Seriously, the problem is that there are just TOO MANY people. And religions that have for thousands of years taught that it is your purpose on earth to reproduce as much and as often as you can. Really. How many atheists/agnostics do you know who were raised atheist/agnostic and want to start popping out babies as soon as they turn 18? Now, how many fundie Christians?
Hell, I'd do it for a new 17" LCD.
I don't think it's due to any imperfection in me, though. I mean, you read the Darwin awards....you see how many tabloids there are (and their circulation!) and it never fails there are a half dozen people in the grocery store reading them....you see what the 'mass market' has selected as the TV shows to air (my wife and I no longer even WATCH mainstream TV - we have it to record the DS9s and a *few* shows that aren't bad), the 'broadcast' networks are especially offensive with their mind-numbingness....you see the public reaction to the government taking away more and more freedoms (read: none)....you see the public reaction to social progress (our local city - in OREGON - is trying to get on the vote for fall an issue to repeal our just-passed anti-discrimination laws because many don't feel they should have to treat gays as equal citizens!)....I could go on an on.
The problem is that, picking 5 people at random, I honestly feel you would not get the same value as a nice, new, 17" LCD. Hell, for the most part, 5 humans would be a huge NEGATIVE. Removing 5 of them for no personal gain at ALL would be an improvement. They destroy the environment with reckless abandon, care little for their own lives or the future of the planet, prefer to keep their narrow-minded judgemental attitudes rather than risk change....and they try VERY hard to pass this on to future generations.
Here's an idea - those high-school proficiency tests everyone bitches about? Make them....oh, I dunno, twice as hard with a focus on social issues and world history. And, instead of graduation hinging on it....your LIFE does. Yup, you pass, hooray, you get to graduate! You fail? *snick* off with the head!
And there should be another test before you are allowed to reproduce, too.
Originally posted by: Nebor
Honestly, if I could trade the lives of say, 5 people, who I don't know, for a Ferrari 360, I'd do it. I wouldn't even have to think about it. Maybe that embodies what's wrong with our society. Or maybe it's just me. The only people that exist to me are the people I know, everyone else is a stranger part of the mass of "people" who do stupid things, and are basically against me, my enemies.
Hell, I'd do it for a new 17" LCD.
I don't think it's due to any imperfection in me, though. I mean, you read the Darwin awards....you see how many tabloids there are (and their circulation!) and it never fails there are a half dozen people in the grocery store reading them....you see what the 'mass market' has selected as the TV shows to air (my wife and I no longer even WATCH mainstream TV - we have it to record the DS9s and a *few* shows that aren't bad), the 'broadcast' networks are especially offensive with their mind-numbingness....you see the public reaction to the government taking away more and more freedoms (read: none)....you see the public reaction to social progress (our local city - in OREGON - is trying to get on the vote for fall an issue to repeal our just-passed anti-discrimination laws because many don't feel they should have to treat gays as equal citizens!)....I could go on an on.
The problem is that, picking 5 people at random, I honestly feel you would not get the same value as a nice, new, 17" LCD. Hell, for the most part, 5 humans would be a huge NEGATIVE. Removing 5 of them for no personal gain at ALL would be an improvement. They destroy the environment with reckless abandon, care little for their own lives or the future of the planet, prefer to keep their narrow-minded judgemental attitudes rather than risk change....and they try VERY hard to pass this on to future generations.
Here's an idea - those high-school proficiency tests everyone bitches about? Make them....oh, I dunno, twice as hard with a focus on social issues and world history. And, instead of graduation hinging on it....your LIFE does. Yup, you pass, hooray, you get to graduate! You fail? *snick* off with the head!
And there should be another test before you are allowed to reproduce, too.