# If you could snap your fingers and render one species globally extinct, would you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2007, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633 "2007-07-13T12:32:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/61 "2007-07-14T04:38:43Z")
Er, Republicans? ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/62 "2007-07-15T16:04:11Z")
[QUOTE=capybara] I think I’m with the few opting to eradicate humans (this act, of course, would take an unlikely moment of lack of sense of self preservation). We’re not terribly well balanced in terms of the ecosystem and if one species could go that would do the best for the most other species, well. The nasty viruses and such are nasty but part of a balanced setup in the big scheme of things-- only a problem in overpopulated groups-- but we humans tip the balances too much with our fancy big brains and opposable thumbs. [/QUOTE] But if there were no humans then who would there be to appreciate the eco system? Animals arent actually aware of the concept,if a tree falls in the forest and theres no one there does it make a sound? ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/63 "2007-07-15T17:56:10Z")
Most definitely, yes I would, the species that’d go bye-bye? Ticks dear Og I _HATE_ ticks, nothing eats 'em, they’re nothing but a disease vector, totally useless animal… if i could have a more global choice, I’d obliterate _ALL_ insects/arachnids that feed on blood, say goodbye to ticks, mosquitoes, deerflies, horseflies, mooseflies, black flies and stable flies ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/64 "2007-07-15T18:33:58Z")
Since no one else will say it I nominate _Homosapiens_. This will conceivably eliminate the extinction of many other species. By making this nomination I believe I’ve out-liberaled all the liberals on these boards. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/65 "2007-07-15T19:42:57Z")
[QUOTE=kniz] Since no one else will say it I nominate _Homosapiens_. This will conceivably eliminate the extinction of many other species. By making this nomination I believe I’ve out-liberaled all the liberals on these boards. 🆒 [/QUOTE] See… uh, just about every other post. My recommendation is unicorns. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/66 "2007-07-15T19:51:36Z")
Sure. The AIDS virus. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/67 "2007-07-15T20:00:41Z")
[QUOTE=Madd Maxx] Are politicians technically a seperate species? If we took the time to classify them as such I would weiner dog politicians. [/QUOTE] If we can nominate politicians, then why not telemarketers as well? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/68 "2007-07-16T07:30:13Z")
To those who voted for **humans** :rolleyes: Suicide is the most sincere form of self-criticism. - Robert Heinlein ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/69 "2007-07-16T07:45:32Z")
[QUOTE=Sitnam] To those who voted for **humans** :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Humans as a whole are a menace. Individually, very few are particularly terrible. If we want to do some good for this planet, we’d need to wipe ourselves out. If it happens anytime soon, I won’t have any great regrets over it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/70 "2007-07-16T10:40:50Z")
Malaria parasite, definitely. Or the sleeping sickness parasite. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/71 "2007-07-16T11:38:24Z")
Second vote for poison ivy … poor mrAru can look at a picture and get it, I think. I have yet to see him since we moved to CT in 1990 without an outbreak somewhere other than the times he was on cruises that lasted longer than 60 days. Of course he promptly got it once back home. lLthough it did help him dress as a leper one SCA event … the idiots at MilMed gave him calamine lotion and told him to come back if it got worse, so he had suppurating calamine infused scabs over most of his arms and legs so we just loosely wrapped them in gauze and dressed him in a dhoti and djeleba, and he sat with a begging bowl and worked on some woodcarving he was doing. Made 36 cents too =) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/72 "2007-07-16T14:27:56Z")
[_Staphylococcus aureus_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staphylococcus). ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/73 "2007-07-16T15:01:42Z")
Fire ants, fire ants, and fire ants. Evil fuckers. The \*only \* redeeming use they have is to help birds preen, and even then they aren’t vital or even necessary. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/74 "2007-07-16T15:14:06Z")
Birds of Paradise and Peacocks Show off bastards ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/75 "2007-07-16T15:41:35Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Birds of Paradise and Peacocks Show off bastards [/QUOTE] :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/76 "2007-07-16T15:48:47Z")
Naked mole rats. The thought that those disgusting little bastards are scurrying around under the ground, even on another continent, creeps me right out. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/77 "2007-07-17T09:45:20Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] Humans as a whole are a menace. Individually, very few are particularly terrible. If we want to do some good for this planet, we’d need to wipe ourselves out. If it happens anytime soon, I won’t have any great regrets over it. [/QUOTE] If humans are a menace then one less would make up slightly less menacing. Like Hienlien’s saying, ‘you first’, help us all out. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/78 "2007-07-17T09:55:15Z")
I’ll stick with macroscopic animals and say Black Widow Spiders. Although I don’t like spiders, I recognize the valuable role they play in the ecosystem. But there’s no need for one of them to be _that_ poisonous. If there’s another species of spider that does more harm to humans, I’ll change my vote. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2007, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/79 "2007-07-17T11:06:18Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] Humans as a whole are a menace. Individually, very few are particularly terrible. If we want to do some good for this planet, we’d need to wipe ourselves out. If it happens anytime soon, I won’t have any great regrets over it. [/QUOTE] What does “some good for this planet” even **mean**? If you’re talking about ecological homeostasis (not that a sudden abandonment of all power stations would result in homeostasis), that’s not “good” in any traditional sense. Tom Reagan, a professor of philosophy at NC State and probably the lead intellectual advocate of animal rights philosophy, calls such an approach “ecological fascism” for its deliberate disregard for the welfare of any individual in favor of a focus on the good of the group. No, eliminating humans, much less turning us all into weiner dogs, is a lousy idea. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633/80 "2007-07-17T20:14:47Z")
Tsetse flies or mosquitoes. Yes, they have their place in the world’s ecosystem, but for my money we’d all be a lot better off without 'em. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-snap-your-fingers-and-render-one-species-globally-extinct-would-you/411633.md?page=5)