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Rant against Reproduction

Journal Entry: Thu Jul 17, 2008, 9:56 AM
All too often, I encounter one. A parent with their fat, drooling little cherub straddled on his or her hip, a spouse with one or more other offspring in tow following closely behind. These people give others smug looks, as if to say “don’t you just wish you were in my place?”
No, no I don’t.
In fact, I’ve decided that once I’m married, I’m going to find out the average amount of money a couple spends on raising a child each year. It will be my goal to put that amount away every year, in a bank account that I’ll refer to as my “travel fund.” And so, at any given time when another couple our age is wrestling their screaming, pooping brat into a puke-filled mini van car seat, Robbie and I could easily be touring the Louvre, swimming in the Mediterranean, or sipping dark n’ stormies in some rain-soaked bungalow somewhere.
Although I’ve never had anyone say this to me personally, I’ve had other friends with no desire for children tell me that they’ve been called “selfish” in this desire to live their lives for their own personal fulfillment. This is, possibly, the most retarded argument I’ve ever heard against any one thing. Isn’t the true selfish act that of bringing a new person into an already desperately over-populated world? It’s as if none of the billions of people already in existence are good enough for them, no…there must be more people sharing their own, oh-so-precious DNA.
In trying to understand the desperation for spawn, I’ve asked people for their reasons behind the desire, and one of the most popular answers is the wish to leave behind a legacy, to continue their family name. But what kind of legacy is that? Anything with a uterus can crap out a baby, aside, of course from the sterile, and thank goodness for them! Could they not instead take up a project, such as painting, politics, writing, activism, anything constructive or creative, and leave behind a legacy of thought, artistry or love?
Another common response I get when I ask others about their motivation behind reproduction is that they like children, and want to experience the pleasure of raising them. If this is the case, why not take in one of those poor kids who has no home, no family? Or, failing that, volunteer at an orphanage. It seems to me that that’s what a person would do if they truly loved and cared about children. In insisting on their OWN children, they prove only that they love themselves.
The religious responses to the question most commonly assert that God commanded we “go forth and multiply.” If this were true, it strikes me that it would be “his” way of ensuring we bring about our own quick and horrific end, without his ever having to lift one omnipotent finger.
The Government, of course, contributes to the problem of reproduction. Always focusing on benefits for families, families and more families, devaluing the individual and rewarding jobless beer-chugging baby factories with welfare…in other words, everyone else’s money. Wouldn’t it make more sense to reward them with a nice, free sterilization or birth control? Not only would this help ease the strain caused by over-population, but it would prevent the rest of us from having to support what would otherwise have been an endless parade of future welfare recipients.
I’ve been told more times than I care to think that eventually, my “maternal instinct” will kick in and I’ll just HAVE to have kids. My response is that however strong my instincts may be, I also possess a
thing which at times can overpower even that…the magical phenomena known as THOUGHT. And I THINK that we as a people need to make a choice. Either seriously slow our rate of production, or stop living so damn long.

  • Mood: Zest
  • Reading: Brightness Reef by David Brin
  • Drinking: Diet pepsi max

Devious Information

  • Current Age: 21
  • Current Residence: Sarasota, FL, USA
  • Interests: Art in all its forms, thunderstorms, pirates, beauty, novels
  • Favourite movie: Hellboy 1 and 2, Howl's Moving Castle, Labyrinth, Romeo+Juliet, 300, Stardust
  • Favourite band or musician: Dragon Force, Rasputina, Nightwish, Jack Off Jill, Johnny Hollow, Arch Enemy, Cursive, I Am Ghost
  • Favourite genre of music: World Music, anything dark and melodic and anything with a cello
  • Favourite artist: malcolm liepke, Howard Pyle, Frida Kahlo, Eugene Delacroix, Clive barker, Mucha, Elizabeth McGrath
  • Favourite poet or writer: Robin Hobb, Laurel K Hamilton, Clive Barker, R,owling, Frank Herbert
  • Favourite photographer: Elijah Taylor
  • MP3 player of choice: Creative Labs Zen Vision:M
  • Skin of choice: mine
  • Favourite game: anything Zelda
  • Favourite cartoon character: Dr. Orpheus
  • Personal Quote: "Well technically, this doesn't make any sense."
  • Tools of the Trade: paint, photoshop, clay. found objects

deviantART Notice

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Devious Comments

~meiastar:iconmeiastar: Jul 11, 2008, 12:15:01 PM
I just really love your work. Wonderful compositions, textures, colors, everything! :lol:
~batafurai-sorrow:iconbatafurai-sorrow: Jul 6, 2008, 8:19:43 AM
ha, true true! :D

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true or false...?
~Tsubasa-No-Kami:iconTsubasa-No-Kami: Jul 2, 2008, 10:22:17 PM
snap your gallery is wonderful~~!!! :heart: i saw some of your work on :iconpoftd: 's journal and was sooo impressed x)~~~ :heart: rawk on~

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I'm all about [Prince Caspian]

~SingedCatStudios
Otakon 2008 Aug 8-10, Baltimore, MD
PARTY IN THE BACK WITH SINGED CAT!
Tables e4, e5, + e6
~robotfish:iconrobotfish: Jun 28, 2008, 7:22:06 PM
Amazing gallery! I love how you color.
~UlaFish:iconUlaFish: Jun 26, 2008, 12:12:05 PM
Oh, thank you! If you're going to die, I suppose awesomeness is a pretty good way to go..
~batafurai-sorrow:iconbatafurai-sorrow: Jun 19, 2008, 9:14:02 PM
O_O Your work is amazing!!! seriously, I think i just died from the awsomeness!!

