The Population Bomb: How We Survived It - Page 5

GeoffC · 04-05-2011, 05:26 AM

An interesting programme last night made the valid point that antibiotics are becoming increasingly of less benefit in the battle against infection. It was suggested the current generation will be useless within 10 years.

Here's looking forward to the success of plans to develop the next generation before we all succumb to the little beasties.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 04-05-2011, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

An interesting programme last night made the valid point that antibiotics are becoming increasingly of less benefit in the battle against infection. It was suggested the current generation will be useless within 10 years.

An article in this month's Scientific American reflects the same data. It also points out that the use of antibiotics in meat animals is furthering the possibility that viruses will evolve stronger strains and become more of a threat. Apparently, a number of the latest viruses in humans can be traced back to meat animals treated with antibiotics. It is recommended that we cease the application of antibiotics to meat animals immediately, to improve our own survivability.

TGS · 04-05-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

...are becoming increasingly of less benefit...

GeoffC · 04-05-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGS

Yes, I know, it reads peculiarly - good job I'm not an author .....

kennyc · 04-05-2011, 07:08 PM

That's an accelerating lessening of benefits.

Amalthia · 04-05-2011, 08:48 PM

I think the more people there are on the planet the less "valuable" we become. I also think it's more humane to prevent births than to have a overpopulated polluted planet where billions starve because there isn't enough food for everyone. Right now we're getting by but millions are starving to death all over the world and not enough people care. (most likely because the people starving to death are in Africa, China, India, and other non-white or European countries)

What's going to happen in 100-200 years when it's our own citizens who begin to starve to death because our own population has expanded and global warming has destroyed arable land? Maybe I'm being paranoid but I'd rather play it safe than go along blindly with no thought to the future.

though I guess if a major disease like in the Stand came about then this whole post is a moot point.

Going to space costs a lot more money than we're willing to spend and the Earth is our home.

Mortis · 04-06-2011, 02:33 AM

Before we go to space some government is going to figure out it's just easier to bury the dead than to develop long range space travel. Not saying I agree with it, but just sayin'

nguirado · 04-06-2011, 03:19 PM

Good one, Kenny. There's no more leisurely topic of conversation than population control. Watch. He's going to complain that you guys pulled it off topic.

SameOldStory · 04-06-2011, 11:01 PM

I was a long time fan of the Club of Rome and it associated book the Limits to Growth.

My viewpoint has changed over the years, but they (the CoR and the book) were the reason that I never wanted children. A great deal has happened over the years since the publishing of that book (and I really don't recall most of the book very well). Many of it's worst fears have failed to come to pass. Others have only been put off.

From being an old time hippie in the '60s, believing in many of the things espoused by other MR members, to my current outlook on life, I've seen the best of people and the worst of governments.

Beware of any solution that has the best interests of humanity as it's goal.

Lets face it, a reduction of the population will have to occur. Whether by decree or "plague", it will happen.

We're living in an artificial world buoyed up by our ingenuity. Lack of medical, and agricultural knowable helped, in the past, to keep the population down. Wars helped to keep the population down also. There have been many other, smaller, reasons too.

Those who say that homosexuality is hardwired into their genes may be unwittingly pointing to a viable solution. I say this only partially tongue in cheek. A homosexual bio-engineered virus could be a workable solution to a population problem. Details to be worked out later. Any writers that want to start up a story based on that premise are totally free to use it.

Yes, there are many problems that we'll find solutions to. The world isn't going to end tomorrow. But I think that we have far more to fear from our "solutions" than we do from global warming.

MY only fear is that I'll live as long as some of the others in my family tree have lived.

Greg Anos · 04-06-2011, 11:52 PM

Time for a Pollyanna around here...

You need to look past the headline number and look at the demographics. Look at the female fertility over time in all areas of the world. It's fallen off a cliff. But it doesn't show in the big picture number for 50 years for ageing to reduce the population.

Besides, genius is statistical. You get 1000 times as many geniuses with 8 billions versus 8 million...

spaze · 04-07-2011, 01:00 AM

I remember, not too long ago, discussions in the media on how we are approaching the 5 billion mark. WHat are we on right now, 6.5 billion?

Steven Lyle Jordan · 04-07-2011, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaze

I remember, not too long ago, discussions in the media on how we are approaching the 5 billion mark. WHat are we on right now, 6.5 billion?

About to tilt at seven.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Besides, genius is statistical. You get 1000 times as many geniuses with 8 billions versus 8 million...

With that many geniuses, we should be living on Epsilon Eridani and powering our cities on Green Lantern's power ring by now... (someone's falling down on the job.)

Steven Lyle Jordan · 04-07-2011, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

Those who say that homosexuality is hardwired into their genes may be unwittingly pointing to a viable solution. I say this only partially tongue in cheek. A homosexual bio-engineered virus could be a workable solution to a population problem. Details to be worked out later. Any writers that want to start up a story based on that premise are totally free to use it.

