RE: Doomsayers

RE: Doomsayers (Full Version)

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Musicmystery -> RE: Doomsayers (6/18/2010 7:41:55 AM)
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vincentML -> RE: Doomsayers (6/18/2010 7:48:56 AM)
quote: 'Millions' was meant to be hyperbolic. This is not that controversial, I'd claim. It's almost, I'd argue, a standard among anthropologists. There was a famous paper by Marshall Sahlins in the 60s that made something along the lines of this claim, as have many since. Again, I don't have tuberculosis, typhus, typhoid fever, cholera, diphtheria, small pox... what's not clear is the extent to which hunter-gatherers, or even just sustainable producers more generally, also did or did not have these diseases. My point remains -- it's far, far from self-evident that we are somehow 'better off' individually or as a species than during prehistoric times. Of course, the diseases I mentioned come with crowded populations. That is why I am confident in comparing 2000 to 1900 and why a comparison to small groups of hunter/gatherers is fallacious. I don't recall making the claim we are better off as a species or individually than during prehistoric times. I said we are living better now than we have at any time in history ... not prehistory. Then I narrowed it to 1900 vs 2000. If you wish to debate my points, fine. But pls stick to them. 1900 v 2000 ... in which era were more people more comfortable? I acknowledge "comfortable" is tricky and ambiguous. I am open to a good case being made either way. I do not fear being wrong.

Termyn8or -> RE: Doomsayers (6/18/2010 8:20:45 AM)
The word comfortable is indescriptive at best. I have a nice fancy recliner I never use. In fact I rarely even lean on the back of a chair. My mattress is super firm. But I don't have alot of back problems, considering that I did in the past. I never took any drugs for it even when I had sciatica, but what I did do was to start sleeping on the floor for a time. That with a better diet cured it. In 1900 very few had air conditioning, now we have people who die from the heat. Even if we have gained more than we lost, what we gained is going to largely evaporate in this Depression 2. Or part 2 maybe, not sure if I can call it that. T

Moonhead -> RE: Doomsayers (6/18/2010 8:25:02 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Termyn8or The word comfortable is indescriptive at best. I have a nice fancy recliner I never use. In fact I rarely even lean on the back of a chair. My mattress is super firm. But I don't have alot of back problems, considering that I did in the past. I never took any drugs for it even when I had sciatica, but what I did do was to start sleeping on the floor for a time. That with a better diet cured it. In 1900 very few had air conditioning, now we have people who die from the heat. Even if we have gained more than we lost, what we gained is going to largely evaporate in this Depression 2. Or part 2 maybe, not sure if I can call it that. T Plenty of people died from heatstroke in the 1900s. I'm not sure your argument that air conditioning is killing people by lowering their tolerance to heat really works, though you did have a point about circulated air spreading diseases. Of course, it could be argued that has more to do with people refusing to phone in sick because they don't want to lose a couple of days' wages than recirculated air being inherently filthy and corrupt.

vincentML -> RE: Doomsayers (6/18/2010 11:26:24 AM)
If you look back at the OP you can see that Termy is suggesting a prepare yourself for the Depression that has started and is creeping over us by cutting back on your material needs...a survivalist message of sorts. Perhaps later he advocated stock-piling goods and guns. I haven't read through all of his posts on this thread. From the pov of the individual and his family I suppose there is some wisdom in his basic premise. On a macro level the proposition will only serve to forestall any recovery (which may not be in Termy"s philosophy anyway) So, I will join Termy's legions and turn off my a/c for fifteen minutes each day to prepare myself for the electricity cut off. Oh wait. I live in Florida. We have to prepare before every hurricane season anyway. Got my water stored, Termy. Not to worry. The kid's okay. [:)]

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