Yes I generally hate evolutionary just-so stories. > if you reach a certain age and are not already a parent, it means you're deficient. It's better for the ge

Yes I generally hate evolutionary just-so stories. > if you reach a certain age and are not already a parent, it means you're deficient. It's better for the gene pool if you die without reproducing. This explanation makes no sense to me. Evolution doesn't select for the overall gene pool AIUI, it selects for fit individuals. I can't see how, even in theory, this explanation would be plausible. > If you're a parent and you did all that was needed for the offspring to survive the early development period, you're no longer needed and probably better off dying instead of consuming resources your children need. This explanation sounds at least mathematically plausible to me.