a thoughtful web.
Good ideas and conversation. No ads, no tracking.   Login or Take a Tour!
comment by OftenBen
OftenBen  ·  2497 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Why American men are getting less marriageable

At one point, children were an asset. They are now a massive liability, by my estimation, though I admit that my viewpoint is heavily skewed.

When Vikings were sailing around generally fucking shit up, it was considered a good thing to come back from a months long voyage to find your wife pregnant by another man. He got to sleep with your wife, but you got to keep the baby. One more hand to work the farm, one more son to carry a sword, one more daughter to marry off and solidify inter-clan loyalties and alliances.

Now, be prepared to spend buxxx





Isherwood  ·  2497 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Man, I just can't buy into the only value (or primary value) of children being labor.

OftenBen  ·  2497 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Shrug. Culture shifts over time. Children used to be valued for one reason, now they are valued for different reasons, and are invested in differently.

user-inactivated  ·  2497 days ago  ·  link  ·  

A pretty recent shift, too.

Child labor is one of the main focal points of Das Kapital.