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Hugo_Troy's comments:
on Coming out of Copenhagen
I'm not suggesting that humanity self-regulates, I'm suggesting that all populations regardless of species self regulate based on the resources available to them in their environment. As populations grow, resources shrink. Eventually the resources will be insufficient to sustain the population, and thus the population begins to decline. It follows that, as we overpopulate the planet, eventually (and this is already happening in many places) resources become scarce, and populations begin to regualte. It's naive and idealistic to think that we can do much about it. I'm not saying we shouldn't try to make the world a better place, just don't act all suprised when, in spite of our efforts, the s**t still hits the fan.
posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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on Coming out of Copenhagen
Of course it warrants an effort, if for no other reason than to provide a clean place to live for all of us. All I'm saying is to keep perspective. Populations inflate and deflate over time, and the greater we inflate ours, the more catastrophic the mitigating event. Humanity isn't going anyware, it's numbers are just going to be put check and unfortunately this will weigh far more heavily on the underprivledged.
posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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on Coming out of Copenhagen
This isn't about saving the planet, it'll take care of itself. Earth has survived far more catastrophic events than this. This is about saving people of which there are far too many. Even if we could bring climate change to a complete stop, it wouldn't stop some eventual mitigation of our ballooning population (e.g. disease, famine). Humanity will be just fine, there will just be fewer of us.
posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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on Mt. Hood Search
This is the short-sighted, false logic of a non-climber.
posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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on Mt. Hood Search
Do you care to explain how this would be enforced?
I suppose you think hikers should carry them as well, since so many more hikers require search and rescue than climbers. Have you ever gone for a hike without an MLU?
posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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on Mt. Hood Search
There are two things that, in time, will always trump experience. They are arrogance and ignorance. Nearly every tragedy on Mt. Hood - or any mountain - has been a product of one or both of these. I've personally witnessed people blindly climb to their death in obviously treacherous conditions on this peak. That terrible day could have been prevented by the simple employment of a little judgement, and so too could this current tragedy.
Why these people chose to climb at the tail end of a brilliant stretch of weather I can't fathom. The previous 10 days saw the successful ascents of the following routes on Mt. Hood:
- Wy'East
- Sunshine
- North Face
- Ried Glacier Headwall
- Devil's Kitchen Headwall
Some of these routes are quite difficult. The reason they were possible is because smart climbers chose to go up in good conditions - conditions that were forecast to be good for a few days to come - so should there be an accident there's time to get help, or for help to get you.
This isn't about mandating that everyone carry MLU's (which will only embolden the inexperienced, thus leading to more rescues), or rescue insurance, or tax dollars. Climbers are going to climb. Somtimes they're going to die doing it. Just know that when they do, it's probably because they screwed up, and take solace in the fact that they died doing what they love.
Hugo
posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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