Why I Will Never Have a Child - Antinatalism and ethics 

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From a young age I always wonder why anyone would want to bring kids into this cruel world. Life is not good.

Most people don’t enjoy parenting. They lie and say they do. My parents didn’t and it showed.

Most people don't even care about you and your future children anyway. But they do feel offended when you tell them that you don't want to procreate. Just like when people get upset about abortion, but won't be as triggered, when discussing children dying of starvation and other terrible disasters.

My main reason for not procreating is the fact that I have mental/physical health issues that I wouldn't want to risk passing on to my children. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if my child's or children's quality of life was abysmal as mine.

Child-free is when people don’t have children, while an anti-natalist has a moral issue with procreation. An anti-natalist may adopt or have foster children, therefore would be a parent and not child-free. A child-free person may be fully supportive of their friends and family procreating, having no moral issue with it.

I'm 33 asian female who used to think that I will have children one day. I did a lot of journaling and diving deep, then I listed the pros and cons of choosing to have a child and the list on the cons ended up being much longer than the pros.... I really hope one day this talk won't be controversial anymore with more people speaking up openly.

I actually wish I had never been born. Who would want to be brought into a world such as this one? I remember saying to my Dad that the equations of life dont add up. He asked me what I meant. I said you had five minutes off pleasure and I've had 50 years of misery. I can see your point he said. You have to remember we are not asked of we want to be born and given the choice how many people would actually say yes. Not many I bet

I know a mother who had three sons, and she raised them and gave them love and everything they needed when they were children. And when she divorced her abusive, ex husband and fought in court with him, her adolescent boys, sided with their father and they threw their own mother out of the house and kicked her out to be homeless. Even though she gave birth to them and spent most of her life taking care of them. Now she lives in an apartment by herself and she sees her sons once a week due to the judge listening to her sons wanting to live with their father and not their mother. Just because you have children, doesn't mean they gonna take care of you and love you the same way you loved them.

I also enjoy my money, freedom, and time alone. My best friend has to hide in the bathroom to have time to herself from her kids. No thanks.

Growing up my mother always told me she regretted walking down the aisle. I'm 47 now and never had kids and never wanted to.

"If we really love our child, we should consider how being born would affect them" - yes agree. How does one ask a child to deal with and accept the existance of racism, pollution, diseases, inequality, war, death, poverty, bullying, lying, violence etc. in the world? I find it hard even to deal with these myself sometimes, and I won't think about bringing a life into a world like this, ESPECIALLY if I love them 💕

I gave always known I never wanted children. Ever since I was 15. I have always thought it was physically gross and I do not feel a deep connection to children. I tried for years to get sterilized. Always denied. Always told I would change my mind. Always spoken to like I'm a child who doesn't know my own mind. So, here I am years later having avoided relationships because I never wanted to risk having a child. I have spent my time trying to make the world better for other people's children. I have two god-children and I love them. They are enough for me.

A lot of older people seem to be proud and self righteous that they struggled to build a life and survived grinding poverty and all the rest of it, as if it's something to be proud of. I do not expect life to be without grief but it is simply pointless unless you are guaranteed a reasonable amount of happiness.

I am a female and I used to want children when I was younger. Now I think having a child is unethical. A child will suffer at one time or another. A child will cause others' suffering eventually, be it on purpose or not, direct or indirect. Lastly, there are almost always children up for adoption, living in orphanages. People who choose to make their "own" kids over these orphans are inherently being selfish. There is no shortage of humans on the world. Some would argue that the world is overpopulated and we need less people. A child is another human consuming more stuff, creating more waste, and perpetuates the economy's machine. I don't shame people for having children. I just lie and say I'm happy for them.

As Shopenauer said in so many words, existence is an inherently negative experience. I know I've suffered my entire life.

I always say that I love my children too much to have them. Up until my early 40's I heard people asking and wanting me to have kids. And I've been shamed and criticized most of my life for not wanting to be a mother. It's nice to see other vegans that are also choosing to not have children. I believe that veganism and antinatalism go hand in hand. Great video. Thank you!

