# How much of a problem is overpopulation for the planet?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-problem-is-overpopulation-for-the-planet/491100>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [March 28, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-problem-is-overpopulation-for-the-planet/491100 "2009-03-28T16:36:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 9

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**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-problem-is-overpopulation-for-the-planet/491100/161 "2009-04-25T11:58:50Z")

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> [@Mijin](#):
>
> “Some solis just aren’t suitable for Arable farming” - No shit, Sherlock

If its so totally obvious why did I have to mention it to you?

By the way overpopulation is bad for both the planet and Humanity.

Whoops there I go again stating the totally bleeding obvious,do forgive me Watson.

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**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-problem-is-overpopulation-for-the-planet/491100/162 "2009-04-25T13:24:07Z")

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> [@Lust4Life](#):
>
> If its so totally obvious why did I have to mention it to you?

I don’t know. Why did you?  
Did I ever assert that all land is suitable for arable farming?

> [@](#):
>
> By the way overpopulation is bad for both the planet and Humanity.  
> Whoops there I go again stating the totally bleeding obvious,do forgive me Watson.

Yep, that is stating the obvious again. Overpopulation by definition is “too many” people. But may I remind you what my whole point is in this debate:

> [@Mijin](#):
>
> The argument [is] just one of perspective.  
> The problem the world faces is not one of overpopulation itself – a couple of billion more subsistence farmers is not good for the planet but it’s hardly armageddon either. The problem is that the developing world is developing. And people across much of the world are achieving an increasingly Western way of life. This is the problem.

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**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-problem-is-overpopulation-for-the-planet/491100/163 "2009-04-27T09:10:50Z")

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Frankly this debate has run out of steam and is starting to go around and around.  
Unless something totally new comes up I’ll call it a day.

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