Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on its evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Avoid long drawn out arguments. This should be a place to relax, not to waste your time needlessly.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Please do not spam at the top level. If you have a lot to post each day, try and post them all together in one top level comment
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Try keep things light. If you are bringing in deep stuff, try not to go overboard.
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Things that are clearly on-topic for this board should be posted as a separate post and not here (except if you are new and still getting the feel of this place)
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If you find people violating these rules, deport them rather than start a argument here.
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evoloving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
The premise of “everything’s flipped” is that virtually ever part of daily life has been corrupted for someone else’s benefit. This week’s discussion is the nuclear family.
More households means more need to buy more stuff like silverware, appliances, furniture. If you move out after getting married, many of these things can be wedding gifts.
Daycare is a costly expense for many families. It can be mutually beneficial for grandparent to watch the kids. Or older kids can help watch young ones.
A nuclear family places the burden of chores on one or two people. Usually cooking a larger meal does not add much work.
Every residence comes with many expenses. Electricity and gas have base charges that you must pay even if using no energy. The increased demand for homes drives up the prices for everyone.
I usually agree with Dave Ramsey, but I think encouraging young people to get their own places is a bad financial move. Maybe as a compromise young people should live on their own for a year so they can appreciate the efficiency of living as a big happy family. This is how many immigrant families live. We have been tricked out of our time, money, and energy.
Is the suggestion that young adults should continue living with their parents until marriage or what?
I kinda agree with this, but in a world where there is no financial slavery and no fiat currency system and hidden inflation tax, one person earning (while working decent hours) can easily afford to support a family with the second person focused on raising the family. This is a surprisingly effective way to raise a family, while also not being stuck into family drama that comes with extended family.
Still its worth living in the same area where your extended family lives, so that you can all support each other during emergencies and tough times.
I agree, especially as a majority of people leave home to just move into apartments that have neighbors so close everyone involved has to worry about walking too loudly... And now working online makes moving for a job less necessary...
But I do think there's an issue with the majority of homes not being built to be multi-generational. I live in a smaller house on the family homestead. But almost no one I know would fit in their parent's homes at all, and only a couple would fit there with the privacy needed for a married couple.
The culture shift will be quite slow as we have to fight both social norms and having to make adjustments to current and future buildings.
Here in Greece, houses are mostly built from reinforced concrete with a flat roof. When kids are old enough, another storey is built on top for them. When parents die, the "kids" move downstairs, leaving the upper floor free for their progeny.
It was odd to see so many homes with unfinished top stories in Greece, until my friend explained what you have just said.
It is really Americans who differ from most of the rest of the world where extended family living situations are concerned.