This US summer is 'what global warming looks like'

[chervilant]

76. Wow...

I had to log out to witness the ridiculous brouhaha caused by your initial post. Every single one of the DUers stomping their widdle feets over your post are on my IL. Their derision, sarcasm, and intellectual arrogance are the primary reasons I put them on my IL (you'd think someone with 'multiple degrees' could write a cogent rebuttal without resorting to sarcasm and derision).

Do you recall Calhoun's research on overpopulation (using mice)?

Initially the population grew rapidly, doubling every 55 days. The population reached 620 by day 315, after which the population growth dropped markedly. The last surviving birth was on day 600. This period between day 315 and day 600 saw a breakdown in social structure and in normal social behavior. Among the aberrations in behavior were the following: expulsion of young before weaning was complete, wounding of young, inability of dominant males to maintain the defense of their territory and females, aggressive behavior of females, passivity of non-dominant males with increased attacks on each other which were not defended against. After day 600 the social breakdown continued and the population declined toward extinction. During this period females ceased to reproduce. Their male counterparts withdrew completely, never engaging in courtship or fighting. They ate, drank, slept, and groomed themselves – all solitary pursuits. Sleek, healthy coats and an absence of scars characterized these males. They were dubbed “the beautiful ones”.

The conclusions drawn from this experiment were that when all available space is taken and all social roles filled, competition and the stresses experienced by the individuals will result in a total breakdown in complex social behaviors, ultimately resulting in the demise of the population.

Observing that our species is blindly and blithely ignoring the handwriting on the wall (parasite: an organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered on or in a different organism while contributing nothing to the survival of its host) certainly torques the resident charlatans...