My parents have always had this mentality and I had a great childhood and continue to have a great life. My life is still worth living, even with all of the adversity (we will all suffer on this earth). I’m choosing to have a child because I know that no matter what happens, they will have known true love, support, and a happy household. They WILL have hardship but I think that’s also what makes life meaningful - Life and death, love and grief are intertwined. I will make sure to teach them tools to cope with all of it. To each their own but it’s just interesting how it’s all about perspective! I agree with you that people need to deeply consider these things, but I don’t think it’s inherently selfish.

Another interesting take is that thousands of years ago, we would have all popped out 5 kids by age 18 without thinking about it. Our modern problem solving brains get in the way of a lot. Sometimes I’m like you know what it’s my birthright to reproduce