text:
Why Does Child-Free Equal Child Hate? ~ Catherine Beekmans
Shouldn't children be treated with the same amount of respect as any other group of people?
After a recent discussion with some of my peers on Twitter about people who choose to be child-free being vehement child haters, I felt compelled to write a more detailed rant on the topic.
The debate arose when one of the people I follow re-tweeted an article asking the childless of the workforce to help pick up the slack for people who choose to have children. Comments that followed from her child-free comrades included calling children "brats" and "mewling spawn."
What is the deal with the child-free group hating children?
To clear up the meaning behind that statement, I'm talking about hating children loudly and in public, just because they are children.
Not every person who chooses not have children has such an awful attitude, so this is addressed to those who do; I'm talking about using lazy parenting and poor behavior as an excuse to hate all children. I'm talking about insulting and mean statements posted on Twitter, Facebook and everywhere else about and towards kids and the people who choose to have them.
I'm talking about people who refuse to act like a grown up about their choice.
Yeah, that's right: child-free child haters often act more like children than children do. I'm also directing this towards childless people who feel the need to make comments about how children should be raised, especially when the comments are extremist and closed minded.
So, you're saying that if we had continued to hit our children, the world would be a much better place? That every single child is lazy and rude because we didn't send them outside from sun up to sun down? That if we forced them to pull their pants up, we would have an end to war and hunger?
Yes, I've had experiences where a child has kicked the back of my seat during an entire movie. I've been on planes with babies that just won't stop screaming. I've seen dirty and hyperactive kids leaving a trail of wreckage behind them in stores. Don't think that because we're parents, we are completely oblivious to the crap that some children are allowed to get away with. Neglectful and lazy parenting is the exception, not the rule. We don't like it any more than you do, but we also don't use it as an excuse for stereotypical and hateful behavior.
These kids are still human beings and are worthy of kindness and patience—any living creature is.
Crying babies grow up to be artists, athletes and world-changers. A child who's having a tantrum in the middle of the produce section may one day be the person who makes the political decisions about your future as a senior. These aren't just little pests that have been placed here to annoy—they will be you some day.
I've got to wonder why some child-free individuals spend so much time and energy expelling negative crap out into the world about kids and parenting. If you don't want to have children and dislike them so intensely, why are you so focused on them?
Is this a maturity issue? Is your attitude a result of how much kindness and compassion you received yourself as a child? I can only imagine the inner turmoil that must take place to keep up that hateful momentum.
Believe it or not, most parents don't like their kids acting like lunatics any more than you do. We are raising our children to be caring, generous and mindful citizens but that takes time and patience—from everyone. Your sneers and woefully obvious glares won't change anyone's behavior but it will change how the world views you. Let me repeat something you've already heard before: you will never completely understand unless you've got kids.
To the child-free child haters:
When a baby is crying, it's in distress. He or she is not trying to annoy anyone within earshot. If the baby is somewhere a baby shouldn't generally be (and there are many opinions on where a child should and shouldn't be), your issue is not with the child but with who put the child in that situation. Keep in mind that sometimes, parents make mistakes just like anyone else. A little compassion can go a long way.
If the child is misbehaving, again, your issue isn't necessarily with the child, but with the parenting—maybe. You should ask yourself if the child's behavior is actually bad behavior or if it's just that you're allowing yourself to be overly irritated simply because you're "child-free, damn it, and children just shouldn't be anywhere public, ever."
Lastly, no one's asking the child-free to love children. Dislike them all you want, but please do it quietly, with respect to children and their parents. Replace "child" in your child hating statements with words like gay, black, women or disabled and maybe then you'll understand why parents are so insulted themselves and on behalf of their kids.
The bottom line is that all humans should be treated with respect and dignity. You don't need anyone's permission or approval to be child free and you can be proud of your choice.
There are many good reasons not to have kids and despite being a parent, I can agree with many of them.
You can, however, be vocal about your child-free decision without being hurtful in the process.
Choose not to perpetuate hate of any kind towards any group of people.
Like I'm not "Spiritual." I just practice being a good person on Facebook.
Ed: Bryonie Wise
Incorrect source, offensive, or found a typo? Email us (please put title in subject bar of email so we'll be able to fix). Or do you want to write for Elephant?
{Waylon H. Lewis C Enterprises 2015: Use Rights in perpetuity. Ownership remains with author.}
56 Responses to "Why Does Child-Free Equal Child Hate? ~ Catherine Beekmans"
I am pretty sure the people that talk like this could HAVE children just as well as be "child-free". I don't think this subject is accurately directed at the right right group. If you are upset that people are talking ill of children it shouldn't matter if they have children or not, you are making yourself look as tactless as the subjects you are pointing the finger at.
The post was directed at child-free child haters, a specific group that has chosen to not be content with not having their own children, but to actively dislike the procreation of others. It wasn't directed at all child-haters, although it was also directed at lazy parents (which, to me, are also child haters in a way) because that isn't who the discussion began with on twitter.
It's not hard to grasp the point of the post, or the group it is directed at. Why the group needed to be widened or else it is "tactless" remains a mystery to me. Writing needs to be pointed.
Thank you so much! Couldn't have said it better myself. It was directed to a specific group for specific behaviors.
Thanks for taking the time to read & for your comments Christy! You're right, this could also apply to anyone who is mean-spirited towards children, whether they have children or not.
I LOVE this post.
As a proudly childfree person who literally cannot understand WHY people need to make more people. As a person who encourages birth control and discourages friends to have more than they already do (whether that's one, two or five). As someone who has done a TON of childcare (which is why I never want my own; it's hard, frustrating, annoying, mindless (not all the time, but much of the time) WORK pure and simple). As an aside, a bit haha to all those parents who have never changed a diaper before their own child's – ludicrous; you would not jump into being a sixth-grade teacher without experience or education, and you're going to have a kid without ever having cared for one? Even for a couple days here or there? Really?
But I must agree; children are people too. They DO deserve respect, compassion, and all the things regular people do. Absolutely.
The reason so many of us childless people complain all the time? It ain't immaturity. (And hey, we were all kids once, we all have that perspective) It's that your goddam kids are so annoying!! And that almost always, it's US the nonparents, who have to speak up. Cause the other parents sure don't. And (for the most part) most kids have so few manners it's insane. I travel a lot, and spend my time in many, many other places, off the beaten path and on, and let me say, American children are THE WORST. The problem is not the kids, it's American parents, period. They don't set limits, they are wishy-washy, they try to be their kids' friends, and the result is asshole kids who act out because they have no boundaries, which are (newsflash!) really, really good for children, make them feel like they are held within a sensible and consistent world that makes sense (nuance can come later).
Occasionally, I meet kids who were raised like I was; "please" and "Thank you" (I was on that at 4 years old); able to sit by themselves quietly drawing or playing or exploring the nearby woods; also able to sit at a table with adults, eat with proper silverware and ask to be excused when I was finished eating (or contribute to the conversation when I was older); able to eat foods other than "kid" foods. In other words, I was a kid; I was loud – when I was outside (outside voice and inside voice, whatever happened to that one?) and ran around for hours in the woods, and did my homework so that I could play with friends and got scared when the lightening crashed but knew I was safe. My parent (my grandma) did ALL this for me, for her, and for society.
I don't get annoyed with babies crying, ever—interestingly when I was in the rainforest on a guided hike, a baby began crying and the parents were mortified, afraid that baby was scaring away the wildlife we were all there to see; but no, the guide said, a baby crying doesn't bother the animals a bit, it's a natural sound.
But a child behaving like a jerk? That's not natural at all. But it is, unfortunately American.
Thank you for taking the time to read and giving such thoughtful comments & feedback. I'm not sure I agree with everything you said, but it is nice to see the opinions on the other side of the fence. I have yet to experience children that aren't American/Canadian, unfortunately. Hopefully sooner than later!
American children are the worst? You should see Italian ones. They are children until they are 30, first of all. And treated like prince(sses) by their moms and parents. When I am in the USA I feel like American ones are well behaved!
Starre, yes!!! Chris down below, yes!!!
I have raised my siblings, been a nanny happily for 10 yrs, and am quite good with children & genuinely like them. That does not change the fact that some people have no accountability over where they bring their kids or on having boundaries on behavior. My father only had to look at us & we stopped all activity. It's completely unacceptable to bring a child certain places. Like a dog you've been too lazy to train that pees everywhere, leave it home & get a sitter.
We dont have a huge need for more people as our resources are already taxed to the max. Child bearing is a big responsibility that takes patience & tremendous resources, not a right. I shouldn't be allowed to bring an alarm going off into a restaurant or a bull horn, why are people considered haters because they don't want to listen to non-genetically tied to them babies scream? Regular Intermittent Noise makes top 3 nuisances that measurably lowers ones happiness (just under a long daily commune). The anger is not directed at the precious innocent babies who won't even have a developed brain until late teens, but at the inconsiderate, under skilled parent. I love kids, work with kids, and understand the large task taken on when having them. In a small community when everyone takes care of each other & each other's kids/responsibilities. Unfortunately, in a large town where no one is accountable to each other & the odds of seeing someone again that you've helped is small, it's alot to ask someone to take it on the chin for your inconsideration.
