Population Brakes

[Abominable Gorilla]

This might be the weirdest thread I've ever started.

Required reading:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/ma...pagewanted=all

So, after my first impression (which was to be weirded out), I got to thinking about this interesting phenomenon happening in Japan. Methuselah theory, as I understand it, relates the population growth to the growth in our ability to provide resources. When the growth in population is too much greater than the growth in population, there is some population reducing event (plague, famine, or war). However, this theory deals with the changes in population and not with size of the population itself.

The reason I bring this up is I wonder if this is an evolutionary "brake" that limits the size of the population. I'm not trying to discuss the morality of the issue. However, this entire spew of what Spinoza would call "little grey cells" lead me to ask the same thing about homosexuality. Obvious there are social issues involved as well, but...

...might homosexuality be an overpopulation safety net?

I've read about studies on this, but I was unable to find a good link.

Thoughts?

[Guisslapp]

In a truly capitalistic society scarcity of resources would be an obvious population brake. In a socialist society, however, as a parent, you will feel less of the pinch because the rationining is spread out over the entire population. Sort of a "tragedy of the commons" scenario.

I do not think that homosexuality is a population brake. People do not choose homosexuality because they do not want kids, and to the extent that homosexuality has any genetic link it is less likely to be passed on than genetics which favor heterosexuality.

[Abominable Gorilla]

I do not think that homosexuality is a population brake. People do not choose homosexuality because they do not want kids, and to the extent that homosexuality has any genetic link it is less likely to be passed on than genetics which favor heterosexuality.

I'm not suggesting it is a conscious choice. I'm suggesting that maybe it's more of an evolutionary response.

[Guisslapp]

So, the argument would be something like this...?

Population growth increases the odds of mutations (one of which being genetic predispositions to homosexual preference), but then what???

[JuBru]

sounds like a South Park episode.

[daybreaker3]

So, the argument would be something like this...?

Population growth increases the odds of mutations (one of which being genetic predispositions to homosexual preference), but then what???

More like, growing population creates reduced resources... perhaps dwindling resources leads to a reduced intake of certain vitamins causing random genes to mutate slightly in a few random people, which then creates homosexuals, leading towards a population where not everyone who is born has a predilection to reproduce, thus helping slow down the birth rate and consumption of resources... and even though we dont need it now, it's a genetic leftover- like the appendix

Interesting theory, but not sure how much stock I would put in that

[Guisslapp]

More like, growing population creates reduced resources... perhaps dwindling resources leads to a reduced intake of certain vitamins causing random genes to mutate slightly in a few random people, which then creates homosexuals, leading towards a population where not everyone who is born has a predilection to reproduce, thus helping slow down the birth rate and consumption of resources... and even though we dont need it now, it's a genetic leftover- like the appendix

Interesting theory, but not sure how much stock I would put in that

I wouldn't put any stock in a genetic theory. Now, if there was a non-genetic theory that directly relates to the scarcity of a certain resource (e.g., vitamin or other) and that resource modulates sexuality to even a slight extent, then maybe.

[dhussdawg]

How about stupid government policy leading to a pop safety net, like China? I read in the Economist that in youg Chinese (cant remember age range), the boys outnumber the girls 7 to 1 because of the one child policy. That might be a case where homosexuality grows out of lack of mate option.

[teatech]

How about stupid government policy leading to a pop safety net, like China? I read in the Economist that in youg Chinese (cant remember age range), the boys outnumber the girls 7 to 1 because of the one child policy. That might be a case where homosexuality grows out of lack of mate option.

Most logical response of the lot. In addition, homosexuals have been around since the beginning of time. Since there is substantial growth in the number of people, there will be a substantial growth in the number homosexuals. With the growth of the number of homosexuals, the strength in numbers complex kicks in and they begin to be less embarassed about but now emboldened which leads to a bunch of sexual fencesitters migrating towards homos.


ONLY Gorilla would start a topic like this.

I think Mildawg isn't going to like us discussing his friends though.

[Abominable Gorilla]

ONLY Gorilla would start a topic like this.

There was an experiment in 1962 by John Calhoun in which mice were placed in a constant space with all the food they could want. His experiment suggested a relationship between the population density and homosexuality in the population. There is a paper on the topic, "Population Density and Social Pathology."

While there have been homosexuals since the dawn of time, there has also been localized high population densities since the dawn of time.

I didn't realize you were a closed minded individual. I thought you were the kind of person who would look at the merit of information rather than coming to a decision based on your personal feelings.

[teatech]

There was an experiment in 1962 by John Calhoun in which mice were placed in a constant space with all the food they could want. His experiment suggested a relationship between the population density and homosexuality in the population. There is a paper on the topic, "Population Density and Social Pathology."

While there have been homosexuals since the dawn of time, there has also been localized high population densities since the dawn of time.

I didn't realize you were a closed minded individual. I thought you were the kind of person who would look at the merit of information rather than coming to a decision based on your personal feelings.

I don't know what you're talking about. I thought the topic was interesting. When I saw the thread title I was thinking something else like "Obama's policies will reduce overpopulation" or something of that radical nature.

[Abominable Gorilla]

When I saw the thread title I was thinking something else like "Obama's policies will reduce overpopulation" or something of that radical nature.

Confusing me with Tyler?

Everything else aside, that initial NYTimes article is pretty darn weird.