I'm not opposed to this kind of thing in theory, but it seems like a hack that lets unsustainable commercial farming practices continue, rather than address the root cause of why these diseases...
I'm not opposed to this kind of thing in theory, but it seems like a hack that lets unsustainable commercial farming practices continue, rather than address the root cause of why these diseases are suddenly such a problem.
What are the odds that the underlying root causes actually ever get addressed though? As depressing as it is, the fact that the odds are probably near-zero is my biggest reason for not totally...
What are the odds that the underlying root causes actually ever get addressed though? As depressing as it is, the fact that the odds are probably near-zero is my biggest reason for not totally opposing things like this. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good enough, and all that, I suppose.
p.s. It's also worth noting that PRRSV (Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus) is apparently still a serious problem even on small (<200 sows) and medium (200-500 sows) sized farms, and it isn't exclusive to large factory farming operations (>500 sows). Although "herd size and pig density were found to be associated with increased risk of PRRSV infection" so those are definitely still major contributing factors.
Yeah, we're in it now, might as well. I just wish it was more than "look how much money we can make solving the problems we created".
As depressing as it is, the fact that the odds are probably near-zero is my biggest reason for not totally opposing things like this. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good enough, and all that, I suppose.
Yeah, we're in it now, might as well. I just wish it was more than "look how much money we can make solving the problems we created".
In the past few years it's clicked with me that we will not prevent the end of sustainable life unless it's profitable to do so under the economic systems we create. The minute it became...
In the past few years it's clicked with me that we will not prevent the end of sustainable life unless it's profitable to do so under the economic systems we create.
The minute it became profitable to clean the planet, the people with all the wealth would make it happen. Until then........ Well we can always try gene editing.
Yeah, that's a better articulation of the sentiment. If we are lucky we will get one part The Future by Naomi Alderman and one part Ministry for the Future. If we are less lucky, one part Station...
Yeah, that's a better articulation of the sentiment. If we are lucky we will get one part The Future by Naomi Alderman and one part Ministry for the Future. If we are less lucky, one part Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandela. If it's worse than that, not sure I want to contemplate it.
Hell's the limit, I think. But so is the sky, I suppose. Okay level with me - if I'm prone to existential crisis and anxiety, should I read those stories? Would they be cathartic or just give me...
Hell's the limit, I think. But so is the sky, I suppose.
Okay level with me - if I'm prone to existential crisis and anxiety, should I read those stories? Would they be cathartic or just give me new ways to suffer?
I think The Future is cathartic, would definitely recommend. Given the parameters, I'd say Station Eleven is a maybe and The Ministry for the Future is a probably not. Definitely take breaks...
I think The Future is cathartic, would definitely recommend.
Given the parameters, I'd say Station Eleven is a maybe and The Ministry for the Future is a probably not. Definitely take breaks between them.
I'd characterize Station Eleven as "cozy post-apocalyptic" if such a thing is possible? It's told in alternating pre- and post- disaster viewpoints, so that softens some of the crisis stuff.
The Ministry for the Future ... Tilde's book club did it, so you could go read some of the opinions there. I don't think it's one of those books that's easily spoiled. Even if you know what it's about, it's still interesting. I personally enjoyed it (but didn't finish it in time to post about it in the book club thread). My warning is: the first chapter is a sucker punch. But it gets better from there.
I'm not opposed to this kind of thing in theory, but it seems like a hack that lets unsustainable commercial farming practices continue, rather than address the root cause of why these diseases are suddenly such a problem.
What are the odds that the underlying root causes actually ever get addressed though? As depressing as it is, the fact that the odds are probably near-zero is my biggest reason for not totally opposing things like this. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good enough, and all that, I suppose.
p.s. It's also worth noting that PRRSV (Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus) is apparently still a serious problem even on small (<200 sows) and medium (200-500 sows) sized farms, and it isn't exclusive to large factory farming operations (>500 sows). Although "herd size and pig density were found to be associated with increased risk of PRRSV infection" so those are definitely still major contributing factors.
Yeah, we're in it now, might as well. I just wish it was more than "look how much money we can make solving the problems we created".
In the past few years it's clicked with me that we will not prevent the end of sustainable life unless it's profitable to do so under the economic systems we create.
The minute it became profitable to clean the planet, the people with all the wealth would make it happen. Until then........ Well we can always try gene editing.
Yeah, that's a better articulation of the sentiment. If we are lucky we will get one part The Future by Naomi Alderman and one part Ministry for the Future. If we are less lucky, one part Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandela. If it's worse than that, not sure I want to contemplate it.
Hell's the limit, I think. But so is the sky, I suppose.
Okay level with me - if I'm prone to existential crisis and anxiety, should I read those stories? Would they be cathartic or just give me new ways to suffer?
I think The Future is cathartic, would definitely recommend.
Given the parameters, I'd say Station Eleven is a maybe and The Ministry for the Future is a probably not. Definitely take breaks between them.
I'd characterize Station Eleven as "cozy post-apocalyptic" if such a thing is possible? It's told in alternating pre- and post- disaster viewpoints, so that softens some of the crisis stuff.
The Ministry for the Future ... Tilde's book club did it, so you could go read some of the opinions there. I don't think it's one of those books that's easily spoiled. Even if you know what it's about, it's still interesting. I personally enjoyed it (but didn't finish it in time to post about it in the book club thread). My warning is: the first chapter is a sucker punch. But it gets better from there.