Very few people actually hate kids. At least I hope that's the case. They hate being inconvenienced, not considered, in the presence of screaming, and dealing with the sheer stupidity of some people- who happen to be parents.
Thanks for reading and for your comments Sara! You've made some thoughtful points.
Whether not people should have children is a hot topic these days, but the fact remains that people still do. I also hope that no one really hates kids, but I have seen some extremely awful things said about kids and parents in general, which immediately makes me feel hurt and defensive.
The article was written not for people who are reacting to bad situations, but for people who are publicly (including publicly in social media) hating on children and parents in general. I have been witness to some really nasty, immature and hateful things posted about kids and parents. That would include me, my kids and all of the parents and kids I know. Ouch!
According to expert physiologists a childs brain is not mature until they are in their late teens or early twenties. It takes a lot of understanding to react to a child who is trying to interact with his or her adult companionship and parenting rules.
Thanks for your comments, Mr. Monkman! It does take a lot of understanding… maybe I'm asking for too much!
Childism is just as serious a problem as any other prejudice.
Thanks for your comment, and for taking the time to read! I completely agree.
We would hate them quietly if kids and parents were quiet too. Pretty simple really – ours is merely a reaction to someone else's inactions. Changing our reactions isn't going to help their (in)actions, whereas them changing their attitudes and behaviours would actually help.
Thanks for your comment! I don't agree that kids and parents should be quiet, any more than child-free people should be quiet. It's the unprovoked hateful comments and attitudes that are unnecessary.
i think that sometimes, it's that those of us with out children, either because we physically can't have them or haven't got someone to have one with, may be deeply sad about this and use the excuse of wow, children are so horrible and that is why i don't have one, to try and make themselves feel a little better.. but they would probably deny that to the end if that was the case..
Thank you for your comment! That isn't an angle I touched on, but I thought about it after. Maybe the reaction is a defense because of their own inability to have children. It's easier to hate something you can't have. (Although in that case, adoption would be the obvious solution.)
I don't particularly like children in the exact way that I don't particularly like people. I do respect them, though. I also am childless (firstly by choice, and since 2010 because I cannot have them), but I have always had the same attitude towards children: I respect them but I don't scream with joy at the view of a child.
My attitude, though, is misunderstood and to many people I seem a child hater while I am only a bad-behaving-children hater, just like I am a bad-behaving-adult hater.
During my journey, though, I found out that many many people say they hate children, and are rude about that, only because they have fertility issues. In fact, they become helicopter parents the moment they have one.
Not everyone is sincere about the whole children business!
Thank you for reading & commenting! Interesting take on the fertility issues & helicopter parenting!
Being childfree myself, and often annoyed with out-of-control children, I can understand a why a parent might want to plea for understanding and patience when their children are simply being children. However, I don't think this article serves to bridge the animosity sometimes lurking between those with children and those who are childfree.
First, I think the inquiry that spawned this article, that being a parent asking for the childfree to pick up the slack for them at work, is only going to bring out the frustration and anger of the childfree. The inquiry itself speaks to a level of entitlement that some parents feel that they deserve special treatment just because they have children. Of course, that's going to bring out some nastiness from some of the childfree folks. Also, if the point is people saying mean things to and about children, why are you excluding those people with children who behave that way? Why do you find that behavior particularly hateful in those without children.
I wholeheartedly agree that all humans, are deserving of respect, and thus, criticism should be directed towards a behavior, not as to who that person is, whether it be based on race, religion, orientation, or whether or not they have children.
Thanks For the comments Mary! Yes, I suppose this article was not written with peace-keeping in mind. I disagree with the article I linked & referred to personally (and I added it only so I could reference what caused the twitter conversation). What kinds of things do you think would be helpful to bring a better understanding between parents, their kids, and those that are so unpleasant about the choice to have kids? Keep in mind, this article isn't directed towards all people who don't like kids. It's for those that don't like kids and tell everyone in their social media circle that all kids are unruly brats that shouldn't have existed in the first place. That sort of thing. One author's article shouldn't give way to being nasty to other people, no matter how disagreeable it is.
I excluded mean parents because that's just… people being mean. This was specifically for members of the child free group who are unnecessarily rude about parenting and children, simply because of their own choices.
I can only speak for myself when I say that what got me irked about the article was that it felt like you were painting all child-free people as child haters, when what you were talking about was a group of people on *social media* who were saying anti-child things. I know the article had its caveats, but the title certainly was inflammatory.
Social media is a very safe space for people to spew some pretty nasty stuff, and vent their frustrations. I'm sure, many of these people were simply folks who have tolerated through gritted teeth annoyances from children and entitled parents and have never said a mean word to a child or directly to their parents. However, when provoked on the internet, that frustration comes out – safely, anonymously. Social media and the comments section can be a glimpse into our collective dark psyche. It's not pretty. However, I learned a long time ago to not take it seriously. Some people simply like to provoke. They're called trolls for a reason. However, it's not fair to make gross generalizations about a whole class of people based on social media nastiness.
Fairly said, Mary, thanks!
Please don't get me started on this issue.
One thing I've never understood is why people are given tax breaks or government handouts (depending upon what country you live in) simply because they procreate. I know. That's a WHOLE BIG CAN OF WORMS.
Bottom line though – both people with children and without children pay taxes. Where's my non-child bearing incentive?
Thanks for your comments Sybil. Maybe you should get started on that movement? Incentives not to overpopulate the world wouldn't be such a bad thing. Having said that, sometimes people need a helping hand, regardless of their situation. Who are we to say they shouldn't or don't need it?
2 billion people in 1950s, not 7 billion people 60 years later and with it being on a bell curve, that will be more like 14 billion in the next 60 years!
Is having children actually a right? Or can we being in a licence system for having children?
Crying babies also grow up to be thugs, criminals, and just plain assholes. That kid throwing a tantrum in the grocery store may also grow up to be the adult who robs your house.
I'm of the opinion that all people should be treated with respect, regardless of age. I do my best to remain friendly even to people who are cursing me out and screaming in my face. But don't speak like all kids turn out well.
Thanks for reading and commenting Kaye! Not all kids turn out well, that is true. I suppose, to be fair, I shouldn't show just half the picture. On the other hand, each kid should be given a chance (respectfully, patiently, kindly) as a child before they grow up to be potentially good or potentially bad people. Maybe thugs wouldn't be thugs if they were just loved more. (I realize how hippie-lovin-flower-power that sounds, and I still stand by it.)
I am childless by choice, but I'm not a child hater. I can, however, attest to the fact that American kids are largely inconsiderate selfish little people. I used to live in Indonesia, and have traveled to several other countries. Nowhere else have I witnessed such rude behavior by children as I have here in the U.S. It is an embarrassment and a testament to our poor poor parenting here. What else could it be? I get more upset with the parents who made a hasty choice to procreate, then bitch and moan about how tired they are, how difficult it is to control their little ones. Do most parents not think about the consequences of having children? Is there no preparation in the process? Why do kids in other countries (with much less) behave with respect while kids here have tantrums on a regular basis, yet have much more? It is not the children's fault. The poor behavior is all thanks to poor parenting.
Yoshimi, yes! Wouldn't it be nice if there was a "common sense guidelines for parents" hand out that was given at birth?
I was pregnant at a young age because I was careless, reckless and immature. I think everyone's parenting depends on so many factors including your own upbringing. I've got to wonder though, aside from rude children who are a product of the parenting they received, why are some child-free people so mean to parents and kids? The good parents and well-behaved children don't get a fighting chance with these people. It's incredibly prejudiced.
Thanks so much for your comments!
I think there's a definite perception problem here.
Have you ever had a squirrel in your attic? The squirrel runs around the attic and causes all kinds of chaos. People who have had one of these little bastards there, lose sleep and worry about the damage until either a) they call an exterminator or b) the squirrel leaves. We didn't ask for the squirrel. Most of the time, we don't want to kill the squirrel. And when we see squirrels in the park, we think they're cute.
That's what it's like to be childfree.
People who have elected to not have children like to do things. We like to eat at restaurants, enjoy a movie, and get out and socialize. What we have had to put up with is "parents who can't control their kids and insist on bringing them everywhere". These are the ones that think bringing a crying infant to a movie theatre is a good idea. These are the ones that think there is absolutely nothing wrong with changing a diaper on a crowded bus. These are the ones that think a restaurant is a playground and think nothing of the dining experience of other customers. And these are the parents that think it's perfectly okay to dump their extra work on co-workers so they can leave early for little Billy's baseball game.
If you were the recipient of any of these things you'd be a bit peeved, too. Why? We don't want to take up the slack and we deserve some peace.
Unfortunately, there is no refuge for any childfree couple. We can't go to a bar because parents will bring their kids there – despite the fact that alcohol and other adult conversation is going on. There are no childfree performances of feature films that we can watch in peace (how many movies have been ruined by a parent that can't control their kid?).
