Teenage Pregnancy

[*Dissident*]

So, a guy at my school and his girlfriend had a baby a month or two ago. This got me and my best friend talking about the implications of such, and societies view on the matter. We arrived a general conclusion:

It is unfortunate that their pregnancy was unplanned, but it should not be an overtly bad thing. With support of friends and family and, almost as important, societies blessing and acceptance, they could turn an otherwise bad thing into a joyous thing, giving the baby a good home and raising it to be a good person.

With societies current view on the matter, it is very difficult to do such a wonderous thing. Criticism and contempt follow them around school, both from teachers and other students. The mother was surely going to be dismissed from my (private) school, had her father not been a high level administrator.

So I pose this question:

Is it so wrong to embrace their decision/mistake and be happy for them, having birthed a whole NEW PERSON into existence? The couple are still together and caring for the baby, staying in school, etc... so whats wrong about that?

[archangel]

Nothing is wrong with it, and I would congratulate them on keeping the child and planing to raise it. However, you cannot blame others for using their *FREEDOM OF SPEECH* (yeah thats right, i turned that on you buddy) and voicing their opinions that the couple was wrong in having young pre-marital sex. Also though, you dont have to be happy for them, just dont give them any grief, its gonna be hard enough for them as it is.


*edit: yeah i concede that stupid freedom of speech thing, sorry its late and im still running hot from the three or four other debates with Dissident*

[Maverick]

However, you cannot blame others for using their *FREEDOM OF SPEECH* (yeah thats right, i turned that on you buddy) and voicing their opinions that the couple was wrong in having young pre-marital sex.
That is such a lame argument. If we just said well its my freedom of speech to believe on everything then debating is pointless.

[archangel]

I know it was a lame arguement, it was mainly out of frustration being vented into this topic coming from like the 4 other topics that I am argueing with that same guy.

I concede that freedom of speech has nothing to do with this. But that couple did make the best possible decision out of their problematic situation.

[0=]

Why discredit yourself by making an irrelevant point?

Back on topic, they're doing the right thing. People should support them regardless of their views because the baby did not choose to come into the world that way, it was the parents' fault.

[bonerboy]

What's wrong with the situation is that the couple is still young and dependent on their own parents for the upbringing of this child. Is a situation where a baby's own mother and father are not even out of the house yet a suitable situation for the raising of a child? Are the mother and father mature enough to raise this child in the first place when they're quite immature themselves?

It seems to me like the parents of the parents will be doing most of the parenting here and calling into consideration what the couple did in engaging in sex irresponsibly, the parenting skills of the original parents have something to be desired...

[Camazotz]

The problem that people of society has, is that teens usually arent capable of caring for themselves, let alone an infant. They probably dont have enough money to live in their own home. How can they afford everything for the baby? It's very diffuicult, and no offence to those guys, but I doubt they can handle it. As much as people should support them, eventually, I think the baby will have to live with the kids parents.

[Doc.]

They should have to keep the child with no financial support or any other support or charity. It's their own fault, kids now a days are dressing up like sluts and parading around like a common whore. If they get knocked up then that's their own fault. They had it coming, they really just don't deserve sympathy. I mean if you want to prevent it, don't have sex when you're not ready for the consequences, don't dress up like you're some playbunny and if you can't manage those simple things then at least ware a rubber.

[Hyper]

They should have to keep the child with no financial support or any other support or charity. It's their own fault, kids now a days are dressing up like sluts and parading around like a common whore. If they get knocked up then that's their own fault. They had it coming, they really just don't deserve sympathy. I mean if you want to prevent it, don't have sex when you're not ready for the consequences, don't dress up like you're some playbunny and if you can't manage those simple things then at least ware a rubber.

And again if we all started having sex when we were ready to ''deal with the possible consequences'' then we'd all be around 25 or 30...

Not everyone who has a kid is a slut or ''super hot'', sometimes their exactly the opposite

And damning the child because of the parents is wrong.

