The Need to Breed

[cratehorus]

[Shell B]

[cratehorus]

Easter Island. Read about it. Oh, and this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overpopulat...ld_animals

Examples of animal overpopulation caused by natural cyclic variations include......locusts

every species that overpopulation effects is something introduced to a foreign enviroment, birds, fish, vermin, things like that........are you saying human beings are a species of locusts? That's very cynical of you

[Angrboda]

Well, ignoring this spat and assuming problematic population growth, an interesting puzzle occurred to me.

It's in response to Ryantology's musing about the point of it all. A common view from the position of biological evolution is that there is no point; life is a statistical phenomenon. More, better, faster, is blind to truth and meaning. Evolution cares about what works, not what's right, or what's important. (I don't agree with this estimate, but it's a useful starting point.) As someone else mentioned, life aims to live longest and fullest. The more a specimen can sustain itself, the more likely it's genes will outcompete its less stalwart rivals in being represented in the gene pool. But this raises a quandary. (And yes, I'm blurring some lines between viewing evolution at the species level and at the individual level, which isn't technically valid, but bear with me.) By definition, those who voluntarily or otherwise limit their reproduction are deliberately reducing that sustainability. If we look at evolution as an individual phenomenon (bad, bad, bad), then those who do not limit themselves reproductively, have a better chance of their traits — mayhaps including the traits which made them less willing to limit their reproduction — being well represented in the next generation of the gene pool than those whose traits lead them to limit themselves reproductively (or to be limited by others). It would seem, at this level, and ignoring the technical faults, that traits that lead to reproductive manageability are self-limiting, and not genetically robust. (Anyway, I'll leave it to Chuck or some science whiz to demolish my pretensions).

I think, ultimately, what this world needs is a predator that is a match for man. It's not customary to think in these terms, but a virus, bacteria, self-destructive set of memes, famine or other deadly shortage would probably be the most expeditious. If the phenotype of the psychopath is largely genetically caused, perhaps a race of psychopaths. There's also a few possibilities that are hard to predict. We may have sufficient knowledge of genes or brains within the relevant window to redesign humanity to rectify the problem. Unlikely that such would be expeditiously implemented, but perhaps if the re-engineered human also doubled as a predator, it might work.

[Ace Otana]

Actually, there is one solution, but it's extremely drastic. A worldwide pandemic meant to wipe out 95% of the world's population would immediately stop the human race from pumping more shit into our atmosphere. At least then, both the planet and the human race would have a chance.

Problem with that is that we'd have to sacrifice our sense of humanity, all of it. We'd be telling our children that we've wiped out billions, men women and children.

If such an act be the only way to survive as a species, I'd rather just go out as a human being with my humanity intact.

The problems we have are very easily fixed. The reason the problems are so great is because we are not doing anything about it. Most of us don't care or don't think there's a problem.
For nature, it's an easy fix. All she's gotta do is release all that methane.

---

Now, as far as why people have so many children. It is pretty well established that economically dis-advatanged people tend to have more children.

This is true, over here young girls and boys reproduce even before they even have a job or a place of their own. Why? Because they're paid benefits for each child they have and given top priority on the housing list. It's actually beneficial to have multiple kids. Most don't even bother thinking about getting ready or simply thinking about the whole situation at all. It's normal here seeing a teenager or a woman in her early 20's having multiple kids, and often without the dad and so they find other men to reproduce with and end up with even more kids.
It's nothing short of MADNESS!
I've noticed many of them end up depressed, stressed and very unsatisfied with their lives. So I guess it's not entirely beneficial. Still comes at a high price.

[pgrimes15]

One thing that has been shown to work (according to Stephen Fry) in reducing the amount of procreation in the less developed world is to empower women, raise their status, let them take an economic role in their communities, and give them control over reproduction. With economic security (e.g. respite from the fear of starvation) and more control over their lives, not many women want to be perpetually pregnant between the ages of 16 and 36.
The last sentence is a bit of a presumption, but pregnant women I've known (including my wife) don't seem to enjoy the experience so much that they want to do it all the time.

Regards

Grimesy

[Tiberius]

Over population is not a problem for nature. If we run out of food, the population decreases until there is enough food for everyone.

As sad as it sounds, this is also the solution to foreign AID, which does more harm than good. 30 years ago, Etheopia had 1 million starving people due to food shortages. We fed them, and now they have 10 million starving people (since people who don't starve make babies). If they had been left to starve, there would be enough of them to feed themselves.

All developed countries learned this the hard way, but look at them now.

[Epimethean]

[Cinjin]

If we run out of food, the population decreases until there is enough food for everyone.

As sad as it sounds, this is also the solution to foreign AID, which does more harm than good. 30 years ago, Etheopia had 1 million starving people due to food shortages. We fed them, and now they have 10 million starving people (since people who don't starve make babies). If they had been left to starve, there would be enough of them to feed themselves.

All developed countries learned this the hard way, but look at them now.

This I totally agree with. Nature thins its own herds.

Over population is not a problem for nature.

This I don't agree with. When there were only a few million people on this planet we had no problem with greenhouse emissions. Even when we had 1 or 2 billion people on this planet, global warming was still not something to be concerned about. However, nature is now definitely having a problem with our over population. When we double in size in 50/60 years, "nature" is going to be overwhelmed with humans.

Also everyone, food is not the ONLY issue that need be considered when over-population is in question. Water is a much bigger issue and so is the amount of other resources/fuel needed to keep everyone on this planet alive and hospitable. Food will definitely be an issue, but I don't think it will be the largest by any stretch of the imagination.

[pgrimes15]

Over population is not a problem for nature. If we run out of food, the population decreases until there is enough food for everyone.

If by nature you mean the universe, this is true.
If you mean the biosphere, there may be a threat that mass starvation could lead to something like a nuclear war that would threaten it. Probably not though, just lots of dead bodies.

As sad as it sounds, this is also the solution to foreign AID, which does more harm than good. 30 years ago, Etheopia had 1 million starving people due to food shortages. We fed them, and now they have 10 million starving people (since people who don't starve make babies). If they had been left to starve, there would be enough of them to feed themselves.

Even if this conclusion is correct, it would be interesting to see a politician explain how he/she is introducing this into his/her foreign policy.

All developed countries learned this the hard way, but look at them now.

Isn't that a bit like your Dad saying "Bread and dripping were good enough for me, so it's good enough for you"

Regards

Grimesy