Now, I don't know if this was posted... I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I felt sorry for him

[SummerSnow]

Indian man to sue parents for giving birth to him

By Geeta Pandey BBC News, Delhi

7 February 2019


A 27-year-old Indian man plans to sue his parents for giving birth to him without his consent.

Mumbai businessman Raphael Samuel told the BBC that it's wrong to bring children into the world because they then have to put up with lifelong suffering.

Mr Samuel, of course, understands that our consent can't be sought before we are born, but insists that "it was not our decision to be born".

So as we didn't ask to be born, we should be paid for the rest of our lives to live, he argues.

A demand like this could cause a rift within any family, but Mr Samuel says he gets along very well with his parents (both of whom are lawyers) and they appear to be dealing with it with a lot of humour.

In a statement, his mother Kavita Karnad Samuel explained her response to "the recent upheaval my son has created".

"I must admire my son's temerity to want to take his parents to court knowing both of us are lawyers. And if Raphael could come up with a rational explanation as to how we could have sought his consent to be born, I will accept my fault," she said.

Mr Samuel's belief is rooted in what's called anti-natalism - a philosophy that argues that life is so full of misery that people should stop procreating immediately.

This, he says, would gradually phase out humanity from the Earth and that would also be so much better for the planet.

"There's no point to humanity. So many people are suffering. If humanity is extinct, Earth and animals would be happier. They'll certainly be better off. Also no human will then suffer. Human existence is totally pointless."

A year ago, he created a Facebook page, Nihilanand, which features posters that show his images with a huge fake beard, an eye-mask and anti-natalist messages like "Isn't forcing a child into this world and forcing it to have a career, kidnapping, and slavery?" Or, "Your parents had you instead of a toy or a dog, you owe them nothing, you are their entertainment."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-47154287

[guillaumeb]

1. Could he time travel back to one year before his birth,

and ask for an injunction to prevent his parents from having sex?

[dewsgirl]

2. It sounds less like a philosophy and more like a mental illness.

[Sneederbunk]

3. Then again it may be a crime for the son to be an A-hole in India.

[RockRaven]

4. This line of argument is much stronger in re devastating congenital conditions detectable in utero

but many individuals thusly situated do not have the agency or opportunity to pursue the matter.

[2naSalit]

5. I don't know...

I found it amusing and interesting.

[keithbvadu2]

6. "...you are their entertainment."

Chris Rock about having kids

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chris-rock-parenting-quotes_n_5a7a4146e4b06505b4e91d5b

“Two kids are easier than one because they play together. When you have one, you have to be the show. When you’ve got two, you’re just an usher. ‘Right this way ladies!’ They can play in the park while you’re reading the paper. ‘Hey, hey, hey! Get off her hair!’ Then you go back to reading ... One kid is horrible. Have a bunch of kids or have none at all.”

[BigmanPigman]

7. This reminds me of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

Sidney Poitier argued with his father that he had no choice about being born. Therefore his dad can't ever hang it over his son's head and said that, "You should be grateful to your parents, respect them for bringing you into the world, working to give you a good life and accept their beliefs". Poitier said BS! He never asked to be here therefore HIS parents should be expected to do everything they can to make their child's life a good one. Kids owe their parents nothing since they don't have a choice to be here or not, but the parents do".

I think that argument and several points in the OP are reasonable and I agree with them.

[Apollyonus]

8. Nutty Indians do publicity stunts like this often

I am sure no one in India lost any sleep over it and this story will be replaced by some other ...

PS: I am an Indian-American who grew up near Mumbai ... so, please keep your alert buttons in the holster.

[jcgoldie]

9. Something about this appeals to me

Especially the argument about how much better off the earth will be without people on it... I may be needing a lawyer to sue my own parents... I wonder if either of the Samuels are available...