# Die with IRONY, Voluntary Human Extinction Movement **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 25, 2002, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528 "2002-08-25T22:11:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/21 "2002-08-26T05:19:54Z")
IMHO, having one less kid is a pretty good idea. It’s certainly more effective than recycling your newspapers and bottles. In fact, family planning is the most environmentally relevant activity most of us will ever engage in. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/22 "2002-08-26T20:13:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Liften Schwaltz \* > \*\*If I could somehow give the impression of being embarrassed through dialouge, I would type that right now. \*\* Here you go: :o :o :o 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Anaximenes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e99b99/32.png) [@Anaximenes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaximenes)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/23 "2002-08-26T21:42:15Z")
Ok… um… So, is anyone sure whether these guys are serious or not? I read through their site for a bit and decided that I agreed with them. So I cut my balls off. Now I’m wondering if I made a mistake. 😕 Owwwwwwww ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/24 "2002-08-26T21:43:29Z")
Eh? There’s nothing suicidal about VHEMT, unless you believe that you literally live on through your children. Since I first heard of them in 1991, their slogan has been “Live long and die out.” Live long isn’t compatible with suicide. They’ve always advocated humans ceasing to breed. While they’re obviously not gonna be real effective in achieving their stated goal, since they’re **voluntary** , they’re certainly harmless. Nah. You want scary? Check out the [Church of Euthanasia](http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/), whose motto is “Suicide, abortion, cannibalism, sodomy” – the four best ways to reduce human population. 🙂 Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/25 "2002-08-26T21:47:34Z")
Oh – I’ve not looked at the Church of Euthanasia’s Web site in about five years, and I foolishly didn’t poke around in it before posting the link. Be forewarned: satire or no, it’s in pretty wretched taste. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/26 "2002-08-26T21:55:45Z")
I ran across this site a few months ago. I didn’t consider it to be satire… maybe I got whooshed. Either way I think it is a fucking great idea (seriously) and if I were a joiner I would probably sign up. I see nothing wrong with the idea of people choosing not to have children, especially if people are doing it in such a manner that they are not opposed to the idea of raising children or giving them good homes and love etc, but just not adding yet another person to the planet. I don’t understand the major problem? NB: talking about the VHEMT site, not any of the other sites mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/27 "2002-08-26T23:45:31Z")
> [@](#): > > Most of us will be around to see our progeny beget, and those begotten beget to boot. Nutty or not, I’m a sucker for alliteration. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/28 "2002-08-28T01:22:51Z")
If it is a satire, it’s much larger than just their Internet page. I’m looking right now at a book I bought years ago called _Kooks: A Guide To The Outer Limits Of Human Belief_ by Donna Kossy, published in 1994. According to the four pages devoted to VHEMT, _Reader’s Digest_ published a condensed article about VHEMT taken from some publication called _New Age Journal_. The founder of the movement, the clearly-pseudonymed Les U. Knight, has apparently been involving himself in various ecological movements since at least the late 1970s. He’s not the first to promote “Zero Population Growth”, just one of the more successful. Admittedly, I’m not as well-versed in the study of psychoceramics (crackpots) as others, but I’m inclined to believe, as Kossy evidently believes, that VHEMT is genuine. I can’t see how something so strange could endure for over a decade without being either (1) an obvious give-us-your-money scheme or (2) driven on by a dedicated loon who believes in his cause. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/29 "2002-08-28T03:08:52Z")
_. I can’t see how something so strange could endure for over a decade without being either (1) an obvious give-us-your-money scheme or (2) driven on by a dedicated loon who believes in his cause._ Or (3), driven by someone with a sense of humor who is trying to establish some underlying point. (eg., Flat Earth Society.) ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/30 "2002-08-28T03:40:52Z")
**Max Torque** , how would you classify _The Church of the Subgenius_? ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/31 "2002-08-28T04:15:00Z")
I think a better way to achieve GREAT JUSTICE would be to MOVE ZIG. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/32 "2002-08-29T13:46:26Z")
[Why Breed?](http://www.vhemt.org/biobreed.htm#babies) > [@](#): > > Reasons given: A good family is essential to career advancement and strong standing in the community. > > Real reason: Social insecurity. Wants trophy children to improve social status. > > Suggested alternatives: Rent children from talent agency on special occasions. Have white picket fence installed. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/33 "2002-08-29T14:07:37Z")
BAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA!!! I’m sorry. I know it’s no longer in style, but all that ZeroWing stuff still cracks me up. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/34 "2002-08-29T15:41:30Z")
I hold that if humanity ever was stupid enough to go voluntarily extinct, Earth would eventually spawn another intelligent species, who take one look at our ruins and why we’re no more, say “That’s _so incredibly fucking_ lame” and resolve to take it as their noble goal to rape and plunder this planet before moving to find new planets to rape and plunder. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/35 "2002-08-29T16:10:41Z")
The Voluntary Human Extinction people are for real. And, quite frankly, I don’t see why it’s anything to get upset about. They’re a bunch of folks who have decided not to have kids, because they feel the earth would be better off with less (or no) humans. As far as I know, they do not go around seeking to sterilize others. And it’s nothing new - birth control is generally accepted - this is just birth control associated with a philosophical belief system. And I for one have no problem whatsoever with people deciding not to reproduce - furthermore, I don’t understand what objection there can be to people making that decision. I’ve seen no convincing evidence that the VHEM is “WRONG”, that is, that propagating the human species is GOOD for the earth - it certainly isn’t good for the species humans have driven (or are driving) to extinction. So, what is there to be upset about? What’s the problem, here? Kn(confused, as usual)ckers ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/36 "2002-08-29T18:53:00Z")
hehe great site. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/37 "2002-08-30T01:47:39Z")
Just a small clarification **Kn\*ckers**. I understand that VHEMT espouses not having _further_ kids. Membership is open to those who have children. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/38 "2002-08-30T13:21:55Z")
VHEMT is for real, they have been around for some time. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/39 "2002-08-30T13:39:50Z")
You’re right, \*\* flowbark \*\* - my mistake. This is about the weirdest pit thread I’ve seen yet. I really can’t make heads or tails of what is going on here - We seem to have established that VHEMT is a serious phenomenon (at least to its members), what I haven’t figured out yet is what the rant’s about. Is anyone else as mystified as I am? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528/40 "2002-08-30T14:29:50Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Kn_ckers \* > [BIs anyone else as mystified as I am? \*\* Regarding the OP? Or just generally about life? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-with-irony-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/125528.md?page=3)