I had an elder unironically apologize to me and say it'll be my generations job to fix things - as if it's something society and our education system has been preparing us for. It was a little mask off for them and I did appreciate the sentiment even though it was meaningless. If I do have to say sorry to my kid some day, I want to at least be able to say I tried to do my limited, realistic part as an individual instead of embracing some hedonistic nihilism I see from boomers.
I'm babbling a bit but, part of the crushing presence I feel is my inability to cause any change in the world. Concrete lots and roads that are paved and designed by property owners. Giant store fronts with names that change as frequently as the stock within on a capitalists whims. Plant flowers in a park or paint art on a wall and its removed the next day. You need to buy your own property or have your own children to have even a promise of inflicting a material change and don't you dare do so without permission (my parents were begging us for grand children and now barely participate in his upbringing [thankfully]). All that to say that if you are thinking about what will happen after we're gone, its probably going to be a lot of the same but you still have an impact now. Your message matters to me so that's something.
I also understand your decision not to have a kid. I definitely don't regret having him. He's a happy kid and I'll try to raise him to be someone that can help others find happiness, too.
discourse? There is a framework to play the game within like using stealth and clearing waves that should be understood by the players. Within that framework there is plenty of room to discuss tuning or adjustments to the weapons and stratagems.
Thanks, I really like reading the lorax to him (even though it's a bit long for some nights)