Give us a place to be where we can just enjoy a peaceful moment without some parent who feels entitled to ruin it.
I'm sorry if this sounds harsh. It's just a bit of reality. We don't hate your kids… we just want to escape them.
There are so many good points, Chris, that you've highlighted. I agree with many of them, and I can see how aggravating it would be to have to deal with parents who let their kids run wild without a thought to how it affects anyone else. I'm going to hazard a guess here and say that maybe these people also don't give much thought to how their own behavior affects anyone around them either.
Sometimes I wonder if the child free are being overly bothered by typical child behavior. They're people too, and deserve to be in restaurants and in theaters. I mean, what is annoying and what isn't, besides the obvious. Is a baby with a belly laugh in a mostly adult restaurant as annoying as a kid throwing a fit?
If my son was kicking the back of someone's chair in a theater, I'd stop him and ensure he knows not to do it because it's annoying to others. Not all parents will. I don't think babies belong in theaters period. I will bring my kids to restaurants unless there is a no child policy in place, but I can only speak for myself when I say that I have never, ever had an issue with my kids behaving badly in a restaurant, because I catch it before it happens and we leave. (Now that they're older, it's a non issue.) I know that is not the case for every parent, unfortunately. Restaurants mostly welcome all groups with or without children because it's a competitive business and they want the money. Why don't child-free entrepreneurs start up more child free restaurants? I don't see that very often at all.
I ensure my children are mostly well behaved, polite and we don't do anything rude to ruin anyone's day, I can also say that sometimes I make mistakes. There are only a handful of places where kids shouldn't be. Bars, loud theaters playing adult movies (even this one is iffy—I brought my nine year old to some action movies), anything in the sex industry. What else? Parks, sporting events, restaurants? Children need to be in public settings to learn how to behave in them. Otherwise you'll have grown adults who can't behave appropriately. (I've actually seen this. In person. It's not awesome.)
I don't think it's necessarily a perception problem, because I've said that I don't begrudge people for being child free or wanting certain situations to exclude the presence of children. I am also not saying all people should like children, enjoy their presence and tolerate their crap.
I'm saying that a) have a little patience, children aren't squirrels and b) not all parents and kids are jerks, so why should we all be hurt by the nasty comments and attitudes that are sometimes thrown around?
I'm a Mom of a one and a half year old little guy, and I don't normally take the time to respond to comments, but I must say I actually liked your comment a whole lot. I think my favorite part was near the end when you said, "give us a place to be where we can just enjoy a peaceful moment without some parent who feels entitled to ruin it". Key word: ENTITLED. A huge issue these days is people feeling entitled, being self-absorbed and selfish. Just because you're a parent doesn't mean you own the world or are entitled to take your kid EVERYWHERE and let him/her act like a barbarian just because they're a kid. Children deserve discipline, yes I said deserve. Children need a structured environment, with boundaries and rules- kids need to be taught right from wrong. So if a child is acting out, their parent(s) really need to step up and correct that behavior instead of ignoring it, so someday they don't end up with an out of control teenager wondering where they went wrong.
Absolutely, kids need to get out and be in public and do things, see the world, experience it. But there are limits to where a child should be. I definitely would never bring my little dude to the bar, it's so unfair to him and everyone around him because it's a place for adults and if people want to swear and drink they should be able to do that (especially at the bar, c'mon). I've never taken him to the movies either because a) it's really loud for his little ears, and b) who wants to go out to the movies only to be disrupted by someones baby. Where I live (Canada, eh?), there are daily movies JUST for parents and their little ones. I realize that not every parent has the option of going during the daytime due to work, but at least that option is there. I have lots of friends who PAY for a babysitter, so they can get out and have adult time, only to hear stories that their steak dinner at a fancy restaurant was disrupted by kids who were acting like they owned the place, while their parents looked on and did nothing or said, "oh they're just being kids".
Now, I'm just sharing my honest opinions about kids and parents. I used to really dislike children, I never wanted to have any because quite frankly they scared me and I thought they were all out of control little monsters. Then my husband and I had our son, and that changed everything really quick. I realized it's not kids, no, kids are innocent to be honest and they are just little sponges waiting and yearning to be taught right from wrong. And no it's not always easy but it's worth it. And I know this doesn't apply to everyone and every situation, but generally speaking I'd have to say if a child is really acting out of control, why do you think that is? Where does that come from? Parenting, my friends, usually it comes down to parenting.
I take my son everywhere I can, within reason of course. We go to the park, children's museums, grocery shopping, to the mall, walks in the forest, and a few family restaurants are totally kid friendly. Sure, he's only a year and a half, but he's learning already that a tantrum in public does not yield the results he wants. It is difficult, babies brains are immature and learning these skills takes time but having a polite little boy is so worth the effort.
And to the parents who bring their kids to the bar, seriously, what were you thinking.
Adults have a typical social protocol that they adhere to in public, generally speaking. And I think as parents it's important to teach your children these things too so they grow up to be polite, courteous members of society. And at the same time, let your kids be kids in kid friendly places.
Thanks so much for your comments, Jessica! Thank you as well for being the kind of parent that helps put the rest of us parents (and as a result, our kids) in a better light.
Chris, yes!!!!!!!!
The title of this article is Why Does Child-Free = Child-Hate? In other words, as the article strongly implies, Why Does Everyone Who Is Child-Free Hate Children? It then goes on to criticize child-free people for overgeneralizing the poor parenting and poor behavior of a few individuals to all children and all parents: "Neglectful and lazy parenting is the exception, not the rule. We don't like it any more than you do, but we also don't use it as an excuse for stereotypical and hateful behavior." The author does not even consider the possibility that the behavior she criticizes is the behavior of a few individuals. No, that is not possible. Everyone who is childless hates children. The childless are mean, grumpy boors with no manners. This article makes me wonder about the questions of, Why Do People With Children Hate People Who Are Childless? I am on the receiving end of far more bad behavior from people with children due to my decision to remain childless than I am from any other source.
Thanks for reading Michael! I can see you're passionate about this topic.
I definitely urge you to read the article again—you will find I intentionally pointed out that not all childless have this awful attitude. The article was directed to a specific group within a group: the child free people who are rude and hateful in general about parents and kids, with loud angry hateful comments, especially when unprovoked.
Titles aside, the article was directed to that group specifically. Parents, kids AND the child free should all be treated with respect and shouldn't be at the receiving end of horrible & insulting comments when they haven't done anything to earn it. I'm sorry to hear you also had to endure bad behavior from people.
Everyone knows the world is over populated — why did you have children when you had to turn around and ask someone to work overtime for you? Why couldn't you be like the child-free who are trying to fix the planet instead dump their burdens on others?
Thanks for your comments! This article isn't about whether or not people should have children, but your opinion is a popular one, it seems. I wouldn't say that everyone who has a child is intentionally trying to dump their burdens on others.
The mostly profoundly effective environmentally positive decision a human being can make is to choose not reproduce.
You can choose to go vegan, move off the grid, install solar panels, etc. None of these actions are as effective as choosing not to reproduce. Because its exponential – not just your children, but their children, and their children.
Most of the severe problems we face on this planet stem from the fact that there are just too many of us.
Thanks for reading and for your comments Gregg!
In theory that might be a good idea, Gregg. In reality, although the earth may be over populated as a whole, the US is actually experiencing an all time low birthrate. We are below replacement rate and have been for quite some time, which means that soon a larger portion of our population will be retired seniors than ever before. If your interested in the effects this can have on a society, just google "effects of population decline in Japan." So unless you are also willing to suggest that we start mass murdering our senior citizens (which you might be, I have run across that type of misanthrope before), then it's best for our society if we try to keep the birthrate at (or at least near) replacement rate. If you don't want kids because you just don't then that is totally fine with me, but if you are trying to make a point about reducing our personal carbon footprints then I cannot take you seriously via the internet. If you have electricity, internet access, and own a computer then you have no right to tell people that their choice to have children is harmful to the environment. Glass houses, and all that. When you are able to go completely off the grid, give up all of your modern comforts and exist entirely on subsistence farming then I will have total respect for your opinion on the matter. Until then, you can give up on the idea that you're saving the world by not having kids.
Wow, thanks for this Katherine! Great comment!
To follow the logic of this article, if children are just like other human beings and should be treated like other groups of people, that means that it is free to have negative opinions and not want to be around children. Problems only arise if there is an issue of mistreatment and abuse. Humans and groups of humans are not forcibly liked. Laws dictate that humans and groups of humans cannot be abused and discriminated against based on certain characteristics. And, no, not wanting to be around children, being annoyed by children, and not hosting events with children is not discrimination. I find some children to be annoying just as many adults are annoying. I do not hate children but I also prefer to not be around children if it is a choice between being alone or being with adults. That often includes the children who I know and love very dearly–there are many children in my life.
