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Posts: 73

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Q: Who here believes the world is overpopulated?

If i were to say that the world is overpopulated, then aren't I really just playing God? Because that would imply i have knowledge of pre-determination, Quite a few people have recently told me there are too many people , just because of recent information regarding 7 billionth child being born, how can they say that kid was the 7 billionth,  Thoughts anyone.

12 years 20 weeks ago in  General  - China

 
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"how can they say that kid was the 7 billionth"
It is called probable mathmatics.  You can chart the likelyhood of an event through following patterns.  In terms of world population, it is pretty accurate.

Is the world over populated?  Look around.  It is all a numbers game.  There are only a finite number of resources and a finite amount of space.  So do I think that the world is over crowded?  Yes, I do.

However, think about this for a moment.  First world countries that have a high number of educated citizens are actually beginning to experience a shrinking population.  While countries with lower education levels (and the resources to support it) are experiencing population booms.

What does that mean in terms of a link between knowledge and birth rates?  Does it mean that the more we know, the less likely we are to see a need for children?  Or does it mean that the more we know the more we decline to have children because of the impact we know it would have on the plant ecosystem?

Numbers are one thing, but understanding what is behind those numbers is a completely different subject.

Straw_ManNz:

I know it's called probable mathmatics, but I can't say that it's underpopulated & I can't say that it's overpopulated. But if i look around in my country or here i can say the resource data that is used to form the probable equation are mismanaged, unequally distributed, and just plain used as an argument to implement eugenics. Soda anyone?
Sorry the UN knows though don't they.

12 years 20 weeks ago
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Xpat.John:

Well, aside from going out and counting every single person by hand, you have to at least put some trust in the numbers available. Otherwise, if you only trust what you know and can personally verify, the world doesn't exist beyond your senses. And I could just be a echo of your subconscious since you can't verify that I am actually a person.

12 years 20 weeks ago
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12 years 20 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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When the number of people surpasses the resources, that's overpopulation.  More people means smaller slices of pie.  Personally, I define surpassing resources as having a decent, comfortable life, like us with internet access, no food worries and so on.

You can be extreme and say that surpassing resources only occurs at starvation, but my level of acceptance comes way before that.  I can't in good conscious let people live in squalor.

Also, this is not a political or religious issue.  This is a math issue, and math can't be debated.  The only debate is what level of economy you can with good conscious let people live in.

Do I think the world is overpopulated?  yes.  We have a 1-2% growth rate (overcoming the death rate) every year since 1960, when the population was 2 billion.  This tripling the population within 1 lifetime is new territory for everyone, and we only have 1 earth.

Xpat.John:

Actually, the "we only have 1 earth" statement is a great topic. There are some theories ( and experiments taking place) in quantum math that stipulates the existence of an infinite number or "Earths" existing in parallel dimensions. The key of course is a) figuring out if this is just mathematical conjecture, and b) figuring out how to open that door.

12 years 20 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

I was told by "a friend" that Venus really IS a swampy but inhabitable planet and that it is a conspiracy of the space faring nations to keep it silent and trick the population of Earth into thinking that it is a hostile and inhospitable place. When the do-doo hits the fan, the "elite" will have a swampy "paradise" to move to and the rest of us will be left holding the bag. Caveat: I Give this the same credence as I give any information told to me by "a friend".

12 years 20 weeks ago
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tmestep8:

to Xpat: I agree that parallel dimensions are within the realm of possibility. However, that's not our Earth, those Earths have their own probems, and as long as there's infinite of them, I'd assume they discover us first, which brings the why haven't we been discovered yet problem. I stand by my statement, we have only 1 earth. I like this topic though =)

12 years 20 weeks ago
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Xpat.John:

Okay, lets hypothesize for a moment that there really are an infinite number of parallel worlds. If say, a million of those worlds figured out how to open the door to other worlds, and allowed each of their 5 billion inhabitants to open a separate door, that would be roughly 5,000,000,000,000,000 (5 quadrillion) worlds discovered. In the scheme of "infinite" that is a pretty small number. So the odds of these other worlds actually finding us first is really rather slim.

