Is it time for a CF counterstrike?

It boggles my mind that religious whackadoos are allowed to picket hospitals and harass people, who go in and out. I've often thought that the CF people could organise ourselves and start picketing piggos, who are going for prenatal care.

We could use the tactics of religious whackadoos, to convince piggos to get an abortion. We could seek out piggos in public, as individuals, and try to convince them to get an abortion. We could print out pictures from ShapeOfaMoo site and images of ravaged cooters after giving birth; after all, it would only be right that they know exactly what they're getting themselves into
We could target them and start giving them brochures with information about adoption. We could start abortion-jacking and adoption-jacking social media.

When somebody tells us that she's inpig, we could politely inquire whether she needs the number of a good abortionist and perhaps a ride to the clinic. We could smile at her and give her an adoption brochure, while whispering "In case you change your mind. You should leave your options open."

What do you think the reaction would be? I think that this could be empowering for us. A dumb moo with shrieking howler-monkeys in a public place? You give her an adoption brochure (or a social services card with information on putting kids in foster care) and politely say: "In case you ever change your mind."

Breeders are already painting us as kid-haters. We might as well have some fun with it

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" ... what's one more once you've already got two shedding on the couch?"

Oh believe me, I've been tempted.

I have never really appreciated harrassment as a political tool. No doubt it's tempting, and it's true that we are already painted as unsympathetic, but I'd much rather see our legitimate complaints about breeder privilege being addressed before a push-back against pro-natalist overpopulation. This sort of thing could serve as a publicity stunt, but it most certainly wouldn't be effective in improving our situation.

LOL, I imagine a bunch of pronatalists chasing CF people with pitchforks, if you really plan to do that.

Do you think that gays would have any rights, if they continuously took the high road? Would women have any rights or be allowed to vote if the first feminists had this attitude? Did breeders gain all their privilege by being peaceful and polite?

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" ... what's one more once you've already got two shedding on the couch?"

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trekkie monster
Do you think that gays would have any rights, if they continuously took the high road? Would women have any rights or be allowed to vote if the first feminists had this attitude? Did breeders gain all their privilege by being peaceful and polite?

I think you make a very good point. You also make me want to picket inpigs. But I do think the pitch fork mobs would come out in full force if we tried this.

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trekkie monster
Do you think that gays would have any rights, if they continuously took the high road? Would women have any rights or be allowed to vote if the first feminists had this attitude? Did breeders gain all their privilege by being peaceful and polite?

It is much harder for us to picket and be protected legally though. You can't go up to random people on the street (even the pro-natalists who tell strangers that they have to have the kid are generally outside abortion clinics) because that can be harassment or assault (depending on whether or not the person can make an argument that they would reasonably be in fear of bodily harm due to your physical stature v. theirs/your attitude and hostility, etc). The idea of passing the number to the person with the "in case you change your mind" is a much better way to do it if you are serious about it. That way you can be sure that the person will be offended but can't pull harassment or assault charges, etc.

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trekkie monster
Do you think that gays would have any rights, if they continuously took the high road? Would women have any rights or be allowed to vote if the first feminists had this attitude? Did breeders gain all their privilege by being peaceful and polite?

There's a big spectrum of political action, from carefully phrasing your objections in such a way as to be as inoffensive as possible (usually seen most at the start of a movement) to terrorism (usually seen when people become frustrated about how long it takes to achieve objectives). In between you have civil disobedience, saying things precisely without consideration of sensitivities, and outragous protest. In my opinion, actions which stay away from either of the extremes are most effective in achieving results.

I can't say that I've seen people in the gay rights movement directly harrassing people. Sure, I've seen gay pride parades where people wear provocative clothing, and I've seen people kissing passionately on the street to make people uncomfortable, and I've heard of them getting arrested for refusing to leave a courthouse without a marriage certificate. What I haven't heard of is gay people standing outside the courthouse heckling every straight couple who goes to get married. While they have a fair point that the people are engaging in privileged activities, they would be widely viewed as assholes for "upsetting people on the happiest day of their lives."

suddenly I remember a Simpsons' episode: Marge vs Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples, Teens, and Gays.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marge_vs._Singles,_Seniors,_Childless_Couples_and_Teens,_and_Gays

there went the battle between marge, who uphold breederific family values, and people who feel disadvantaged because they don't fit the normal American family criterion.
I thought it was aired right at the time when voluntary childlessness started rising above the surface. the disadvantaged group went on a counterstrike against 'family comes first'.

