For some reason, NBC News saw fit to indulge this scorching-hot take:
Kids are bad for Earth. To save it, we must start having fewer of them. https://t.co/aCQDsNJqpz
— NBC News THINK (@NBCNewsTHINK) November 15, 2017
Nice ratio, huh?
In his “thought experiment,” alleged bioethicist Travis Rieder writes:
Although culturally controversial, the scientific half of this position is fairly well-established. Several years ago, scientists showed that having a child, especially for the world’s wealthy, is one of the worst things you can do for the environment. That data was recycled this past summer in a paper showing that none of the activities most likely to reduce individuals’ carbon footprints are widely discussed.
The second, moral aspect of the view — that perhaps we ought to have fewer children — is also being taken seriously in many circles. Indeed, I have written widely on the topic myself.
It’s certainly not being taken seriously in any circles we hang out in. And just because Travis has written extensively on the subject doesn’t mean he knows what the hell he’s talking about.
If you buy this view of responsibility, you might eventually admit that having many children is wrong, or at least morally suspect, for standard environmental reasons: Having a child imposes high emissions on the world, while the parents get the benefit. So like with any high-cost luxury, we should limit our indulgence.
More:
https://twitter.com/CounterMoonbat/status/930821444795109377
In other words:
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/930823812966502400
This kind of crap will never not be awful.
This is disgusting
— Matt Beller (@mbeller83) November 15, 2017
What is this ridiculous scare-propaganda doing here?
— Elizabeth Fones (@lizfones) November 15, 2017
What the actual fuck?
— z (@Zuhairi_Zamzuri) November 15, 2017
Children are our greatest resource. Pieces like this are just plain sad.
— Chris Cornwell (@jccornwell) November 15, 2017
Are you partnering with Planned Parenthood or something? https://t.co/wBabDdGImj
— Colorado RedTraci (@goptraci) November 15, 2017
Science proves hot takes are bad for Earth. Morality suggests we stop vomiting them out. https://t.co/6MxyfT0X0P .. or, you know, just you.
— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) November 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/wupton/status/930824744487747585
https://twitter.com/FBillMcMorris/status/930828072961691648
This just in: school shootings are good for the environmenthttps://t.co/MXlAwyiu1P
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) November 15, 2017
Why not just come out as an advocate for war, famine, and disease. https://t.co/wkndKfjYki
— Andrea Caruso (@AndreaNRuth) November 15, 2017
Nah…that is a half measure. Only solution: full scale thermonuclear war.
PROBLEM SOLVED.https://t.co/s1jmVycosy via @NBCNews
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) November 15, 2017
How devoted can Rieder really be to saving the earth if he insists on polluting it with such intellectual garbage?
Save it for what? https://t.co/SwPNAc2nbj
— Frank J. Fleming (@IMAO_) November 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/AmyOtto8/status/930821858068389889
What’s the point of any of this?
How about you have none and I have 3? https://t.co/Bzyl52KmzD
— Karol Markowicz (@karol) November 15, 2017
Liberals are free to stop having kids. https://t.co/jfVNeuoyqb
— RBe (@RBPundit) November 15, 2017
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.
***
Update:
Ohai @NBCNewsTHINK. Why the edit? pic.twitter.com/Ouh9lvSmXd
— Taxpayer1234 ?????? (@Taxpayers1234) November 15, 2017