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Comment by zz865 | Hacker News Reader

Modern Parenting sucks. My Great Grandparents worked 7 days a week on their farm and had 13 children. You really think they'd be watching each one do ballet? The kids had a great time playing on the streets with their siblings and friends. They are mostly still close - sounds like a great childhood. Modern children are way over scheduled I feel sorry for them.

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Counterpoint: In those times, children often spent time around their parents' work, and sometimes pitched in with (hopefully age appropriate) tasks. So instead of the parent watching the child in ballet practice, the two would, e.g. pick apples together.

Hellooo, False Dichotomy.

It's not a false dichotomy at all. The discussion is about constant parental attention to childrens' activities; your parent points out a situation with the complete absence of such attention, and happy children nonetheless, as a counterpoint to the narrative. It's a good point and it's unfair to flippantly dismiss it.

You're right. It could've been used as a false dichotomy, but that was an uncharitable reading of the comment. I do disagree that it's a good counterpoint. It relies on a completely unsubstantiated claim that people with these kinds of upbringings turned out just fine and have no lasting issues because of it.

Maybe not False dichotomy but agreed that it isn't a greatest comparison. Plus my Grand parents siblings were a bunch of yokels that would barely know what ballet looks like. I'm just tired of my kid's friends all doing everything.

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