See, this disingenuous argument works better when you just generalize it, because when you get into specifics it looks very different. Example:

Step 1: label the people that hold the belief that ‘trans people are subhuman trash that need to be excised from society by violence if necessary’ as intolerant

Step 2: skip diplomacy because they refuse to engage in actual conversation

Step 3: use force on them because they are actually attacking trans people.

Although really even parts 2 & 3 are disingenuous, because there are plenty of examples of people trying to engage the intolerant in debate, far beyond what would really be reasonable even. And you’ll also notice that force is rarely, if ever, used against those intolerant folks either, even as they use force, even deadly force.

Hell, even the law won’t do more than slap their wrists in many cases. I use trans people as an example because until recently, ‘I went on a date with this lady and then found out she was trans, and I was so shocked I killed her’ was an actual legitimate legal defense and several people used it. If we’re being pedantic, that defense is still perfectly acceptable at the national level, as several bills banning it have been introduced, but none have been passed.

I mean, given how Mill Ends Park got started, it does sound at least plausible…

Man, what is it about teachers assigning books about dogs dying?

And it is work, by, again, both definitions.

All right, honey. What would you call the constant care an infant needs, if it isn’t work?

American Heritage Dictionary; Work, definition:

Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something. ”Cleaning the basement was a lot of work."

Such effort or activity by which one makes a living; employment. ”looking for work."

Again, kids are work. And since, as another lemming pointed out, some people do it as an actual job, it counts under both definitions.

And if you do hie off to the Bahamas, you still have to bring that work along. You can’t just leave it behind and just have a relaxing vacation with nothing to do. (Unless you find a babysitter, but then you’re not doing the work of childcare anymore; now you’re using maternal leave for something that isn’t work).

Yeah, but you couldn’t just hall off to the Bahamas or whatever; you were still glued to the kid. Still looking after them 24/7.

Yes, it becomes routine, but It’s still a routine, you still have a lot to do, and again, no call-outs, you’re on-call all day. It may not be a ‘job’, but it is still work.

Babies are work. They are constant, screaming, pooping, work. Not even 9-5 work, because a very young infant requires around-the-clock care, so really it’s worse than work.

At least in a regular job you can punch out and leave work at the office and go home and relax, or call in sick if you don’t feel good. None of that with a baby. You have to always be there for them, all day, all night, no matter what, no matter how you feel.

I think we’re also running into an issue of language, however. ‘Time Off’, as in, not being in the office for an extended period of time, yes, maternity leave is that. ‘Time Off’ as in, a rest, relaxation, vacation, no. Maternity leave is most definitely not that.

I first saw it as ‘coop’ and immediately thought, ‘hell yes, I’d support a community-owned coop, but only if there were lots of fluffy chickens and a 24/7 camera on them’.

Then I realized what you really meant. Which I’m also not opposed to, if it was set up well.

Or just walk through an old graveyard. There’s a pioneer cemetery near my old place with so many children’s graves. One family gravesite has the mother’s name, the father’s name, a couple of their kids, some young, some adults… and one is just titled ‘babies’.

Like, so many babies died for that mother and father they just put them all in one grave, not even names to remember them by…

People following the story of a former Olympic runner: First time?

It’s a play on two things: parents threatening ‘consequences’ if kids roughhoused on the bed, and telling kids not to throw rocks at/antagonize hornet nests (both of which kids would often do anyways).

Did you feel left out not getting one?

You know, you’re always welcome to post your own, not-reposted content.

It is, though—women having children later in life are at higher risk for complications for both themselves and the baby. It also has a higher risk of birth defects.

Oh they know, at least on some level—which is why they bitch and moan if you mess with their Medicare. But a proposal like this would let too many ‘undesirables’ into the system, and they can’t have that!

It’s also why they want churches and churches only to minister to ‘unfortunates’. That way they can be sure their money is going to proper White, Good Christian poor people instead of those ‘icky brown people’.

I swear, this childish tribalism is going to be the death of our country.

I love him rocking four hats at once!

One day when I was a young boy on holiday in Uberwald I was walking along the bank of a stream when I saw a mother otter with her cubs. A very endearing sight, I’m sure you’ll agree, and even as I watched, the mother otter dived into the water and came up with a plump salmon, which she subdued and dragged onto a half submerged log.

As she ate it, while of course it was still alive, the body split and I remember to this day the sweet pinkness of its roes as they spilled out, much to the delight of the baby otters, who scrambled over themselves to feed on the delicacy. One of nature’s wonders, gentlemen. Mother and children dining upon mother and children.

And that is when I first learned about evil. It is built into the very nature of the universe. Every world spins in pain. If there is any kind of supreme being, I told myself, it is up to all of us to become his moral superior.

-Sir Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals

Very dapper gentleman in the top right pic

This is why I’m not against term limits. He’s been our senator for a long time and always fought the good fight.