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true or false...?
~K-J-Malings:iconK-J-Malings: Jun 15, 2008, 1:50:41 AM
GAH! I am coming up north tomarrow/in about a half an hour.....i love you and can't wait to see you! I can't believe i lived my life so long with out you...by the way love the new work.

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+--------------------------------------------------------+
I am sorry. I can't spell, but I am pretty good at art, and I can critique quite well also. (thats why I am here).
~ItaSasuandElvenlover:iconItaSasuandElvenlover: Jun 13, 2008, 11:36:40 AM
Interesting style of art, never seen anything like it before. It's beautiful!

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Death, they say, you part your soul and mind. But, you never can tell. Death.
98% of DA\\\'s Anime Fanbase = Yaoi Fangirls. If you don\\\'t give a crap about the statistics and just want to see two guys do it madly, paste this into your signature.
~UlaFish:iconUlaFish: Jun 9, 2008, 6:21:41 PM
Thanks a lot, especially for letting me know why you like my work :) I'll do my best to keep it up.
~damage-me:icondamage-me: Jun 9, 2008, 3:36:17 AM
I love your works too much :( what I love about em especially is that they are paintings, not smooth and photorealistic, and your style is great, these "ocean-water/pirates/fantasy/you know what I mean" subjects :-)
keep on creating great stuff.
cheers
~Clementinebloom:iconClementinebloom: Jun 8, 2008, 9:17:39 AM
You're welcome!

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I will love my angel kitty forever...
:heart: ~Felix~ :heart:
*Rosengeist:iconRosengeist: Jun 3, 2008, 12:50:39 AM
No problem :)

--
Death rides a pale horse but pestilence has a shetland pony.
~UlaFish:iconUlaFish: Jun 2, 2008, 11:08:19 PM
Thanks for the encouragement, and for all the favs :)
~UlaFish:iconUlaFish: Jun 2, 2008, 11:07:41 PM
thanks! I'll keep it up as best I can :)
*Rosengeist:iconRosengeist: Jun 2, 2008, 8:30:18 AM
I've been watching your gallery for a while and I just wnated to say I have been especially impressed by the stuff you've been posting lately. :D Keep up the amazing work you've been doing!

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Death rides a pale horse but pestilence has a shetland pony.
~Clementinebloom:iconClementinebloom: May 31, 2008, 9:18:51 PM
I love your creations. I love allwork with imagination, and your work is chock full of it! you are so very talented, keep it up!

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I will love my angel kitty forever...
:heart: ~Felix~ :heart:
*SketchingDays:iconSketchingDays: May 28, 2008, 4:03:33 PM
Some interesting works, love your use of colors, keep it up :)
~Symon-Says:iconSymon-Says: May 28, 2008, 2:31:05 AM
Wha?

Where?

~jingle~

--
Samurai Duelers League - [link]

My SDL Combatants:

Maliss - [link]

Kleinheinz Veit - [link]
~66poisongirl99:icon66poisongirl99: May 28, 2008, 1:03:19 AM
Your welcome^^ keep up the good work, hehehehe Wacoms rule. Lol

:hug:

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Having a relationship is like painting a master piece, you need to step back, have a relax, and look at it from a distance every now and then to see whats wrong.
~UlaFish:iconUlaFish: May 28, 2008, 12:56:18 AM
Well, I'm probably gonna have to get some money and such before I can have a gallery, but I'm having two art shows this summer!
~UlaFish:iconUlaFish: May 28, 2008, 12:55:36 AM
Thanks! It's always really encouraging to hear that :D
~66poisongirl99:icon66poisongirl99: May 28, 2008, 12:49:01 AM
Been watching you for a wile, just wanted to say i love your gallery^^

(eaven tho ive probably said it before, hahaha)

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Having a relationship is like painting a master piece, you need to step back, have a relax, and look at it from a distance every now and then to see whats wrong.
~Symon-Says:iconSymon-Says: May 28, 2008, 12:46:48 AM
So when are you gonna open a gallery around up here so I can come browse the intirety? Erm, or something?

~jingle~

--
Samurai Duelers League - [link]

My SDL Combatants:

Maliss - [link]

Kleinheinz Veit - [link]
~UlaFish:iconUlaFish: May 9, 2008, 2:28:03 PM
Oh, i think I know what you're talking about, and yes...for about a year I wanted to do fashion design. Then I realized I couldn't stand the people in the industry. I like illustration better anyway, more room to stretch my creative muscles :)