# Population growth is good because it reduces inbreeding **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 27, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331 "2020-06-27T03:08:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/101 "2020-06-29T15:25:17Z")
I’d agree some population growth is good for most countries. But inbreeding, outside of being a cultural taboo, isn’t really a modern problem. Studies show cousins who marry each other have about the same risk of having a birth defect as the general population. If full siblings marry each other they have a much higher risk. But they also have a natural ‘yuck’ reflex toward the siblings they are raised with so it doesn’t happen very often. Interestingly enough, full siblings who aren’t raised together tend to be very physically attracted to each other. So if you want to stop harmful inbreeding, keep families together. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/102 "2020-06-29T15:44:28Z")
> [@Dark\_Sponge](#): > > Interestingly enough, full siblings who aren’t raised together tend to be very physically attracted to each other. So if you want to stop harmful inbreeding, keep families together. Or very far apart. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/103 "2020-06-29T16:02:27Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > > [@Obama](#): > > > > Minority persons are at high risk of COVID. Since the modern hiphop culture has a lot of these people it is not surprising they have so many cases. > > Please, do explain this for me I’m still waiting for an explanation on how modern hip hop culture has anything to do with higher risk of covid in minorities. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/104 "2020-06-29T16:08:51Z")
> [@Obama](#): > > Without the exports from countries it kept attacking germany would be below 2000. Why? If it hadn’t attacked, why could it not have kept producing and importing? Germany’s per-capita calorie intake was above (well above) 2000 when it started attacking. Germany diverting manpower and resources from agricultural production to the Wehrmacht and the naval blockade might have had something to do with the food problems that started to emerge by 1942 or 43, for example. > [@Obama](#): > > Before then it was agrarian Your own cite says that the agricultural sector comprised less than half of the labor force as far back as 1880 (which is more than half a century before the Second World War). The US was an industrial power long before 1943. What does a railroad from far west Texas to California, or an interstate highway system initiated in the 1950s, or urban renewal in Detroit, have to do with keeping the ex-Confederate states in check after 1877? Spewing unrelated facts does not an argument make. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/105 "2020-06-29T16:09:44Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > I’m still waiting for an explanation on how modern hip hop culture has anything to do with higher risk of covid in minorities. I’m sure it has something to do with peak oil. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/106 "2020-06-29T16:22:43Z")
Kinky! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/107 "2020-06-29T16:36:51Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > > [@snfaulkner](#): > > > > I’m still waiting for an explanation on how modern hip hop culture has anything to do with higher risk of covid in minorities. > > I’m sure it has something to do with peak oil. And incest. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/108 "2020-06-29T16:59:54Z")
“Hip-Hop, Peak Oil and Incest” is my least-favorite Jared Diamond book. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/109 "2020-06-29T18:57:27Z")
Yes, if our population went down to 100 persons this would be a huge problem. But going from 7 Billion to 3 Billion or even 700 million is going to have a negligible effect. ---
**Author:** ![Dershowitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@Dershowitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dershowitz)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/110 "2020-07-12T16:28:46Z")
You have been refuted with math, right there in the op. ---
**Author:** ![Dershowitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@Dershowitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dershowitz)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/111 "2020-07-12T16:30:05Z")
He was simply answering your questions German economy obviously collapsed because of swedish exports. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/112 "2020-07-12T16:35:13Z")
Is this sarcasm or more sophism from the theater of the absurd? ---
**Author:** ![Dershowitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@Dershowitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dershowitz)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/113 "2020-07-12T17:57:51Z")
I thought the replies were sophist ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/114 "2020-07-12T18:11:21Z")
Is that the defense strategy you’ll be presenting for your client, counselor? The, _I’m rubber you’re glue_, rebuttal. ---
**Author:** ![Dershowitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@Dershowitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dershowitz)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/115 "2020-07-12T18:34:16Z")
I dont actually see any direct arguments against ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/116 "2020-07-12T18:42:24Z")
Against what exactly? Can you summarize and cite the claim you’re supporting? It’s difficult to have a conversation when it’s not clear what you’re even talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Dershowitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@Dershowitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dershowitz)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331/117 "2020-07-12T18:45:22Z")
Forget it [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/population-growth-is-good-because-it-reduces-inbreeding/913331.md?page=5)