Voluntary Human Extinction Movement

[Anomalocaris]

they will be underground one way or another, whether they will look fabulous is another question entirely.

[Foxaèr]

I think underwater would be cooler.

[Rev. Rye]

AS long as we get half-naked women and weird-looking robots, I'd be fine with that.

[Mister Agenda]

Just learned about this today, and it was a complete shocker:

Voluntary Human Extinction Movement

For those who do not wish to read the article, here's their take:

The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement (VHEMT[A]) is an environmental movement that calls for all people to abstain from reproduction in order to cause the gradual voluntary extinction of humankind. VHEMT supports human extinction primarily because, in the group's view, it would prevent environmental degradation. The group states that a decrease in the human population would prevent a significant amount of human-caused suffering. The extinctions of non-human species and the scarcity of resources caused by humans are frequently cited by the group as evidence of the harm caused by human overpopulation.

Personally, I think that it is disgusting, akin almost to "Heaven's Gate" and "The People's Temple" and even Nazism.  As the only species with symbolic language, I believe that the highest goal of Humanity should be our survival as a species and the full retention of all of our history, knowledge and culture, for as long as possible.  Even though I sympathize with the environmental movement, life on our World is destined to perish, along with our Sun.  Any memory of that life (and, perhaps, that life itself) will be with Us, perhaps carrying it off this World and to other worlds and new solar systems.

And, so, from a philosophical POV, are the VHEMT adherents just a bunch of nuts?  Or, should we embrace their ideology, as Humanity, likely, someday, must perish either on this World or among the stars?

I don't agree with the movement, but choosing not to have children is hardly on a par with mass suicide. They are not morally equivalent to Heaven's Gate. In fact, choosing not to have children is one of the most environmentally conscious choices you can make. I don't have children and don't expect to. It's a small way I contribute to environmental sustainability. In action, I'm doing the same thing as the VHEMT, just not with the same end goal in mind.

The closer they get to success, the less incentive there is to finish the job. I'm not worried about the VHEMT succeeding, and in the meantime, our goals are in alignment.

In conclusion, maybe they're nuts, but it's their nuts.

[Mister Agenda]

I'm skeptical of things like controlled nuclear fusion, but, such is possible and distinguished minds continue to work at the problem.  In any case, just "giving up" is insanity on parade, and to be sure, many human beings will refuse to do so.  Question is if the VHEMT folks gain real power and our World is faced with a Second Holocaust that is even worse than the First.  VHEMT could easily morph into a new neo-Nazi movement and the Third Reich could turn into the Fourth.  Given the fascist elements in Society, we could endup denying this nightmare only until we are overcome and consumed by it.

They'd have to take the 'V' out of their acronym, I reckon.

[Mister Agenda]

I, on the other hand, find it praise worthy that they should take positive steps towards improving the human gene pool through their self elimination,

I suppose they are not big fans of Global Orgasm Day every December 22.

It seems they are not anti-orgasm, just pro-birth control. But that was objectively funny.

[Mister Agenda]

To the OP: I only pay attention to people who lead by example.

They advocate for not having children, and refrain from having children, so by your standards, you should pay attention to them.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

AS long as we get half-naked women and weird-looking robots, I'd be fine with that.

Half-naked women lack commitment.

Boru

[Rev. Rye]

Well, at least I'll settle for the weird-looking giant robots