Single Mothers: Their Own Fault?

My Most Controversial Words Ever

Published on February 9, 2005 By messybuu In Current Events

Here's a fake conversation I had with a single pregnant woman:

Her: "I hate Bush! Because of him, I won't be able to get the welfare I need to support the child I'm about to have and the father's in prison for life, so he can't support me."
Me: "Why are you having the child if you can't afford him?"
Her: "It wasn't my choice. I used birth control, but I still got pregnant."
Me: "So? You could still have an abortion. Then you wouldn't have a child you can't afford."
Her: "That won't work."
Me: "Why not?"
Her: "It just won't. Stop being sexist!"
Me: "So, you know you can't afford the child you're about to have, and you know that you can abort him, but you're still going to have a child, even though you won't be able to support it? Even if you couldn't afford the abortion, you could still give him for adoption. There are many opportunities for you to avoid being a poor single mother."
Her: "No there aren't. I can't abort him, and I can't give him up for adoption either."
Me: "Why not?"
Her: "I just can't."
Me: "If I didn't know any better, I'd think that you want to be on welfare with a child you can't afford."
Her: "Shut up! I'm a victim! A VICTIM!"

Comments (Page 1)

Angloesque

on Feb 09, 2005

I'm fairly interested in this topic; however, I'm not going to go into depth on a fake conversation. Write a blog on what you think about this topic and I'll get into it with ya.

-A.

Zoologist03

on Feb 09, 2005

Harsh...but thought provoking.

~Zoo

Toblerone

on Feb 09, 2005

Gee its weird that a woman might get emotionally attached to a baby she's carrying - there only a few million years of evolution behind the emotion. Giving up a baby for adoption isn't easy either. Last I heard Bush was anti-abortion too so if he did have it his way she couldn't abort.

Emotions often get in the way of the obvious simple solutions. Gee, we could reduce the unemployment rate to zero if we just killed all the unemployed people.

messybuu

on Feb 10, 2005

I get emotionally attached to things. Does that make it any less my fault if I allow those things to ruin my life? Sometimes, it's necessary for people to act like adults and make responsible decisions.

Emotions often get in the way of the obvious simple solutions. Gee, we could reduce the unemployment rate to zero if we just killed all the unemployed people.

I don't see how abortion can be equated with killing people.

Maybe if you had 'abort' yours

on Feb 10, 2005

"I don't see how abortion can be equated with killing people."

Apparently you have not been a parent? or if you have been one you don't have a heart or soul

Disgusting fake conversation..

on Feb 10, 2005

After reading this post, I was looking for an option button "disgusting" to leave short feedback but the author just has offered : Interesting and Insightful .... well that is itself Insightful.

The writer of this fake conversation either has a problem thinking properly or if just plain biased enough to write an one side fake conversation, .. anyway what more can one expect from a post on websited for average joe...

I am sorry I even came to this website...I will close my browser after posting this comment, and add this website to my blacklist

David St. Hubbins

on Feb 10, 2005

Great article, Juxta. Very courageous. It should also be noted that women initiate two thirds of divorces. Most industrialized countries are trending toward a majority of children born out of wedlock (in Scandinavia over half of children are bastards) and that can't be a good thing - for men OR women.

Put another way - there is a very strong correleation between socialism and the breakdown of the family, and in this case I believe correlation is indeed causation. Indeed, the welfare state creates a profit motive for breaking up families and birthing children out of wedlock, and when you provide financial incentive for a particular action you tend to increase frequency of that action.

The status quo ain't working and while the alternatives may seem harsh (i.e. no welfare for single moms, end mandatory child support, mandatory adoption for children born out of wedlock OR from divorced families) it's time to have that conversation. Thank you for having the stones to bring this up.

David St. Hubbins

Dr Guy

on Feb 10, 2005

The writer of this fake conversation either has a problem thinking properly or if just plain biased enough to write an one side fake conversation, .. anyway what more can one expect from a post on websited for average joe...

YOu are just plain wrong. While we have no way of knowing if the conversation is real, it is highly plausible. And you will note that he author was presenting options to the 'victim', not condemning her.

He left it to the commentors to supply the editorial on it. Which means he wanted you to THINK, not knee jerk.

Very interesting article Juxtaposition.

Toblerone

on Feb 10, 2005

Gee its weird that a woman might get emotionally attached to a baby she's carrying - there only a few million years of evolution behind the emotion. Giving up a baby for adoption isn't easy either. Last I heard Bush was anti-abortion too so if he did have it his way she couldn't abort.

I get emotionally attached to things. Does that make it any less my fault if I allow those things to ruin my life? Sometimes, it's necessary for people to act like adults and make responsible decisions.

How about making an adult descion based on all factors instead of just economics?

Emotions often get in the way of the obvious simple solutions. Gee, we could reduce the unemployment rate to zero if we just killed all the unemployed people.

I don't see how abortion can be equated with killing people.

I'm not drawing a comparison between abortion and killing people (I'm pro choice) although I guess you are putting an end to a potential life which can be seen as the same thing (by some people anyway).
I'm just saying that you seem to imply that we should put practicality over emotion. An adult recognises that not all situations are as clear cut as they seem and you have to take into account many factors (emotions, finances etc.) before making a descion as big as abortion or adoption. The thing about killing people was just to say "well there are a lot of easy solutions to the world's problems but morals and so on make them unsuitable."

Shovelheat

on Feb 10, 2005

I am sorry I even came to this website...I will close my browser after posting this comment, and add this website to my blacklist

Toodle-lou, anonymous user. Don't let the door bump your ass on the way out. Anyway, I thought it was a clever trick, the fake conversation, but then,

what more can one expect from a post on websited for average joe...

I'm just an average Joe...

Dr Guy

on Feb 10, 2005

It is a shame that your mind is so closed you cannot learn something from people who know more than you. Guess in your mind, Ward Churchill is the only one that can teach you anything. Or maybe Mikey Moore?

Gideon MacLeish

on Feb 10, 2005

Having had many REAL conversations with single mothers, I cannot think of many that came CLOSE to the stereotype you're presenting.

shadesofgrey

on Feb 10, 2005

While we have no way of knowing if the conversation is real, it is highly plausible.

uh, actually, we do know that it is fake...

Here's a fake conversation I had with a single pregnant woman

Dr Guy

on Feb 10, 2005

Reply By: Helix the IIPosted: Thursday, February 10, 2005

very good! I gave you an insightful for that one.

Dr Guy

on Feb 10, 2005

uh, actually, we do know that it is fake...

I stand corrected. Still, I think this was meant not to come up with a solution, but to explore the mindset of some. In other words, it is a straw horse and a good one.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!