FYI private equity has come for veterinarians. It made more sense when we confirmed the vet we took our small dog was one of those once they started recommending a lot more procedures that we knew would be requited for our dog’s condition. Also familiarize yourself with the “emergency pet hospitals” in your area, those are prime locations to extract several thousand dollars on a visit. Avoid them.
Yep, find one you trust and stick to them. We followed our vet when they left a Big Clinic and started their own practice and it’s been completely worth it.
I brought my dog to the emergency vet. She died in the car on the way but I wasn’t ready to accept that and carried her inside. They asked if I wanted her ressicitated, I was like yeah of course I do. They took her and came back a while later. They said we can’t get her breathing, she’s dead. But the drugs did get her heart beating so we have to put her down anyway. They euthanized my dead dog. Total cost? $1500.
At the same time… try not to let the fascists win.
If you want to start a family, start a family. People can’t control the conditions or nations they were born in, and they shouldn’t be expected to deprive themselves of the small solace in life that is having a loving family just because it’s the “responsible choice”. That’s eugenics bullshit.
Yea… my country did birth control stuff, One Child Policy, I was the second child. I wasn’t supposed to be born. And even though I did suffer a lot, I’m still glad to exist, to have felt some joy during childhood, even as I lived in an autocracy and in a very impoverished area, and later in a declining democracy, I still have experienced life, and I’m glad that I had the opportunity, to have existed as a living being, as rare as life is, and even rarer, as a human, the ability to just think about things, philosophy, to gaze upon the stars, to have experienced parental love (well… sort of… later on they kinda got a bit more rough), to see cities and the countryside, to see the magnificence of nature, and tall skyscrapers.
Even through poverty, I still feel like this existence is worth it, no matter how this would end. Whether we all die of nuclear apocalypse tomorrow, or whatever. It was a fun ride. And I’m glad my mother gave birth to me, regardless how negative I might feel about them as parents.
Yeah I see your point of view. But still, bringing kids into this future? Would they be able to be happy even? All signs points to no at this point.
I dont follow politics but I guess “responsible choice” comes from there? I just look at the world and think about any future a kid would have. At least in America, I would really not get a kid.
I’m not as pessimistic as you about the future, and I don’t think of today’s children as people passively experiencing things that happen in the world. They’re participants, and they’ll have a lot more agency about their futures during our lifetimes.
Politically, I still think that fascism is brittle. Competence is actively discouraged (independently competent people are minimized to prevent threats to centralized power), so I think any fascist system is bound to fail when the people actively resist.
Economically, the business cycle ebbs and flows, and whoever’s on top today might not be on top tomorrow. I believe the current economic system is dominated by bubbles that have no future, so we’re gonna see some future chaos where new bases of power will rise. Good guys can win in those scenarios, and those good guys may very well be my own children.
Culturally, nothing is permanent. Trying to predict things is a fool’s errand. Better to just prepare our children for resilience through flexibility and adaptability, and raise them to be kind, well adjusted, socially plugged in.
Living a good life is possible even in a bad world. That’s happened throughout human history. And so if people want to raise children, let them.
Easily. Combination of pet insurance and normal medical bills plus a canned diet with occasional toys, treats, litter, specialty furniture, and cleaning supplies. You can do with less and gamble with health problems, unexpected emergencies, and boredom-linked destructiveness.
(I had a diabetic cat. Between him, a girl that can’t eat dry food or cheap canned without getting bladder stones, and a third cat that eats whatever but isn’t worth the effort of separating at meal times I was spending $400+/month just on food. It’s less now without the diabetes to manage but still not cheap.)
Kids are insanely expensive and time consuming. Which normally isn’t a problem in a healthy society with functional communities and affordable goods and services. We aren’t in a healthy society.
I love not having kids. I’m happy I have a small dog.
FYI private equity has come for veterinarians. It made more sense when we confirmed the vet we took our small dog was one of those once they started recommending a lot more procedures that we knew would be requited for our dog’s condition. Also familiarize yourself with the “emergency pet hospitals” in your area, those are prime locations to extract several thousand dollars on a visit. Avoid them.
Yep, find one you trust and stick to them. We followed our vet when they left a Big Clinic and started their own practice and it’s been completely worth it.
I brought my dog to the emergency vet. She died in the car on the way but I wasn’t ready to accept that and carried her inside. They asked if I wanted her ressicitated, I was like yeah of course I do. They took her and came back a while later. They said we can’t get her breathing, she’s dead. But the drugs did get her heart beating so we have to put her down anyway. They euthanized my dead dog. Total cost? $1500.
