I sometimes wonder if some social dynamic, larger than any individual and uncontrollable, is at play here.
Several weeks ago, someone posted a link to a video about a long term mouse study in which mice were provided everything they need to survive in a large mouse habitat for generations. The population grew and thrived at first, but stopped growing long before it reached the maximum capacity of the habitat. The mouse “culture” went through considerable change over the course of the study, growing increasingly pathological. Eventually, the female mice showed little interest in rearing pups and acted increasingly like males, while the males became foppish and spent all of their time grooming themselves. The mouse colony died out after about four years.
I have thought about that video a lot. I couldn’t help but see a lot of parallels between conditions that existed in the mouse study and the current status of human society. It seems like Europe, America, and Asia have embarked on a path of self-destruction. I wonder if population density is a factor here. There is a reason that the most pathological of societal forces are concentrated in large cities.
I’d be interested if you could find that link.
I think that organisms are designed not only to interact with their own kind, but in a complex way with other kinds of things. Having enough stuff isn’t enough to satisfy one’s purpose for existing.
Cities have nearly always been net consumers of human biological capital.
I read about a similar study in college involving rats. Increased population density led to deviant behavior and violence.
I've believed that since a late teenager when reasoning kicked in. It was obvious to me then and more so now, that the more people - the more problems grow exponentially. Just a cursory glance at rural America vs large city America shows it. Depending on the demographics of suburbs, they can go either way.
Example: North Orange County, CA suburbs are very crowded and has a large illegal population - they vote democrat for goodies. South Orange County has open spaces and mostly citizens - they vote conservative while being producers.
>>I wonder if population density is a factor here. There is a reason that the most pathological of societal forces are concentrated in large cities.
Not really. That’s a contributor, but the real factor is comfort and accessibility of products and services. In a modern, developed nation the cities have everything and it is just around the corner.
The people in their suits and hipster clothing look down on the sanitation or utility workers who labor in their midst. Basically, the modern city makes it inhabitants forget the skills that made cities possible.
The government and corporate decision-makers keep the masses infantile by bringing in the “immigrant” labor that doesn’t mind the work has the skills, and works cheap. That makes the infantile residents even worse since it teaches them that actual work IS the duty of foreigners.
That makes them also feel guilty so they overcompensate by insisting that these foreign laborers are not only noble in their causes, but are oppressed by other people which led to them coming to the city to be saved by the enlightened infantile residents.
Our comfortable, modern life is doomed to being destroyed by people who can exist without it. And our decision-makers will insure it.