There is always a danger in leaving a comment on someone's site that they, or someone else, may see it as an attack on the siteowner, or on another commenter. Sometimes that fear censors me. Sometimes I want to express something, but am fearful it will come out as an attack. when it's not meant to be. Sometimes I disagree with what's been said. Or what I think is being thought. Today I decided to say it.
The trouble with someone else's comments box, perhaps a structural problem, is that at the same time as allowing some level of free speech, it also constrains it.
However, from time to time I will leave a comment about the way I think. The expression of it is not fully thought out, although I am entirely clear about the sentiments within, having been thinking - and honing - them for quarter of a century.
And then, sometimes, I think, I'll post the coment here, so that I don't forget it. Maybe one day I'll want to expand on it.
Here it is:
I never read debates on whether or not men should have children. (Obviously, there is no real parallel between women having children and men having children.) Have them, or not.In my view someone who wishes to imbue their personal choice not to have children with a moral weight is no better and no worse than those who tries to make out to be morally superior bevause they chose to have children (or had them, anyway). Either you believe that the welfare state is there for "those according to need from those according to ability" or you believe "each for themself and tough if you can't afford it".
Because I chose to pursue a University degree, those people who chose not to were forced to subsidise it. When I need my hip replacing in thirty years time, I will expect people with healthy hips to subsidise it.
It's what happens in a Welfare State.
I also have a lot of pity for women who actually believe that their sole purpose in life is to produce and fail to bring up their kids. On the other hand, if women (or men) decide to take a career break, or do so for financial reasons, it doesn't make them lesser people, or better people.
I thought that one of the great objectives and partial achievements of feminism was destroying the notion that people should or shouldn't do certain things. Even if you don't agree with people's choices, as long as they're rational choices (and are legal, and don't harm others etc etc etc), just accept the choice. If you don't like it, get over it.
On Green Fairy