Professional services and medication cost money, especially not having to wait as much (the “emergency” part). They’re not a charity.
It absolutely sucks what you had to go through.
Professionals who have professional equipment and expenses themselves should be expensive.
Good choice to not bring kids into this world.
Anyone who doesnt understand this should find some YouTube videos with young people talking about feeling extreamly unhappy in our societies.
They dont want to be here but their parents got them because they wanted more meaning in their own lives.
At the same time… try not to let the fascists win.
If you want to start a family, start a family. People can’t control the conditions or nations they were born in, and they shouldn’t be expected to deprive themselves of the small solace in life that is having a loving family just because it’s the “responsible choice”. That’s eugenics bullshit.
Yea… my country did birth control stuff, One Child Policy, I was the second child. I wasn’t supposed to be born. And even though I did suffer a lot, I’m still glad to exist, to have felt some joy during childhood, even as I lived in an autocracy and in a very impoverished area, and later in a declining democracy, I still have experienced life, and I’m glad that I had the opportunity, to have existed as a living being, as rare as life is, and even rarer, as a human, the ability to just think about things, philosophy, to gaze upon the stars, to have experienced parental love (well… sort of… later on they kinda got a bit more rough), to see cities and the countryside, to see the magnificence of nature, and tall skyscrapers.
Even through poverty, I still feel like this existence is worth it, no matter how this would end. Whether we all die of nuclear apocalypse tomorrow, or whatever. It was a fun ride. And I’m glad my mother gave birth to me, regardless how negative I might feel about them as parents.
Very glad to see a take that isn’t more depressed doomerism, the world needs more of that.
Yeah I see your point of view. But still, bringing kids into this future? Would they be able to be happy even? All signs points to no at this point.
I dont follow politics but I guess “responsible choice” comes from there? I just look at the world and think about any future a kid would have. At least in America, I would really not get a kid.
I’m not as pessimistic as you about the future, and I don’t think of today’s children as people passively experiencing things that happen in the world. They’re participants, and they’ll have a lot more agency about their futures during our lifetimes.
Politically, I still think that fascism is brittle. Competence is actively discouraged (independently competent people are minimized to prevent threats to centralized power), so I think any fascist system is bound to fail when the people actively resist.
Economically, the business cycle ebbs and flows, and whoever’s on top today might not be on top tomorrow. I believe the current economic system is dominated by bubbles that have no future, so we’re gonna see some future chaos where new bases of power will rise. Good guys can win in those scenarios, and those good guys may very well be my own children.
Culturally, nothing is permanent. Trying to predict things is a fool’s errand. Better to just prepare our children for resilience through flexibility and adaptability, and raise them to be kind, well adjusted, socially plugged in.
Living a good life is possible even in a bad world. That’s happened throughout human history. And so if people want to raise children, let them.
I want to be wrong, so thank you for giving a more positive view.
Pets are ridiculously expensive and definitely a luxury.
My cat costs 100 bucks a month. And brings me the only source of joy I have.
That’s cheap and I consider not having suicidal thoughts to not be a luxury.
This seems expensive.
How tf does your cat cost $100/month?
Mine lives a life of luxury and it cannot be half of that even when all yearly spending is averaged.
Easily. Combination of pet insurance and normal medical bills plus a canned diet with occasional toys, treats, litter, specialty furniture, and cleaning supplies. You can do with less and gamble with health problems, unexpected emergencies, and boredom-linked destructiveness.
(I had a diabetic cat. Between him, a girl that can’t eat dry food or cheap canned without getting bladder stones, and a third cat that eats whatever but isn’t worth the effort of separating at meal times I was spending $400+/month just on food. It’s less now without the diabetes to manage but still not cheap.)
Pets are the new kids
Goldfish are the new pets
Pet rocks are the new goldfish
Kids are insanely expensive and time consuming. Which normally isn’t a problem in a healthy society with functional communities and affordable goods and services. We aren’t in a healthy society.
lol, I can assure you that is a very yuppie mindset. Vast majority of people with pets can’t afford much beyond the food.
What? Compared to having a kid they’re extremely cheap. My small dog costs me at most about $2000 a year.
Tell that to the tremendous number of homeless people in poverty who have pets.
I also love you not having kids! Small dogs for all! ❤