# I pit my Mom, Grandma, Sister, Aunts, Uncles, and Friends **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 23, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529 "2006-10-23T03:25:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/181 "2006-10-25T20:49:58Z")
[QUOTE=Sierra Indigo] I don’t relish the thought of dying alone. Otherwise I wouldn’t have married my husband (who I do plan on being with until my dying day). There’s just other considerations that have led me to make the choices I’ve made, and the need to have a “comfort blanket” when dying is the least of those. [/QUOTE] But he’s not contractually obligated to live as long as you do. In fact, statistically speaking, he probably won’t. And then what? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/182 "2006-10-25T20:53:45Z")
More to the point, we pretty much _all_ die alone, when you come right down to it. Except in multiple-death car crashes or such, we cross that line by ourselves. Doesn’t matter how many loved, liked, or tolerated ones happen to be around. Especially if we’re drugged to the eyeballs, or senile, or unconscious, or too obtunded to know what’s going on. Death is not a team sport. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/183 "2006-10-25T21:02:38Z")
I fully expect to be surrounded by loved ones when I die. Especially my nieces and nephews, and that’s why I routinely let them have ice cream for dinner when I babysit. ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/184 "2006-10-25T21:54:11Z")
[QUOTE=Lizard] But he’s not contractually obligated to live as long as you do. In fact, statistically speaking, he probably won’t. And then what? [/QUOTE] And isn’t having children just so you won’t die alone the ultimate act of selfishness? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/185 "2006-10-25T22:53:45Z")
[QUOTE=Bob55] No, the reason is because I am one of the few people actually speaking up and I represent “the red states”. Unfortunately, the mentality of The Pit for whatever reason is of “the blue states”. And nothing gets a person in a blue state going like somebody else dare offering a difference of opinion. Oh we’re supposed to be “open to discussion”, but here we are, shutting down the discussion when it doesn’t suit your needs. [/QUOTE] Hey Bob, nice to meet you. I’m a registered Republican, and a moderate conservative. If you care to browse my post history, you can see that it’s a fair assessment. I like children and have worked with them. I’m also childless by choice. And you know what? My brother, who is also a Republican, is as well. I know it’s probably shocking to find out that registering republican doesn’t magically enable one to get in touch with the relentless calls of their genes, but it’s the sad truth. I’m 29, and I doubt that I’ll ever change my mind about having children. Like Yellowval, though, I’m willing to consider adopting children older than two years of age. (I know, how selfish to rely on someone else’s effort to “squeeze out babies” as you so charmingly put it.) My brother’s younger, so I don’t know yet if he’ll change his mind. The world would probably be a better place if our geneline ends with us, though. Our parents are good people (and still married after 31 years), but having one person with a history of inheritable diseases marry another with a different array and producing children might not have been such a good idea. Knowing that I could pass on an assortment of unpleasantries to my genetic offspring makes me not want them. Basically, me having kids would come down to one or the other of two things A. I accidentally get pregnant. I’m very prolife so I’d have the kid and pray it is healthy, and/or deal with the guilt if it isn’t. B. I marry a man who really really really wants kids and we go through genetic testing to see if we’d have healthy kids, and only do so if the odds are greatly in our favor. Nothing you’ve said has affected my opinion on childbearing, but you have given me something to think about. We in the republican party need to be hyper-vigilant about whom we elect, least someone like you who seems to harbor The Handmaiden’s Tale-esque aspirations sneaks into office. Oh, I know you’ll _say_ you don’t want to force anyone to have kids, but really, that’s just denying the truth. Don’t do that, denying your true nature will make you depressed and unfulfilled. Accept you misogamy, embrace it! We can see it on you clearly enough, anyway. I’d say it’s on you like a scarlet M, but that might be too cultured a reference for you to grasp. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/186 "2006-10-26T00:48:06Z")
