A freak solar event "sterilizes" the half of the planet (people, animals, etc) facing the sun. What happens?
July 28, 2009 8:08 AM Subscribe
The Power of Posterity This is a really interesting idea, what would happen if half of the world is unable to procreate as a result of a freak solar event. The consensus in this article is that humanity will breakdown and we will be reduced to living for today’s pleasures since we no longer need to worry about future generations.
Is posterity really the underling motivating factor in our lives?—this also sounds like the storyline for a summer blockbuster.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Eh, David Brooks padding out a guest column with some middling chatfilter probably isn't really worth its own post. -- cortex
"Answer: we’d never have to see Luke Russert Jr. on tv".
posted by maudlin at 8:12 AM on July 28, 2009
posted by maudlin at 8:12 AM on July 28, 2009
The people who could still make babies would just make twice as many, selling their services to the other half of the planet.
posted by poppo at 8:15 AM on July 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by poppo at 8:15 AM on July 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
It's an interesting idea; too bad David Brooks can't write anything interesting about it. Life's about posterity? You don't say.
posted by monospace at 8:19 AM on July 28, 2009
posted by monospace at 8:19 AM on July 28, 2009
Every day, David Brooks checks another blog "which is famous for its erudite authors" (because he doesn't read non-erudite blogs) to see what he can steal from it to write another of his boring columns. News at 11.
posted by blucevalo at 8:20 AM on July 28, 2009
posted by blucevalo at 8:20 AM on July 28, 2009
Well, we would probably not worry about how to format a FPP link, 'cuz we would be like "who cares" about it and everything, we're all going to die anyway.
posted by HuronBob at 8:20 AM on July 28, 2009
posted by HuronBob at 8:20 AM on July 28, 2009
Please. David Brooks pretending to be a sociologist again. He makes shit up.
I'll never forget his famous reference to the "kind of people who visit the salad bar at Applebees," supposedly the kind of people we coastal elites don't know.
But of course, there is no salad bar at any Applebees. If he were the man of red-state America he sometimes pretends to be, or the translator of Real American Values for the coastal elites, he would have known that.
He is a moronic twit.
posted by fourcheesemac at 8:20 AM on July 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'll never forget his famous reference to the "kind of people who visit the salad bar at Applebees," supposedly the kind of people we coastal elites don't know.
But of course, there is no salad bar at any Applebees. If he were the man of red-state America he sometimes pretends to be, or the translator of Real American Values for the coastal elites, he would have known that.
He is a moronic twit.
posted by fourcheesemac at 8:20 AM on July 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
An interesting question arises – will this lead to an increase or a decrease, or possible an unchangecrease, in buttsecks?
posted by Mister_A at 8:21 AM on July 28, 2009
posted by Mister_A at 8:21 AM on July 28, 2009
My favorite quote from the editorial:
Bob Herbert is off today.
Explains a lot. Think about it, bitches.
posted by Mister_A at 8:23 AM on July 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Bob Herbert is off today.
Explains a lot. Think about it, bitches.
posted by Mister_A at 8:23 AM on July 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Ok, the Human Project gives this great, big dinner for all the scientists and sages in the world. They're tossing around theories about the ultimate mystery: why are all the women infertile? Why can't we make babies anymore? So, some say it's genetic experiments, gamma rays, pollution, same ol', same ol'. So, anyway, in the corner, this Englishman's sitting, he hasn't said a word, he's just tuckin' in his dinner. So, they decide to ask him, they say, "Well, why do you think we can't make babies anymore?" And he looks up at 'em, he's chewin' on this great big wing and he says "I haven't the faintest idea," he said, "but this stork is quite tasty isn't he?"
posted by Brocktoon at 8:24 AM on July 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Brocktoon at 8:24 AM on July 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
The consensus in this article is...
Consensus: When the voices in David Brooks' head are all saying the same thing.
posted by DU at 8:24 AM on July 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Consensus: When the voices in David Brooks' head are all saying the same thing.
posted by DU at 8:24 AM on July 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
I remain extremely fertile. Here, I'll show you. Trust me.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:25 AM on July 28, 2009
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:25 AM on July 28, 2009
Hey, I'm writing that book! I'm not using a solar event, but environmental poisoning. Also, those affected are still a reasonable small number (20-25% of men) at the time of my book ... nobody steal my idea! (It's not really the main plot, though it does remain important throughout ... I say no more!)
What poppo says is true, assuming the other half could still procreate twice as much. Babies would be worth their weight in gold.
posted by mrgrimm at 8:27 AM on July 28, 2009
What poppo says is true, assuming the other half could still procreate twice as much. Babies would be worth their weight in gold.
posted by mrgrimm at 8:27 AM on July 28, 2009
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 8:27 AM on July 28, 2009
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posted by localhuman at 8:11 AM on July 28, 2009