Comments for Ben Balbo http://benbalbo.com PHP Trainer, Security Consultant, Open Source Developer, Open Source Advocate Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:23:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Why I don’t want kids by Ben Balbo http://benbalbo.com/2006/09/19/why-i-dont-want-kids/#comment-32389 Ben Balbo Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:17:54 +0000 http://benbalbo.com/2006/09/19/why-i-dont-want-kids/#comment-32389 Hi Kara! Thanks for contributing... It seems we're not as alone as some of us might originally have thought! You've broken the half-century for number of comments for this post, and it still surprises me this is the most popular post on my blog! It's obvious that people have many reasons for not wanting kids, but at least one thing in common - it still seems to be (openly) socially unacceptable and we're the ones that have to justify ourselves to people who probably classify themselves as accepting and open ;-) Hi Kara! Thanks for contributing…

It seems we’re not as alone as some of us might originally have thought! You’ve broken the half-century for number of comments for this post, and it still surprises me this is the most popular post on my blog!

It’s obvious that people have many reasons for not wanting kids, but at least one thing in common - it still seems to be (openly) socially unacceptable and we’re the ones that have to justify ourselves to people who probably classify themselves as accepting and open ;-)

]]> Comment on Why I don’t want kids by Kara http://benbalbo.com/2006/09/19/why-i-dont-want-kids/#comment-32387 Kara Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:17:51 +0000 http://benbalbo.com/2006/09/19/why-i-dont-want-kids/#comment-32387 My husband and I don't want kids either. To be frank, it has nothing to do with overpopulation (we live in the western U.S) or the environment, but more to do with the pressure, financial and emotional, that having kids requires. I have asked many parents if they would have kids again knowing what they know now--and the answer is always, "Privately? NO!" I like my freedom, my happy marriage, and my figure. My husband and I don’t want kids either. To be frank, it has nothing to do with overpopulation (we live in the western U.S) or the environment, but more to do with the pressure, financial and emotional, that having kids requires.
I have asked many parents if they would have kids again knowing what they know now–and the answer is always, “Privately? NO!”

I like my freedom, my happy marriage, and my figure.

]]> Comment on Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust by Ben Balbo http://benbalbo.com/2008/06/18/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust/#comment-32158 Ben Balbo Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:46:12 +0000 http://benbalbo.com/?p=193#comment-32158 Hi Andy! Thanks for your comment. I have to say I disagree with what I assume are your two points: 1. Haunted feelings and cutting relationships clean: Cremation doesn't, in my opinion, cut relationships. You can still look out to sea where the ashes were scattered, or contemplate memories while looking at the urn in which they lie. Either way, feelings bear no relationship to the environmental effects. 2. Making land useless for agricultural purposes: I'm not sure how many farmers cultivate forested land. I would imagine those that do have additional problems to contend with such as lack of direct sunlight and difficulty in protecting crop from native animals. I appreciate your contribution, but I'm afraid I don't understand it. If I've misunderstood you, please let me know. Hi Andy! Thanks for your comment. I have to say I disagree with what I assume are your two points:

1. Haunted feelings and cutting relationships clean: Cremation doesn’t, in my opinion, cut relationships. You can still look out to sea where the ashes were scattered, or contemplate memories while looking at the urn in which they lie. Either way, feelings bear no relationship to the environmental effects.

2. Making land useless for agricultural purposes: I’m not sure how many farmers cultivate forested land. I would imagine those that do have additional problems to contend with such as lack of direct sunlight and difficulty in protecting crop from native animals.

I appreciate your contribution, but I’m afraid I don’t understand it. If I’ve misunderstood you, please let me know.

]]> Comment on Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust by Andy http://benbalbo.com/2008/06/18/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust/#comment-32005 Andy Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:20:26 +0000 http://benbalbo.com/?p=193#comment-32005 Atleast cremation does not block the land for centuries with haunted feelings and not usable for agriculture. Cremation does not leave any trail for people to remember their past and moan upon it cuts the relation clean and people have to move on. Atleast cremation does not block the land for centuries with haunted feelings and not usable for agriculture.
Cremation does not leave any trail for people to remember their past and moan upon it cuts the relation clean and people have to move on.

]]> Comment on Why I don’t want kids by Ben Balbo http://benbalbo.com/2006/09/19/why-i-dont-want-kids/#comment-31705 Ben Balbo Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:27:52 +0000 http://benbalbo.com/2006/09/19/why-i-dont-want-kids/#comment-31705 Hi Joe! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I agree with them all, but I think you know that ;-) Hi Joe! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I agree with them all, but I think you know that ;-)

]]> Comment on Why I don’t want kids by joe http://benbalbo.com/2006/09/19/why-i-dont-want-kids/#comment-31668 joe Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:44:34 +0000 http://benbalbo.com/2006/09/19/why-i-dont-want-kids/#comment-31668 In the old days having kids made sense, because there was safety in numbers to make sure that your tribe will survive....thats no longer the case...i'm going to prove that actually wanting to have kids nowdays is selfish and here's why.... First of all we are running out of resources and real-estate facing all kinds of food and water shortages.... Now consider this: When you ask most people why the want kids they will usually give you one of these lines... "So someone can take care of me when i'm old" or "I want to re-live my childhood through them" or "I want to achieve immortality by pro-creation so my genes carry on.... All these are acts of VANITY and SELFISHNESS..... Not that there's anything wrong with that, each to their own.... In this society people are slowly brainwashed into wanting to have a family from very early age....if someone dares to think outside the box..."there must be something wrong with them".....here is why: IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY!!!!!!!!! Period.... Your government knows that you are creating and raising taxpayers for them and spending a fortune in the process....and they don't want you to stop.... that's why all the brainwashing..... My goal in life is to do what i want, when i want and outside of work answer to no one....not doable if you have kids. And before you call me selfish, many of you will discover, that if they dig deep.... secretly they also want to do what they want and answer to no-one, but shame won't allow them to admit it, for fear of being rejected by the society, for not wanting what they "should" and for fear of being labeled "selfish".... In the old days having kids made sense, because there was safety in numbers to make sure that your tribe will survive….thats no longer the case…i’m going to prove that actually wanting to have kids nowdays is selfish and here’s why….

