded out by the young ones) Thus, I find that I can generate with in myself two quite strong desires, one to have a large family and one not to. In occasional conversations with other people I have found that they tend to come out for one or the other position. (Of course there are many other reasons to take a stance, but I'm trying to keep things simple for the moment, and I don't think this limit will effect what I'm going to say.) Fortunately, like most dilemmas I have come across (especially those with large emotional content) they are only apparent. After some though it occured to me that by simply changing the way one aquires a large family the conflict disappears. Adopt. Then you can have a large family without increasing the number of people around (and you might even help some child have a better life then it(=he/she) might have otherwise). Of course there are problems with this view. 1) We can't all adopt, where will the babies come from? I don't seriously think this will ever be a problem. If it is, we can explore other life styles, such as tribes to fulfil our emotional need of large family groups. 2) We don't want to raise any children we haven't made ourselfs. At the moment I'm more likely to shed heat than light on this so I'll let it pass. 3) There are probably other problems ... Let me end with a (possibly selfish) plea. As you look for a way to satisfy your emotional needs (an important activity) please try to find solutions that take account of (possible unpleasent) constraints. There are a lot of people in the world, and if every one out there makes more than 2, they are going to make my life very unpleasent eventually (if not make their own unpleasent). If not this generation, then next. (Of course you ask, what about me. How many kids do I have, or will I have. Well, chances are I never will, 'cause I still haven't learned how to relate to others in a close way, let alone in a way to put me on a marrying footing with anyone. None the less Should I have kids, I will try to produce only one. If by some chance I should produce two, then it is time to have a vasectemy (?sp?) If more are desirable then I'll adopt.) Todd Olson ARPA: olson@lasspvax -- or -- olson%lasspvax.tn.cornell.edu@cu-arpa UUCP: {ihnp4,allegra,...}!cornell!lasspvax!olson US Mail: Dept Physics, Clark Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-2501 (At most one natural child per couple world wide until world population is below 750million then at most two.) -- Todd Olson ARPA: olson@lasspvax -- or -- olson%lasspvax.tn.cornell.edu@cu-arpa UUCP: {ihnp4,allegra,...}!cornell!lasspvax!olson US Mail: Dept Physics, Clark Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-2501