BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Very Annoyed

I read this other forum that is a "rumor mill" for the biosciences industry. Someone posted a few days ago about a UCLA study showing that female scientists get paid less than male, even right out of school.
I expected a discussion about gender stereotypes, history, etc... but it pretty immediately turned into people bashing working women, working moms... and the childfree.

Here's a quote from one post:
"In fact, folks who have no kids are a substantial drain on society in that they are not contributing as much to future economic growth, which is predicated on expanding market size and expanding productivity. A valid solution would be to impose a childless tax for individuals who do not have children (an excpetion could made for those unable to conceive for medical reasons if they have tried articificial means). This would contribute to greater economic prosperity fo rfuture generations"

ARGH!
Now, the rumor mill does attract a fair number of crazies and trolls, but this thread really bugged me, because it was so obvious that many of the posters have put a lot of thought into how they feel (negatively) about working women and CF people.

Please talk me down.... thanks!

....and breathe......!

Those who resort to harsh words and criticism of others, have an inherent weakness and a fear of being over-run by the perceived power of others.
Rudeness is a weak person's show of strength.
Rudeness doesn't make people right. It just makes them rude, and apparently incapable of legitimate discussion, witrhout resorting to insulting diatribe.

With much metta and karuna. *hugs!*

WHAT? That is the craziest thing I've ever heard. I don't even know how to respond. Just close your eyes and pretend you never read it ... I will do the same.

....


Ahhhh, much better.

Yes, it's crazy...But it's more or less happened in the UK...The Chancellor of the Exchequer (the idiot in charge of our purse strings) has effectively penalised those who place LESS of a drain on the economy...moreover, there is Child Support paid out if you have children...and it's not means-tested....That is to say, whether you own a chateau or a shed, a bike or a bugatti, you still get it paid to you....whether you actually 'need' it or not. *screwloose* or what....?!!

This is all nuts!!!! A drain??? Just because we aren't spending our money on stuff for kids doesn't mean we aren't spending our money. And there are more than enough people around! I have never heard anything so crazy.

I think it's about time that people realised that future should NOT be predicated on expanding markets and expanding productivity. The birth statistics for "first world" countries are below replacement, have been for a while, and aren't set to improve. I think Japan's is down to about 1.2, and Europe in general is about 1.5-1.7. In the article I read only the US (2.1) and New Zealand (2.2) had birth rates above replacement. We are, literally, sending ourselves into extinction - maybe we should send mister "expanding market" a copy.

That is really infuriating Emerald Wednesday! I may not be much help talking you down unfortunately, because now I'm all riled up too. Sorry.

I think our lesser environmental impacts offset whatever drain these people are seeing. I've always disagreed with that "expanding markets and productivity" concept. It seems like it leads to corporations getting too much power over the government, environmental atrocities, and there is never any end in sight. It's basically colonialism, and it's a system that is outdated and we need to evolve beyond it. I don't want to be a part of that, or contribute another human being for that goal.

When you say working women were being attacked too, it makes me wonder if these people are not just angry at women in general.

I think we have to remember that no matter what choices we make, someone will find fault. If you have no children, you're a drain or whatever. If you have one child, you're awful for bringing up a spoiled only child. If you have more children, you're contributing to overpopulation. If you work and have children, you're bad, and if you stay at home you're bad too. It makes you want to put your fingers in your ears and chant "I'm not listening! I'm not listening! I'm not listening!"

Somehow that makes me feel better ... knowing that we're not the only country being run by idiots!

No kidding!

I had a different reaction..
If other countries are doing this, the world is more f___ed up than I thought. It's not just our stupid government? Yikes!