Why do people consider it MORE of a tragedy if children die?

[Pankratous]

There was a block of flats set on fire in Glasgow today (very minimal damage before it was put out) and the majority of the comments are: "Could have been a lot worse! I mean, there's children in there!"

I mean... that's true but there's also young men, women, aspiring professionals, father's, mother's, grandparents, students, hard workers, charity workers, emergency services personnel, teachers... I could go on.

It's a tragedy if any of those people die. It's a tragedy if anyone does. Why do people get extra hung up if it's children? To be clear, I'm not saying it isn't a tragedy if children die, I just don't see why so many people see it as MORE tragic than anyone else.

 

[Busaiku]

Because children didn't experience life at all.

 

[justin haines]

Children are this whole other world, at least to me, once I became a father. Innocence I guess

 

[Pomerlaw]

Let me guess. You are not a parent, aren't you?

As a parent, I would take the bullet before my kids, because if my kids die, my life is ruined anyway. And I would prefer them to have a chance at enjoying life, that I already had for many years.

 

[Septic]

Children are more innocent. And they haven't had a chance to experience life. Having their lives snuffed out so early is definitely more of a tragedy

 

[Coyote Starrk]

Because they never had a chance. They haven't lived long enough to make any mistakes or to "deserve" it. They are brand new.



TL;DR Its the "What could have been" angle of it.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

Because children didn't experience life at all.

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That's that.

 

[Briarios]

I mean, it's pretty self-evident, isn't it? Kids depend on adults to take care of them -- when they die in a tragedy, not only did they have less of a chance to live their lives and experience life, there was a failing of those that were supposed to protect them.

 

[Apal_ytos]

We are hardwired to care about children.

 

[Coyote Starrk]

Let me guess. You are not a parent, aren't you?

As a parent, I would take the bullet before my kids, because if my kids die, my life is ruined anyway. And I would prefer them to have a chance at enjoying life, that I already had for many years.

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Its not just a parent thing either. I have a baby sister who is 10 years younger than me and I would walk through fire for her without a second thought.

 

[Mass_Pincup]

Is it really that hard to understand?

They never really experienced what leaving is.

 

[justin haines]

And yes it's all tragic man,

 

[JCHandsom]

Lost potential/opportunity for them

 

[RBH]

Because children didn't experience life at all.

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Yup.

This isn't a difficult concept to grasp.

 

[Officer Big Mac]

Is this your first day as a human?

 

[shaneo632]

Children haven't had a chance to properly live yet. It's pretty simple.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

if you're not a sociopath, this seems like a pretty easy concept to grasp OP

 

[Shelbyville Milhouse]

What

 

[Deleted member 8257]

Mark Zuckerberg, is that you?

 

[Messi]

I'm stunned that this needed to be explained

 

[Deleted member 21339]

Because children didn't experience life at all.

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One and done. Like come ON, OP.

 

[Rocketz]

This isn't a hard concept to understand

 

[Segafreak]

 

[Pankratous]

Lost potential/opportunity for them

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I guess but the majority of people under 40 are still in a position where they have untapped potential and can do something great.

 

[Serif]

Are you serious?

 

[Rogue74]

Let me guess. You are not a parent, aren't you?

As a parent, I would take the bullet before my kids, because if my kids die, my life is ruined anyway. And I would prefer them to have a chance at enjoying life, that I already had for many years.

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This is the correct answer.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

The fuck is wrong with some of yall?

 

[John Dunbar]

Let me guess. You are not a parent, aren't you?

As a parent, I would take the bullet before my kids, because if my kids die, my life is ruined anyway. And I would prefer them to have a chance at enjoying life, that I already had for many years.

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but that's your kids. i'm sure many people feel the same way about their siblings or friends, but that's because there is some personal connection. the question is why is it more of a tragedy when a random kid dies than when a random 20 something year old dies.

though to be honest, i don't think people (young or old) dying is enough to qualify as a tragedy, for the word "tragedy" to actually carry some meaning.

 

[Sensei]

I guess but the majority of people under 40 are still in a position where they have untapped potential and can do something great.

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Compared to a literal CHILD?

 

[CarpeDeezNutz]

Also, they are the most defenseless as well.

 

[Pankratous]

Let me guess. You are not a parent, aren't you?

