Is childhood a luxury?

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― dave q, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think it always has been. Isn't indulging people's innocence a bit unfeasible?

― dave q, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i often think that if we were more like children the world would be a much better place. by which i don't mean incontinent, helpless, mewling babes, just beings for whom the wonder of the world never becomes second-rate or taken for granted.

― katie, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Better place for advertising agencies?

― dave q, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Children balance innocent uncritical wonder with being howling balls of selfish need, though. But in the end I think despite childhood being a luxury it's one we should be proud of being able - as a society - to afford.

― Tom, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It's the only time in your life when you are *allowed* to be a howling ball of selfish need, though, so childhood = classic. I keep find myself looking wistfully at chidlers and wishing I could go back.

― Madchen, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Its the time when people are most likely to uncomplainingly do stuff on your behalf. And you get more money on your birthday. To think I spent most of my childhood wanting to be 'grown up'...

― Will McKenzie, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'd just like to say that I wuv Saturday mornings just for the cartoons aimed shamelessly at babies. For instance, I'm now desperate for a Winnie the Pooh Sleep Soother cos the babies had such an expression of peaceful happiness and wonder on their faces with it, and as for the Pampers advert from a babys-eye view? I was jealous. I might be one of those nusery fetish freaks you read about in the Sun, how do you KNOW?

― Sarah, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

everyone should be whored out by their folks at the age of 8

― Geoff, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I guess I should invoke two ILx semi-regulars on the matter, namely Momus' "His Majesty the Baby" and Shelley's "Reproduction is Pollution"...

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

if you have a nice one, it is (for you if not your parents). if you spend working in a sweatshop and starving i doubt it.

― Maria, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

what's the bill hicks line? "kids are smarter than adults. they're not married with kids!"

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Surely there's a bit of a troubling Peter Pan syndrome going on, what with the growing number of people who reject all "traditional" notions of maturity and responsibility - effectively adult children, so you'd imagine that at some point the dynamic would begin to cannibalize itself? I mean, we can't have the luxury of childhood (except in Neverneverland) without those children growing up to perpetuate the cycle. Is it a luxury that many of us over-indulging now at the expense of future generations? Should we be so often doing as we please, just because we can? /soulsearching

― Kim, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It's the only time in your life when you are *allowed* to be a howling ball of selfish need, though, so childhood = classic.

You don't know any Republicans, apparently. ;-p

― Tadeusz Suchodolski, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

'Is it a luxury that many of us over-indulging now at the expense of future generations?'

Even planning a future generation is a luxury. Indulging oneself now is less harmful.

― dave q, Friday, 19 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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