Re: population sizes for colonising a planet

David Tomlin wrote:

> Kristopher wrote:
>
>> I suppose it could be a preference if you want to
>> say that it's my preference that people not do
>> stupid things that impact everyone else,
>
> Who would be impacted by James Nicoll's biome
> project? Or do you consider lifeless rocks to
> be part of 'everyone'?

It's pretty clear that I wasn't specifically refering
to that one idea.

>> and that it's my preference that people not do
>> things until they understand all the consequences
>> and effects.
>
> People should starve to death unless they
> 'understand all the consequences and effects' of
> feeding themselves?

I don't seem to recall saying that.

> If you believe you 'understand all the consequences
> and effects' of everything you do, I suspect you
> are deluded.

I try, at least. Which is more than I can say for
what appears to go on in the heads of most people.

>> To me, though, it's only a matter of preference
>> when one could prefer the alternative without
>> being an idiot.
>
> Before assuming the authority to declare who is
> an idiot, you might try showing some sign of
> intelligence yourself.

Ironic.

>> I'm not bothered by the notion that the human
>> race could spread out into the solar system and
>> increase in numbers. It has some appeal, if
>> done with some restraint and foresight.

Anyway, it's interesting how you snipped out the
above paragraph. Guess it didn't wouldn't fit
in the stuffing of the strawman you're building.

>> But that's never been how humans, as a whole,
>> have done things, and the idea of 100 billion
>> billion people dismantling whole planets to
>> make room for themselves conjures up every
>> idiotic thing ever done in course of human
>> expansion and growth.
>
> The things that brought us from caves to air
> conditioned buildings, cut infant mortality
> by an order of magnitude and doubled life
> expectancies?

No, I was thinking more along the lines of things
like the reasons why Great Lakes fish will be
unsafe to eat until long after every one of us
posting to RASFC right now is dead and dust.

But I guess that wishing that humans wouldn't
dump things into the water and air without
knowing what the consequences are means that
I'm against all technology and progress.


--
Kristopher


"It's a pity that I never learn a philosophy until after it's
been poked full of holes. But then, there don't seem to be
any philosophies that aren't full of holes ..."
- Pat Bowne, RASFC
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: population sizes for colonising a planet
    ... >> Kristopher wrote: ... >>> I suppose it could be a preference if you want to ... Under that rule we could have stone tools. ... David Tomlin ...
    (rec.arts.sf.composition)
  • Re: population sizes for colonising a planet
    ... David Friedman wrote: ... > Kristopher wrote: ... >> Obviously, it's only my opinion, David. ... I suppose it could be a preference if you want to ...
    (rec.arts.sf.composition)
  • Re: population sizes for colonising a planet
    ... > Kristopher wrote: ... >> David Tomlin wrote: ... >>> Your preference makes sense without preferences entering ... been poked full of holes. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.composition)
  • Re: population sizes for colonising a planet
    ... >> Kristopher wrote: ... >> Your preference makes sense without preferences entering ... > things that humanity is collectively obsessed with. ... David Tomlin ...
    (rec.arts.sf.composition)
  • Re: population sizes for colonising a planet
    ... > Kristopher wrote: ... Really, it is daft. ... >> "It's a pity that I never learn a philosophy until after it's ... >> been poked full of holes. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.composition)
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