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It would be good if we could discuss the real problem - that of overpopulation. The elephant in the room is that there's too many of us for the planet to suppor

It would be good if we could discuss the real problem - that of overpopulation. The elephant in the room is that there's too many of us for the planet to support. But then, I know that's one of those forbidden topics.

thanatos519 5y ago
Where is it a forbidden topic? It's usually discussed backwards: "Oh no, we're not reproducing enough to maintain our population." The planet would support more humans for longer if we ate less meat, but a die-off is inevitable.
- hilbert42 5y ago
  It's not only meat, it's everything - you name a resource and we've plundered, overexploited and or not bothered to recycle it. Add in exponential population growth and you've a recipe for disaster. Every sort of remedial action we've taken to date has only slowed but not stopped the progression. Our attempts at rectifying things so far have been little more than tokenism - and we're still just pissing around the edges. Pessimistic yes, but factually true. Ever since Paul Ehrlich and his book The Population Bomb (1968) many have been circumspect about discussing population growth. Too outspoken for his own good, Ehrlich hit a very raw nerve when he mentioned human reproduction and overpopulation together, as for many - perhaps even the majority - these are not only incompatible concepts but they simply don't compute for the very reason that the desire to reproduce is about as strong and fundamental as it gets. At this point logic flies out the window. Most humans aren't ready to confront their guilt about adding additional environmental damage to the planet by having children in the same light of their intrinsic (and very natural and overwhelming) desire to do so. And who can blame them? Certainty not me (at last count I was found to be human too). That's why such discussion is off the table.
rbanffy 5y ago
There are too many of us if we all want to live in American-style suburbs or if we all want to be carnivores. OTOH, if we decide to live in denser cities, there's room for more of us. If we also opt to eat less animal protein, there'll be space for even more of us. It's all a matter of priorities.

thanatos519 5y ago

Where is it a forbidden topic? It's usually discussed backwards: "Oh no, we're not reproducing enough to maintain our population." The planet would support more humans for longer if we ate less meat, but a die-off is inevitable.

hilbert42 5y ago
It's not only meat, it's everything - you name a resource and we've plundered, overexploited and or not bothered to recycle it. Add in exponential population growth and you've a recipe for disaster. Every sort of remedial action we've taken to date has only slowed but not stopped the progression. Our attempts at rectifying things so far have been little more than tokenism - and we're still just pissing around the edges. Pessimistic yes, but factually true. Ever since Paul Ehrlich and his book The Population Bomb (1968) many have been circumspect about discussing population growth. Too outspoken for his own good, Ehrlich hit a very raw nerve when he mentioned human reproduction and overpopulation together, as for many - perhaps even the majority - these are not only incompatible concepts but they simply don't compute for the very reason that the desire to reproduce is about as strong and fundamental as it gets. At this point logic flies out the window. Most humans aren't ready to confront their guilt about adding additional environmental damage to the planet by having children in the same light of their intrinsic (and very natural and overwhelming) desire to do so. And who can blame them? Certainty not me (at last count I was found to be human too). That's why such discussion is off the table.

rbanffy 5y ago

There are too many of us if we all want to live in American-style suburbs or if we all want to be carnivores. OTOH, if we decide to live in denser cities, there's room for more of us. If we also opt to eat less animal protein, there'll be space for even more of us. It's all a matter of priorities.