Life forms with even accidental behavior that kept them alive long enough to reproduce, were selected by evolution. With each generation adherence to life was getting stronger. When live creature had perfect behavior for survival, but did not have offspring, then eventually, because life has the end, such creature was gone, fallen off the tree of life. So longevity of life itself for the individual does not matter without reproduction happening. The world that shades away constantly, not only filled with people who are pro-death, accident prone, or their behavior makes them vanish- it is filled with lots of great people and children whose loss was only not reproducing, or not reaching the age when childbirth could be possible.

Desire to survive is necessary feature for the living. For people to outsmart the harsh environment, the make up of Universe where person was not suppose to come to be, "desire to survive" is very beneficial character trait. It dictates desires, choices, actions. As result everything normal humans do is aimed on survival.

Belinda, I think such accidents in nature, that bring about something live, are caused by laws of physics. Thus they are predetermined by those laws. Perhaps desire to stay alive comes about later in evolution, replacing or adding to the opportunistic or chancy behavior of the viruses.
When danger to body caused pain, fear, hunger - then live creature would act to eliminate those pains and as a result of it stay alive. Also, when people lived in tribes, every person was important as a hunter and food provider, as warrior. Parents would teach children to be survivors ( skills, rules, behavior) for the sake of a family and community.
When people use drugs, they cause harm to the body, but they are fooled by "high" effect, painlessness after taking drugs. They only feel pain when in need of another dose. Such is vicious loop of drug intoxication. The natural guarding chain ( harm to the body- pain- change in behavior- pain dissappears-person survives) is disrupted.

There are two purposes for a person's life : one is personal, for himself or herself; and another one is to live for the continuation of one's kin, and of our species in general. To fulfill only first purpose means to let your kin down, and to let down of our species. Many even high in rank people do not understand such simple truths and go on choosing career or self-indulgence over having children.

Wooden shoe wrote:Hi Gulnara.

I would really like to hear your reasoning for letting the family down if you had no offspring, or why it is wrong for people to make sure that they are ready for having children.
Also why it is wrong to use birth control methods in order do family planning?
By your reasoning I would have been a throwaway because I am infertile.
So I would like you to explain your ideas.
Thank you in advance.

Regards, John.

First of all, since when infertility was something soothing? It is what it is- a disaster. Such person can be of use to society, of course. I am talking about people who makes conscientious choice not to have children.
About waiting for readiness to have children- ********. People are ready several years into puberty. People were having children in post war countries, having barely anything material or special cozy conditions, or large houses. People get spoiled these days, brainwashed and carry childish traits: I need to make sure my partner is right one; I need to earn more, or without fancy wall papered nursery my baby will suffer immensely; I need to live for myself a while; we need to live for each other a while; I need second degree; I need new car... O-o-o-ops, I am pregnant! Where is that doctor with his sharp tools? I'd like to make an appointment: can we make it later in a day, cause that morning I have spa treatment?
Third: I spoke only of families, young and fertile, and not impoverished, that waste years delaying having children.
When they finally have children, why don't they decorate nursery with pictures of aborted siblings, or place them into a scrapbook : look, this little fetus could be your big brother, and this one could be your sister; but we decided to butcher them, ha-ha-ha. Does that sound like a horror movie? It is not a horror movie. It is reality.

Humans desire to survive for the most part, and sometimes, at some points in life they do not desire it, which not necessarily ends in suicide. Even if not wanting to live, people do try to avoid daily: hunger, cold, heat, shame, fear, stress, pain, etc. If they do not constantly think or act as "desiring to survive", they inevitably are caught up in avoiding negative physical and emotional feelings, and if they do not strive to avoid having them, those conditions would eventually lead to sickness and death.