I agree with you. No point in having kids when the majority of young people are working harder than ever yet living in a rubbish flat. Poor people who breed keep making rich landlords richer

Definitely never going to. My unresolved traumas would be passed on to my offspring. That would be soul murder.

Not having children is extremely intelligent. All you have to do is take a look at the state of the world right now to know that it would be a terrible imposition to put on someone and it's not going to get any better. I've known since I was very young that I did not want children and as a 27 year-old adult it still makes a lot of logical sense not to. Life is hell for most of the general population on this planet and very few are actually lucky enough to live a comfortable life. Even if you are lucky, we all still die in the end (which won't be pleasant) so what exactly is the point of going through all of the suffering of life anyway??? Thank you for saying this. We need more people our age to preach this message. I hope you make more videos I just subscribed!

As an 18 year old female, I've been told things like: -you'll grow out of it, you're too young now. -whats wrong with you?? -once you find a boyfriend you'll change your mind for sure. -why would you deprive yourself of such happiness? -having a child is the most beautiful thing in life. It's really quite frustrating to be told this over and over and not be able to explain myself to them. I've been trying to do research and have strong arguments that back up my views before saying anything inaccurate. Some people even believe I see myself as irresponsible or lack the skills needed to raise a child but they couldn't be more wrong. Thanks for making this video, I feel understood and more knowledgeable.

1. I love sleeping, soo no kids for me

Ive been through from a lowest shit experience in my life. Gotten abused by my parents, death of my parents, shamed, bullied, not welcomed by my relatives, shames due to my failures, broken hearted and used by my ex, struggled to live with a small salary, been desperate, looked down by people, insulted and shamed again in my companies, fought with different people , witnessing people that turn their back on me, being stupid and irresponsible with my pets,witnessing people who betrayed me, ive gone hungry for days because i have no money, insecure most of my life for not having enough and alone because no one is actually there for me in genuine. Up until now, i get worser that i come to a point not everyone in this world is lucky and even if you work hard , circumstances is that youd probably still end up in the lowest point .I started to always think of existence. I somehow come to realize that whatever people do we will still keep striving and running in a maze that we dont know about and we die and leave our contributions Achievements money fame , we all just perish and pass again to another human being. Ive been sufferring too much that i do not want kids to open their eyes with this cruel world. Yes some kids can handle it and is strong but there are kids too who cannot help themselves but be on a weaker side.

There has never been a point in my life where I wanted a child. I am now 30, and I still stand strong in my stance. I grew up in Foster Care, and I feel like that shaped a lot of my experience. Although at a young age I was more Tom boyish, and never had interest in baby dolls or girlie things. I’m not sure if it’s something in my DNA that makes me adverse to child bearing, but I don’t feel anything pulling me towards motherhood. Now I did have a negative childhood, but I pin my antinatalist views on my own experience & intelligence in life. I’m also an existential nihilist. I struggle with the idea of bringing life into this purposeless world that is aware of their own mortality. Regardless of the pleasures & suffering in this world it all comes to an end, and sometimes it’s genetically horrific. Aside from genetic diseases, we all eventually suffer some kind of painful end. If it’s not some random event that happens inbetween living our life, it’s the slow dying of our organs & bodies. Being aware of our own soon demise is terrifying. I can’t imagine imposing that onto someone else. It’s such a heavy weight to carry. I also don’t know what type of person I’m bringing into this world, or how they will handle their existence. It’s too much for me to handle. Main reasons aside you give good points, life is so short. Raising a child is a huge responsibility & will take up the majority of the remainder of your life. Maybe others find comfort in parenting, but it terrifies me. The one life I have, I want to be selfish. I want to live it through me and me only. I don’t want to spend my days chucking away pathing a path for anyone other than myself. Having a child I would end up spending the rest of my days investing in their well being and neglecting mine. That’s just something I’m not willing to do.

I don’t want none. I don’t feel like getting pregnant and doing all that. I just don’t care. I don’t care about ever being a mother.. . Why would you want to relive your childhood!? You already did the things your child will be doing. It’s like a re-run.