As a parent, I would take the bullet before my kids, because if my kids die, my life is ruined anyway. And I would prefer them to have a chance at enjoying life, that I already had for many years.

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That makes complete sense because they are your children. What reason would you have to have more sympathy for a stranger child over say, a stranger 21 year old student?

 

[Deleted member 21339]

but that's your kids. i'm sure many people feel the same way about their siblings or friends, but that's because there is some personal connection. the question is why is it more of a tragedy when a random kid dies than when a random 20 something year old dies.

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I'm out.

 

[Cocolina]

I guess but the majority of people under 40 are still in a position where they have untapped potential and can do something great.

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So? The older you get the less that potential can be realised.

 

[Jesse_and_the_rippers]

I mean, it's pretty self-evident, isn't it? Kids depend on adults to take care of them -- when they die in a tragedy, not only did they have less of a chance to live their lives and experience life, there was a failing of those that were supposed to protect them.

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Well said.

 

[Deleted member 733]

but that's your kids. i'm sure many people feel the same way about their siblings or friends, but that's because there is some personal connection. the question is why is it more of a tragedy when a random kid dies than when a random 20 something year old dies.

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Because that random child is relatively innocent, and because that random child has not had any chance to grow up and experience life, while at least the older person has.

Both are tragedies, but this is SUPER easy to understand.

gotta be honest, some of the threads like this on here scare me

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Yeah every once in a while I really hope I don't end up finding out someone murdered somebody and people ignored the warning signs. :/

 

[Htown]

gotta be honest, some of the threads like this on here scare me

 

[NoblesseOblige]

this is a really daft question

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

I guess but the majority of people under 40 are still in a position where they have untapped potential and can do something great.

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2-year-olds can't handle a crisis situation like dying in a fire.

I have absolutely no idea why you needed an explanation on this.

 

[Serif]

You don't need to be blood related to have empathy for the defenseless.

 

[Pankratous]

So? The older you get the less that potential can be realised.

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I personally don't see how that makes your death any less tragic. Dying early at any point is tragic, whatever the age or reason.

Spoiler

Unless you were trampled by an elephant you were trying to poach, in which case margaritas all round.

 

[Angie]

Does this really need explaining?
Because children are much more vulnerable than us adults, so of course we are predisposed to care and protect them more. So when we see children dying, of course we see that as a big tragedy, because we failed to protect them. They didn't even had a chance to experience life, and that is sad.

I'm I don't need to be a parent to feel that way.

 

[siddx]

Additionally they have no real control over the situation that killed them. They didn't choose to be there. They lack the experience to protect themselves. They are helpless and died because of the cruelty and/or failure of others.

I usually hate resetera trademark snark but this is one instance where it seems appropriate. This is a strange question op.

 

[kmfdmpig]

1) They have just started their lives, as many others said.
2) They are innocent, as many others said.
3) They didn't have any choice to be in the situation they were in which led to the tragedy.
4) Parents tend to easily empathize with children and parents by imagining how they would feel.

 

[Cocolina]

I personally don't see how that makes your death any less tragic. Dying early at any point is tragic, whatever the age or reason.

Spoiler

Unless you were trampled by an elephant you were trying to poach, in which case margaritas all round.

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What do you not see? People have explained this to you in this thread that you started. Are you wilfully ignoring them? What don't you understand?

 

[Burli]

Is this your first day as a human?

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This.

 

[JCHandsom]

I guess but the majority of people under 40 are still in a position where they have untapped potential and can do something great.

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It's not just "These kids could have been Doctors/Teachers," it's more that these kids never got to grow up, fall in love, have a family, etc. They never got to experience the good parts of becoming an adult.

 

[Bane]

This really shouldn't have to be explained. Fuck...

 

[BarryFishFinger]

I'm amazed this question was asked and apparently requires explanation. I mean honestly.

Children are innocence defined. The younger the child, the closer they are to a kind of human purity of thought, unpolluted by the world, they're blameless, dependant. They've not had time to be complicated by maturity, for this clarity to become muddled by anything ugly. They're simple, beautiful. The default setting is to protect them. The death of a child is a failure, the literal death of innocence, a life cut short before it had a chance to experience....well, anything. If you can't grasp why that's sadder than the death of an adult then you're basically missing some crucial essence of humanity.

 

[NightShift]

Why, why, why, why does this thread exist.

 

[Messi]

Children are defenceless