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Alternative view: infectious diseases have been around throughout the entire history of humanity, and have played an important ecological role in human history,

Alternative view: infectious diseases have been around throughout the entire history of humanity, and have played an important ecological role in human history, namely controlling population size (particularly under famine conditions, when humans become more susceptible to disease) and maintaining genetic diversity (since a more homogenous population may be more susceptible to epidemics). If we're going to use technology to eliminate infectious disease (and to increase food production) then an absolute necessity will be for humans to control their population growth by other means, perhaps legal (as with the China one-child policy, etc.). Yes, that's all very controversial, but it should really be discussed.

ceejayoz 5y ago
> If we're going to use technology to eliminate infectious disease (and to increase food production) then an absolute necessity will be for humans to control their population growth by other means, perhaps legal (as with the China one-child policy, etc.). This is a solved problem already. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53409521 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53409521 > Falling fertility rates mean nearly every country could have shrinking populations by the end of the century. And 23 nations - including Spain and Japan - are expected to see their populations halve by 2100. > It has nothing to do with sperm counts or the usual things that come to mind when discussing fertility. Instead it is being driven by more women in education and work, as well as greater access to contraception, leading to women choosing to have fewer children.
- Terry_Roll 5y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_the_most_children#Mothers_and_couples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_the_most_c... Kids birthed / Couple / Last Year 69 / Valentina and Feodor Vassilyev[1] / 1765 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_the_most_children#Fathers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_the_most_c... Kids Birthed / Father / Last Year 1,000–2,000+ / Genghis Khan / 1227
  - ceejayoz 5y ago
    I'm not clear on the point being made here. These are extreme outliers, yes? Of essentially zero statistical value on the overall world population level?
    - Terry_Roll 5y ago
      > I'm not clear on the point being made here > Instead it is being driven by more women in education and work, as well as greater access to contraception, leading to women choosing to have fewer children Whilst extreme, having large families was a way of life in order to survive because the rate of attrition was high until hygiene & sanitation became more common place, its not just access to contraception or women in education because OnlyFans negates the latter point succinctly!
dymk 5y ago
Birth control, fixed it for you

ceejayoz 5y ago

> If we're going to use technology to eliminate infectious disease (and to increase food production) then an absolute necessity will be for humans to control their population growth by other means, perhaps legal (as with the China one-child policy, etc.). This is a solved problem already. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53409521 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53409521 > Falling fertility rates mean nearly every country could have shrinking populations by the end of the century. And 23 nations - including Spain and Japan - are expected to see their populations halve by 2100. > It has nothing to do with sperm counts or the usual things that come to mind when discussing fertility. Instead it is being driven by more women in education and work, as well as greater access to contraception, leading to women choosing to have fewer children.

Terry_Roll 5y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_the_most_children#Mothers_and_couples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_the_most_c... Kids birthed / Couple / Last Year 69 / Valentina and Feodor Vassilyev[1] / 1765 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_the_most_children#Fathers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_the_most_c... Kids Birthed / Father / Last Year 1,000–2,000+ / Genghis Khan / 1227
- ceejayoz 5y ago
  I'm not clear on the point being made here. These are extreme outliers, yes? Of essentially zero statistical value on the overall world population level?
  - Terry_Roll 5y ago
    > I'm not clear on the point being made here > Instead it is being driven by more women in education and work, as well as greater access to contraception, leading to women choosing to have fewer children Whilst extreme, having large families was a way of life in order to survive because the rate of attrition was high until hygiene & sanitation became more common place, its not just access to contraception or women in education because OnlyFans negates the latter point succinctly!

dymk 5y ago

Birth control, fixed it for you