The nerve.

[lls_mutant]

Wow. This has to be one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen. For those who don't want to click on the link (or would like a preview before they do), it's a website supposedly put up by a couple that got pregnant unexpectedly. They're trying to decide between an abortion or keeping the child. (Adoption is apparently not an option.) That's not what disgusts me, though.(*) What disgusts me is that they're asking people to help them raise $50,000. If they can raise that much in three months, they'll keep the child. If they can't, they'll get an abortion.

To be honest, I'm pretty sure this is a scam. I WANT to believe this is a scam. But still. Wow.

I'm really having a lousy day. Toby is being a terror, although I think it has a lot to do with getting his shots yesterday. Poor kid, but my patience ran out with him. Fortunately, he is down for a nap. He needed it! ::Sigh:: I really volunteered to do this again? :)

Hope everyone else is having a good Friday.


(*) I've never posted my views on abortion in this journal. Partly because, for the most part, I stay away from political discussions. I don't enjoy politics, and this journal is a place for me to enjoy myself. But honestly? I really do not feel that it is my place to judge what it is such a personal decision. I think abortion is one of the most complicated issues out there, and I believe that most women I know don't consider it an easy solution. So yeah- it's a tough issue, so I usually avoid it like the plague.

Comments

[topaz-eyes.livejournal.com]

0.o That's--I'm speechless. I sincerely hope it's a scam, too.

Aw, poor kid. I hope Toby feels better after a good nap.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

The timing does seem a bit suspect. But wow. Some people :P

And he did- thanks!

[inksheddings.livejournal.com]

It's sad when you're driven to hoping something is a scam, isn't it? Yikes, right there with you hoping.

Sorry Toby is having a tough time, causing you to have a tough time.

I really volunteered to do this again?

Hee! I know exactly how you feel. *g*

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Isn't it though? It's just the nerve of it. I mean, when it comes down to it, I'm pro-choice politically, but this site is basically "give us 50 grand or the baby gets it!" Ick.

[thistlerose.livejournal.com]

Oh. my. God.

I'm torn. I want to believe it's a scam because what the fucking fuck? But really, people are that stupid. (And yeah? Why isn't adoption an issue? Sure, medical bills are expensive - I'm assuming they don't have health insurance - but come on.)

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Yeah- that's what scares me about it not being a scam. As for medical bills, a lot of adoption agencies will pay your bills if you're giving your child up for adoption. And if you really are against aborting and are scared to give your child up, there's open adoption. I'm sure it would be a really hard option regardless, but it's a good one.

People are nuts.

[onehundredmoons.livejournal.com]

Wow, that site's left me pretty nonplussed. *stares blankly*

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's about how I felt!

[rinelk.livejournal.com]

I'm not saying this seems like a brilliant plan to me, either, but let me try and put this in a more positive light.

As a society, it's good strategy to set up the incentive structure to encourage behavior we consider good. This is a pretty significant way to point out that the incentive structure associated with unwanted pregnancy right now completely sucks. Some opponents of abortion confront this head-on and work to provide enough support to at least share the burden that childbearing causes, but many do not. Even for the most careless couples who have irresponsible unprotected sex, the financial and physical penalty of pregnancy and childrearing seems badly out of proportion with the severity of the moral lapse, so it can't be justified simply as a punishment. If abortion is to be legal and we want someone not to use that option, it would be more productive to make it worth their while (or at least less costly) than simply to say that they should cope with the consequences of their actions.

I'll make up a number here: imagine that the average child costs $200,000 to raise. What these people are saying isn't that they need to get paid to make it worth keeping the child, but rather that it's worth $150,000 to them! A child is worth a lot more than that to me, but not an infinite amount, and this helps me feel like my differences with these people are a lot more a matter of degree than major principle. If my complaint comes down to bad taste about how they express their position, eh. I like plaid, so who am I to complain about taste? These people seem pretty clear on the fact that raising a child is a huge commitment, and they want to be prepared for it, which is at least somewhat laudable.

I think my initial reaction of disgust is somewhat moderated by keeping stuff like this in mind.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

I agree that dealing with an unwanted pregnancy is hard, yeah. But.

1.) Adoption is an option. If you are against abortion and can't afford to raise the baby, why not put it up for adoption? Sure, you hear the occasional horror story, but I'd venture that most adoptive parents are extremely loving and create a good home. After all, the approval process you have to go through to adopt a child is intense. If you can't hand your baby to strangers never to see the child again, there are open adoptions. It's not like it used to be.

2.) These people claim they are educated. Get a better job, people. The rest of us don't get life handed to us on a silver platter, why should they?

3.) What bothers me is about this site is that is essentially blackmail. Now, granted, I would never give money to a stranger on the internet, because that's just not in the realm of common sense. But basically, this site is boiling down to saying, "Give us 50G or the baby gets it!" THAT'S actually what bothers me.

They are right that raising a child requires a huge financial commitment. But lots of people have done it before and done well with it. It CAN be done, even on a limited salary. And your conditions at the time of the birth are not static- you always have the option to search for a better job or work for a raise or whatever. The laziness of this bothers me as well.

All in all, I see what you're saying and you're a nicer person than I am :)