[ExI] What is the Right Reproductive Age?

[Olga Bourlin]

From: "Lee Corbin" <lcorbin at rawbw.com>
To: "ExI chat list" <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>

>> ... sources put the ideal age from a biological standpoint ranges between 
>> 13 and 17.

> Yes. That's when girls should be having children. The correct solution 
> would also entail their giving up those children to their own parents to 
> raise, while they then continue their studies and pursue whatever life 
> goals they have when---at age 40 or so---they can in turn parent (raise) 
> their own biological children's offspring.

> So who should be the biological fathers? Today, we have the means to have 
> this decision made correctly.  Clearly the girl and her parents should 
> select from a wide variety of publicly sold sperm, and the insemination 
> done artificially.

OK, you mention the girl's parents.  Twice.

However, by the time the girl is "at age 40 or so" - if/when she's ready to 
"in turn parent" her children's offspring (after having chosen artificial 
insemination.as you suggest) ... she will be a "parent," singular ... NOT 
"parents."

Because I wanted to have children early (in my early 20s), and because in 
1968 I did not have recourse to sperm banks (e.g., in the yellow pages), and 
made a deal to get pregnant to have children with a good friend of mine. 
That was my intent - to have children - not to be married (and, actually, to 
get divorced after getting the two children I wanted - something I told my 
friend about right up front - it was all my idea).

I am not opposed to your idea, Lee - I see some practicality in it.  I like 
the options women have nowadays.

But your plan still calls for "parents" (grandparents) to help out after a 
generation. With sperm banks, particularly - from where would one get, after 
a generation, the second parent to participate?

I can think of other things that would very probably be unworkable - or at 
least unrealiable - with your plan, but this will do for now.

Unless your proposal was of the Jonathan Swift variety - a bit of a jest? 
(I couldn't tell exactly.)

Olga







> Lee
>
> P.S. More spectacularly, the Mormons (i.e. Brigham
> Young) were very close to the ideal solution in the
> 1850s. After reaching an appropriate age where their
> own personal resources permitted it, e.g., age 25 or 30,
> a man could settle down with as many young teenage
> wives as he could afford. This also had the benefit
> of creating a huge demographic pyramid. Despite
> what everyone says, you know, the world really
> is starkly underpopulated.
>
> The reason that Mormons are above average in
> intelligence stems directly from enormous numbers
> of offspring that many highly intelligent Mormons
> had back when they were all practicing polygamy.
>
> P.P.S. If there is to be more about Mormons in
> particular, please, oh please, would you change
> the subject line?
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