They fail. but it sure is a source of inspiration for REAL CF counterstrike.

The best counterstrike that I can offer, Is being as happy as we want to be about being CF.... WITHOUT APOLOGY, BACKSTEP, OR CONSIDERATION OF WHAT THE PARENT WILL FEEL ABOUT IT. This is my counterstrike and it's been going on for years.. With the best... Results.. Ever. Not kidding, every time a parent bitches to me about their precious little angel gone asshole, I smile, take a drink of my coffee and say "and that's why Childfree is the way to be, because I don't have to deal with that". Picketing makes one think of negativity, of which we are already suspect. Why give them the satisfaction of "being right", when we could smuggly rub our happiness so far into their faces they shit rainbows that spell our names? Tell a parent that you are happier than them and you will get one of three things:

1.) a bingo: to which I reply, "say what you want, you are only jealous of me" say it in a humorous voice so they will have no room for an idiotic, self absorbed response (watch them fume). If they question whether your joking hint that you're not.

2.) a knee-jerk "it's so worth it" reflex: to which I reply, "keep telling yourself that while I enjoy my life"

3.) a parent that is now experiencing a mindfuck: to which I do not reply, just walk away like something is exploding behind me (something is).

"What smells like burning life experience?"

This is the best way to counterstrike, hands down, no questions necessary. And besides, why should I waste my precious energy picketing their dumb asses when I could just laugh at their faces while their child is throwing a tantrum and driving them batshit crazy. And yes, I have laughed at a temper tantrum before and said to my BF "Hey, I just remembered I need to buy some condoms!", and walked right past the now extremely pissed off mother. Seriously, you wanna piss them off? Make them feel stupid for having kids by being happy with your decision. This will in turn (possibly) make them rethink their "it's so worth it" bullshit. And if I like being the cause of something, it's a mid-life crisis. Ain't I a stinker? Cheers dahlings!

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The title of "good parent" doesnt come freely from me. If you choose to dabble in creating new life, then my opinions of your actions will be harsher and my praise will be harder to elicit. It's a tradeoff. If you are foolhardy and shortsighted enough to try your hand at playing God, you best be willing to live up to the expectations that come with such a station. Hopefully you'll find SOME relief in your contention, as I have yet to see a generation who has...
Godspeed, Catharsist

When I read this quote from FB:
"U know the Devil is soooooooool busy! Hes trying evrything he can to spread his NASTINESS...... but u know what i say......HOLYGHOST FIRE!!!! IN JESUS NAME AMEN."
I LOL every time.

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catharsist
Seriously, you wanna piss them off? Make them feel stupid for having kids by being happy with your decision. This will in turn (possibly) make them rethink their "it's so worth it" bullshit.

A good response is to say, "I'm glad for you, I really am. It's so great that we both made the right decisions for each of us."

They have nowhere else to go with this one.

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"I have learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is easy and fun as hell"

3.) a parent that is now experiencing a mindfuck: to which I do not reply, just walk away like something is exploding behind me (something is).

"What smells like burning life experience?"

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I did this just this morning. (without the remark) I was walking down the asle (in walmoo naturally) behind a moo and duh. Loaf had just turned to toadler and was toadling along NOT IN THE CART putting her hands on everything and the parunts (who looked like they had just rolled out of bed 5 minutes before, were stopping every time Bratlina touched something and would laugh. At one point the kyd spotted me behind them and was running toward me.. hands outstretched...with moo saying 'no no no...he he he' almost like she wasn't about to stop the tootler from running right into me. I gave Moo, Duh and Bratlina all 'the look'. The I was able to get around a display and charge outa there like a bat outa hadies. Ofcourse I kind of saw out of the corner of my eye the moo and duh giving me a 'what the fuck is her problem' look. I didn't give a fuck. They were in my way. I don't have time for this crap and I don't give a shit about your stupid kid putting her germ infested hands all over everything.
I wish I could have thought of a good comment, but I just wanted to get the hell outa that freekin store!!!

i think CF people should go on strike at our jobs...can you imagine how little work would get done if we weren't there to pick up the slack every time moo needs to leave early and pick up bratlina from daycare?