Much respect to you. Society, family, religion tells us to have children,. To step outside this brainwashing deserves respect.

As a woman I never wanted children due to the evils of multinational corporations and the state. Children have to grow up in a world being tax slaves and slaves to multinational corporations. I refuse to subject another human to that. I always wished I was never born because this world is a feeding frenzy filled with suffering.

Marries Spends joyful honeymoon period Honeymoon period ends Life gets dull or boring Solution: *Child*

I find that supporting causes like birth control access, abortion rights and death with dignity are in a sense also supportive of the Antinatalist position. Great video!

I declared I'd never reproduce at age five--I had a friend who was adopted, and I thought this was a very sensible route for parenting if one wanted to parent--and by the time I was your age, people stopped questioning my stance. I discovered VHEMT as a thirty-something in 2008, and I felt my stance objectively confirmed. I like children and always wanted to foster; I have spent long periods of my life taking care of other people's children and am a certified Montessorian. But I always felt that adding additional people to the Earth was _unnecessary._ I am a "soft" antinatalist, but people assessing us don't make the distinction between hard and soft versions, I have found. I draw the line at efilism, mind you. ThanksForPosting.

I agree. Why continue the cycle of suffering? Life is not worth the suffering.

My antinatalism lead me to veganism. They both are very much connected. I dont want to become the cause of suffering of humans nor animals due to my life choices.

On top of that parents expect their kids to behave or live their life in a certain way especially in a collectivistic culture. It could be even called as 'slavery '. The concept of antinatalism or being childfree cannot be denied if you could think about it logically and without any societal pressure.

Grind which lasts 80yrs along with suffering and all kind of decease just to satisfy parent is always a harm for the child!

Glad I’m no longer the only antinatalist I know of in Sydney 👏🏻

Thank you so much for 500 subscribers! I'm humbled that this many people are interested in hearing what I have to say. This video has been by far my most popular, and so I plan on making more antinatalist content in the future, among other things. Stay excellent folks.

Even King Solomon himself with all the wisdom that he had, all the treasures, all the greatness. He looked at the world and said(I paraphrase) “vanity upon vanity.” “It’s all worthless.” Then why should children be brought into this world to toil and toil at the end of it all die? Why? As an African when I say I don’t want kids I get crucified for that. Wish me luck guys! 😩

I appreciate that you bring up the gender divide on the issue. As a woman who has never wanted children I have consistently been met with disdain, disbelief, or even pity when I've told people. I will never forget the driving instructor I met when I was 16 - a fellow child free woman who was the first person to believe and validate my views, and still one of only a handful of people who has responded with acceptance. So glad to have met a partner who is perhaps more of an antinatalist than I am. :P

I don't want to bring an innocent human being into this endless suffering. This is because I also wish I was never born, so it would be so cruel to potentially subject another human being to that misery. But I would love to raise and nurture a child that already exist, so I'll be adopting definitely

No matter what angle you look at it from, it only makes sense not to have children! This is not a popular opinion in Hispanic community that I come from. But I know it's right thing to do!!

Adoption exists. Instead of creating new problem(new human) you give parent(yourself) to a child who needs it right now.

You're so gutsy for making this video, showing your face and name... AN needs more people like you coming out :)

Right to die should be worldwide for anyone who wants to die, no need for reasoning and stupid talk about how life is a gift.

I’m in Brisbane Australia and I’m childfree and an antinalism

I often consider deciding to have a child as the ultimate gamble: you really have no idea what your children are going to be like, how their lives are going to turn out or how the decision will affect your own. Although I would love to care for my own children, I think it would be a selfish decision overall; ultimatley I would be creating a person for the bolstering of my own lifes worth, which seems insane considering the never ending list of reasons why this planet does not need any more human beings; not even mentioning that mortal life is generally predicated on struggle. These days I think it would be better to give my love to others in one form or another, and sacrifice the endless dark sprint of my genealogy in exchange for the perfect infinite sleep of my unborn children.

