There’s definitely this strain of “Why would I ever want to sacrifice for anyone else? Who could possibly deserve that much love?” coming off these comic artists and their readership.
It reeks of alienation and despair. Like, that final panel of the comic might as well be of the artist themself. Alone, on a roof, half conscious, rings under the eyes - that’s more than a few people I knew back in college.
I’m married, 41, and childless by choice. I like this comic because it validates my consistent experience with arrogant parents acting as though I’m not truly mature or fulfilled because I haven’t become a father.
There is no subtext of alienation or despair in my enjoyment. To the contrary, both my wife and I are largely satisfied with our lives and content with our choice to not force another human being into the fucking cruel absurdity of this world.
I like this comic because it highlights my consistent experience with arrogant parents acting as though I’m not truly mature or successful because I haven’t procreated.
That’s not what the comic shows at all. It ends with a solitary burned out person pinning for the past.
There is no subtext of alienation or despair in my enjoyment.
Presumably because you’re not the one who wrote the cartoon.
Are you blind? The first two panels show the female character pretentiously telling an adult male he’ll understand satisfaction when he “grows up” and has a child.
You referred to the comic AND it’s readers holding feelings of alienation and despair. Did you already forget what you typed?
No shit. Raising kids is an act of love and sacrifice.
If you aren’t willing to do this, do NOT have kids!
There’s definitely this strain of “Why would I ever want to sacrifice for anyone else? Who could possibly deserve that much love?” coming off these comic artists and their readership.
It reeks of alienation and despair. Like, that final panel of the comic might as well be of the artist themself. Alone, on a roof, half conscious, rings under the eyes - that’s more than a few people I knew back in college.
I’m married, 41, and childless by choice. I like this comic because it validates my consistent experience with arrogant parents acting as though I’m not truly mature or fulfilled because I haven’t become a father.
There is no subtext of alienation or despair in my enjoyment. To the contrary, both my wife and I are largely satisfied with our lives and content with our choice to not force another human being into the fucking cruel absurdity of this world.
That’s not what the comic shows at all. It ends with a solitary burned out person pinning for the past.
Presumably because you’re not the one who wrote the cartoon.
Are you blind? The first two panels show the female character pretentiously telling an adult male he’ll understand satisfaction when he “grows up” and has a child.
You referred to the comic AND it’s readers holding feelings of alienation and despair. Did you already forget what you typed?
With the implication that it’s a lie, and the truth is in the fourth panel, yes.
If you’re sympathizing with the artist, you’re buying into this dystopian fantasy of how the artist’s burned out friend “really feels”, yes.
But this is coming from inside the artist’s brain.
“Dystopian fantasy”? It’s a god damn internet comic not a polemical essay on the ethical superiority of antinatalism. It ain’t that deep, bro.