I'd rather leave moos (pregnant or with kids) alone - if they leave us alone, too.

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Banshee
I'd rather leave moos (pregnant or with kids) alone - if they leave us alone, too.

Yeah, moos seem to have quite a temper. I just don't want to be around them..or their spawn. I have a life... and watching a brat do something that it's handlers think is CUTE is not part of it.

I'm not sure how these people would respond to strong emotion. I'm going to guess that it's only going to feed their own self righteousness.

I just finished a book about racists and the author felt that some of these people were simply looking for confrontation to bolster their own ideology. As example - Neo Nazis would set up a rally or demonstration, they eagerly hoped for counter demonstrators, and when they showed up and began their counter protests - this fed the Neo Nazis sense of being persecuted and wronged and added to their self righteousness.

I have a feeling the the Fundie types might take counter strikes against them the same way. Instead of showing them they're wrong, it would feed their ideas of how right they are.

I'm currently reading a book about the "Christian Right" in attempt to try to understand them better. Just started it, pretty interesting so far.

Here's some info if anyone else would be interested in reading it -

http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Own-Party-Making-Christian/dp/0195340841

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felisdomestica
suddenly I remember a Simpsons' episode: Marge vs Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples, Teens, and Gays.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marge_vs._Singles,_Seniors,_Childless_Couples_and_Teens,_and_Gays

there went the battle between marge, who uphold breederific family values, and people who feel disadvantaged because they don't fit the normal American family criterion.
I thought it was aired right at the time when voluntary childlessness started rising above the surface. the disadvantaged group went on a counterstrike against 'family comes first'.

They fail. but it sure is a source of inspiration for REAL CF counterstrike.

My favorite scene in the episode was the restaurant scene in which the people without kids are dining by candlelight in peace and quiet and the families are crowded into a back room complete with screaming, food thrown on the walls, and so on.

Wish more restaurants would follow that model so the rest of us can dine in peace.

You make excellent points.
It just makes me wonder; can we afford to take the high road, while religious whackadoos chip-chip-chip away at our (reproductive) rights?

They get tax breaks because they pitch a shit-fit, they get to discriminate against us because they pitch a shit-fit, they get to call on other people to kill me because they pitch a shit-fit if you say anything to them, they get to deny us medication because they pitch a shit-fit about it, they get to have preferential treatment because they regularly pitch a shit-fit over issues.

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" ... what's one more once you've already got two shedding on the couch?"

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starlady
3.) a parent that is now experiencing a mindfuck: to which I do not reply, just walk away like something is exploding behind me (something is).

"What smells like burning life experience?"

**************
I did this just this morning. (without the remark) I was walking down the asle (in walmoo naturally) behind a moo and duh. Loaf had just turned to toadler and was toadling along NOT IN THE CART putting her hands on everything and the parunts (who looked like they had just rolled out of bed 5 minutes before, were stopping every time Bratlina touched something and would laugh. At one point the kyd spotted me behind them and was running toward me.. hands outstretched...with moo saying 'no no no...he he he' almost like she wasn't about to stop the tootler from running right into me. I gave Moo, Duh and Bratlina all 'the look'. The I was able to get around a display and charge outa there like a bat outa hadies. Ofcourse I kind of saw out of the corner of my eye the moo and duh giving me a 'what the fuck is her problem' look. I didn't give a fuck. They were in my way. I don't have time for this crap and I don't give a shit about your stupid kid putting her germ infested hands all over everything.
I wish I could have thought of a good comment, but I just wanted to get the hell outa that freekin store!!!

That was not something I actually said, I just thought it was funny. But yeah, I would refrain from dealing with children I dont know just because they may not be vaccinated.

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trekkie monster
You make excellent points.
It just makes me wonder; can we afford to take the high road, while religious whackadoos chip-chip-chip away at our (reproductive) rights?

They get tax breaks because they pitch a shit-fit, they get to discriminate against us because they pitch a shit-fit, they get to call on other people to kill me because they pitch a shit-fit if you say anything to them, they get to deny us medication because they pitch a shit-fit about it, they get to have preferential treatment because they regularly pitch a shit-fit over issues.

