Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: angry

Children as Caregivers

There are children drafted as caregivers for unwell family members because nobody else will do it, which of course tends to ruin their education.  America considers this more acceptable than actually providing health care and home support for its citizens.

Some days I just want to belt humanity with a convenient asteroid.  I look at articles like this and wonder how many apocalyptic novels they've inspired.
Tags: education, news
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  • 24 comments
technoshaman

technoshaman

May 19 2012, 04:19:04 UTC 9 years ago

I know at least one book - and movie - such things inspired... Where The Lillies Bloom....

I don't wish humanity harm.... only sense. As for genie-cats? Five of their six ends are POINTY when they do that. Hell, cats are scary-smart NOW; they know a lot more than most of'em let on... half a notch of uplift and opposable thumbs? We are so much cat chow. Dogs, on the other hand... it's the whole mentality thing.
siege

siege

May 19 2012, 15:32:26 UTC 9 years ago

And when dogs go feral, they form packs that, if allowed to go for a couple of generations, sometimes start hunting humans. Supposedly, cats have a brain structure more like humans than dogs do; but humans are closer to primates than to either species/family, and primates live in troops (which are pretty much like packs as we used to think canid packs were organized, with alpha, beta, and omega members).

Sure, natural weapons aren't fun when they're aimed at you, but somehow we teach human children not to scratch or bite when they're grumpy or want something.

I'd agree that it really does come down to a mentality thing: do we treat our created children as all children should be, or do we dump our garbage on them and then some, as bad as, or worse than, what we do to the children we grow naturally?
ysabetwordsmith

Well...

ysabetwordsmith

May 19 2012, 19:42:49 UTC 9 years ago

Considering the current rates of child abuse and exploitation, I would not want to gamble even on that connection. Humanity should practice safe science until it grows up enough to be trusted with an infant species.

I mean, look at all the examples of AI in science fiction. The infant AI is usually in the hands of people who shouldn't be trusted with so much as a guppy. No wonder the poor AIs usually go insane and try to destroy the world.
cissa

cissa

May 27 2012, 05:25:07 UTC 9 years ago

The thing that saves us humans from cats- and I've HAD a cat with opposable thumbs that he used- is that cats are really lazy. :)

They know a hell of a lot more language than they're eager to advertise... and they are wicked smart. I love my pussycats.

And so far they (probably) can't figure out the Internet. (Although sometimes when I come downstairs, my computer is ON...)

  • Physics Staircase

    I am familiar with many of those upper steps! :D There is no end to knowledge and discovery. It has mountains upon mountains.

  • Bowling Ball and Feathers

    ... in case you want to see an ancient science experiment done now that we have the proper equipment.

  • Notes for "An Elusive, Tantalizing Partner"

    These are the notes for " An Elusive, Tantalizing Partner." "Science is like a love affair with nature; an elusive, tantalizing…