A story about a "gay virus"?

Wouldn't touch that with a ten-meter cattle prod.

spaze · 04-07-2011, 06:59 AM

10 billion by 2050, I feel sorry for my children already...

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009...ty-collide.php

Soldim · 04-07-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan

... viruses

...

latest viruses in humans can be traced back to meat animals treated with antibiotics.

bacteria

(sorry to be pedantic

)

04-06-2011, 03:19 PM	#68
nguirado Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 1499080 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Nook	Good one, Kenny. There's no more leisurely topic of conversation than population control. Watch. He's going to complain that you guys pulled it off topic. Last edited by nguirado; 04-06-2011 at 03:23 PM.

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04-05-2011, 05:26 AM	#61
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	An interesting programme last night made the valid point that antibiotics are becoming increasingly of less benefit in the battle against infection. It was suggested the current generation will be useless within 10 years. Here's looking forward to the success of plans to develop the next generation before we all succumb to the little beasties.

04-05-2011, 07:08 PM	#65
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,930 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2 & PW, Onyx Boox Go6	That's an accelerating lessening of benefits.

04-05-2011, 08:48 PM	#66
Amalthia Wizard Posts: 1,190 Karma: 32370 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Anchorage, AK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, PRS-650, PRS-T3, Pocketbook HD2	I think the more people there are on the planet the less "valuable" we become. I also think it's more humane to prevent births than to have a overpopulated polluted planet where billions starve because there isn't enough food for everyone. Right now we're getting by but millions are starving to death all over the world and not enough people care. (most likely because the people starving to death are in Africa, China, India, and other non-white or European countries) What's going to happen in 100-200 years when it's our own citizens who begin to starve to death because our own population has expanded and global warming has destroyed arable land? Maybe I'm being paranoid but I'd rather play it safe than go along blindly with no thought to the future. though I guess if a major disease like in the Stand came about then this whole post is a moot point. Going to space costs a lot more money than we're willing to spend and the Earth is our home.

04-06-2011, 02:33 AM	#67
Mortis Canucklehead in Malaysia Posts: 1,633 Karma: 3127774 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Device: iPhone, Kindle	Before we go to space some government is going to figure out it's just easier to bury the dead than to develop long range space travel. Not saying I agree with it, but just sayin'

04-06-2011, 11:01 PM	#69
SameOldStory My True Self Posts: 3,126 Karma: 66242098 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Trantor, Galactic Center Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	I was a long time fan of the Club of Rome and it associated book the Limits to Growth. My viewpoint has changed over the years, but they (the CoR and the book) were the reason that I never wanted children. A great deal has happened over the years since the publishing of that book (and I really don't recall most of the book very well). Many of it's worst fears have failed to come to pass. Others have only been put off. From being an old time hippie in the '60s, believing in many of the things espoused by other MR members, to my current outlook on life, I've seen the best of people and the worst of governments. Beware of any solution that has the best interests of humanity as it's goal. Lets face it, a reduction of the population will have to occur. Whether by decree or "plague", it will happen. We're living in an artificial world buoyed up by our ingenuity. Lack of medical, and agricultural knowable helped, in the past, to keep the population down. Wars helped to keep the population down also. There have been many other, smaller, reasons too. Those who say that homosexuality is hardwired into their genes may be unwittingly pointing to a viable solution. I say this only partially tongue in cheek. A homosexual bio-engineered virus could be a workable solution to a population problem. Details to be worked out later. Any writers that want to start up a story based on that premise are totally free to use it. Yes, there are many problems that we'll find solutions to. The world isn't going to end tomorrow. But I think that we have far more to fear from our "solutions" than we do from global warming. MY only fear is that I'll live as long as some of the others in my family tree have lived.

04-06-2011, 11:52 PM	#70
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,546 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Time for a Pollyanna around here... You need to look past the headline number and look at the demographics. Look at the female fertility over time in all areas of the world. It's fallen off a cliff. But it doesn't show in the big picture number for 50 years for ageing to reduce the population. Besides, genius is statistical. You get 1000 times as many geniuses with 8 billions versus 8 million...

04-07-2011, 01:00 AM	#71
spaze Addict Posts: 265 Karma: 512072 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Helsinki, Finland Device: Writing my first short story: Guardian Angel	I remember, not too long ago, discussions in the media on how we are approaching the 5 billion mark. WHat are we on right now, 6.5 billion?

04-07-2011, 06:59 AM	#74
spaze Addict Posts: 265 Karma: 512072 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Helsinki, Finland Device: Writing my first short story: Guardian Angel	10 billion by 2050, I feel sorry for my children already... http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009...ty-collide.php