Curious question - why do people say they want kids to "carry on the legacy" when more often then not there's no legacy?

[Anonymous]

When one thinks of legacy they think of someone who has achieved something in life. Has started their own business. Saved other people's lives as a stranger, not as part of the job. And anything along those lines. Done something that'll make people remember them.

A legacy isn't > I went to work - did the basics required for my job - went home and did it all over again the next day. Legacy isn't being a number or a cog in the wheel of the world.

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So what "legacy" are the kids carrying on?

And don't say surname when just as likely to have a daughter who won't "carry on" the surname if she's married.

[Saramad_Hill]

I have pretty much accepted the fact I'll end up a stepdad eventually. I hold no misguided convictions that anything I do in this life will matter, thereby leaving me with no legacy, and no need for kids currently besides company.

So, basically, I agree with you. Nature has animals believe that the purpose is to reproduce, that's all everything has been about. But us humans, we can pick a greater destiny than just "having kids and letting the bloodline continue."

I'd like to suggest that there's more to life than passing on your genetics. If I make the people I care about happy, maybe they'll be happier that day, and it will lead to a domino effect. The legacy I want to leave is "Wow, I really miss that guy." That's it.

If you have kids, raise them to be able to take care of themselves, and have them spread kindness or something. That's the only legacy that matters is leaving a small but positive impact on the world.

If you like, there's a poem I like called Ozymandius. The message I got out of it was: no matter how great your legacy is, you will eventually be forgotten to the cruel march of time.

[OddBeMe]

It’s narcissism and thinking bloodlines matter somehow…

[In_Trance]

Simple