How many old people can the world support?

[Don't Panic]

By George, Hitler had is right all along!

Perhaps all the jews, christians and muslims as well. Their idiotic beliefs are just holding up progress. And last but not least, all the poor uneducated Africans. All they do is keep a hand out for more.

let's see anyone left?

A smiley may have been apt on that second one, that was intended as a joke.

[Rum]

The point is, surely, not how many OLD people the planet can support, but how many actual people. Questions about euthanasia (which I support personally - I don't want to be 85 and on a life support regime!) are a separate matter and don't just apply to old people.

The other thing I would say is that as one teeters on the edge of real old age at 60 one realises that the gap between 60 and 80 is as big as between 20 and 40. Now that may be a self evident mathematical fact, but just think of how big a gap that is and all that can happen in 20 years, even if in my case most of it will be downhill and involve more doctors than, - say - new lady friends. :sighsm:

[Atheist-Lite]

Exponential population growth denial is worse than Hitler. Although some are having some fun bringing that tired 'thread stopper' up I suppose?

[kiki5711]

WEll, look at it this way. With all the gay men rising in numbers every year, it's a sure way to slow down birth rate. Could be that it's a way of human evolution to save some room for the future, or at least until a new planet is able and willing.

[Don't Panic]

Exponential population growth denial is worse than Hitler. Although some are having some fun bringing that tired 'thread stopper' up I suppose?

Godwins law, someone always mentions Hitler in a serious thread.

We may not have to make these sorts of decisions, but barring major changes in current population trends, our Grandchildren will. The thing is they'll be making the decision about us.

[Rum]

I made the point about Hitler an I am not going to apologise for it. In this case it was totally appropriate as the discussion was suggesting the elimination of whole 'classes' of human beings, which is what Hitler and the Nazis had in mind. Indiscriminate death dealing because a person is in category A, B or C.

[Atheist-Lite]

I'm more concerned with changing the demographic to be prepared for what is likely to be a difficult century (to say the least) with sea rises and climate change and other factors meaning every human being is of value right up until the point they damage what are going to be limited risky future prospects for the whole. I'm not suggesting anything idealogical or prejudiced. It is a question of necessity in a bleak situation. Some bury their heads in the sand. Some pretend they still live in the 20th century and fight yesterdays battles. Some consider the tragic reality of where we are and what can be done given that. In a ideal world we'd not have choices to make like this but with a systems engineering background I can tell you all that problems don't go away because you paint over them and wear a smile. More will die. Many more by living in mythological fictions of the best of all worlds which reality will never allow.

[kiki5711]

The ones poluting and destroying this planet are mainly the ones that can afford to live a life of luxury. Not the ones living on the brink.

[Atheist-Lite]

The ones poluting and destroying this planet are mainly the ones that can afford to live a life of luxury. Not the ones living on the brink.

Perhaps there are things other parts of the world could do about living on the brink if their best and brightest did not have to service a ageing population in the industrialised world? I don't think this is a simple then and us equation however. The poor are destroying rainforests and so are the rich.

[Don't Panic]

I made the point about Hitler an I am not going to apologise for it. In this case it was totally appropriate as the discussion was suggesting the elimination of whole 'classes' of human beings, which is what Hitler and the Nazis had in mind. Indiscriminate death dealing because a person is in category A, B or C.

I was drawing a parallel to the Nazi policies with my second post, it wasn't intended as serious. My first one kind of was though. It was a practice amongst many ethnic groups throughout antiquity, and perhaps one we shouldn't discourage.

[Rum]

The population problem will in all probability be our undoing. Everything from climate change, food shortages (watch that unfold over the next few years!), demand for water, wars over territory and resources - all of these are major issues and may well be insoluble with our present institutions. This means collapse ultimately in my view. The only question, in my view, is how far the collapse goes and whether humanity and possibly the planet have any chance of another go at it.

[Don't Panic]

The population problem will in all probability be our undoing. Everything from climate change, food shortages (watch that unfold over the next few years!), demand for water, wars over territory and resources - all of these are major issues and may well be insoluble with our present institutions. This means collapse ultimately in my view. The only question, in my view, is how far the collapse goes and whether humanity and possibly the planet have any chance of another go at it.

We need a good war to get things back under control.

[Feck]

The population problem will in all probability be our undoing. Everything from climate change, food shortages (watch that unfold over the next few years!), demand for water, wars over territory and resources - all of these are major issues and may well be insoluble with our present institutions. This means collapse ultimately in my view. The only question, in my view, is how far the collapse goes and whether humanity and possibly the planet have any chance of another go at it.

We need a good war to get things back under control.

Or an effective pathogen .

[maiforpeace]

The population problem will in all probability be our undoing. Everything from climate change, food shortages (watch that unfold over the next few years!), demand for water, wars over territory and resources - all of these are major issues and may well be insoluble with our present institutions. This means collapse ultimately in my view. The only question, in my view, is how far the collapse goes and whether humanity and possibly the planet have any chance of another go at it.

I'll be dead by then. As a childless person, why should I care?

[Don't Panic]

The population problem will in all probability be our undoing. Everything from climate change, food shortages (watch that unfold over the next few years!), demand for water, wars over territory and resources - all of these are major issues and may well be insoluble with our present institutions. This means collapse ultimately in my view. The only question, in my view, is how far the collapse goes and whether humanity and possibly the planet have any chance of another go at it.

We need a good war to get things back under control.

Or an effective pathogen .

That'll work too. Disease and war were the two main methods of population control for humans. The UN and modern medicine are the cause of all this overpopulation.