<p>I don’t know if it’s a little premature, but sometimes I see myself as a father. You might think that this is a happy thought, but to me, it is tempered by the thoughts of all the dangers of our society. </p>
<p>You know what I’m talking about. Teflon causes cancer. Hair spray causes lung cancer. Dust contaminated with the byproducts of our industrial society (such as flame retardants) causes mutations. Mercury containing vaccines cause autism. </p>
<p>No, I’m not a misanthrope slamming the comforts of modern society. But still, I can’t help but wonder, with all the supposed dangers, should I fear the prospect of bringing a child into this world? The “what ifs” are appalling. What if my child were egregiously affected by his or her mother’s flagrant use of hair spray, which oh so attracted me, but oh so unfortunately caused some kind of defect in my child? Or what if my child were egregiously affected by my exposure to high levels of flame retardant contaminated dust because of my childhood hobby of messing around with computers? It’s not that I wouldn’t love a child, no matter how different, any less, but still … </p>
<p>Have you ever given this serious thought? Or is the media just demagoguing and blowing up the supposed dangers of our modern world? Because if you think about it, just about anything has been reputed to cause cancer, or some other inimical disease or mutation. Everything - and I mean it - from plastic bottles - to Coke cans - to Listerine. Part of me wants to say that the media is just having a field day, while the pessimistic side of me tells me that there are very real risks in this world.</p>
<p>Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid. Its basis is the highly reactive hydroxyl radical, a species shown to mutate DNA, denature proteins, disrupt cell membranes, and chemically alter critical neurotransmitters. </p>
<p>The atomic components of DHMO are found in a number of caustic, explosive and poisonous compounds such as Sulfuric Acid, Nitroglycerine and Ethyl Alcohol.
Death due to accidental inhalation of DHMO, even in small quantities.
Prolonged exposure to solid DHMO causes severe tissue damage.
Excessive ingestion produces a number of unpleasant though not typically life-threatening side-effects.
DHMO is a major component of acid rain.
Gaseous DHMO can cause severe burns.
Contributes to soil erosion.
Leads to corrosion and oxidation of many metals.
Contamination of electrical systems often causes short-circuits.
Exposure decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes.
Found in biopsies of pre-cancerous tumors and lesions.
Given to vicious dogs involved in recent deadly attacks.
Often associated with killer cyclones in the U.S. Midwest and elsewhere, and in hurricanes including deadly storms in Florida, New Orleans and other areas of the southeastern U.S.
Thermal variations in DHMO are a suspected contributor to the El Nino weather effect.</p>
<p>DHMO is H2O… Or more commonly known as water.</p>
<p>I think about that too! Well, myself as a mother. I always just think I would probably fall apart if something bad happened to my kid. I would just want to be an awesome mom if I had a kid. Im lucky that i have great parents and i would want to give the same back. It’s so early to think about (i am 18) of course but I sometimes do think about it! Kind of random.</p>
<p>I’m glad that someone can empathize with me :). I would similarly fall apart, but I wouldn’t cease accepting the child as he or she is. And everytime I see someone put on mascara, or drink out of an aluminum can, I almost want to scream “stop!” as if I were going to save them … from dangers … real … or imaginary …</p>
<p>I think about this all the time Ice Qube (I as a mother)… I think I turned out pretty decently, so parenting can be done, but it’s still so scary</p>
<p>“Mercury containing vaccines cause autism.” Epic Fail
Add this to your list.
Ignorant idiots who disregard their doctors’ advice and refuse to vaccinate their children resulting in death. </p>
<p>Don’t be a parent, ever. It would be terrible to have such a phobic parent such as yourself who only fears things that are unimportant while disregarding things that are much more likely to cause real harm. I’m not sure if you are trolling or are a legitimate fool. The most harm from all the things you mentioned is in fact the effects of Cortisol, which results when you worry excessively among other things. It is a stress hormone that is known to damage your body in the amounts that anxious people have. Most of the things you listed are possibly harmful in huge mega-doses and many of them pose no real threat.</p>
<p>Truth is that you need to vaccinate, but recent studies have shown that getting many vaccines at one time CAN CAUSE autism even in perfectly healthy babies. It’s best to get them done separately rather than all in one go.</p>
<p>“Don’t be a parent, ever. It would be terrible to have such a phobic parent such as yourself who only fears things that are unimportant while disregarding things that are much more likely to cause real harm.”</p>
<p>I actually think I would be this type of parent. I would have them get vaccines and stuff personally but I would never let them do silly stuff like cross the street by themselves (which I know is completely ridiculous). This type of stuff I’m sure will change when I’m older but I do sometimes think about it.</p>
<p>Oh, of course, I could never stop accepting my child. I more just mean I would fall apart if it were my fault, and that I couldn’t protect my child from the bad stuff, and that my child is in pain. But i would love her/him unconditionally no doubt.</p>
<p>I sometimes see myself as a parent as well. However, it’s a little bit different for me. I think about all the great things my child would have, the things I had to miss out. I think about the mistakes I made, the mistakes I wouldn’t want my child to make. I guess I’m a bit more optimistic than you are.</p>
<p>I did not know about all the potential dangers of many common things you have listed. Perhaps this is when “ignorant is bliss” really shines… :)</p>
<p>That’s why the new laws are stupid. Why, back in the day, a man could invite a girl over to his cave, do the nasty, and then send her away to worry about the babe in her isolation. The next day, hunt down a mammoth before repeating the process.</p>
<p>Now, I have to be WORRIED about both the girl’s and kid’s livelihood? Bah humbug.</p>
<p>I’m concerned with the additives and hormones in our food as well as genetically modified food. It has come to the point where it is nearly impossible to avoid these, unless you but organic, which is expensive and at times- not as tasteful.</p>
<p>I worry about the brainwashing of television shows and ads. Have you seen the garbage on the Disney/Nick channels?</p>
<p>I worry about the impurities in our drinking water.
I worry about the chemicals and pesticides that are sprayed on our foods (they found high levels of arsenic in apple juice).</p>
<p>I’m only 18, no kids and not for a while. But I still think about this.</p>
<p>I asked my mom the other day how she avoided all of this when I was a kid, and she said she didn’t let us watch TV, only movies that she approved of like the Disney princess movies. Instead of feeding us Motts apple sauce, she grinded apples to make homemade sauce.</p>
<p>Basically, stop worrying. It will all work out in the end. Some things are inevitable, and some you can avoid.</p>