I just told my mother over the phone that I'm mad at her for having me. I've been thinking about it my whole life and I just got the courage to tell her 2 hours ago. I hate life

No one is harmed by not being born, but being born will most likely cause some harm with the potential of very serious harm. How can you justify procreation when you can't GUARANTEE that person won't suffer? Priority must be given to the alleviation of suffering and not the enhancement of happiness, and the only way to ensure that is to not breed. Not existing harms no one, yet existing harms everyone.

It is crazy to bring a child into the world so it would die, and have in some cases, an agnosing death or be a murder or rape victim etc.

To have something larger than yourself to strive for... that's better than popping out a kid and hoping for the best. Devoting your life to bettering the planet is an infinitely better choice. We are in the age of the internet, we have access to knowledge, wisdom, tools, and the means to learn anything. Our parents and grandparents did not have this. They lived and died in their communities, ignorant of everything happening around the world. Their purpose was only in family and work. To that much, I can be thankful for them to be brought in a time that's better than the previous generations. They're not wise like we are. We have learned to see things that they haven't, and when their inert ways of thinking are challenged they get defensive and emotional. It's not good. You need to really weigh the options here. Is it worth sacrificing your young adult life to raise another human when you yourself are not fulfilled?

i wish i may not born, suffering from anxiety and depression......

I'm an antinatalist literally from childhood hahah I'm so happy to see people going for it more and more!

- What if your child happens to be the next Mozart? - What if my child happens to be the next Hitler?

Parents know parenting sucks. They say it doesn’t suck because they want you to have kids so that your life can suck like their life. They are trying to wheel you in so you’ll be miserable.

There was no joy from my parents, and I don't want my child to suffer the same thing from me. I won't purposefully condemn my child, but I don't know how to parent with joy.

Good that more people are becoming public about the lack of desire to have children. All that's needed now it a dating site for antinatalists, the would streamline the dating process.

Wonderfully balanced, sensible opinion

Lovely video! I’ve always wanted to have kids, but it stemmed from wanting to do better than my parents. And being a “perfect” mom. When I came to the realization that my kids may still end up messed up, thus continuing the suffering cycle, I realized I was just being selfish. I still tether on the fence of wanting kids and being child free, but I know for sure that I will be fostering and/or adopting. I will never bring another sentient being onto this god forsaken earth.

I knew at 9 years old I wouldn’t have kids. I’m 38 now

I subscribe to Hawking's theory of multiverses and to some theories of parrallel universes but I am childless in all of them 😂😂😂 production wise your best video yet!

I don't want children, either. Simply because.. I've just never wanted them! I guess one could say I've got maternal instincts, but they're sort of wired all strangely, or something. As in: I've never liked kids. I never even liked them when I myself WAS a kid! But I love cute pets, and feel very protective towards them. Plus I also work with a bunch of super sweet elders at a nursing home, that I absolutely love! And in fact feel VERY maternal towards! So.. I think my maternal instincts are just sort of naturally a bit misdirected. Plus I'm also mostly asexual. And neurodivergent / mildly autistic, and just generally a bit weird. So that could perhaps also have something to do with it..? Anyway... I wouldn't say I'm a full-on anti-natalist. BUT..? I am someone who definitely thinks having kids, because you want them, is a selfish act. Just like NOT having kids, if you don't want them, is also a selfish act. And that if you can't provide a good home, and a good life, for your hypothetical kids? Because you're broke, or messed up, or very mentally or physically ill, or jobless, or you just haven't sorted yourself out yet..? You really have no business having them, to begin with! As you would NOT be able to give them a good life, and you'll likely be causing them all kinds of trauma! And just.. having kids is NOT a human right! I think far more people should decide NOT to have kids. And that it is something one should definitely carefully, critically consider, before deciding to have them! Plus having kids out of some stupid pressure to conform is also dumb... That being said, though? I'd say, overall, I'm glad that I was born. And my parents, although NOT perfect, were overall good parents. Who loved me, and did their best to give me a happy childhood, and an overall good life. So.. I do NOT think they did something immoral, by having me! But I do think, if they had been extremely neglectful, or otherwise not able to take care of me, and meet my needs..? It WOULD have been immoral for them to have me, yes. So all in all, at least for me..? I guess it boils down to whether or not you're able to be a good parent for your kid(s)! Plus also, in countries where there's a HUGE overpopulation problem, it would be overall better not to have kids, because of that. Interesting topic. Haven't gotten to discuss it in a while! Thank you for this video. :)

Society is generally fucked up, and I really don't care what people think, as a black man in my early twenties I don't want kids, ever since I was younger I used to did one kids then when I was like 17 I already knew Parenthood is can stressful "Then what if your parents decide not to have you" and I wouldn't be here of course, I didn't ask to be here, plus both of my parents say they weren't ready for me at that time

Hopefully my future partner will think the same....