[Aηdy]

If they want the baby then that's perfectly fine by me, although I think anyone below 15 is just far too young, and being 15 is on the extreme limit.

But, there's a girn in my year, her baby is due on the 9th Feb, but the problem i have with that is she was at a party and some lads in the year above us had a bet that one of them could get her pregnant, stuff like that makes me sick with anger. Although she is happy to have the baby, the way i happened isn't good.

But at whatever age you are under the legal limint, if you're not responsible enough to use protection then you shouldn't even get close to be doing it.

[JustLetMeFly]

I don't see the problem with it - at least they're taking responsibility and (hopefully) not just dumping it on their parents. I mean everyone makes mstakes, and sure, 15 is WAY too young to have a baby, i mean i sure wouldn't be able to do it. But i think that we have to give a little respect to the fact that they're not being like some arrogant teens who just treat their babies like an abused pet.

At my school then there aren't any teenage pregnancys (dont know why..) but i think that yeah 15 is too young but like i said before they're at least taking responsibility.

[kolte]

Children shouldn't have children. After thousands of years of evolution we have finally come into an era where we can wait. And we should. They should have had an abortion. (leave it). Though it sounds cynical, its my opinion. At fifty years old man is still incompetent; the masses should be castrated (take the joke).

They should of course, having already had the child, raise it and try there damndest to be sucsessful and build a stable home. The past is the past and though society will gawk at them and judge them, so is the world.

[emecrazy]

i would say no.. cause then ppl get this idead ooh if i get pregnant my parents will raise it and blah.. i dont think teens are good parents .. they still wanna have fun and it meesses up their future..... the other day i saw these teens with their baby and they were playing basketball and just set it down hit the baby in the head with the basketball and didnt even care... let the baby roll down the hill and just laugh and say what a fuckin retard rollin down the hill
im not saying all teen parents are bad.. but we should say oh ya nice gettin knocked up and ruining ur lifee. i think they should get in abortion...(lets not argue about abortion being right or wrong) i have no feelings for abotions.. just if the women wants to get one its her choice... teens arnt ready

im sorry if this sounds like im a dick... ha my best friend is pregnant.. i just dont think its right

[*Dissident*]

Listen guys, these are my friends you're talking about. The girl didn't get knocked up, and she is far from slutty. They had been dating for over a year and a half when this happened, and although I havent asked, they were likely using protection. The girl kept her pregnancy hidden for 6 months (first three in school, next three during summer vacation) because people like the above would give her shit about being slutty and getting knocked up and being stupid and that kind of thing. The truth is that they are two of the most responsible parents I know. They are both 18 now, have had the child for 9 months or so, and I am so proud of them for keeping it and dealing with it. Sure, their parents are going to end up taking care of the baby because they have to go to college. But I don't know what will happen.

By the way, everyone at school loves the little girl. They bring her out every lacrosse game and sit on a blanket and everyone plays with her, its a wonderful thing to watch.

[emecrazy]

hah i dont htink anyone ment to put down your friends most of us are just saying younger people arent ready for a baby
as i said my best friend is pregnant right now,,, i dont think its right but im planning on moving and helping herr raise it

[Oblivion]

What's wrong with the situation is that the couple is still young and dependent on their own parents for the upbringing of this child. Is a situation where a baby's own mother and father are not even out of the house yet a suitable situation for the raising of a child? Are the mother and father mature enough to raise this child in the first place when they're quite immature themselves?

It seems to me like the parents of the parents will be doing most of the parenting here and calling into consideration what the couple did in engaging in sex irresponsibly, the parenting skills of the original parents have something to be desired...

Who said they were immature? He never even said how old they were, or if they were out of the house. It is impossible to say how mature they are, and making conclusions that they are too immature is the basis of societies nonacceptance. If people thought about it, your body would physically NOT be able to have a baby if you weren't physically ready. Of course im not saying go have a baby at 13, because there are still things that are happening that you wouldn't necessarily have time fore the baby. But maturity is not an issue

[Edit: They are 18 Thats like.... The essence of maturity.]