Well, affording the high road is a simple return on investment. If we seem like nice people, and don't butt heads with the parents and breeders that are throwing shit-fits, then parents and breeders will be throwing shit-fits ALONE and look just as rational as the kids they are raising. This in turn will cause a social shift. As we have seen, the more crazy shit that right-wing extremists pull that is actually caught in the public eye, the more people want to distance themselves from that craziness, and thus, the belief system as a whole. I have seen pro-lifers yell at other pro-lifers over their crazy ass displays of aborted fetuses next to hung slaves and emaciated Jews. The crazier they look, the more credible, predictable, and thus amiable we seem. This would work in our favor. Now, the reproductive rights thing.. That is something we need to fight for, and hard (fire vs. stone).. However, Childfree vs. Parents battle is a behind the scenes deal, so the influence has to be behind the scenes, as in, handled on an individual scale. There aren't many of us, so we each need to know how to handle ourselves in social situations. Being snarky as all of us are apt to being is only hurting the cause. So seduction, and not ass kissing, are required. That is why I display my child freedom proudly, as I am enamoring young and old people with my lifestyle, and leading by example. I have become more liked, and thus more supported as a whole since I took this route. It will only work this way. Fighting fire with fire is always a bad idea. Fighting fire with water is preferable.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The title of "good parent" doesnt come freely from me. If you choose to dabble in creating new life, then my opinions of your actions will be harsher and my praise will be harder to elicit. It's a tradeoff. If you are foolhardy and shortsighted enough to try your hand at playing God, you best be willing to live up to the expectations that come with such a station. Hopefully you'll find SOME relief in your contention, as I have yet to see a generation who has...
Godspeed, Catharsist

When I read this quote from FB:
"U know the Devil is soooooooool busy! Hes trying evrything he can to spread his NASTINESS...... but u know what i say......HOLYGHOST FIRE!!!! IN JESUS NAME AMEN."
I LOL every time.

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trekkie monster
You make excellent points.
It just makes me wonder; can we afford to take the high road, while religious whackadoos chip-chip-chip away at our (reproductive) rights?

They get tax breaks because they pitch a shit-fit, they get to discriminate against us because they pitch a shit-fit, they get to call on other people to kill me because they pitch a shit-fit if you say anything to them, they get to deny us medication because they pitch a shit-fit about it, they get to have preferential treatment because they regularly pitch a shit-fit over issues.

I think the problem is that we're outnumbered. And then even among the CF, who are already a minority, there are those that breeder-pander or go out of their way to claim CF isn't a movement.

Bratfree is not a movement. Also, i claim that being cf is not a movement. I guess that makes me a breeder-pleaser/ panderer.

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"I have learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is easy and fun as hell"

I wouldn't dislike kids so much if the moos and duhs were more well behaved. Kids do what they are taught and a lot of todays kids are being taught that it's okay to do anything they want in public. This is not acceptable to me or many others .....CF or childed. I have spoken with a lot of my friends and aquaintences lately who have grown children and have made comments about todays kids being raised by " idiot parunts supported by an idiot government."

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gnarler

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trekkie monster
You make excellent points.
It just makes me wonder; can we afford to take the high road, while religious whackadoos chip-chip-chip away at our (reproductive) rights?

They get tax breaks because they pitch a shit-fit, they get to discriminate against us because they pitch a shit-fit, they get to call on other people to kill me because they pitch a shit-fit if you say anything to them, they get to deny us medication because they pitch a shit-fit about it, they get to have preferential treatment because they regularly pitch a shit-fit over issues.

I think the problem is that we're outnumbered. And then even among the CF, who are already a minority, there are those that breeder-pander or go out of their way to claim CF isn't a movement.

Are we a movement? I'd be inclined to say we could be considered a social trend, but I don't think CF is a movement, at least not yet.

What's our manifesto? What are the basic points everyone agrees on?

i don't think CF is a movement, at least not for me it isn't. it is a carefully thought-out, personal choice i have made about my life. if others choose to ruin their lives by giving birth to a brat or two, that's their problem.

as long as breeders keep the kids under control and and stop pushing for special treatment for voluntarily sprogging i couldn't care less what they do.