68 now. No children. No regrets over that. In fact, I consider it the best thing I've never done. There is no other aspect of my mortal slog with which I'm more more pleased. Male, so I've almost certainly caught less flak over this decision than most females would. Very unfair and I hope it's among those features of human existence that will one day be dispensed with. I salute all you, my fellow antinatalists, and wish you courage and good luck in the face of opposition, often nasty opposition, from those holding what is, sadly, likely to remain the majority opinion.

Population alone is why i think having kids is wrong

I feel guilt when I express my opinions on not wanting a child and having tokophobia. My family just take the mick and say that I am very opinionated and rude. I am very entitled to not want kids and not see what the big fuss is about. I am also vegan and believe that the earth will benefit from these things and I don't want to bring a child up in this world. It's a shame that we are guilt tripped into feeling bad or ashamed for not wanting kids.

I still have so many things I need to sort out in my own life, it would be cruel if I brought another life into existence, especially one that I don't want!

i will never have a child because i know i'll just hurt and pressure myself more. hell, i don't even want my child to suffer everyday because of what i'm doing.

Iove this! I am saying this as someone who has two children. I love it because it's challenging. I dont like that people who dont want to have kids are dismissed as "they'll grow out of it." I do believe education is the best way. Helping everyone to think about all the possible pit falls and options. Like everything, it's a process, and this is no small part of that. Good stuff.

It is so selfish to put that kind of pressure on a child to do such a great but impossible thing and be the “future” so to speak. To have a child just for that wishful thinking purpose is devastating.

finding a different path, away from the pre defined one which, for some reason, most think is the only path. the path that was engraved in their head from birth by the world around them.

I'm a vegan studying astronomy and I don't want a child at the moment and never have in the past, but I could see this changing down the line, I'd probably adopt a child if I wanted one for the reasons you stated for not wanting to have a child

I've dealt with HORRIBLE metal illness since I was 12 years old. Because of it I can't work. Because of that I have no money. I can't afford to do anything or go anywhere. Women want nothing to do with me since I can't provide. My mental illness doesn't allow me to get out much so because of that I have no friends. My whole life is just me being in my room (that I rent from someone) and coping with my mental illness. Life is beyond sick and ugly. Why anyone would wanna bring children into this world is beyond me.

I am so conflicted. In your terms, personally I would love to have children. I would consider myself a nurturing person, I like kids and I think I would enjoy the experience. Ethically, I can't bear the thought. I am one of 3 siblings, and all of us have asked our parents at some point why they had us, and expressed that we would have preferred not being born. Objectively I've had a good life, my family is well off and I grew up in a pretty normal loving home. I went to private school, at 22 now I've got a BSc in Engineering and I'm in Med school. If I feel so purposeless and lost so often, having it relatively easy, what can I expect for less fortunate people, or what could a child of mine experience? And still, selfishly, I know having a child would damper my sadness. I would love to experience pregnancy, see my boyfriend in someone else. Teach this child things, tell them I love them more than anything in this world and mean it. I feel If I don't have children, I will carry that burden forever. But how could I tell them that I love them above all else, that I would give my life for them, If I couldn't protect them from the suffering of this Earth just because I wanted to ease my pain? I try to think of counterarguments, but find them feeble. In a utilitarian attempt, albeit arrogant, I think maybe it would not be as bad for me to have a child, because unlike many others I could provide a loving home and ample resources, my constant presence during their early years, a big support system and education to help them become a great asset to the world... but what If they're still miserable? If I cannot protect them from others, or even themselves. I would love some insight. I wish I just did not desire them the way I do.

