“I want to write to the magazine to tell her what she can do with her book but I’m pretty certain the editor would refuse to publish it as it’s considered a very respectable magzine”

Can’t be that respectable if they can allow one-sided views to be published in their mag… you can write to them and even publish what you wrote here That way they - and a lot more people - will hear what you (and others) think.

CF Since 6 - Hmm, I think the “Sort Of” childfree guy better watch out… he might be getting oopsed sooner than he thinks.

Decided - Never fails to amaze me that people think having children is “unselfish.” When you think of it, and when you consider the reasons people usually give for having children, plus the resources they need and use it’s probably the most selfish thing I can think of.

From now on, there will be no mercy towards bingos/mockery.

Journalist: We retire to an outdoor table where she can smoke and the conversation turns to the low national birthrate - another subject on which she has strong opinions.

Lush: “This business with people not having kids - I’m sorry, I dont understand it. People are supposed to have kids. It’s a biological directive”.

Journalist: I make the point that being childless is not always a calculated decision. Sometimes the circumstances just aren’t right.

Lush: “I think it’s laziness really” [she has two daughters, one from each of her marriages] “Laziness and greed. Too many individuals simply have the wrong priorities, ‘I want money before I have children, I want this and I want that before I have children’, what a load of codswallop”.

What an insulting shrew! It made MY blood boil reading it but then my thoughts went out to the people reading it who may actually want kids and who may have been trying for many years to have kids. It’s wankers like her that totally undermine the depth of soul searching and thought that goes into making the decision we do. I want to write to the magazine to tell her what she can do with her book but I’m pretty certain the editor would refuse to publish it as it’s considered a very respectable magzine

but seriously, this just reiterates my point in past couple of blogs that Australia isn’t really the openminded trailblazing nation regarding childfree issues that it likes others to think it is.

Anyway good night all. there’s my rant. It’s 11pm here in Oz (on 2nd Feb) so I’m off to bed. For those of you where it is still early(ish in the day, have a great Saturday/ Saturday night.

they only know me from maybe 1 hour a week to talk too, and they know what i am like at home? i know myself better than anyone

the more i can change the better things will be. thats why i think its great online the cf are talking more, and the more militant cf who can and will argue takes on board the points raised and we run with them.

if you notice my posts.. i am a very talkative cf. over 1500 posts on bratfree, over 1000 on the one i run, and 32 on here just this month.

so i educate, by being sincere and honest in my reasons. do i mind that other cf dont educate not at all..in fact they do in a way they bring their views, like the brit girl, like aussie cf, like cf since 6. all reinforces the cfness and helps me take heart in knowing there are others out there. and i am not alone anymore. and thats the greatest education i get from the cf on this site.

Personally, the most obnoxious bingo I’ve run across to wit is: “The very best of TL would come out, if those four cats of hers were changed into…” (you guessed it…) “CHILDREN.” This, from my mom and a family friend.

If my four cats were changed into children, the best of me would wither and die. I haven’t the slightest interest in the noise, chaos, and hustle-bustle of the childed lifestyle.

How ridiculous, regressive, and annoying, when people assume that the best of any woman must always be motherhood.

I did respond with, “UHm, you HAD to do those things.” She didn’t say anything to that. Because it’s true. The other dude who is sort of CF did say that I had a point. Maybe that’s why she didn’t say anything back.

Now, that “sort of CF” guy (I’ll get to that in a minute) did mention at lunch one time about how he decided to not have children. How did hesay it? By saying, “Yeah, I decided to do the selfish thing and not have children.” My simple comment and response? “It’s not selfish to decide not to have children.” He just nodded and agreed.

I say he’s “sort of CF” because his current girlfriend at first didn’t want kids. He had to evaluate why he wanted kids and that yes, he did want to be with her so he decided not to have children. yay! One for “us.” Right?

Well…

She’s rather psycho, IMO, and because all of her friends are having kids, NOW she wants them. Oi. He’s annoyed by that. He’s actually annoyed by her period. But that’s his issue.

Regardless…I got my one moment to “educate” in and make my statement. I didn’t appreciate his comment because it just perpetuated the false notion that CF people were selfish. And so I made *my* comment back. This was during lunch when other parented coworkers were present.

I have smart ass responses for most bingos and present them as a backhanded joke. If I’m in the mood. Generally speaking, those that really need to be educated, won’t be because they’ve got their own prejudices and refuse to see any other way - for whatever reasons they have.

My most-encountered bingo is “You’ll Change Your Mind!”

I also get “It’s different when it’s your own!”, “You’d make great parents!”, and “It’s such a selfish way to live!”.

UkShell. It is nice to read about the famous Cf. And what is more important, than being true to oneself? Many great childfree people in the past.

“Playing cheating wife has given Irish actress Orla Brady, 46, food for thought about fidelity. Happily married to photographer Nick Brandt for the past five years, Orla admits that her character Siobhan is nothing like her and trying for a baby through IVF is the last thing on her mind. However, there is one similarity: she loves hanging out with her Mistresses co-Stars, Sarah Parish, Shelley Conn and Sharon Small.

Qu. Your character in Mistresses is desperate for a baby. Can you relate to that?
Having kids just isn’t my thing. I’ve never felt the need – I have two beautiful godsons that I spend time with and that’s enough for me. My husband Nick doesn’t want children, either, so we’re very happy just the two of us.

Qu. Was this a decision you made years ago?
I remember thinking I should make up my mind about it when I was young so that it didn’t become a decision by default. I thought about it for years and I’m at peace with my choice. People struggle to understand how you could not want children, but you have to be true to yourself and your feelings.” – interview/article by Karen Dunn