What Would Be In Your Manifesto ?

[Ideologue]

These two notions are at odds.

Not at all.  They're not related.

They are at odds; intelligence as a resource is derived largely from the great number of talented humans you can draw from a pool of seven billion.  If you reduce the number of humans, you will reduce the number of humans capable of technological or scientific innovation.  Education will only get you so far, Mr. al-Ghul--a fully mobilized seven billion is going to be smarter than a fully mobilized half billion.

Which isn't to say that the human population does not need to be reduced through gradual dieback, or the space they live in needs to be greatly expanded.

[mongers]

I'm just off to start writing mine.

[Josephus]

I think people will still be around in twenty to thirty years, Grallon.

That's pretty optimistic of you. In 20-30 years time we're looking at a potential singularity event, environmental disaster, oil economy breakdown and/or nuclear war triggered by Pakistan/Iran/North Korea/Whoeverelsegetsit.

Sure, people might be around, but will civilization? 

What about Languish?

[Norgy]

We'll use morse signals.

What's morse for "moron" and "mainstream media"?

[Slargos]

We'll use morse signals.

What's morse for "moron" and "mainstream media"?

-... -.-- / - .... . / .--. --- .-- . .-. / --- ..-. / --. --- --- --. .-.. . --..-- / -.-- --- ..- / .-. . -.. / -.-. --- -- -- ..- -. .. ... - / ... --- -. / --- ..-. / .- / -... .. - -.-. .... .-.-.-

[PDH]

My manifesto would have provisions about my getting steaks cooked properly, my own private Pacific island, and an army of attractive women who wear bikinis under their 1960s-style jumpsuits (that have my initials on it).  Beyond that it would mostly be stolen from 19th century texts.

[ulmont]

We'll use morse signals.

What's morse for "moron" and "mainstream media"?

-... -.-- / - .... . / .--. --- .-- . .-. / --- ..-. / --. --- --- --. .-.. . --..-- / -.-- --- ..- / .-. . -.. / -.-. --- -- -- ..- -. .. ... - / ... --- -. / --- ..-. / .- / -... .. - -.-. .... .-.-.-

Kind of a free translation there, Slargos.

[FunkMonk]

My manifesto would mandate everyone in the world register an account on Languish.

Then it would include purging everyone except me.

[Ed Anger]

We'll use morse signals.

What's morse for "moron" and "mainstream media"?

-... -.-- / - .... . / .--. --- .-- . .-. / --- ..-. / --. --- --- --. .-.. . --..-- / -.-- --- ..- / .-. . -.. / -.-. --- -- -- ..- -. .. ... - / ... --- -. / --- ..-. / .- / -... .. - -.-. .... .-.-.-

It is the lyrics for 'Hollaback Girl'

[FunkMonk]

My manifesto's theme song would be 'Born in the USA'.

[Ed Anger]

Also, I'd like to see people flogged who are using the languish theme phrase of the day, 'Natural Law'.

[Neil]

These two notions are at odds.

Not at all.  They're not related.

They are at odds; intelligence as a resource is derived largely from the great number of talented humans you can draw from a pool of seven billion.  If you reduce the number of humans, you will reduce the number of humans capable of technological or scientific innovation.  Education will only get you so far, Mr. al-Ghul--a fully mobilized seven billion is going to be smarter than a fully mobilized half billion.

Which isn't to say that the human population does not need to be reduced through gradual dieback, or the space they live in needs to be greatly expanded.

Intelligence requires fertile ground in order to be used to the fullest.  You're better off with 250 million people who are able to enjoy an extensive, resource-intense education coupled with heavy societal pressure to excel then you are 7 billion people the vast majority of whom live like animals and the rest are hobbled by the fact that achievement and knowledge aren't 'cool'.

[Grallon]

We'll use morse signals.

What's morse for "moron" and "mainstream media"?

-... -.-- / - .... . / .--. --- .-- . .-. / --- ..-. / --. --- --- --. .-.. . --..-- / -.-- --- ..- / .-. . -.. / -.-. --- -- -- ..- -. .. ... - / ... --- -. / --- ..-. / .- / -... .. - -.-. .... .-.-.-

It is the lyrics for 'Hollaback Girl'

G.

[Ideologue]

These two notions are at odds.

Not at all.  They're not related.

They are at odds; intelligence as a resource is derived largely from the great number of talented humans you can draw from a pool of seven billion.  If you reduce the number of humans, you will reduce the number of humans capable of technological or scientific innovation.  Education will only get you so far, Mr. al-Ghul--a fully mobilized seven billion is going to be smarter than a fully mobilized half billion.

Which isn't to say that the human population does not need to be reduced through gradual dieback, or the space they live in needs to be greatly expanded.

Intelligence requires fertile ground in order to be used to the fullest.  You're better off with 250 million people who are able to enjoy an extensive, resource-intense education coupled with heavy societal pressure to excel then you are 7 billion people the vast majority of whom live like animals and the rest are hobbled by the fact that achievement and knowledge aren't 'cool'.

You're assuming that humans are fungible, which they are not.  Short of genetic engineering--eugenics aren't effective, at least not in the short term--there is no way to make them so.  Out any given number of humans, regardless of the extent of resources devoted to their education or the social pressure applied to them, you will net a fixed number of people capable of doing high-technology or knowledge work.  Not all humans are born equal, and I know you recognize this.

Besides, your system sounds a lot like Japan.  It is indeed noted for technological wonder (although truthfully no more than the U.S., even adjusted for population).  However, it is even more widely known as a Country of Sad People.

[Neil]

These two notions are at odds.

Not at all.  They're not related.

They are at odds; intelligence as a resource is derived largely from the great number of talented humans you can draw from a pool of seven billion.  If you reduce the number of humans, you will reduce the number of humans capable of technological or scientific innovation.  Education will only get you so far, Mr. al-Ghul--a fully mobilized seven billion is going to be smarter than a fully mobilized half billion.

Which isn't to say that the human population does not need to be reduced through gradual dieback, or the space they live in needs to be greatly expanded.

Intelligence requires fertile ground in order to be used to the fullest.  You're better off with 250 million people who are able to enjoy an extensive, resource-intense education coupled with heavy societal pressure to excel then you are 7 billion people the vast majority of whom live like animals and the rest are hobbled by the fact that achievement and knowledge aren't 'cool'.

You're assuming that humans are fungible, which they are not.  Short of genetic engineering--eugenics aren't effective, at least not in the short term--there is no way to make them so.  Out any given number of humans, regardless of the extent of resources devoted to their education or the social pressure applied to them, you will net a fixed number of people capable of doing high-technology or knowledge work.  Not all humans are born equal, and I know you recognize this.

You will get some, but there's no fixed number for imbecility.  And retardation can always be aborted.

At any rate, the world needs ditch-diggers and service-clods too.

Besides, your system sounds a lot like Japan.  It is indeed noted for technological wonder (although truthfully no more than the U.S., even adjusted for population).  However, it is even more widely known as a Country of Sad People.

Of course it is.  Japan is a failing country that has abandoned their sense of community and order, and their political system has stamped out ambition, both individually and as a people.