I'm based in the UK and 44 years old I still resent the fact that when I turned 18, my parents left the country with quite little warning and took very little interest in my life since. My dad retired a few years later in his early 50s and as a result has never been in a position to either financially support, or to be honest emotionally support as he deteriorated quite quickly in terms of his attitude to life and other people.

So, thinking about this resentment today, it occurred to me that increasing the age of parental responsibility, even if only slightly, would perhaps make people think more carefully about having kids.

As it stands, people clearly run the calculation "it'll be over in 18 years" without thinking how vulnerable an 18 year old is in the modern economy.

I spent a lot of my 20s very precariously housed or homeless, despite being raised by relatively well off parents (now near destitute through idleness!)

So, my suggestion is to campaign for a raise in the age of parental responsibility. Slowly at first perhaps, so it maybe gets agreed to. 19, 21, 25 ...

"white people are going extinct" is being pushed onto every social media now. No, they are not going extinct. Native American population was reduced by 98% when Europeans arrived. Yet, there are still millions of native Americans around. There is no way that a set of ethnicities containing over a billion people will ever go extinct.

I really hate the high divorce rates we have now, especially when the couples have kids. You made a commitment to marry and have kids, and then you fuck them over by having to tell your kids that you don't love your partner anymore. Of course, there are very legitimate reasons for divorce, but you should be prepared for anything and everything when you have kids.

I see many people posting here to celebrate getting their vasectomy. While I applaud their efforts, it is a reversible procedure that many may end up going back on when they grow older.

I'm wondering if there are more permanent solutions so that I can't change my decision in the future. I know women can get their tubes tied or an oophorectomy which is completely irreversible. And men have the orchiectomy option. But my understanding is that one has to get on HRT for the rest of their lives after such a procedure to ensure hormone balance.

Is there anyone who has undergone such a procedure as an antinatalist? I'm not even sure if voluntary surgical castrations for non-medical reasons are legal. I'm guessing it is similar to a gender reassignment surgery without actually changing the nature of the genitalia. But if any trans people or people who have undergone such a procedure for antinatalist/childfree reasons have any insights let me know.

I'm a Master's student researching attitudes towards women who choose not to have children. I'm interested to know your thoughts!

I'm particularly looking for Black Nigerian women (living in Nigeria or the UK) and White British women living in the UK, aged 18+.

The survey is completely anonymous and takes 5–10 minutes to complete.

Survey: https://gre.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Vo0R2GyjDHcuVM

I'd really appreciate your help. Thank you so much!

i read about antinatalism some years ago and couldn't think of a single counterargument, so i've believed it ever since. despite this, i also understand that if someone else wants to have kids, it's not my place to start arguing with them. my friends who want kids in the future don't seem like they'd "get" it if that makes sense.

and my parents. one time i sort of off handedly mentioned something alluding to the idea i think having kids is unethical. they immediately started freaking out, i guess. "so are you saying you wish we didn't have you?" and it felt like they were just making it about themselves and how they were insecure about being good parents, or at least that's the vibe i got because they didn't seem to actually think about what i was saying. and i didn't mention anything after because there's no productive conversation to be had; they've already had kids anyway..

but it's so tiring. trying to live and enjoy things but seeing everyone do something unethical without anyone being put off at all. all of the adults working at my school that have kids..the influencer that i thought was funny suddenly announcing she'll have a baby..

and well obviously my own parents. they're really good parents, you can tell they actually care and they work so hard. i guess it's because i'm audhd but i always caused trouble every turn and could never stop getting into fights with my family. things like how i never wanted to do chores, i can't go to sleep early because i procrastinate schoolwork until 3am, even when i have time i go to sleep late and wake up in the afternoon, all of that makes my parents upset with me and because they're an authority i still feel guilty even though i decided i wouldn't because i know for myself that i was trying just to make the best out of this life that's really hard as it is.

anyway obviously as i get older and will graduate from highschool at some point they're mentioning things like how i don't function well, i can't keep my room clean and i should be able to do more chores on my own. and i already don't have the motivation to do any of that so if i hadn't been AN i probably would be upset but be able to see their point of view but it's extra hard because every time i just think. "why did you have kids just to force me to work every day when i didn't ask for this and i don't want this and it's not worth it. i don't want a job for the rest of my life." and like i said they're really kind and nice so i also wonder "why did you have kids when you know you'll die before me and i'll have to be destroyed by my parents dying."

is it just because they'll never have to feel any of what i feel? but then they tell me something like "we're your parents.. every time you're upset and cry we're even more sad than you are." i disagree and that's just weird to say in my opinion and it certainly doesn't make me feel any better.

sorry, this sort of just turned into a long rant but anyway. i'm sure a lot of you have it worse. after all, my parents haven't done anything bad, if anything it's just me being problematic and not wanting to do work that i know i need to.

i just wanted to know if anyone has advice how they go about living when they always have to face parents who don't even realize what they've done, or their own parents who don't even consider AN when told about it. i guess i wish they'd feel guilty about having children and regret, but it's not like that would solve much, would it? but this is making me into a bad person so i don't really know what to do.

