> While I understand and respect voluntary childlessness and a move
> towards 0 population growth, and see the undeniable negative effects
> of rampant population growth, 'Voluntary Human Extinction' is not a
> cause I can see myself getting behind.
I would consider myself a "Supporter" more than a "Volunteer". I
think the world would be a better place with half or less of the
current population. -- Perhaps, say, the population the planet had
in 1900.
One way or another, it would be nice to think that human population
could reach an equilibrium. With extended life expectancies, this
means a good chunk of the population will need to not have children.
> I think I'm pretty much highly motivated, perhaps culturally, perhaps
> evolutionarily so, to imagine solutions where my species, and my
> family, are around to reap the benefits. ;-)
The way I see it, there's a massive die-off coming. I can either
be kind to my children and not give rise to them, or I can try to
be one of the few to survive.
I don't expect the die off to happen soon. As such, I expect if
I had 2-3 children, those could result in 80+ adults before the
die-off. That's 80+ additional lives that will be spared by my
not having children. (I know of families with the elders having
more than 80+ grandchildren and great-grandchildren.)
I wouldn't say I go so far as human extinction. However the only
way I can see to avoid an inevitable human extinction is to get
off of the planet. I support human colonization to other planets.
However, I believe we should leave this planet in peace, one way
or another.
Personally, I find it unlikely that voluntary human extinction
will really catch on. However I see "my family" as the entire
human race. I prefer my ideas to catch on rather than my genes.
There's nothing I can do to improve my genes, but I have much
more power when it comes to my ideas.
We have other issues, too. We have the fact that once human
density reaches a certain level we become unlikely to *ever*
get off of the planet due to accidents killing too many people.
It is easier to explore new experimental technologies when there
are still a few empty spaces.
Cheers,
Steven Black
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