It really is a crapshoot

History has shown us that just because someone is an accomplished or great individual doesn't mean that the offspring will be of any value to society. Ted Williams for example. Great baseball player who gave up a good chunk of his career to fight in the Korean war. His only son John Henry did nothing but milk his father's name for all it was worth.

We all know how great Al Gore III, the Bush twins, and the multiple offspring and relations of Robert and Ethel Kennedy turned out.

Conrad Hilton is probably rolling in his grave after seeing who is carrying on his name.

Being raised in a "loving environment" doesn't mean your kids will turn out great. A young, extremely intelligent boy from an upper middle class two parent family in Florida went to Harvard and by age 30, was a full professor there. This boy's name was Ted Kaczynski.

What about the correlation between being a great individual and being a good parent?

Great individuals I think make lousy parents, which is probably why you see so many childfree or divorced individuals in business, politics, and entertainment. They are too focused on building their empires or saving the world. But quite frankly, I think the guy who works 20 hours a day trying to find the cure for cancer is worth more to this world than the guy who goes home early to watch his kid strike out 3 times in a little league game.

Merc had a whole list of great intellectuals who were CF. it was amazing.