Christian guy here and I'll never have kids either. Going against the grain, to be sure.

Yess!!! Childfree for life! I'm actually going to be making several anti-natalist videos. One of the videos I will be filming this week will be a discussion with a stay-at-home mom who is a badass advocate for the animals. We're going to discuss antinatalism and the importance of respecting other people's choices.

A brilliantly articulated presentation. Thanks for sharing. You should enter it in the "Why am I an Antinatalist 2020" competition on ForeverWolfFilm's channel!

I believe more in hard antinatalism. Existence is bad for each individual. The pleasures that one experience in existence do not outweigh the suffering. Just my personal view and based on experience. I solidly support David Benatar's take on antinatalism.

really hope you get this sort of outlook to more people. people are so one track minded. really wish people would look at the bigger picture in the world and stop having children for the wrong reasons. great video.

Your video is worth it and many more. You have not just found one but many who share the same view as you and are glad to have seen your video.

To imagine being a parent...knowing the heartbreak this world brings. What is more selfish, still having that child anyway ...or loving the child enough to not subject a child to this?

I had a daughter when I was 23. I think I wanted to create a family because I felt alone in this world. I’ve always felt a sense of guilt for doing it. Even when I as pregnant I cried at the hospital telling the doctor I didn’t want to bring a child into this world. There is so much suffering in this world I’m not sure why a person would want to bring a child into this.

Sometimes i wish some peoples parents were anti-natalists.

Having a child creates more suffering so therefore I'll never ever gonna impose on bringing a kid into this cruel world, its not worth it as too of our own lives have been imposed upon by the imposers who were selfish people who didn't think of the consqeuncise of their actions etc....

I agree with that comment. I don't judge the few that seem to thrive as parents. I always felt, however, that it was a difficult experience for my parents. They didn't enjoy it. However there is an argument that life is suffering and only a select few are grateful to be here, despite their suffering. My reasons for not having a child was I wasn't ready for the immense responsibility and I wanted to improve my life and my family that are already here. That will take a lifetime. A comment on the vid. A child with differences or disability can still change peoples lives.point is though. If we want to love a child, we are able to love a child from anywhere. We should be happy to do it on our own. Without grandparents or validation from others. Its a huge love that many will never understand. And many dont understand that they wont necessarily like their child or understand them.

Wow, this was an absolute joy of a video. I agree with essentially every argument you make, except that I myself am a hard anti-natalist based on the asymmetry between pleasure and suffering. In my view, suffering is the positive of life - meaning it is the default state of existing as a biological entity, especially a psychobiological one. I would argue that most of us are actually not aware of the extent and continuity of our own suffering, and yet, not being meta-cognitively aware of it does not excuse us from it. A careful observation of one's inner experience reveals that things are never quite right - that there is always a pervasive restlessness in the background of experience, and that this is the case even when circumstances appear to be favorable! The only issue I have with anti-natalism as a whole is a metaphysical one. Anti-natalism is easy to defend if you subscribe to an ontologically materialist conception of reality. But if the correct conception is in fact idealism (the notion that only consciousness itself is real, and that there is nothing objectively real outside of it), then this would give more fighting ground for natalists. If idealism is true, then reincarnation could be true as well. For instance, people who have near-death experiences report that they leave their bodies and their consciousness persists in some real sense after death. It might therefore be that deciding not to have a child does not spare the consciousness of that hypothetical child because it will have incarnated in some other birth either way. In other words, you would not be limiting the existence or scope of consciousness (and therefore the potential for suffering) by deciding not to have children. In addition, depending on the purpose of cyclical incarnations and on the psychological constitution of the hypothetical parent, it might well be the moral imperative to have children. If, for instance, the purpose is to liberate ourselves from the wheel of samsara (as the Buddhist doctrine argues), then a spiritually-oriented parent would presumably provide a unique and fertile opportunity for their children to move mindfully closer to the highest aim of existence, which is freedom from cyclical existence itself. These are obviously speculative hypotheticals concerning metaphysics, but the point is that we are always operating on some sort of ontological assumption - and by inverting it, we find that there are many more possible ways by which we can contextualize human birth. Do you have any thoughts on this?

