Barry Soper
Congratulations?
We can say that as it wasn’t an accident, and old Bazza seems pretty chuffed with himself.
Just to allay any concerns, he is married and wife Heather is only half his age.
Barry is better known for his career in political media, and his last notable achievement was being threatened by the previous Speaker Trevor Mallard with expulsion from the Press Gallery for going into the Freedom Csmp at parliament.
But that little act of bravery aside, becoming a father, willingly at 70 is just a little unusual too.
Not that he doesn’t have children already, they are around the same age as his wife.
It’s not entirely unheard of. Similar occasions are recorded the history books. I’ve encountered a similar situation once before at school – one of my fellow students had a father aged 64. That appeared to affect his personality though in that his behavior simply wasn’t that of a teenager but someone much older.
I do have my reservations about life for a boy in these circumstances not having what I’d call a real childhood and the possibility of enduring the death of his father at an early age.
What are your thoughts on, “dinosaur dads” and the life of Iggy?
I often enjoyed listening to Barry Soper on Auckland commutes and generally think of him as very good commentator.
Not so sure of his choice to father a child so late in life. But who am I to judge what the agreements and circumstances were behind his families decisions. It will certainly be a different experience for his child growing up. I hope Barry beats the odds and has a few more years in him, especially for his son.
Comment by ErasingDad — Fri 9th September 2022 @ 11:41 am
I’m more concerned he named his child Iggy.
Comment by golfa — Fri 9th September 2022 @ 2:30 pm
You could argue, NZ needs more children.
Our birth rate, can certainly be more.
Average life expectancy, he has few years left.
His child may be fatherless, before teenage years.
The important point for me, is consensual pregnancy.
So we can say, the mother knows the risks.
One can guess if he dies early, money is no issue.
He leaves behind enough assets, to help raise the child.
To the extreme, evolution says have lots of children.
If your DNA is the best, have heaps of children.
Soper must consider himself, above average.
The world’s a better place, with more of him.
……….
I heard a comment, in news a few days ago.
I actually guessed in may be the end, for the Queen.
And wished her well, on her journey.
I have countless stamps, with her picture.
So I will make a point, of finding a good one.
Priceless enough, to frame it.
Comment by DJ Ward — Fri 9th September 2022 @ 7:29 pm
#2 Golfa
You could look at it, as a science experiment.
Does a child become a name, naturally.
Somehow the name, just suits them.
What does the 5 year old, think of there name.
Compared to my age, to late to bother changing.
We rate the most given name, not the most changed name.
Comment by DJ Ward — Fri 9th September 2022 @ 9:44 pm
Maybe he had few choices, to stop pregnancy.
A rare article, mentioning men’s options.
Which are obviously, few.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300687341/women-say-contraceptive-implant-made-them-completely-different-people
If you give a person hormones, the body will react.
It stops pregnancy, but what else changes.
For male sterilisation, they also tried hormones.
It just works, but with damaging effects.
One must ask, if hormones are not good for women.
In the men’s case, failure was obvious in the trials.
Yet women report problems, is that also failure.
So actually, for both men and women.
Science should search, for non hormonal solutions.
Maybe they will find one, for men.
Imagine that, sexual revolution.
Comment by DJ Ward — Sat 17th September 2022 @ 4:37 pm