First of all we are running out of resources and real-estate facing all kinds of food and water shortages….
Now consider this:

When you ask most people why the want kids they will usually give you one of these lines…

“So someone can take care of me when i’m old”
or
“I want to re-live my childhood through them”
or
“I want to achieve immortality by pro-creation so my genes carry on….

All these are acts of VANITY and SELFISHNESS…..

Not that there’s anything wrong with that, each to their own….

In this society people are slowly brainwashed into wanting to have a family from very early age….if someone dares to think outside the box…”there must be something wrong with them”…..here is why:

IT’S ALL ABOUT MONEY!!!!!!!!!
Period….
Your government knows that you are creating and raising taxpayers for them and spending a fortune in the process….and they don’t want you to stop…. that’s why all the brainwashing…..

My goal in life is to do what i want, when i want and outside of work answer to no one….not doable if you have kids.
And before you call me selfish, many of you will discover, that if they dig deep…. secretly they also want to do what they want and answer to no-one, but shame won’t allow them to admit it, for fear of being rejected by the society, for not wanting what they “should” and for fear of being labeled “selfish”….

]]> Comment on Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust by J http://benbalbo.com/2008/06/18/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust/#comment-31529 J Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:13:18 +0000 http://benbalbo.com/?p=193#comment-31529 Just came across this (should really be in a meeting now, but they're late :P) http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO0404BGLA-e-e.pdf which gives the main risk factor as the height of the water table. Presumably if you bury high enough in the ground, and the water table under usual circumstances is low down enough, even in high-saturation conditions, the body shouldn't contaminate the water... Not had time to read the whole thing. Interesting, though ;o) Just came across this (should really be in a meeting now, but they’re late :P) http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO0404BGLA-e-e.pdf

which gives the main risk factor as the height of the water table. Presumably if you bury high enough in the ground, and the water table under usual circumstances is low down enough, even in high-saturation conditions, the body shouldn’t contaminate the water…

Not had time to read the whole thing. Interesting, though ;o)

]]> Comment on Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust by Tassja http://benbalbo.com/2008/06/18/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust/#comment-31523 Tassja Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:55:48 +0000 http://benbalbo.com/?p=193#comment-31523 I remember reading a science journal years ago about how the pollution of ground water by bacteria in decomposing bodies (not embalmed) got into the ground water and then into the wells (yup some people in the uk still have wells). As a result people who drank the water got sick and some children died. I remember being really shocked by the fact that the dead really can hurt you. I'll have a dig around and see if I can find the report on it. I remember reading a science journal years ago about how the pollution of ground water by bacteria in decomposing bodies (not embalmed) got into the ground water and then into the wells (yup some people in the uk still have wells). As a result people who drank the water got sick and some children died. I remember being really shocked by the fact that the dead really can hurt you.

I’ll have a dig around and see if I can find the report on it.

]]> Comment on Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust by Ben Balbo http://benbalbo.com/2008/06/18/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust/#comment-31518 Ben Balbo Thu, 19 Jun 2008 07:55:14 +0000 http://benbalbo.com/?p=193#comment-31518 Hiya! I just had a read of the BBC page, and it seems the freeze-drying process is an alternative to embalming, and that the embalming fluid is the toxin. I've also done a little searching for other toxins that bodies release after burial, and most results again just point to embalming fluid. If that's the case, I'd still opt for a natural burial, no embalming fluid, and no need to waste liquid nitrogen. Of course my research is nothing close to comprehensive. I'll keep looking ;-) Hiya! I just had a read of the BBC page, and it seems the freeze-drying process is an alternative to embalming, and that the embalming fluid is the toxin. I’ve also done a little searching for other toxins that bodies release after burial, and most results again just point to embalming fluid.

If that’s the case, I’d still opt for a natural burial, no embalming fluid, and no need to waste liquid nitrogen. Of course my research is nothing close to comprehensive. I’ll keep looking ;-)

]]> Comment on Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust by Tassja http://benbalbo.com/2008/06/18/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust/#comment-31517 Tassja Thu, 19 Jun 2008 07:48:30 +0000 http://benbalbo.com/?p=193#comment-31517 Hiya Ben :o) There was a news article on the bbc site which I saw back in 2004, I'm very interested in the method described there. Might solve the problem with the toxins released from the body. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3473103.stm As for pics of Nathan, we do have loads of them, I've just not updated the wisemantribe gallery or flickr in a while. Though I will upload some more to flickr today :o) Hiya Ben :o)

There was a news article on the bbc site which I saw back in 2004, I’m very interested in the method described there. Might solve the problem with the toxins released from the body. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3473103.stm

As for pics of Nathan, we do have loads of them, I’ve just not updated the wisemantribe gallery or flickr in a while. Though I will upload some more to flickr today :o)

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