CreateDebate


Debate Info

21
20
I agree I disagree
Debate Score:41
Arguments:24
Total Votes:48
More Stats

Argument Ratio

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 I agree (11)
 
 I disagree (13)

Debate Creator

tomjenny(8) pic



Children should look after their elderly parents?

I agree

Side Score: 21
VS.

I disagree

Side Score: 20

If you look after your elderly parents, then you can say stuff to them like, "As long as you live under my roof, you follow my rules."

You can also make them eat their vegetables and send them to their room if they refuse, or take away their iPod, internet access, porn, drugs, etc. The list is endless.

Just think of it as pay-back and remind them, "Pay-back's a bitch" ;)

Side: I agree
1 point

I'm not saying "Everyone must look after their elderly parents!" Because it's not that simple, I think children owe it to their parents to look after them in the way of helping them move into a nursing home or taking them to the doctor, stuff like that.

Side: I agree
Integrity(73) Disputed
2 points

Why do you think children "owe it" to their parents even to do that? Owing them implies that children have a responsibility towards their parents to some degree. How could that be possible if they didn't have a choice?

Side: I disagree
me33(31) Disputed
1 point

I don't know.... I guess parents GIVING BIRTH TO US AND RAISING US AND TAKING CARE OF US AND WORKING TO PROVIDE FOR US, there isn't anything we owe them.....

*sarcasm

Side: I agree
1 point

Parents and children should feel the need to care for each other. If the conditions were right, the elderly and the children of the elderly should look at it as a thank you. And under that regard, being the ethical choice.

Side: I agree
3 points

Parents decide to have children, not the other way around. Since children don't get to choose their parents I don't see why they should look after them. Perhaps they would want to and they can certainly make that choice, but there's no reason why they "should".

Side: I disagree
Chocoholic97(8) Disputed
4 points

It's true children can't choose their parents but parents can't choose their children either can they? I mean, obviously the parents would want good kids but they don't necessarily get that, so in that sense parents don't have to look after their children either right? And also, after parents do all that they did for you, it doesn't feel right to abandon them in their old age, if they were there for you their whole life, shouldn't we be there when they need us?

Side: I agree
Integrity(73) Disputed
1 point

You assume that parents are always "there for [the child's] whole life". That's not always true and not to the same degree. Your idea of a good parent could be vastly different from mine.

I think you misunderstood why choice is important in the case of responsibility. Parents might not be able to choose what their children are like, but they can choose whether or not to have children at all (or raise children). That is where the claim to responsibility lies.

Other than your feelings that parents shouldn't be abandoned in a time of need, what reason should a child look after their parents if they don't want to? Some elderly people have no children at all, so wouldn't you be more concerned with them? What about children who are abandoned by their parents in a time of need? That would be infinitely worse, wouldn't you agree?

Side: I disagree

All you people who said they are going to look after their elderly parents, come back here after changing a few diapers and let me know how that worked out for you ;)

Side: I disagree
me33(31) Disputed
1 point

Um hello? looking after your elderly parents can mean taking them to the doctor when they're to old to drive- It doesn't have to mean living with them

Side: I disagree

Yeah..., I guess that could be fun too. You can say stuff like, "Don't make me turn this car around" ;)

Side: I disagree
1 point

I think it may collide negatively with social issues.

There are Young Carers all across the country and every day they have to deal with the hardhsips of caring for other people. They are rarely given a break and work long hours to look after their parents/grandparents/someone else.

This means that their work and the time they can put into it is limited and their overall social capacity is pretty much destroyed. There are charities to help with this, but they cannot solve everything.

To make this mandatory you would be intentionally condemning people to a lack of social and mental capacity as they have to work and care for other people. It is not a good idea.

Side: I disagree
me33(31) Disputed
2 points

Mandatory is not how I defined this topic, I interpreted it as should meaning to indicate duty. Children have a duty to look after their elderly parents. Like I said in my earlier arguments everyone's situation is different and I don't want to create rules that govern society. I just feel that looking after, as in regularly visiting or taking them to the doctor or out for a meal, is an admirable feat that could be considered a duty of children to care for their parents. Warranted it is not for everyone.

Side: I agree
1 point

I've learned so much about this honestly,from my own experience & other people's. I've been the family martyr since I was young . I was abused by my parents, between them, in every possible way, but I was brought up (confusingly) very religiously ! I thought it was what God wanted you to do, to be nice , to be a good & kind person. Well that's not true . People want you to be a "nice" person, because a nice person...does what everyone else wants ! I know & have known a lot of people who gave up careers, dreams etc to look after a parent. It's always the "nice" one in the family who takes the most responsibility. And in my experience, that's the one with the least confidence (the one who's been bullied & criticised the most, and made to feel they have to "be nice" because by then that person feels that inherently ,they're NOT ! This person feels a NEED to be nice & thinks deeply in their psyche by then, especially if religious beliefs are involved in creating their personallity , That they SHOULD .

Everyone I know or have known who did this, ended up very bitter, and very often, with a SEVERE ILLNESS ! I had a cancer scare ! But I know different Now ! I really need to share it.

It's an " energetic thing ". Negativity Gets You Down ! !.......LOVE IS FREE ! ! This is how you really love each other . They had this same stupid idea ! ! WE're all so"Co-Dependent" Thinking everyone is responsible for each other is what CAUSES the ME-ME-ME THING ! ....IN ALL OF US ! ! Physical illness is a manifestation of Guilty, Angry, Needy thoughts . We are love, We give love because we are love ...When it feels easy, I think love is actually a very EASY thing really ! ! No obligiago ! ! God (or whatever you want to call that) Is LOVE, LOVE IS FREE (not to be confused with the "term" "Free Love" :) I'm not sure about that ! :) But I think love and repect, loyalty and all those things , should never be in any way forced. It's tough poo if someone's ill really, you will take that negativity on , in one form or another, if you don't stay free inside. Let the buggers get on with it unless you feel like it ! It's all about Self-Love , first .

Side: I disagree