Thanks for your comments! What's that saying about opinions? Seriously though, there's nothing wrong with wanting to have some space away from children. It's when someone starts to be down-right rude and mean to parents and about children, loudly, vocally…. well I guess that still isn't discrimination. But is it right to be mindlessly hurtful to the general mass? In any situation?
It seems like the writer of this piece has a bit of chip on her shoulder. Maybe she should look in the mirror and see if there isn't some resentment being harbored towards childless people. She stated that she gave birth to her first child very young and that it was not planned. I find the piece very accusatory. I don't have children and I find in the "crunchy granola community" naturally everyone is supposed to think kids are wonderful magical beings and that having one makes you better, more spiritual. I like kids, not all kids-but I agree with the idea that children-in public settings should be made to behave in a manner befitting where they are. In a restaurant an adult would not start to scream and cry and throw a tantrum. If that happens to a child very often the parent ignores it. Had an adult did it, they would be removed. The same thing with letting kids hang over the back of the seat. I can't tell you how many times I have been sitting and eating and had to be faced with a child turned the opposite way staring at me while I try to have my meal or on an airplane. The parents are usually oblivious to this and if the kid is quiet they're happy. They don't care the kid is disrupting the people next to them. It wouldn't be normal if an adult turned around in their seat and started at another patron. Same thing with letting the kid walk all over, approaching tables and people when they are in the midst of something. Ignore the kid, you look like a fink. Mommy and Daddy think, how cute! I don't think cute, I think "please leave me alone". When I was growing up I would NEVER have been allowed to do any of these behaviors the author seems to think are "kids being kids". Kids don't get taught today how to behave in public. And, in our somewhat self absorbed-me , me , me society, patents seem to think that extends to their kids. One of my personal best friends is 13 going on 14. I have known her since she was a toddler and we have been best buds forever. We do things together, go to movies et et. And, she is on the autism spectrum. Yet her parents have taught her to be a good girl and she behaves well in public situations. She's always been enthusiastic and happy, but never disruptive. And I find now parents think disruptive is normal. And it isn't
Hi Gina, thanks for your comments! I don't often check my shoulders for chips, so maybe you're right and there's one hidden there somewhere. Perhaps I do resent the childless? If I do, it's subconscious. I know quite a few childless people both at work and at play and I respect their decision. I don't expect them to like my kids. I only expect anyone I know to be polite to them because I teach my kids to be polite to adults, and it should be returned, right? I didn't define my version of "kids being kids" – not everyone's definition of that will be the same. It depends on what they tolerate and who they are.
I have to admit that when you talked about an adult hanging over the back of their seat in a restaurant or airplane staring down a complete stranger as they try to eat (to illustrate that children shouldn't be allowed to do it)….
I. Giggled. Like. Mad.
Thank you for that visual. Someone needs to make a youtube video like that!
These guys could do it, if they haven't already: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k1qPaDJHOs
I have to address a couple of points in your article. This will be a two part comment b/c EJ says I am too longwinded. : )
1. " I'm talking about insulting and mean statements posted on Twitter, Facebook and everywhere else about and towards kids and the people who choose to have them."
This has always been a hot button for me, not just in regard to children, but in regard to any aspect of free speech. It is a free, public forum and so long as people are not violating the law they should be able to say what they feel. I don't think it's fair for anyone to dictate what should or should not be said. I felt it relevant to point out that these sites were originally created for the 18+ crowd and honestly, I wish it were still the case. We need to be able to be adults somewhere and air our adult complaints and have adult conversations, even if it has to do with so and so's "mewling spawn". That all being said, you can always block or hide the feed/person. Yeah it sucks for the person that might have to read a comment or two that offends them, but such is life, and you will never not be offended by something. There is always going to be someone out there who says something that you don't want to hear.
I also believe that children should not have online accounts, unless they are specific to children. This is because pediatric research has shown how social media platforms negatively affect children and their development. Did you know that recent studies suggest that this generation of children are some of the most uncaring, unempathetic, and self-absorbed? And it's no surprise with the attachment many have to their games and accounts.
Every place should not be "child friendly". We need to be able to be adults somewhere and air our adult complaints and have adult conversations, even if it has to do with so and so's "mewling spawn". That all being said, there is always the opportunity to unfriend a person. That is your right as the account holder.
2. "I'm also directing this towards childless people who feel the need to make comments about how children should be raised"
This is another hot button for me. I am child free, yes. However, I have experience caring for children and I have a broad knowledge of child-rearing, and also scientific research that has been done on child behavior. Your statement is again very generalizing. I hear it all the time from parents (not directed at me, but in similar forums to this). Parents do not have the right to make judgment about what child-free people can or can't say. You made a statement in this article about how children will eventually become us. Yes, that is true… but those who state that the child-free have no business giving parenting advice, forget that the vast majority of us were once children too. The majority of us have experienced 18 or so years of direct observation of parenting behavior and have thus made our own judgments and plans and ideas about how parenting should be. Likewise, and sort of in the same vein as your comment about having children without any experience caring for them, I think that many (dare I say most?) of us have ideas about how we will be as parents, whether we intend to be parents or not. I think it is something that is natural and logical for adults to consider because it is a part of our very nature. BUT Having a child does not a parent make. A parent is someone who takes the time to listen, learn, understand, and guide. I think that more parents should consider the opinions of the child-free, even the negative ones, because most judgments and statements have some value and merit. How do we transition to a place where discourse is encouraged? We need to stop dictating what should or shouldn't be said, because in the end, it's going to be said, but at least when it's not behind closed doors you, as a parent, have an opportunity to take note, defend yourself, engage in conversation, etc.
3. "If you don't want to have children and dislike them so intensely, why are you so focused on them?"
You answered your own question in many ways throughout this article, but most notably when you said that "Crying babies grow up to be artists, athletes and world-changers. …they will be you some day." So yes, we should ALL have a vested interest. After all, it takes a village… right? The thing that originally set you off to write this article was the discourse between people on a post that basically espoused the village mentality. The child-free should allow parents some "slack" and also this statement from the article, "The real reason why you should help a parent out is because, as Whitney Houston put it best, our children are our future."
I guess my question is, why are parents so quick to disregard, belittle, or brush off comments from the child free, when they deem them "negative," but then those same people ask for help from the people that they just asked to shut up and play nice.
I guess in total I felt your article was riddled with holes, stereotypes, and the kind of judgy overtures and generalizations that get us in this gridlock in the first place.
I do agree with your points regarding common decency toward everyone, but an article like this does not do much to further that request. The example has not been made. As a child free person, I felt the article was more focused on the "rant" and less on how we reach common ground.
I think this came out a little more harsh than I intended. Please don't take anything I said the wrong way. I'd welcome more discourse on the subject.
Thanks so much for your comments, Emily!
I'm child-free by choice and, while I'm always very nice and interactive with children, I most often get irritated at parents more than the child. I'm not saying to spank your kids, but teaching kids manners seems to be a lost practice these days.
Thanks for your comment and I have to say, I agree! No spanking, but yes to manners!
The author of this piece and the original piece have a WHOLE LOT OF NERVE and SELF ENTITLEMENT issues. So let me get this straight, because YOU decided to have a baby the child free need to cater and be understanding your inability to control spawn? Lady you are beyond delusional. In the workplace as a parent, YOU chose to work. If you are not going to put forth the effort needed, quit! Child free people are not obligated to make up for the fact YOU chose to have kids and to think they should shows how selfish and delusional you are. If I want to "hate" on kids I have every right to do so, because usually starts with self entitled people like you! Lady you really have a lot nerve to tell child free people to suck it up and deal. Unreal!
Hi Yolanda, thanks for your comments!
I actually did not write the first article about people having kids and asking others to pick up the slack for them at work. I personally disagree with the article, actually and in fact think parents shouldn't get any more favors than the childless do. All merits should be earned based on your contribution in the work place as far as I'm concerned.
I also think that being mindful means keeping hateful opinions to ourselves, or at least verbalizing them in a way that isn't going to make other people feel crappy. My point, in a nutshell, which I'm thinking you would have gotten if you had read past the first paragraph (maybe?) is that there's no need to be derogatory and hateful to any person, whether it's a child or adult.
I'm so happy to find your article. I really hate the negativity in the CF groups I've found. At first I was so excited to find ppl who could 100% understand my decision. However, I would soon learn they loved bashing parents and kids, calling them awful things. I stuck around, waiting for more moderate threads to appear. They got drowned out so I had to leave.
My reason for not wanting kids is I had a little brother, 8 years younger when I was a teenager. I had to watch him all the time, kept invading my space, noisy, and constantly wanted to talk to me. I still don't fully understand why some people want kids so badly.
I really want to join a group with people like you.


text:
Without Voting, Golden Blames Dems for Bill's Failure
State Senator Marty Golden wasn't in the chambers when the microstamping legislation was being voted on, but he doesn't want to be blamed for the bill's failure.
Golden, a Republican, said three Democrats were opposing the bill and that even if he did vote, the bill would not have passed.
