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You bring up historically dark periods in which humans didn't stop having children. I don't even think you have to travel through time.
Right now in Africa the human condition involves suffering on a scale incomprehensible to the average western mind, where family members of Ebola victims lynch the doctors and aid workers trying to stop outbreaks while war and rape cyclically consume every attempt at building civilization.
This is the one of the few places on the planet where people are having more children.
I've never been convinced of many of my friends' reasoning behind not having kids either. Some at least are honest about their desire to travel and build pools in their backyard, at least.
Why would you even want a pool when you don’t have kids?
Asking the real questions.
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To show off to guests, of course. Or to cool off on hot days. Knew a guy out in the desert who'd jump into his pool several times a day over the summer months.
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From my perspective, actually, pools are deathtraps for young kids and a maintenance nightmare. I want them less as a father. I had a lot of fun at them as an unattached adult, where I can read, tan, and cool off repeatedly.
There's a reason every retirement home has a pool but almost no preschools do.
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