Darkover
Archangel
- Jul 29, 2021
- 5,290
When people say "safety first," they usually mean taking the cautious, responsible route—even if it's harder or less popular. In the context of procreation, applying that principle reveals some uncomfortable truths. If we truly care about avoiding preventable harm, then choosing not to create a life in the first place becomes the most ethical, safest option.
Having a child is a risk you take on someone else's behalf. That person cannot consent to being born. And once they're here, they're subject to all the suffering that comes with life—mental illness, loneliness, disease, poverty, loss. You're essentially rolling the dice with someone else's entire existence.
Every human will experience pain, stress, fear, disappointment, and loss. But not everyone will find purpose, happiness, or peace. If "safety" means minimizing the risk of intense suffering, then the only truly safe option is not to expose someone to it in the first place.
The risk of harm begins before birth. Around 6.06% of all births worldwide—over 7 million babies every year—are born with a birth defect. Additionally, 1 in 10 children, or nearly 240 million globally, are estimated to live with some form of disability. These aren't rare exceptions. These are common outcomes. The moment of birth already carries a high chance of lifelong struggle or disadvantage. And that's before life even begins to throw its regular curveballs.
You might want a child for joy, fulfillment, or legacy—but if they end up enduring a miserable life, they carry that weight. Not you. You might love them, but love doesn't undo suffering. And unlike adults, children don't get to opt out if life becomes unbearable.
Even if you do everything "right," the world is unpredictable. Economic instability, war, climate disasters, abuse, social isolation, and rising mental illness are just some of the dangers children may face. Many people grow up in systems that fail to protect them. Hoping for the best doesn't erase the reality that existence itself is dangerous.
Having kids is often driven by instinct, tradition, or pressure—not logic. Choosing not to have children in a dangerous, chaotic world is not cowardice—it's compassion. It's the strength to say, "I won't gamble with someone else's suffering just to fulfill a personal or cultural desire."
If safety truly comes first, the most ethical decision is not to create life. That might sound radical to some, but it's the only choice that guarantees no pain, no illness, no trauma, no fear of death, and no risk at all. It's not about being pessimistic. It's about being honest. And when you apply the same logic you'd use to protect someone from a dangerous fall, a toxic substance, or a faulty product—you realize the ultimate safety precaution is non-procreation.
"Safety first" also involves thinking about the safety of others around you, not just yourself
Having a child is a risk you take on someone else's behalf. That person cannot consent to being born. And once they're here, they're subject to all the suffering that comes with life—mental illness, loneliness, disease, poverty, loss. You're essentially rolling the dice with someone else's entire existence.
Every human will experience pain, stress, fear, disappointment, and loss. But not everyone will find purpose, happiness, or peace. If "safety" means minimizing the risk of intense suffering, then the only truly safe option is not to expose someone to it in the first place.
The risk of harm begins before birth. Around 6.06% of all births worldwide—over 7 million babies every year—are born with a birth defect. Additionally, 1 in 10 children, or nearly 240 million globally, are estimated to live with some form of disability. These aren't rare exceptions. These are common outcomes. The moment of birth already carries a high chance of lifelong struggle or disadvantage. And that's before life even begins to throw its regular curveballs.
You might want a child for joy, fulfillment, or legacy—but if they end up enduring a miserable life, they carry that weight. Not you. You might love them, but love doesn't undo suffering. And unlike adults, children don't get to opt out if life becomes unbearable.
Even if you do everything "right," the world is unpredictable. Economic instability, war, climate disasters, abuse, social isolation, and rising mental illness are just some of the dangers children may face. Many people grow up in systems that fail to protect them. Hoping for the best doesn't erase the reality that existence itself is dangerous.
Having kids is often driven by instinct, tradition, or pressure—not logic. Choosing not to have children in a dangerous, chaotic world is not cowardice—it's compassion. It's the strength to say, "I won't gamble with someone else's suffering just to fulfill a personal or cultural desire."
If safety truly comes first, the most ethical decision is not to create life. That might sound radical to some, but it's the only choice that guarantees no pain, no illness, no trauma, no fear of death, and no risk at all. It's not about being pessimistic. It's about being honest. And when you apply the same logic you'd use to protect someone from a dangerous fall, a toxic substance, or a faulty product—you realize the ultimate safety precaution is non-procreation.
"Safety first" also involves thinking about the safety of others around you, not just yourself