You come out of that nonexistent state just to do whatever you’re gonna do until you eventually return back into that state of nonexistent. It doesn’t matter what accomplishments you have because we all die.

I am a vegan and never wanted to have children because of ethical reasons. Thank you for your statement!

I just found out I'm antinatalist minutes ago, I always wonder why people are born if we're going to suffer, why bringing a child into this world if you're going to neglect, abuse or r*pe them. My worst fear is getting rape then get pregnant, I'll never be a good mother, hell I can't even take care of myself. And even if I want kids I can just adopt, the only reason people want to have a child is for a miniture person of yourself and love one, a being you can place all expectation on and controll to your heart desire then expect them to take care of you in your old age. Life's not worth living anyway, I'm actually glad for the pandemic.

Adopt rather than reproduce.

I'm 56 never wanted children having them only brings more problems pain suffering and death good for you

It's interesting that you're fully aware of the moral implications yet your main reason is financial. Here's my view: your mere existence in this world requires that you take resources and energy away from other life forms. So being born to a great humanitarian just means taking more away from others.

What many don’t understand is that the choice not to have children is based on morality and a consideration of the future. You can’t harm a life that hasn’t come to be, there is no accurate way to prove that existence is superior to nonexistence, and the current state of the world is not suitable for the kind of lives that we want our children to live. It’s not simply a matter of “we’re born to die”, it’s also the consideration of the system we’re under; most of us don’t have the liberty to live the kinds of lives that we want to live, only the best “compromise” based on the resources we have at hand. Many of us recognize that the world is becoming a more hostile, inhabitable, and less prosperous place to live, so the choice to not have kids is the choice to not bring them into an insane, chaotic planet where they will feel immense pain, disappointment, and suffering for no reason.

I agree with you I am anti natalism however I am not aware of that philosophy Before I got 2 children now, but I regret to have a children because time will come they suffer being human same with my fate

I am childfree and now in my 60s. Given the imminent coming industrial and environmental collapse coming soon to some empty supermarket selves near you it was the right decision.

I think CHOOSING to have a child is 100% selfish on a planet of 7.5 billion people, 1 billion of which are poor children. Having more human beings, right now, makes no sense as a logical human being living on a planet of rapidly dwindling resources. By having a child, you’re essentially acknowledging the suffering children already living on the planet and giving them the middle finger because you will be taking resources from them. (If you’re educated, that is. Some people don’t realize what they’re doing.) Ps…my hubs and I have chosen not to have kids. ✌🏼♥️

I enjoy not having children and not being stuck with the same miserable situation with the same woman....Can't see myself doing it

I'm an antinatalist as well. but I think that pleasure and pain are qualitatively different phenomenon.. so I don't think they cancel each other out. and so comparing them on the same weighing scale is like comparing apples to oranges.. therefore I think hedonistic utilitarian is a very simplistic view.

Hey man, great video, the sort of video I'd show to friends for them to better understand my view point as I sometimes find it difficult to properly articulate myself about antinatalism in a way that connects with people. Also, from one of your other videos I can see that you're involved with the Effective Altruism community/movement - maybe you could post a reply/do a video on how your antinatalist position is accepted/not accepted in that movement?

Hi Michael! I stumbled upon the notion of antinatalism some time ago (probably somewhere down the vegan rabbit hole :) ) and it has resonated with me sooo much. I'd like to thank you for sharing your opinion on this extremely difficult topic and say that I feel exactly the same. Here in Eastern Europe (I'm from Poland) it's certainly a huge taboo to admit that you don't want to bring children to this world... Anyways thanks again and keep up the good work!

To help you reconsider the asymmetry argument, it may be seen from a different angle, a simple metaphor of a bet or investment, showing that good and bad are not symmetrical. When taking a risk via an investment within a prescribed time horizon, a realized profit can always be reversed or neutralized (for example, by selling the investment and burning the cash earned), but a loss can only be suffered.