12 years 20 weeks ago
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tmestep8:

hmm, good point. Ok, to bring it back to China, I'll ask "what's the deal with chopsticks?" haha.

12 years 20 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

Hey! Wasn't this the premise for the series "Sliders"?

12 years 20 weeks ago
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Xpat.John:

Yep, the general theory has been around for a long time. Hollywood, in its infinite wisdom used the base theory for the show Sliders.

12 years 20 weeks ago
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12 years 20 weeks ago
 
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Maybe countries with large uninhabited areas, like Canada and Russa could donate some of their space?wink

thedude:

Hey now, Canadians love their space.....unlike China.

12 years 20 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

Ok, maybe not donate. How about set up something like a "time share"?:-D

12 years 20 weeks ago
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TedDBayer:

Canada wants a bigger population, but denies Chinese single women entry, What kind of a plan is that? I'm waiting to do my duty. I'm Ukrainian descent.

11 years 29 weeks ago
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12 years 20 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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It's not that much to know if the world is overpopulated, but rather if the ressources necessary to enable 7-10 billions human beings are sufficient.
Most part of the people on earth is located in urban areas, because of the internal migrations between countryside to cities. You have huge lands in Russia, Canada, the US, Africa, China with almost no unhabitants due to climate conditions, limited ressources, etc. If man could somehow overcome these difficulties, then there would be enough land for anybody.
Now comes the problem of ressources. If the worldwide human consumption was similar to the one we have in Western countries or in China now, then effectively, the world is not big enough to sustain everybody. However, we are still producing more than we are consuming, especially for food products. So because of that, a large waste of food is done daily. Moreover, the overproduction of food that you have in developped countries or developping countries could suffice to feed all Africa on a daily basis, but the transportation costs, the delivery costs, make it impossible to reach every single person.
So some are dying to let other live well...it's cruel but it has always been like in human history.
As a last ressource, if really humanity was on the brink of lack of food ressources, then human will certainly turn to eat other humans, like any other animal when the scarcity of food prevails over the species.

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12 years 20 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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When resources like food and water become scarce we have wars winner takes all,humans are the most destructive animal on the planet

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12 years 20 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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Well that ? went off on a tangent fast. I think it's great that we can all respond and are allowed to express our personal opinions , without infringing on others beliefs. Thats civilised. On that note i'll end by leaving a quote from the late great George Carlin.

I've got just the place for low-cost housing. I have solved this problem. I know where we can build housing for the homeless: golf courses! It's perfect! Just what we need. Plenty of good land, in nice neighbourhoods, land that is currently being wasted on a meaningless, mindless activity engaged in primarily by white, well-to-do male businessmen who use the game to get together to make deals to carve this country up a little finer among themselves. I am getting tired, really getting tired, of these golfing c___suckers. In their green pants, and their yellow pants, and their orange pants, and their precious little hats and their cute little golf carts! It is time to reclaim the golf courses from the wealthy and turn them over to the homeless! Golfing is a arrogant, elitist game which takes up [entirely] too much room in this country. Too much room in this country! It is an arrogant game on its very design alone, just the design of the game speaks of arrogance. Think of how big a golf course is - the ball is that f_____g big! What do these pin-headed pricks need with all that land?! There are over seventeen thousand golf courses in America, they average over one hundred and fifty acres a piece - that's three million plus acres, four thousand, eight hundred and twenty square miles - you could build two Rhode Islands and a Delaware for the homeless on the land currently being wasted on this meaningless, mindless, arrogant, elitist - racist, there's another thing; the only blacks you'll find at country clubs are carrying trays. And a boring game, boring game for boring people. You ever watch golf on television? It's like watching flies f___! And a mindless game, mindless. Think of the intellect it must take, to draw pleasure from this activity: hitting a ball - with a crooked stick - and then, walking after it! And then, hitting it again! I say pick it up asshole, you're lucky you found the f_____g thing! Put it in your pocket and go home, you're a winner! You've found it! No chance of that happening. Dork-o in the plad knickers is going to hit it again and walk some more. Let these rich c___suckers play miniature golf! Let them f___ with a windmill for an hour and a half or so! See if there's any real skill among these people. Now I know there are some people who play golf who don't consider themselves rich. F___ 'EM! And shame on them for engaging in an arrogant, elitist passtime.George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008

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12 years 20 weeks ago
 
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If this planet continues to idolize the awesome consumption of the US, then sooner rather then later we will all have a big problem.
This aside, so called experts have been predicting the collapse of mankind due to overpopulation for decades, only to be proven wrong.
Is it right that such a giant chunk of our planets wealth is controlled by such a small group, while people are starving?  Only by massive world wide education will this truth enrage people enough they will stand up and say enough.
With modern technology we have enough food to feed the planet 3 times over...so why...why are people still starving to death?