If you buy something and end up not liking it, you can get a refund. Simple as that. Neither you nor the store takes any loss.

But when you create a life, that person can end up killed, be in accidents, be terminally ill, chronically suffering etc. Who takes the loss? The new life (and anyone who cares for them)

A refund returns you to the state BEFORE the purchase. S-icide doesn't return you to the state before birth, it just ends the existence you never asked for. It's not a cancellation but a destruction. And destruction is not the same as undo.

-------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------

Now imagine a store that operates like life itself:

It somehow makes its customers drag new customers in. It sells them something they never needed in the first place. That product slowly destroys the new customer. And when they try to return it? No refund or cancellation allowed. The only way out is to destroy themselves.

And yet, the new customers are somehow captivated to drag even more customers into it. When you ask each and every one of them "Do you like the destruction the item causes you?" Apparently they all say no! So they know something is up.

I'm smelling some serious problem here.

It makes being an antinatalist so much easier. Not that I would want children anyways, but it eliminates any possibility of doing so completely. So I know I will always be a moral being in this regard.

Today I got my vasectomy done. ♥️🙇🏻

I'm 29, unmarried, single , and from India. Strangely, the procedure itself wasn't the hardest part. The hardest part was finding a doctor willing to do it.

In India, they call it illegal. Or they need parents or partner consent in written after you reproduce atleast once. choosing permanent childfreedom at a young age is often treated like a psychological problem rather than a personal life decision. People assume you'll "change your mind," or they simply refuse to believe someone can genuinely not want children. It took a lot of effort, but I finally found someone who respected my decision.

And honestly... I couldn't be happier.

This wasn't an impulsive decision. It's something that has occupied my mind for years. Now that it's done, I feel a level of peace I haven't felt in a long time.

---

I've spent my 20s building the life I always wanted.

I work in IT, which was my dream career. I have my home, own a car, travel whenever and wherever I want, video game, work out regularly, take care of my healthy body and skin, have had relationships, own a pet, and enjoy technology. I don't feel like I'm missing out on life.

Because of that, my antinatalist views don't come from depression or bitterness.

They come from observation mine and others humans living on this planet.

Life has beautiful moments, but if I had to describe it honestly, happiness is only a small part of the experience. The rest is uncertainty, stress, grief, boredom, illness, loss, anxiety, disappointment, and struggle. Even when life is good, suffering is never far away.

For me, choosing not to bring another person into that equation feels like the most compassionate decision I can make.

Trust me, reproduction is an extremely selfish decision people make.

---

The future also worries me about-

Wars. Economic instability. Mass layoffs.Relationship breakdowns. Mental health crises. Climate issues. AI replacing jobs. Humanoid robotics. Brain-computer interfaces like Neuralink. Rapid technological change.

I don't claim to know what's coming, but I genuinely feel we're heading into an era that could be far more difficult than most people expect. Sometimes it feels like we're slowly walking toward something resembling The Matrix—a world where efficiency matters more than humanity and emotions become increasingly disposable.

Maybe I'm wrong.

---

Looking ahead, I don't care much where I live.

It could be India. It could be another country. My dream isn't luxury anymore. It's peace.

A quiet place.

Minimal noise.

Minimal drama.

Enough nature to clear my mind.

A simple life where I can work, read, travel, game, stay healthy, and enjoy the time I have left.

---

The only thing I still wonder about is companionship.

I'd love to spend my life with someone who is also childfree—whether they're antinatalist, DINK, or simply don't want children but was unable to find one here in India as most people here love to reproduce.

Sometimes I wonder whether I'll ever find someone who genuinely shares this worldview. And yes, I occasionally think about growing old alone.

Oddly enough, that thought doesn't scare me as much as people expect. We all die alone in the end.

What I think about more is how to live well if I remain alone.

What should life look like from 30–40?

40–50?

50–60?

60-70?

Beyond that? Lol not sure like everyone else how and when but yeah just gave it a thought.

I'd genuinely like to hear how others would approach it.

---

Then there's the biggest question of all.

Death.

Personally, I think we're no different from any other animal.

When the brain stops functioning, consciousness ends.

No thoughts.

No dreams.

No heaven.

No hell.

Just... nothing a black screen with no thoughts no existence no reincarnation.

Simply non existence.

That's simply what makes the most sense to me logically.

But I'm fascinated by what other people believe—not to argue, but because it's one of the few questions nobody actually knows the answer to.

---

If you've read this far, thank you.

Whether you agree with my views or completely disagree, I'd genuinely like to hear your perspective.

How would you design the rest of your life if you knew you never wanted children?