Not that he was supporting it anyway.
In a brief telephone interview, Golden told me:
What happened with that is the Democrats voted the bill down -- three Democrats. I thought it was amazing that [Eric] Schneiderman was telling people he had the votes, put the bill up for a vote and not have the votes that he said he has, and that was [David] Valesky, [Darrel] Aurbertine and [Bill] Stachowski.
If those three Democrats voted for the bill, that bill would be law today.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Kitchen Sage's Instant Blueberry Cobbler
Blueberry filling:
2 tablespoons butter
2 ounces of rum
3 pints of blueberries
Sauté until combined; set aside.
2 cups of oats
¼ cup sliced almonds
¼ cup pecan pieces
¼ cup coconut
¼ cup sesame seeds
¼ cup flax seeds
¼ cup chopped peanuts
2 tablespoons of cinnamon
8 ounces of Michigan maple syrup
2 ounces of olive oil
Combine all ingredients and cook over stovetop until gooey and toasty. In a dish, layer granola on bottom, then blueberries, then another layer of granola. Top with whipped cream or ice cream and serve.


text:
Fall 2013 President's and Dean's Lists
Feb 25, 2014
Each semester the Academic Dean prepares for the President a list of those Dean's List students who have earned a grade point average of 4.0. President Lawrence Barrett, Ed.D., is pleased to acknowledge following students.
Each semester the Academic Dean of Eastern Maine Community College prepares a list of those full time students who have earned a semester grade point average of 3.25 or higher at EMCC. Academic Dean Pamela Proulx-Curry, Ph.D, is pleased to acknowledge the following students.
Filed under: News


text:
Margie, as she was known to most of her friends, was born in Washington DC. At an early age she moved to Berkeley, California. As a young child she was entrusted with many of the responsibilities of caring for her younger sisters, Helen and Anne.
When Margie was a teenager her family left California and moved to Kansas City where she graduated from Shawnee Mission Rural High School. Her family then returned to Southern California where she enrolled in college and began to study art.
Margie was always active in her community and supported her family's activities. She was a Girl Scout Leader for many years, a Sunday School teacher who went on to serve on many committees and missions at La Canada Presbyterian Church, a Head Start volunteer, a supporter of the La Canada Tournament of Roses. For 17 years she built homes for Habitat for Humanity in Tutwiler, Mississippi. Margie enjoyed sharing insights with her interfaith book group and her women's authors' book group.
Once her children were grown, Margie took up china painting at which she excelled and became a member of the Valley Porcelain Artists. She generously gifted many people with her beautiful hand painted china.
Margie also supported Vance's interests and became a member of the National Speleological Society and was very active in a support role and also sometimes exploring caves with Vance.
Margie and Vance loved dancing together and began square dancing with Sets and Steps in the 1960s and continued dancing until shortly before Margie passed away. The couple enjoyed playing bridge with friends and were members of The Clippers at LCPC.
Margie greatly appreciated the fine arts. She loved to attend live theater and concerts and stroll through art museums.
Margie was a gracious hostess, ready at a moment to open her home to visitors and friends and willing to lend a hand to a worthy cause. She always had a warm smile and a kind word for those she met. She was a loving wife, wonderful mother, doting grandmother and great grandmother, a good sister and friend. Her grace and charm will be greatly missed.
A Celebration of her life will be held on November 3, 2012 at 3:00 pm, La Canada Presbyterian Church. In keeping with Margie's dedication to serving others, the family has requested donations to any of the following charities in lieu of flowers:
International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation www.iwmf.com 8144 Clark Center Ave, Sarasota FL 34238
Tutwiler Clinic and Outreach www.tutwilerclinic.org 205 Alma St, Tutwiler, Miss. 38963
West Talahatchie Habitat for Humanity PO Box 448 Tutwiler, Miss. 38963


text:
Turban planning
Press release: "Lyric Opera of Chicago's Renée Fleming Wears Her Creative Consultant Hat in Chicago and On the Road"
Press release: "Lyric Opera of Chicago's Renée Fleming Wears Her Creative Consultant Hat in Chicago and On the Road"
Ensuring her creative consultations will be fruitful?
There's a very peculiar song on Alagna's overloud and joyously vulgar C'Est magnifique album called "Salade des Fruits".
Oh and for her sake I'm so glad the banana's pointing in the right direction
Here is the original
Bourvil was a famous French comedian whose schtick was playing the fool (fruit fool here of couse).
if it will not embed
And of course, there is also Juanita Banana:
Caro Nomenever sounded so good…
(please restore missing space)
I will never eat another banana without remembering Juanita! maravillosa!
Kind of the way he changes the Hawaiian reference to Sicilian
Provided they don't attract raspberries or rotten tomatoes.
Not to mention fruit flies.
Na, it's probably about her singing for NATO and the Queen of England.
Love the hat.
There's no link, perhaps for a reason, but I'm assuming the press release is about her upcoming HBO special masterclass or perhaps her being the only American to perform in the Queen's Jubilee Concert?
Here's the Masterclass trailer:
I'm thrilled that opera singing actually is getting some attention on a major US network.
The Jubilee concert is listed as being shown on ABC in the US on June 5 and live the night before in the UK/Commonwealth.
Trying the HBO trailer again.
This actually looks interesting…thanks for sharing Bosah
You're welcome!
Kiri must be seething!
Yup, good point. Fleming's inclusion actually is surprising. She's the only classical singer and the only American. Quite a get for La Fleming.
Well, let's face it, when you're hiring an American classical musician its Renee or Yo-Yo.
Yes, probably, but I doubt somebody said,
"Hey, we need an American classical singer," and then looked around. Especially given that the concert is generally pop/rock and she was a later addition. They hired her for a reason. It'll be interesting to see what she sings.
It was noted in the UK press that no UK singer was hired to sing before the queen.
Doesn't that Queen like British singers?
Actually, yes, it is a little surprising a UK or Commonwealth singer is not used in this instance. I mean, what if a foreign born person had sung at Obama's inauguration, e.g.? How would that have settled with John Q. Public???
Just sayin'….
Well, there are UK/Commonwealth singers -- three hours worth of them. Just not classical singers.
Renee has sung often in the UK and I remember being struck when she sang at the Last Night of the Proms that they referred to her several times as "our American soprano." She actually may be the only current, native English-speaking soprano well known in all of the countries of the Commonwealth.
I know Renee's success is generally downplayed, mocked or ignored by contributors here, but she does have a huge reach. I've always found it funny that she's so embraced by "foreign" media (inc blogs) but not in the US -- the country she represents while she's being praised internationally.
By the way, here is the website for the Young Arts foundation, which is producing the series on HBO: http://www.youngarts.org/youngarts-masterclass
and they also have a FB page that could use some likes to show support for continuing the series with other artists and students… http://www.facebook.com/YoungArtsNFAA
Carmelita Pope is not just one of opera's most celebrated sopranos, but perhaps its most convincing actress. A consummate artist, her one and only role when she stands in the spotlight is to breathe so much life into the opera's main character that audiences lose themselves in her unforgettable performances. That is the passion of Carmelita Pope.
Who ever is Carmelita Pope? I love her name.
Are you attending tonight's Salomé?
Carmelita Pope is in the Rula Lenska genre of "celebrity". (Rula in the US was a complete unknown when she began her ad campaign- I know she has a UK career.) She was a replacement Stella on B'way in the original STREETCAR production; much, much later, in my television infancy she was a spokeswoman on TV for Pam, the cooking spray.
Her other b'way credit; MAID OF THE OZARKS (1946).
Missed the SALOME, helas.
Here is Carmelita Pope in the actual 70′s era Pam commercial at 2:36 in:
That was fun, thanks! I had completely forgotten Eastern Airlines, the Wings of Man.
With a name like Carmelita Pope she should have been spraying extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil.
Yes, I know I am off topic but I could not resist to pass on this charming picture
The Bourvil video is truly truly strange but fun! Despitenhime being a comedic actor the whole thing is somewhat creepy!!!!
More Bourvil:
Thanks to you and Manou for the Bourvil reminders. Somehow always get these one word artists muddled up -- Bourvil, Fernandel, Cantinflas -- but there's plenty fun to be had there. The Alagna album (tribute to Luis Mariano) is possibly my biggest guilty pleasure, especially the Mexico yodelling song and the absolutely relentless C'Est Magnifique.
Copyright © 2015 parterre box - All Rights Reserved


text:
Submission IsoHunt To Court: Google Is The Bigger Problem->
Krystalo writes: isoHunt is still fighting its legal battle with the MPAA. In the latest episode, the torrent website filed a reply brief to the US Court of Appeals in which it suggests that Google, and not IsoHunt, is the largest BitTorrent search engine on the Internet.
