Life has its ups and downs. You work, play, eat, sleep, and enjoy life, but you also face pain. No matter who you are or what situation you’re in, you have your own problems that make life harder than you’d like. But none of this would happen if you were never born. According to Raphael Samuel, a 27-year-old anti-natalist from Mumbai, India, being born is a reason to sue your own parents.
Samuel, known for his controversial views, has been making waves on his Facebook page, “Nihilanand.” He regularly posts videos and memes defending his belief that we are born without consent, that our parents chose to bring us into this broken world, and that it’s unfair.
Some people think he’s joking. Some think he’s insensitive. Some actually agree with him. But one thing is clear: people keep paying attention to him.
With his signature fake black beard and dark sunglasses, Samuel may look a bit silly, especially with his bold statements. Still, he continues to promote his message. He argues that parents are selfish and don’t deserve respect for giving their children a life they never asked for.
He often uses memes to explain his ideas, featuring bright, bold quotes. One of his most recent sayings is, “A good parent puts the child’s needs and desires above their own, but the child itself is a desire of the parent.”
Strangely enough, Samuel claims to have a great relationship with his parents. He believes that just because he doesn’t disrespect them doesn’t mean he is obligated to show them respect simply for bringing him into the world.
In one video titled “Why am I suing my parents?”, Samuel explains that his mother responded well to his ideas, but his father is still coming to terms with them. He’s “warming up to the idea.” For someone who insists that respect for parents isn’t necessary, it seems Samuel still has a pretty good relationship with his own.
As Samuel’s “Nihilanand” page gains more attention and attracts sarcastic comments online, he gets closer to his goal of suing his parents. Supporters of his views are rallying behind him, with Facebook posts saying things like, “Your parents had you instead of a toy or a dog. You owe them nothing. You are their entertainment.”
Samuel has gone as far as comparing having children to kidnapping (due to the lack of consent) and slavery (for the benefit of the parent/owner). While some of his ideas seem more like clickbait or online trolling, his main goal is to make sure the world understands that having children is a choice. In a society where it’s almost expected for everyone to have kids, he wants to challenge that norm and highlight the reasons not to have children as well.
Raphael Samuel’s views challenge traditional ideas about having children and the pressure society places on people to become parents. While some may find his comparisons to kidnapping and slavery extreme, his main point is to make people think about whether having kids should just be expected. Whether you agree with him or not, his message encourages us to think more carefully about the decisions we make in life, especially when it comes to bringing new lives into the world.
