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“The answer to anyone who talks about the surplus population is to ask him whether he is the surplus population; or if he is not, how he knows he is not.” —G.K.

by rrherr 10y ago

“The answer to anyone who talks about the surplus population is to ask him whether he is the surplus population; or if he is not, how he knows he is not.” —G.K. Chesterton

oblio 10y ago
Thanks for the great quote. I had several discussions where I couldn't quite formulate this exact thought.
cgag 10y ago
That only seems to matter if you're trying to off people. I just want them to not be born.
- dechov 10y ago
  In that case would it be fair to ask him [sic] whether his unborn children are the surplus population?
  - chc 10y ago
    It would be pretty silly to ask whether people who don't exist are anything at all.
- keebEz 10y ago
  Should you have not been born?
  - cgag 10y ago
    I think I'm willing to bite that bullet
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - Retra 10y ago
    How is that a relevant question?
  - flukus 10y ago
    A lot of things in the past should not have happened, it's easy to waste time with useless hypotheticals.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
kirrent 10y ago
Anyone who is consistent won't believe anything different just because it applies to them. If I think my country is overburdening its natural resources and is overpopulated (and I do) then of course I'll understand that I'm part of the problem. Happily, along with all other sane people, I think that once born people have the right to a good life so I'm not likely to try and end my own because I'm a self acknowledged part of a surplus population.