Link to Original Source
Link to Original Source


text:
Surprise: Amazon's $50 Tablet Isn't Terrible10/13/2015 1:41PM
Four Social Media Lessons From Celebrities10/13/2015 1:35PM
Another Award For Game of Thrones's Emilia Clarke10/13/2015 9:47AM
Report: MH17 Downed in Ukraine by Russian Missile10/13/2015 11:42AM
Activists Allege Russian Cluster Bombing in Syria10/13/2015 7:39AM
AB InBev Wins Over SABMiller with Deal10/13/2015 8:29AM
Multiple Stabbings in Israel Kill at Least Two10/13/2015 8:11AM
Libya's Masked Crime Fighters Take on Traffickers10/12/2015 5:17PM
Doc Rivers: Jamal Crawford Will Be a Coach One Day10/13/2015 5:13AM
Shifting Gears Down Under10/13/2015 12:57AM
Actress Olivia Wilde on the Thriller 'Meadowland'10/12/2015 3:30PM
'Once Upon a Time': Jennifer Morrison on Dark Swan10/13/2015 2:12PM
'Once Upon a Time' star Jennifer Morrison stops by the WSJ Café to talk about becoming the Dark Swan, playing a villain and Disney princesses. Photo: AP.
Eradicating Cervical Cancer in the Developing World10/13/2015 1:34PM
STD-Related App Connects Patients With Test Results10/13/2015 1:33PM
The Office 'Bad Guy' Explained10/13/2015 1:15PM
J.P. Morgan to Some Employees: Pay for Your Own Phone10/13/2015 11:55AM
Recommended for you
Ben Bernanke's Parting Advice for Janet Yellen10/7/2015 1:33PM
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke discusses handing over the reins to Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen in early 2014.
Five Things the Gun Industry Won't Tell You10/13/2015 6:00AM
Dawkins: Religion Holds Back Science in America9/29/2015 7:55AM
Opinion Journal: California Rejects 'Right to Try'10/12/2015 1:19PM
Ancient Chinese Recipe Leads to Nobel Prize10/5/2015 8:10AM
Pope Francis: 'God Weeps' for Sex Abuse Victims9/27/2015 2:25PM
'Truth' Director on Dan Rather's CBS Resignation10/7/2015 11:39AM
Clinton, Sanders to Face Off in Democratic Debate10/12/2015 11:35AM
Asia's Luxury Real Estate of the Week10/13/2015 1:37AM
Have Hong Kong Stocks Hit Bottom After Selloff?10/10/2015
Yuan Devaluation? Think Again.10/10/2015 12:05AM
Sixteen Lens Pocket Camera Takes Aim at DSLR Market10/9/2015 7:32AM
A startup called Light has invented a camera that it says will put the power of a DSLR in your pocket. Mark Kelly reports. Image: Light
Dell: Dude, You're Getting a $67 Billion Tech Company10/12/2015 5:38PM
Bloodshed Continues in Jerusalem and the West Bank10/12/2015 10:32AM
Opinion Journal: Obama on Leadership10/12/2015 1:29PM
Opinion Journal: Israel Under Attack10/6/2015 1:34PM
What to Look for in the Democratic Debate10/13/2015 6:00AM
The Democratic presidential candidates will face off for the first time Tuesday night in Las Vegas. WSJ's Jerry Seib discusses what to watch for in the debate. Photo: AP
Russian Airstrikes Hit Rebel-Held Syrian Towns10/12/2015 11:18PM
El Niño Heats Up the Kitchen10/12/2015 6:45AM
Cyberwar Ignites New Arms Race10/12/2015 5:34PM
Clinton, Sanders to Face Off in Democratic Debate10/12/2015 11:35AM
MediaMath is reshaping online marketing2/11/2015 2:37AM
Dealer Socket, automotive CRM software maker2/25/2015 1:43AM
Bringing affordable healthcare to everyone12/9/2014 5:54PM
The New What's News App8/27/2015 6:03PM
The Mog: Military Truck Turned Burning Man Party Mobile10/13/2015 10:07AM
The Space Cowboys, a collective from the popular Burning Man festival, have converted a Mercedes Unimog military truck into the ultimate party on wheels. Photo: Jason Henry for The Wall Street Journal
Why Cycling Advocates Are Against Helmet Laws10/12/2015 11:40AM
Is It OK for Kids Under 2 to Have 'Screen Time?'10/12/2015 12:38PM
Moneyologist Tackles Unequal Inheritance Gifts10/12/2015 1:51PM
NBA's Clippers, Hornets Shine in China10/12/2015 7:54AM
Twitter to Cut Up to 8% of Workforce10/13/2015 11:33AM
Twitter announced it is cutting up to 8% of its workforce as it continues to struggle with slow user growth. WSJ technology deputy editor Brian Fitzgerald explains on Lunch Break With Tanya Rivero. Photo: Getty
China Clamps Down on Private Car-Hailing Services10/13/2015 8:44AM
NASA Discovers Blue Sky and Red Water Ice on Pluto10/9/2015 5:42PM
NASA Details Plans to Take Astronauts to Mars10/9/2015 5:10PM
Retired People Are Flocking to Facebook10/9/2015 4:57PM
Asia's Luxury Real Estate of the Week10/13/2015 1:37AM
From a Mediterranean beach home in Australia's popular tourist town of Port Douglas to a modern tropical-style house on the Thai vacation island of Phuket, a look at some upscale living across Asia-Pacific.


text:
Io Triumphe! Magazine Wins Professional Excellence AwardTuesday, October 28, 2014
Io Triumphe! was the Best Alumni/Institution Magazine Silver Award winner among small colleges in the 2014 Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District V "Pride of CASE V" awards. This honor marks the third consecutive year Albion College publications have been recognized for design excellence by CASE V, the pre-eminent professional organization for higher education advancement professionals in the Midwest.


text:
User Reviews & Ratings - Azurette Oral
Read user comments about the side effects, benefits, and effectiveness of Azurette Oral.
Overall User Ratings290 Total User Reviews
User Reviews
Learn about
User Reviews
Reviewer: 19-24 Female on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)
Ease of Use
I had been on Kariva, when my pharmacy changed my prescription to Azurette. They told me that it was essentially the same thing, the same dose and everything. Yet....I have felt completely horrible the past few months while on Azurette. I thought at first that it was just my body adjusting to the pill, but no. I have gained approximately 10 pounds, whereas on Kariva I gained zero. I just f ... Show Full Comment
Reviewer: 19-24 Female on Treatment for 6 months to less than 1 year (Patient)
Ease of Use
I recently visited my gyno after experience bleeding during sex, which according to the internet is nothing good. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I had begun experiencing symptoms since switching from Kariva to Azurette about eight months ago. Over these months, I have gained about 15 pounds, had mood swings, noticed hormonal changes such as an increasingly greasy scalp, ... Show Full Comment
found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Reviewer: 19-24 Female on Treatment for 6 months to less than 1 year (Patient)
Ease of Use
I was automatically switched from Kariva to azurette which I thought was weird but hoped it would work well for me. Since I've been switched to azurette I've noticed intense mood swings, depression, increased appetite, stomach pains every now and then when I wait too long to eat, and weight gain! I've probably gained 10-15 lbs since they switched the pill. My heart speeds up as well so ... Show Full Comment
found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Reviewer: bringbackkariva, 25-34 Female on Treatment for 5 to less than 10 years (Patient)
Ease of Use
I've been on Kariva for 9 years without any problems, never a side effect. Since being switched to azurette i've had nothing but problems. My boobs hurt so bad they cannot be touched, sex hurts plus a whole lot of other things. I finally went to the doctor I find out that I have a cyst on my ovary (Usually people go on the pill to take care of this problem...) I've never had proble ... Show Full Comment
Reviewer: 19-24 Female on Treatment for less than 1 month (Patient)
Ease of Use
Nothing too bad. I've noticed stomach aches daily, but nothing that I can't deal with. I haven't had any bleeding, and I'm on the week where I get my period so we'll see how that goes. the last BC pill I was on didn't make my period any shorter, but it made it regular and a tiny bit lighter.
Ask the pharmacist
Questions about medications? Get expert answers by video or live chat about allergies, pregnancy, sleep, and more.
See the Ask the Pharmacist event schedule.
Popular Slideshows & Tools on WebMD
WebMD the app
Get trusted health information. Whenever. Wherever... with your iPhone, iPad or Android.Find Out More
IMPORTANT: About This Section and Other User-Generated Content on WebMD
The opinions expressed in WebMD User-generated content areas like communities, reviews, ratings, or blogs are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. User-generated content areas are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatment or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.
Do not consider WebMD User-generated content as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.


text:
- Filed Under
Lawrence S. "Bo" Connor, who had been a longtime managing editor of The Indianapolis Star, died Friday at age 88.
A member of the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame, Connor is being remembered in interviews with former Star staffers and social-media postings as a true gentleman and a fine newspaperman.
Connor directed coverage of many of the top news stories in Indianapolis' history, including the Coliseum explosion in October 1963 that killed 74 people and injured hundreds of others attending an ice show. For its work, The Star staff was awarded the National Headliner Award for outstanding ...


text:
Paris Hilton and her boyfriend Cy Waits were arrested this weekend in Las Vegas -- but what's the story behind the new guy?