[QUOTE=Bob55] **Miller** , you are a very angry person that is evidently out to get people who dare express an opinion different than yours. I won’t respond to your choppy replies of “liar” or “idiot” or “dickcheese” or “have your kid stick his finger in the light socket” anymore. \ Wow it’s Miller again, throwing out more personal insults. If you can’t offer anything constructive to the discussion why do you post? For attention? For a giggle as you hit the “submit” button? Next time write it, but then maybe just close the window after the preview please. [/QUOTE] that lasted long. It is my opinion that conservative molecular biologists are all assholes of the highest order. I hope Bob55 doesn’t violate my first amendment rights by telling me not to state my opinion. And if he does complain about me stating my opinion, well, it just means that my point struck home, now doesn’t it? I apologize to all conservative molecular biologists who aren’t assholes. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/187 "2006-10-26T01:03:19Z")
[QUOTE=Lizard] But he’s not contractually obligated to live as long as you do. In fact, statistically speaking, he probably won’t. And then what? [/QUOTE] Neither are children - especially if they are bio children, and they do inherit one or more of the assorted genetic problems both hubby’s and my families are handing out. Or they may hate me for something I did to them as kids and not want to see me. Or they may be busy and not able to come to be with me as I’m dying in a nursing home. Or I may die suddenly at 40 in a car crash. What of it? The point is that dying alone isn’t something I “relish” or even want to do. I didn’t sit down to plan my life saying “And ultimately, I want to die alone, with no loved ones around me”. I don’t think any CbC people do. However there are larger considerations in my life as to whether I’ve got someone holding my friggin’ hand when I’m dying, possibly 80 years from now. Does my fear of death and need for comfort trump the other difficulties that I’ve already identified? No. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/188 "2006-10-26T01:38:14Z")
[QUOTE=Bob55] I’ve also been told that essentially I have a warped view of the First Ammendment because I dare spoke my opinion. [/QUOTE] No, it’s because your view of the First Amendment fails to take into account that MY First Amendment rights allow ME to tell you that your opinion is full of shit. Freedom of Speech works both ways, dumbass. You have a right to your own opinion. As does everyone else. (It also has jack all to do with a PRIVATELY owned message board. Jesus, you are a barrel full of stupid, aren’t you?) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/189 "2006-10-26T03:14:57Z")
Uhh, **Bob55** , I know you’re not a regular down her in the Pit, so I’m just gonna let you know that this is where you’re supposed to say something scathingly mean about **Guin** ’s personal life… …and then a few people will come in and call you a prick for doing it, and at about the top of the next page **Guin** will come back and say how you didn’t manage to hurt her feelings, and then ridicule how pathetic the attempt makes you look. _Sheesh, almost at the end of page 4, and we are pushing the envelope wrt the schedule._ Okay, places, everybody! QUIET ON THE SET! Aaaannd…Action! **Guin** , I’m fairly confident you won’t mind this little farce. If I’m mistaken, do let me know, so I may apologize properly. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/190 "2006-10-26T03:16:38Z")
Well I do mind it! How dare you! You know I don’t HAVE a personal life. 😉😛 😃 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/191 "2006-10-26T04:14:26Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] You know I don’t HAVE a personal life. [/QUOTE] Well, dammit woman, and whose fault is that? How many times have I dragged you off to the shelter, showed you cage after cage full of personal lives waiting to be adopted, pointed out the ones that would get along great with you, hell, even offered to co-sign the application papers. And what do you do? You pet 'em and schmooze 'em and ponder 'em and get all dubious and wind up deciding not a damn one of those utterly ADORABLE personal lives are just right for you to take home! :mad: :: sigh :: Look, would you at least _consider_ that sweet little boxer? ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/192 "2006-10-26T04:23:32Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] Look, would you at least _consider_ that sweet little boxer? [/QUOTE] I cast my vote with “Guin needs a boxer.” ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529/193 "2006-10-26T04:35:23Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] But it turns out they don’t really care if they get the baby back. They just want to know you aren’t using it any more. So you just have to send them back the head." (That’s not funny.) [/QUOTE] Actually, it was funny. I could even see where it was going, and I still laughed out loud. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-mom-grandma-sister-aunts-uncles-and-friends/377529.md?page=9)