The 4 Words of the Pariah
by
I don't like children. What that lonely little statement can do to people.
I. Don't. Like. Children. Hackles go up, voices are raised, mouths start
foaming and oh how the childish insults will fly. So what? If someone
doesn't like children why does it bother you so much? Stop taking
everything so personally. As for the people who constantly need to make
disclaimers like "Now don't get me wrong, of course I just love children, I
simply don't want any of my own". Knock it off, okay? You have every right
to dislike children and you don't need to walk around soothing the egos and
protecting the feelings of those who have children. If someone said they
didn't like dogs would you expect the same song and dance from them? No, of
course not. Then why are children the exception?
How can she not like children? I can hear the whispering now. What kind of
inhuman monster is she? I'll tell you why I don't like children, because I
find them to be loud and tedious. I don't like squealing, yelling, wailing
or whining. Well gee, isn't that what children spend most of their time
doing? I have nothing in common with children and therefore find any and
all conversations with them to be boring. Children live in a very small
world and are, for the most part, ignorant of what goes on around them. I
don't like talking to ignorant people period. Why should make it make
difference whether the ignorance is 5 or 25 years of age? I can hear it
now, angry people rushing to their emails, "How dare she call children
stupid?!, my child isn't stupid s/he is brilliant." I didn't call children
stupid, I called them ignorant. Go to your dictionary or
Merriam-Webster Online, look up both words and note the difference.
Somewhere along the way this society started worshipping children.
Everything must be about the children. Every law passed must protect the
children. Every restaurant, every movie theater, every bar, every museum,
every art gallery, every area of our lives and cities must be child
friendly. I have nothing against businesses aimed towards children, if a
private business owner wants to cater to a certain demographic I won't stand
in his or her way. In that same respect, there is nothing wrong with adult
orientated businesses. Don't demonize places that aren't child friendly.
Don't demand they change so you can take your children, and DO NOT under any
circumstances bring your children in and expect the business to change their
rules to accommodate you. Go to a place already established for children
and leave those that don't alone. Or get a sitter and enjoy and adults only
evening.
It's amazing to me how personal people take it when I state my opinion on
children. I get called some interesting names, get accused of imaginary
crimes and generally get treated like something that needs to be
exterminated. This is from people who have children or want children, the
ones that are supposedly teaching the next generation compassion and love.
Yikes. I want to take the two most common responses and state my rebuttal
here and now. So the next time you feel the need to fly off the handle at
someone, remember this rant.
1) "You evil child hating monster. You better not hurt my children". This
is how it is, to hurt your children I would actually have to get near your
children. Simple logic: If someone does not like children, that person
will do everything in their power to avoid children. Child abusers and
pedophiles love children and will actively seek them out; these are the
people that pose a threat. Not someone like me who doesn't like to talk
children let alone touch them. But most importantly, stop taking things so
personally. Yes not liking children extends to yours, big deal. I'm sure
plenty of people out there love your children they don't need my validation,
and neither do you.
2) "Oh but it's different when it's your own". Yes you're right; the
difference is I would be stuck with a child I didn't like. Don't try to
change my mind, don't try to "save" me, or convert me and for the love of
humanity please spare me the "I used to feel that way until I had one and
now being a mom is my whole world" speech. Saying that you know me better
than I know myself is rude, condescending and completely uncalled for. Only
control freaks walk around thinking they know what is best for everyone.
Please, I am begging you; please do not drag your poor children over to meet
me expecting their cute and perky ways to change me. I am sure your
children are very special to you; they should be. But
to me they are just children like any other children and as I clearly stated
before, I am not interested.
So the next time someone says "I don't like children", simply nod, shrug and
agree that children aren't for everyone. I am not asking you to talk to
them I'm not even asking you to like them, I am simply asking that you
accept a different opinion.
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