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12 years 20 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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Africa is overpopulated and Asia is on the verge of being overpopulated. When people begin to use more resources than are available then overpopulation occurs. I think once we hit 10 billion, unless we learn to maximize recycling, food production, pollution and water reuse all across the board then things aren't going to be looking so good for people down the road. 

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12 years 20 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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Not overpopulated. Too many people (me included I'm afraid) just waste too much and contribute to the problems with the environment while we enjoy our wonderful lives.

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12 years 20 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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Hell yes, it's overpopulated! That's an understatement pal! * Waaaaaaaaay to go China!!!!!!!!!!!! :( Have you read about like I have the coming wars over water?..such a precious thing that we as humans need!! It's gonna get ugly!

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11 years 29 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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The world has unlimited resources, we were created to create, weaker species naturally die out as stronger species assert themselves. Everything is right and going to plan exactly as intended. Soon the End of Days will wipe out the excess and the rest of us can get back to scratching our arses in the Light of Beautification.

TedDBayer:

We don't have unlimited resourses, oil, fresh water, fresh air are getting scarce. We have lots of rocks.

11 years 29 weeks ago
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11 years 29 weeks ago
 
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Not to worry, the Maya will take care of everything on Dec 22 (China time), 2012....

GuilinRaf:

Falls on a saturday so at least we will enjoy part of the weekend....wink

11 years 29 weeks ago
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mArtiAn:

  My brother's birthday too. Bloody typical, he always was a miserable sod. I wonder if I still need to get him a present.

 

11 years 29 weeks ago
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TedDBayer:

I told you the fleet was delayed, you still have more time.

11 years 29 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

Well, you can buy him a spot on the Ark! Perfect present!

11 years 29 weeks ago
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11 years 29 weeks ago
 
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I do.

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11 years 29 weeks ago
 
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No, I'm looking out my window in Canada and don't see anybody period, definitely haven't seen any skinny things in min-skirts. I've seen an excess of tall fat ones, so maybe over populated. If things get any worse I'll rip out my eyes or leave the country again. Soon hopefully.

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11 years 29 weeks ago
 
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In the 17th Century a mathematician worked out that the resources of the globe could not possibly sustain a population exceeding 1 billion. He was using all the best mathematic models and the the actual maths he was using hasn't changed.

 

Now obviously he was wrong, he didn't take into account (nor, realistically could he have done) the scientific breakthroughs that allowed increased yield per acre of land.

 

I suspect that same may be true of the modern naysayers.

GuilinRaf:

Malthus?

11 years 29 weeks ago
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Hugh.G.Rection:

I don't know the name, I got the 'fact' from a science programme which was discussing cosmology, this nugget was raised as a side issue.

11 years 29 weeks ago
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11 years 29 weeks ago
 
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  I do, so beat it!

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11 years 29 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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i do believe the world is a BIG BIG HAPPY FAMILY............Now beat this

mArtiAn:

  Well i'm bending over and baring my arse. Now beat that!

11 years 29 weeks ago
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Createach:

Haha..........no i can't unless your ass is a BIG BIG HAPPY FAMILY..........LOL..........Just playing mate

11 years 29 weeks ago
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11 years 29 weeks ago
 
Posts: 583

Shifu

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When I use to come Cities..it feels overpouplated..but when i use to travel and see there is agriculture land or hills and no population..then i think ...no...only cities are overpopulated..there are still lot of green and land left on this earth

Createach:

wait wait........you used to come cities?!!!!......damn......your GF must have been suffering big tome cause of that.right?!!!!...................Just playing mate......Thumbs up and God bless

11 years 29 weeks ago
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