# How much do you like kids? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 26, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087 "2010-07-26T19:06:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/1 "2010-07-26T19:06:10Z")
Poll coming. It’ll take a moment, so kwiturbitchin. Assume that, by “kid,” I mean “pre-adolescent.” If you wish to make qualifications like _only babies_, _only toddlers_, and so forth, well, that’s what the Reply button is for. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/2 "2010-07-26T19:12:41Z")
Poll! Poll! Poll! ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/3 "2010-07-26T19:17:15Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Poll! Poll! Poll! I TOLD you to be patient, woman! You force me to withhold extra servings of the perfect cookies I was planning on sharing later. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/4 "2010-07-26T19:23:32Z")
None fit me. I dislike kids in general, and don’t want any of my own, but some are adorable and make me smile ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/5 "2010-07-26T19:23:39Z")
OK, I don’t “hate” kids … I’m just not that fond of 'em and don’t want any of my own. The cute and polite ones are alright. The shrieking ill-mannered beasts, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/6 "2010-07-26T19:26:12Z")
Other. I don’t have kids of my own; neither love nor hate being around them. Unless they’re acting like friggin’ brats, then get them away from me _now_! Let’s say I tolerate being around well-behaved kids under some circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/7 "2010-07-26T19:28:38Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > > > Poll! Poll! Poll! > > I TOLD you to be patient, woman! > > You force me to withhold extra servings of the perfect cookies I was planning on sharing later. I know your evil ways; you wouldn’t share the cookies, you’d just eat them in front of us. I don’t mind kids that don’t impinge on my consciousness negatively. The rest I can do without. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/8 "2010-07-26T19:28:53Z")
Babies (pre-verbal) are frustrating and kinda boring. Verbal-through-early-teenager are delightful and cute. As long as they’re not screaming. I really, really don’t like screaming. Teenagers are fascinating and dangerous. I enjoy the company of non-babies quite a bit - some non-babies more than others. However, since I just got a positive pregnancy test, I think I’m going to have to learn to enjoy their company! –Maggie, straight female. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/9 "2010-07-26T19:29:56Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > > > > > Poll! Poll! Poll! > > > > I TOLD you to be patient, woman! > > > > You force me to withhold extra servings of the perfect cookies I was planning on sharing later. > > I know your evil ways; you wouldn’t share the cookies, you’d just eat them in front of us. I was only planning on sharing the cookies with you. It was part of a new plot to make the rest of Canada suffer. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/10 "2010-07-26T19:30:38Z")
Congrats, **Maggie**. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/11 "2010-07-26T19:35:32Z")
I guess I should’ve picked “Your categories don’t fit me”, but I didn’t read through that far. I picked I love my own kids but few others, but the thing is I don’t have any kids, nor do I want any. However, I don’t hate being around kids. Mostly, I’m indifferent to their presence. If the kids are acting up in my vicinity, I may feel annoyance, but certainly not hate. The reason I picked what I did was I feel relatively certain that if I did have kids, I would love them. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/12 "2010-07-26T19:37:55Z")
You’re biologically forced to love your own kids - otherwise everyone would just kill them. ---
**Author:** ![RainGrowsBrite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@RainGrowsBrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RainGrowsBrite)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/13 "2010-07-26T19:40:34Z")
I didnt fit into any category. My husband and I go back and forth on whether or not to have children. We like them and would be good parents, but we also really love the freedom we have currently. I dont hate kids (I hate teenagers). I cant tolerate annoying kids but some kids I cant get enough of. I think its kinda this way with adults too. There are some people I cant stand and some people I love. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/14 "2010-07-26T19:42:19Z")
From another thread: > [@Poll for Males, on possibility of being a parent.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-males-on-possibility-of-being-a-parent/548005/4): > > Children horrify me. The only thing that horrifies me more than children is the knowledge that there are people out there who _want_ to have them. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/15 "2010-07-26T19:42:20Z")
You left out “Gay male here. I hate being around all kids.” ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/16 "2010-07-26T19:43:03Z")
Hm, wasn’t sure how to answer. None of the categories felt like they applied. Straight Female. I wouldn’t say I “love” being around children; they are entertaining in short bursts and in kid-friendly environments. On the flip side I enjoy teaching, and especially teaching children. They tell me I’m pretty good at it, in my limited sphere (horseback riding). On the other hand, when you’re a teacher you have authority, and get to say “no” and enforce standards of conduct (I don’t discipline other people’s children – or dogs – without permission to do so). I certainly don’t _hate_ children. (Sometimes I hate the parents they’re attached to.) I don’t want any of my own though. Just doesn’t interest me. In sum, I enjoy the presence of children, over whom I have personal authority to discipline, for about an hour a day a couple times a week. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/17 "2010-07-26T19:47:53Z")
I love being around kids. What I don’t love is the endless duty and responsibility of baby-sitting other peoples’. What I love is being able to play and interact with kids as much as I want, and then sending 'em back to their parents when I’m ready for a break. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/18 "2010-07-26T19:49:10Z")
I just had my second and I’m only warming up to children not my own. I think it’s partly a function of knowing my friends’ kids too well. Unfortunately, I find many of my friends’ children irritating. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/19 "2010-07-26T19:54:24Z")
The dispositions of kids can be about as disparate as the varieties of peppers. Some can be pleasant, mild and savory while others can leave you reeling in pain. I like well-mannered, personable little kids but abhor and distance myself from the screaming, undisciplined shits. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087/20 "2010-07-26T19:54:48Z")
Straight female. While I don’t _hate_ hate being around kids, I’d rather not, thankyouverymuch. That high-pitched shriek that is universal to all kids-girls especially- is like nails on a chalk board to me. Don’t have any, not going to have any, never wanted any. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-like-kids/548087.md?page=2)