Waits, 34, is five-years older than Hilton -- and, along with his twin brother Jesse, owns Tryst Nightclub at the Wynn and XS at the Encore in Sin City.
Waits also made headlines with Hilton earlier this month when he pulled a gun on a man trying to break into her home.
Cy was booked on DUI Friday night.
© 2015 EHM Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
In partnership with TMZ.com | Privacy Policy | AdChoices


text:
Clemson, SC-Clemson's 2013 football schedule includes three games against teams that finished the 2012 season in the top 10 in the nation.
The schedule was released by the Atlantic Coast Conference on Monday.
Two of the three games against top 10 teams from 2012 will be non-conference opponents Georgia and South Carolina. Clemson and Nevada are the only schools in the nation to play two non-conference games against teams that finished the 2012 season in the top 10.
Clemson will open the season with Georgia at home and close the season at South Carolina. The Tigers also face a 2012 top 10 Florida State team at Clemson on October 19. Clemson will have a pair of Thursday night games that will be televised nationally by ESPN, September 19 at NC State and November 14 vs. Georgia Tech at Clemson.
It will be Clemson's first home Thursday night game since October 25, 2002 when Clemson played NC State, and just the third in history. It will be just the second year that Clemson has played a pair of Thursday night games.
The 2002 season was the only other year it has happened.
With the two Thursday night games and a 14-week time span for the regular season due to the nature of the calendar, Clemson will not play on four Saturday's once the season begins. Clemson will not play on September 14, September 21, November 9 and November 16.
Clemson 2013 Football Schedule
Aug. 31 GEORGIA
Sept. 7 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
Sept. 14 OPEN
Sept. 19 #at NC State
Sept. 28 WAKE FOREST
Oct. 5 at Syracuse
Oct. 12 BOSTON COLLEGE
Oct. 19 FLORIDA STATE
Oct. 26 at Maryland
Nov. 2 at Virginia
Nov. 9 OPEN
Nov. 14 #GEORGIA TECH
Nov. 23 CITADEL
Nov. 30 at South Carolina
From Clemson Sports Information


text:
Dairy Alternatives: Lactose & Dairy-Free
For every dairy product, there is a cruelty-free alternative. In addition to being more humane than cow's milk, soy-, rice-, and nut-based milks and cheeses are generally lower in fat and calories and contain no cholesterol.
Milk: Soy, rice, or nut milk can replace cow's milk in any recipe. Soy and rice milks are available in a variety of flavors including plain, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. If you cannot find a nondairy milk, try making soy milk at home.
• For desserts, try using almond, oat, or coconut milk.
• For whipped cream, try Rich's brand nondairy whipping cream, beaten until stiff peaks form. You can find it at most Kosher or specialty baking stores.
• For buttermilk, combine one cup soy milk and one tablespoon vinegar.
• Silk brand creamer makes an excellent coffee creamer.
Cheese: You can make vegan cheese at home; check out our recipe section or The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook by Joanne Stepaniak, available online at the PETA Mall. There are also plenty of convenient alternatives to cheese, such as the following, available at the grocery store or online:
• Vegan Gourmet Cheese Alternative by Follow Your Heart brand comes in mozzarella, nacho, Monterey jack, and cheddar flavors and contains no casein (a milk derivative). You'll find it in natural food stores or online.
• Tofutti brand makes a wide variety of soy cheeses, including nondairy cream cheese, as well as vegan sour cream and ice cream.
• Replace cottage or ricotta cheese with crumbled, seasoned tofu.
• For parmesan cheese, try Soymage vegan parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast flakes.
Yogurt: Try Silk or Whole Soy brand vegan yogurts alone or in a recipe.
Ice Cream: There is a wide variety of vegan ice cream available on the market. Try Soy Delicious, Soy or Rice Dream or Tofutti, brand.
Don't forget to check out our vegan shopping guide and delicious recipes.
Commenting is closed.
i raise, butcher and eat my own chickens/turkeys and i don't see any problem with it. it may be gross to reach into a chicken and pull out the guts or be the one to kill them but where I live Agriculture is a way of life and I'm willing to defend it.
Greetings – please remember to include coconut milk and coconut ice cream as dairy replacements!!! Soy has been known to have very high absorbed pesticides – to keep the weeds out – most farmers spray soy crops heavily and the soy plant absorbs the pesticides – JJvirgin.com "So Delicious" is the brand I use and I LOVE it… I used to have rootbeer floats… and now replace that with a small portion of coconut ice cream and blueberries.
http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/ enjoy!
@Tracy: You can order a free vegan starter kit here: http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/free-vegetarian-starter-kit.aspx
And a great resource is here: http://features.peta.org/how-to-go-vegan/
Congratulations on deciding to go vegan!
I am 54 years old and have heard tell of the crulity animals endure for our eating pleasure but until today I never really realized how awfull it is. I accidently saw something my husbend downloaded from the internet that has shaken me up. I want to change the way I eat so I can at least know that I am not a part of the problem but this is new,new,new to me. I have no idea of what I am getting myself in to. I am so used to drinking milk and eating cheese for protine and to feel full. I havn't had any animal products to eat today and I am hungry. Can anyone help me with this drastic diet change? I would appreciate any advise.
I've been a vegetarian for about 16 years. I'm now considering, after researching the dairy industry more, that I don't want to b part of it anymore, because of animal welfare & my health. I want to become a vegan. Which is going to b very hard for me. although reading some of the comments on here, its very confusing whats good for you & what isn't. Things that ive thought were good I'm now hearing to not consume too much. My main concern is my weight. I loose weight very easy & its hard enough now to keep weight on. I'm worried becoming a vegan Will turn me into a skeleton. Anyone else have this problem? & will becoming a vegan make this worse? Everything always goes on about losing weight, what about if you don't want to lose it.
I live about a mile from a dairy and I see the newborn calves that have been taken away from their moms and put in cages so that people can have their mothers' milk. I see the babies,their little noses pressed against the wire, trying to see beyond their captivity. I long to set them free and let their mothers love them – but their mothers are imprisoned as well, standing in a hard, dirty feedlot, enduring the same miserable conditions yards away. The babies are kept on a hard, cold cement floor with no comfort such as straw because their new diet gives them diarrhea and the cement floor is easily washed by a hose…leaving only cold water for them to lie or stand on. A few months later these sweet, gentle animals who knew no mother or love or comfort, or ever experienced the warmth of the sun or the joy of stretching in the soft grass, will be shipped away unceremoniously to die a brutal death in the slaughterhouse and other babies will have replaced them. Since they are "livestock" there are no animal cruelty laws which apply, and the best thing you can do to ease their and all livestock suffering – is to stop consuming any animal products. I don't find it even a tiny bit difficult to be a vegan and am happy to provide recipes to anyone having difficulty. I appreciate all of you who are vegans as well as those of you who are trying.
To Sameera (and everyone else) It isn't just about animal welfare, although that is important. Dairy products and other animal fats cause us to pee away out calcium. (Pls watch "Food That Kills" by Dr. Klaper.) In countries where they don't eat meat and can't afford milk, osteoporosis is unheard of. We have been misled by the Dept of Agriculture since the 1950s. Dairy is NOT a source of calcium for us – it reduces our calcium. Notice cows don't drink it once they grow up.
Relieve the cows from this torture by switching to soya
yes..surely it can be..this will be my part to help some innocent animals
There is no need to cause pain to others for food in today's society. We now have so many choices to avoid torture on other species.
do you suggest that we should stop having dairy products like milk?but how does getting milk harm animals or hurt them?
ou may be in need of nonbiased education. Bottom line: our ancestors who did not mill wheat or have dairy were far healthier and we can definitely do better without. Milk is for baby cows not humans.
@chris…think before you speak. You can not possibly be a vegan and eat dairy of eggs. True vegans do not consume or use any animal or animal byproduct which obviously included dairy and eggs. Also, you should appropriately research dairy products, how they are made, what they contain and how our society, especially American politics affect the fallacies we have grown up with. You can thank your FDA for leading you to think that dairy is a necessity to your diet, pus is not part of mine. As for soy causing you health problems…propaganda well paid for by afiliates of the American Farmers Association, not to mention that EVERYTHING consumed should be done so in moderation. Many ailments are miscommunication in your nervous system caused by spinal/chiropractic issues you may be unaware of. Education is the root of it all and sadly like many here in this country, y
Ok ya'll. I love my dairy products and honestly it would be too hard for my family and I to give up dairy products because we eat so much of it. I've learned that eating too much non-dairy supplements is actually bad for your health, but I don't want to promote animal cruelty. Can anyone tell me of a cruelty free dairy farm where they treat their animals with respect?
so cool and mind blowing replacement.
Your tips are amazing. But here is the problem; they're only suitable for people who live in US or maybe in Europe. I live in Egypt and we don't have all of these vegan substitutes, which makes it impossible to stick to a vegan diet. I've been trying out being vegan for the past 11 years! and I always fail because there are no suitable substitutes for the "normal" diet. Can you please post in some DIY recipes for substitutes so that we dont have to suffer as much??!!