And what do you think happens after we die?

Shouldn't the deaths of millions of human beings used as cannon fodder by governments have prompted the people of the countries involved to pause and reflect before bringing more lives into the world?

i love suffering, its one of the dearest things to me, if life is suffering then im happy to eat it up, from the snake's tail

I'm a bit new to anti-natalism.

And when life throws curveballs at me, I think wow, who in their right mind would have a kid... right? I doubt I'll have kids someday, part of me feels as if it's immoral, and it's a biiiig responsibility to bring a human life on this rock.

But I feel as if being stuck in this loop makes you appreciate life less, makes you more depressed, and negative.

So are all anti-natalists nihilistic, mopey, and don't value human life at all?

Let me know! Thanks

I’m making this post to understand the perspective of anti-natalism on pet ownership.

I’m sure some of you own pets, and I’m sure some don’t.

Where do you stand on ownership? How do you feel about pet breeding? What are your thoughts on pet euthanasia? What ideas or points have brought you to your conclusion?

Extremely relevant substack article, albeit centered on a particular subtopic within animal rights (the ethics of wool and sheep breeding), but very easily extrapolated to human-focused (or species-agnostic) antinatalism.

The original quote from the article:

Nobody is being wiped out. Nobody is being harmed. There’s non-existence, and there’s existence, and choosing not to bring a suffering animal into existence hurts no one. You can’t take anything from someone who was never born. There’s no sheep sitting in the void, robbed of the life they never had.

Also just want to preemptively say: I know there's a diversity of strong opinions here on the topic of animal rights, including on its intersection (or lack thereof) with antinatalism. If anyone does want to share or reply to opinions on those topics, hopefully we can all still engage calmly and rationally here, and assume positive intent in each other. Everyone here is already part of a minority of people who are open to less-mainstream moral philosophies, which go against beliefs that society tries to instill in us starting in early childhood and usually go completely unquestioned; I appreciate you all for that.

And either way, I'm guessing this quote's essence will resonate with a lot of us.

I am someone who loves philosophy and learning about philosophy.

I’m educated in classical philosophy and some modern philosophy. mainly Camus, Nietzsche and Descartes.

I think the idea of the immorality of bringing sentient life into the world is incredibly interesting.

How did those of you who hold these views come to this conclusion? What in life made you realize that bringing sentient life into existence. Was it something you read and agreed with? Was it something you came upon yourself?

I’m going to be honest, I’m not an antinatalist nor am I interested in becoming one.
I believe life is a gift that wasn’t asked for nor deserved. It’s an opportunity to make the best out of to the best of your ability.

Im saying this so my views are clear, not to try and convince you to discard beliefs you might find sacred. I’m simply here to learn about a subject I’m not educated about.

Thank you.

Modern humans with almost identical body/minds as we have them today have existed for roughly 300,000 years. For around 96% of that time, humans lived as hunter-gatherers in small groups, with the global population numbering only in the tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand. On the WHOLE PLANET. That's like exactly ONE medium sized city somewhere in the West today.

Around 12,000 years ago, agriculture began. Villages became cities, and societies became more complex. But even then, humanity grew slowly. 8000 BCE the population on the whole planet was about 5 Million people. Around the year 1 AD, it had around 200 million.

Then it started to accelerate.

1800: about 1 billion people 1930: about 2 billion people 1974: about 4 billion people 2026: over 8 billion people

In only a few generations, humanity multiplied on a scale that has no comparison in our previous history.

Today we live in a world of enormous cities, artificial borders, passport systems, housing shortages, rising costs, unemployment, migration pressures, homelessness, and extreme differences between the richest and poorest people.

But the scale of modern humanity is historically unprecedented. We are living through an experiment that has never happened before.

And the result is that it does not work. It is like a high-speed train accelerating toward a concrete wall.

The environment we live in today is highly unnatural compared to the conditions in which humans evolved. Our biological bodies and minds were not designed for this kind of existence, a world of extreme population density, mass production, constant competition, and industrial systems.

That may be one reason why we see so much social tension, mental disease, insanity, toxicity, and bitterness in modern society.

The solution for a pig confined in a massive industrial factory together with millions of other pigs is not to provide therapy. The solution for this pig is to be in the vast countryside with a handful of other pigs.

This is probably the creepiest of religious movements and screams forced birthing. This is in Florida, I know it's shocking! /s

It seems now that more and more people are going child free that the people who do have children have thought about it more than any other generation before. Does this put them in a position to give these kids a better life because

1. They actually want them, they've really thought about it

2. They planned for it, financially and emotionally

Does this outweigh the inevitable struggles the kids will have in life because they're more likely to have strong support emotionally and financially?

I know the planet is in a right state and this weighs heavily. But what about the people who can raise children to be happy healthy adults who can go on to fix the world.

If only people who want kids have them, wouldn't it make the world a much better place?