[calsy]

So many weird assumptions here.

How exactly is everything optimised with families in mind? Ask any parent and I'm sure they will tell you how unoptimised their life is.

Why does a single person with their own expendable income worry so much about being catered for specifically? Your only responsibility is to yourself. Do you look around and bemoan family specific services? It's such an odd thing to care about unless you had a grudge.

Kids aren't a 'lifestyle choice' like deciding to travel. Do I need to go into the reasons why kids are important or who will be paying to keep you alive when your older?

[dspillett]

> So many weird assumptions here.

In your response, yes. Either that or you are significantly misreading my posts.

> How exactly is everything optimised with families in mind?

It isn't. I didn't say that at all. Some things are, possibly not enough, but many parents think everything should be and everything that isn't implies some deliberate slight.

> Ask any parent and I'm sure they will tell you how unoptimised their life is.

Ah, the old “you are not a parent, you don't know how hard it is”. I know many parents, and even without that personal context the issues with parenthood are well documented throughout our culture. If anyone is ignorant of reality here it is parents who are surprised to find it isn't easy…¹

> Why does a single person with their own expendable income worry so much about being catered for specifically?

I don't, and that isn't what I said.

> Your only responsibility is to yourself.

Incorrect. I have parents, other family, friends, pets, my work (though that could be filed under responsibility to myself I suppose - I'm not a public servant by any description), other organisations (both commercial and charitable) that I interact with, certain responsibilities we all have to society in general, etc.

> Do you look around and bemoan family specific services?

I very much do not, I don't even bemoan funding them, and I explicitly said as much (to quote: “I don't begrudge my taxes going into education and relevant parts of the NHS…”). Try reading what you reply to before replying to it!

> It's such an odd thing to care about unless you had a grudge.

Not a grudge as such. Just an irritation that if I'm sometimes seen as selfish if I appreciate something that is optimised for my lifestyle. I've been called selfish for just not wanting to have kids.

> Kids aren't a 'lifestyle choice'

They very much are. It is a choice that affects your lifestyle in a great many ways whichever side you choose (or, in some cases, have chosen for you).

> Do I need to go into the reasons why kids are important

No need, I've been told these things, despite already knowing them, many many many times already!

> who will be paying to keep you alive when your older?

That is a complicated discussion that I really don't have time for ATM, but further to “why kids are important” I am well aware of the problems an average ageing population can cause.

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[1] Obviously excluding those whose kids have specific issues, be they physical, mental, or both. Those matters are not predictable unlike the general challenges almost all parents face.

[calsy]

Most parents want everything to cater to their family... you say. This irritates you.

However, you find it irritating when people call you selfish when things are catered for you.

Who are these people calling you selfish by the way? Who has said your selfish for not having kids for example.

This frustration with parents seem to come from a sense of guilt? Not that I agree you should feel that way. But all this talk of feeling selfish and being called selfish. I have never felt that way about any friends or family I know without kids. Never even crossed my mind.

If you're truly happy with your lifestyle choice, these things shouldn't bother you at all.