4 ms·

If we can cure aging, then overpopulation will become an even larger problem than it already is. I would propose to only make anti-aging treatments available to

by Aaargh20318 8y ago

If we can cure aging, then overpopulation will become an even larger problem than it already is. I would propose to only make anti-aging treatments available to people who haven't procreated yet and on condition they get sterilised at the same time.

adrianN 8y ago
Overpopulation right now is not caused by people getting too old, it's caused by people having too many babies. It is also not a problem in countries where anti-aging treatments are likely to be available first and even less of a problem in the rich population that will be able to afford them at first. On the other hand, the promise of remaining able bodied until you die from an accident might reduce the number of children because you don't have to have children that take care of you when you're too old to take care of yourself.
- c1sc0 8y ago
  Overpopulation is a direct result of medical progress, specifically penicillin and treatment for children's diseases.
  - adrianN 8y ago
    And yet the countries with the best medical treatments available have below replacement birth rates.
    - c1sc0 8y ago
      But it takes a generation or two for parents to adapt to the new reality of children actually surviving into adulthood & living prosperous lives.
      - adrianN 8y ago
        It will likely also take a generation or two until our anti-aging technology actually works and is cheap enough to have a meaningful impact on the planetwide population.
        TheCoelacanth 8y ago
        Exactly, do people really think that anti-aging technology is on the verge of becoming available to people who currently have trouble getting clean drinking water or who are dying because they can't get a few dollars worth of anti-malaria drugs or antibiotics? A lot of the world can barely afford dirt cheap medicine from decades ago. They aren't going to be able to afford state-of-the-art anti-aging treatments for a long time.
- Aaargh20318 8y ago
  > Overpopulation right now is not caused by people getting too old, it's caused by people having too many babies. Exactly, so if we don't sterilise people who get anti-aging treatments, what's to stop them from having a litter of children every century or so ?
  - majewsky 8y ago
    Probably war.
  - adrianN 8y ago
    I propose we worry about that when it's actually a problem. We don't know how people behave when they can keep youthful bodies for decades longer than now. Maybe we're lucky and they just don't want more children.
- collyw 8y ago
  Isn't it a combination of both?
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
dmortin 8y ago
The rich and powerful would not allow this. They will be the first in line for anti againg treatment, and also they will be the first who can afford this. So prepare for some very old rich people ruling the planet who will live much longer than the serfs.
- bogle 8y ago
  So, a bit like now, then?
  - dmortin 8y ago
    Not really, because rich people today don't live longer than average people. But imagine a world where we have, for example, 100-120 year old rulers while the average people live 70-80 years.
    - bogle 8y ago
      Round here, Glasgow, Scotland, areas that are practically walking distance apart can have the same disparity in life expectancy as your futurology may suggest. [https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/men-in-glasgows-east-end-have-life-988632 https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/men-in-glas...] That's an extreme example, and the figures have moved since that article was published, but currently a wealthy citizen of Scotland can expect an extra 25% life expectancy compared to a citizen raised in relative poverty.
c1sc0 8y ago
Price will take care of that automatically.
justanegg 8y ago
I can see us giving this to astronauts travelling to remote stars or for a colony on mars where savings could be made by not sending new people there.
dagw 8y ago
You and I both know that if anti-aging ever becomes a reality it will be available to anyone if, and only if, they can pony up XX million dollars.
AQuantized 8y ago
I think this line of reasoning is probably too simplistic. It's like suggesting vaccines or antiobiotics would lead to greater overpopulation, when it's not necessarily the case in reality. A couple of the major motivating factors in having children are to have someone to look after you when you're old, and leaving a legacy. With factors mitigated I think it's possible you'd find the population relatively stable.
LinuxBender 8y ago
Provided it doesn't reduce sex drive, sign me up!

adrianN 8y ago

Overpopulation right now is not caused by people getting too old, it's caused by people having too many babies. It is also not a problem in countries where anti-aging treatments are likely to be available first and even less of a problem in the rich population that will be able to afford them at first. On the other hand, the promise of remaining able bodied until you die from an accident might reduce the number of children because you don't have to have children that take care of you when you're too old to take care of yourself.

c1sc0 8y ago
Overpopulation is a direct result of medical progress, specifically penicillin and treatment for children's diseases.
- adrianN 8y ago
  And yet the countries with the best medical treatments available have below replacement birth rates.
  - c1sc0 8y ago
    But it takes a generation or two for parents to adapt to the new reality of children actually surviving into adulthood & living prosperous lives.
    - adrianN 8y ago
      It will likely also take a generation or two until our anti-aging technology actually works and is cheap enough to have a meaningful impact on the planetwide population.
      - TheCoelacanth 8y ago
        Exactly, do people really think that anti-aging technology is on the verge of becoming available to people who currently have trouble getting clean drinking water or who are dying because they can't get a few dollars worth of anti-malaria drugs or antibiotics? A lot of the world can barely afford dirt cheap medicine from decades ago. They aren't going to be able to afford state-of-the-art anti-aging treatments for a long time.
Aaargh20318 8y ago
> Overpopulation right now is not caused by people getting too old, it's caused by people having too many babies. Exactly, so if we don't sterilise people who get anti-aging treatments, what's to stop them from having a litter of children every century or so ?
- majewsky 8y ago
  Probably war.
- adrianN 8y ago
  I propose we worry about that when it's actually a problem. We don't know how people behave when they can keep youthful bodies for decades longer than now. Maybe we're lucky and they just don't want more children.
collyw 8y ago
Isn't it a combination of both?

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

dmortin 8y ago

The rich and powerful would not allow this. They will be the first in line for anti againg treatment, and also they will be the first who can afford this. So prepare for some very old rich people ruling the planet who will live much longer than the serfs.

bogle 8y ago
So, a bit like now, then?
- dmortin 8y ago
  Not really, because rich people today don't live longer than average people. But imagine a world where we have, for example, 100-120 year old rulers while the average people live 70-80 years.
  - bogle 8y ago
    Round here, Glasgow, Scotland, areas that are practically walking distance apart can have the same disparity in life expectancy as your futurology may suggest. [https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/men-in-glasgows-east-end-have-life-988632 https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/men-in-glas...] That's an extreme example, and the figures have moved since that article was published, but currently a wealthy citizen of Scotland can expect an extra 25% life expectancy compared to a citizen raised in relative poverty.

c1sc0 8y ago

Price will take care of that automatically.

justanegg 8y ago

I can see us giving this to astronauts travelling to remote stars or for a colony on mars where savings could be made by not sending new people there.

dagw 8y ago

You and I both know that if anti-aging ever becomes a reality it will be available to anyone if, and only if, they can pony up XX million dollars.

AQuantized 8y ago

I think this line of reasoning is probably too simplistic. It's like suggesting vaccines or antiobiotics would lead to greater overpopulation, when it's not necessarily the case in reality. A couple of the major motivating factors in having children are to have someone to look after you when you're old, and leaving a legacy. With factors mitigated I think it's possible you'd find the population relatively stable.

LinuxBender 8y ago

Provided it doesn't reduce sex drive, sign me up!