Thank you
I have been an ovo-lacto-vegan (eggs+dairy vegan) for over 20 years. One big problem with the natural/organic/cruelty-free dairy food replacements is the high cost; however, there is a cost-benefit balance to consider since eating organic may help keep you from developing our new #1 killer, cancer (heart disease is now #2). Even more important for those who can afford organic soy dairy food replacements are the estrogen-mimickers which occur naturally in soy products. Eating a lot of soy, even organic, is bad for folks of any age, but particularly so for babies, children, and women of childbearing age. Please enjoy these products in moderation. If you consume dairy products every day, please consider NOT doing the same with soy-based dairy replacements. An alternative strategy might be to buy dairy only from known organic cruelty-free suppliers & supplement/replace with some of the organic soy products on an occasional basis. Moderation also seems wise for the rice products (arsenic) as well. https://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/02/23/147294466/in-rice-how-much-arsenic-is-too-much http://www.thelotustrust.org/ahimsa.html "Cow-slaughter and man-slaughter are in my opinion the two sides of the same coin." Gandhi
milk is for baby cows, excessive dietery protein not only depletes the bodys calcium, it also overloads and damages the kidneys. can everybody PLEASE! email the indycar drivers (indycar.com has drivers facebook page) every year the winner drinks dairy milk, TELL EM WHY!.. they need to switch to soymilk.
Ruth, Thank you for the tip about Silk having ties to the dairy industry and veal production. Good to know when I look at the non-dairy items on the shelf the next time round.
@ AC06 I'm in a similar position although have only been vege for a year and a half. I also am considering being vegan, I currently eat only free range eggs but I want more info on milk and I know dairy will be extremely difficult to give up but also willing to be converted. Something preventing me from being vegan are the health implications..?
Hi there,
I make 100% plant-based vegan cheese alternatives that are addicting but in the healthiest way! It's called "PeaceCheese" and I am currently selling four super yummy varieties on my website: http://www.ilovepeacecheese.com ! Come visit me!
Great post Joyce! Thank you.
would like to be vegan, currently i'm a fisho-cheeso-semi-vegetarian.
unfortunately it is not true that there are vegan alternatives for
cheese. It would be nice if some food technologists could make
a passable vegan blue cheese, a passable vegan parmigiano.
On the other hand, i like vegan pizza. that means NO cheese, no goop, not diary goop and not oozing soy goop.
How about if some of the high roller hollywood type PETA
supporters would start a vegan pizza chain called
"No Cheese Please!" ??
I'm trying to phase out dairy after being a vegetarian for most of my life. I want to do it because I sort of know it's the right thing to do, but I could do with some real inspiration.
Are free range eggs, butter and organic dairy milk really so bad?
Any help? My hands are up and I'm willing somebody to convert me here.
@ Anja Ahimsa cows are treated humanley and the babies are never taken from their moms but i think they are only in Europe http://www.ahimsamilk.org/
Ok, I've been a vegetarian for about 3 years now, and I eat no meat whatsoever, also not fish. I became a vegetarian because I don't want to support the animal cruelty surrounding the meat industry, but I still rink milk and eat cheese and butter, and those are HUGE sources of protein for me. My question is: are there any ways to buy cow milk that comes from a REAL farm, where the cow was allowed to keep it's baby and wasn't over-milked or abused or treated with hormones or anything? Please let me know!
Just an opinion searching for a place to vent- After a lot of research on hormonal release and other stress-induced responses of the bodies of human beings, I have come to the definitive conclusion that we are in more trouble than we thought. Despite a smattering of anxiously defensive reports to the contrary (wonder who payed for those), we MUST see that humana (and their pets, too)are absolutely, no doubt whatsoever eating the fear,the terror and the anguish of the animals they consume, whether through their flesh, milk, eggs or other parts of their bodies, via their months or years of extreme stress hormone production. The amount of stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenalin, would have to be incredibly high in any of those animals when they finally die,or else we can no longer say we believe in the horrific dangers of living a stressful life ourselves.Surely those who say these animals are not very stressed and have no stress hormones in their flesh, skin, bones, hair, milk or eggs must think the public is amazingly stupid. Well, on second thought, there are some people who have as yet failed to put two and two together. But they will. So I have some questions, if that's okay. First, what is this profoundly cruel and painful treatment of animals,followed by their ravenous consumption doing to humans? We already know that the rate of children with ADD/ADHD, autism, PDD and other primarily neurological disorders has skyrocketed over the last forty years. A large part of that amount is directly attributable to the pesticides and toxins coming from produce and grains,of course. But that's not the only thing we have been eating that is destroying our DNA and our lives (Cancer, heart attacks – remember those top two killers we have been warned for many years to avoid by keeping our stress low? Even ADD/ADHD, diabetes and obesity,are on the rise in adults,despite all our new-found knowledge and medications, as are a gamut of neurological dysfunctions, as we have chosen to call them. So if that is happening to humans, what is it doing to dogs and cats and other pets to whom people, even many vegans and vegetarians for lack of funds usually, continue to feed little ground up live baby chicks and dying calves? How are they holding up? Or are they? Are there changes there, too?
Second, I keep hearing people say that they are fine with raising animals for their meat, their fur and their skins and whatever else as long as it is done humanely. Besides being one l-o-n-g oxymoron sentence, are they not lying to themselves? I believe their statements to be completely untrue. In many countries people still serve much-sought-after entrees of dogs and/or cats in popular eateries (young puppies and kittens being the most tender and sometimes treated like a young calf to make them 'veal-like', it seems.) Do you think these people would truly be okay with that if 'done humanely'? I think not. Lastly (and thank you for your patience), I have often wondered about all of the sci-fi people out there who consider themselves meat-eating, fur-wearing, leather- coated Trekkies. Ha! On one of the very first shows of the Star Trek Generations series, Will Riker stated that (only slightly paraphrased), "We don't eat animals, sir. Humans stopped using animals as slaves hundreds of years ago." I say, as one of the continuing movements towards change, let's dare the Trekkies and scifi buffs to be really true to themselves…or admit defeat and resign from the Federation immediately! Who's with me?
@Denay Laop: I agree, cutting out meat is especially beneficial to the environment, our health, and the well-being of animals. Something to also consider—not at all being judgemental here!—is that unless you are buying organic fish, you are most likely getting "factory fish" so to speak. They dredge up fish from rivers and store them in small containers, with way too many fish per area of space. One negative consequence is that many fish die, or get diseases and rapidly pass them to all the other fish because they are in much closer proximity than they ever would be in the wild. It's nasty and pretty much as bad as factory farming. So buy local/organic as much as possible!
I also think the non-dairys are expensive. They taste good but they are expensive! Silk is almost twice the cost of regular milk at the supermarket near me. I switch back and forth from silk to regular usually.
RE: milk alternatives
By happenstance, I tried a hemp milk (vanilla, nonsweetened; comes unrefrigerated in a box) and it is by far my favorite. No chalky aftertaste. No corn sweetner. If you're still looking around, you might give it a try.
I'm pescetarian, and being vegan is a hard task, because you have to watch out for ALL foods you eat. I am considering so, but because I chose not to give up fish or seafoods, I cannot be vegan. People should consider at LEAST giving up meats because if you buy it, you are supporting the slaughterhouses and the abusing of animals, necessary to get the meat. All these subsitutes are also not very good for your body, because they are artificial and all that stuff, but being vegan for just maybe, twice a week will help.
I completely agree….everyting is truly expenive. Even 1lb containers of Tofu has gone up by almost $1…..is this some government ply(?) I almost have to wonder about this.
I'm a vege, have been since 1995. I will always buy dairy products that are 100% free range, or not at all. In NZ the non-dairy alternatives are incredibly expensive (even coke is cheaper than milk). Crazy. Too much outta my league.
How do I get around being allergic to corn, soy, coconut, avocado and nuts? Most of the alternative proteins are a problem.
Been Veg for almost 4 years now! I feel great too~
I agree with Ruth…International delight creamers are made by the same manufacturers!
I agree..SILK and International delight creamers…same manufacturers!!!
Why are you promoting Silk brand coffee creamer when the company has ties to the dairy industry and veal production?
Wow, I just came across this, but it must be an old post, because it's missing lots of great dairy alternatives like Daiya vegan cheese, Dr. Cow Tree Nut Cheese, Vegan Gourmet Cream Cheese and Sour Cream alternatives, Wayfare Foods We Can't Say It's Cheese, Soyatoo and Healthy Top whipped creams, and all the delicious coconut milk beverages, coffee creamer, yogurt, kefir, and ice cream by So Delicious.
In This Section
- Jetpack plugin with Stats module needs to be enabled.
- Jetpack plugin with Stats module needs to be enabled.
- Jetpack plugin with Stats module needs to be enabled.
- Jetpack plugin with Stats module needs to be enabled.