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I don't even mean that, but it's hard to see how it wouldn't have a big impact.

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I dunno, I haven't really seen any evidence for that -> infertility/messing with people's minds. Also weird mechanism, when it so clearly seems to be a decision (or inability for younger people to couple up), not a chemical/biological cause

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You don't think a large share of the population being chemically sterilized at any given time would reduce fertility rates? I don't see how it could do anything else.

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because it's not like we have loads of women complaining "oh, I want children but Monzanto fucked me and I'm now sterile!"

It's boss ladies freezing their eggs or thinking men are ick #1583964 or worrying about climate change or "bringing a child into this horrid world."

(If you tell me the mechanism is chemistry -> fucked-up heads/values -> stupidly decide against children, I'd be more sympathetic to the case.)

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I think the mechanism is ubiquitous poison -> fucked up minds and bodies -> unwillingness and inability to have kids.

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oooh and I forgot the British angle/excuse: we're too poor, and kids are too expensive!

But then largely you agree with me... it's just I don't understand what "(in)ability" has anything to do with it? I'm pretty sure, flick-of-a-wand change everyone's mind (on kids, specifically), and we'd be back to 2.5-3 children/woman in a generation

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I think people are physically less able to conceive than they used to be, even aside from birth control eliminating so many accidental pregnancies.

That’s sort of anecdotal, from knowing lots of people who had trouble conceiving, but also from known causal mechanisms like obesity reducing fertility.

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A big part of this might be that women are often STARTING to try to conceive after the age of 26 or 27. Peak fertility years start around age 18 or 19 for women.

Fertility starts declining MUCH sooner than most people think (but, they think this because that's what the propaganda is).

perhaps not... as in: you don't "see" many people, or hear them "brag", about being unable to conceive.

Maybe you're right and that's just selection (or, you know, hidden) and there are sways of people desperately trying for kids and are prevented by obesity/chemical infertility etc etc.

I just don't believe it. There's a simpler explanation: values suck, kids are seen as burdens rather than blessings