Aibu to be worried about the human race after reading this article? (Link included)

[gingganggooleywotsit]

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/pollution-penis-shrink-sperm-count-b1821863.html#comments

Argh it’s just so awful. I know it’s only the research of one scientist, but that is seriously scary. Why is this not headline news across the world?

Pollution, climate change and our impact on our environment is very serious, but no one really cares. I don't think people can comprehend the outcomes of inaction. I even don't believe we will hit our net zero targets because it involves a change in the way we, as a consumer live, bit people can't be arsed or don't see the point.

I think it is a relatively painless and gradual way to reduce human population. Can't really say that I am bothered with that.

Dr Swan has warned that if the current rates of sperm count continues at the present rate, humanity will hit a count of zero by the year 2045.

It's a fascinating article but I simply can't imagine this ^ happening, and so soon.

Maybe it will, and it's people like me that are the problem, and by the time we wise up it'll be too late.

I think we as humans are definitely going to be responsible for our own extinction, there is so much that needs to be done, such a drastic change in our behaviours and lifestyles to prevent it, that we can't and/or won't do it and that'll be the end of us.

I’ve done no physical research on this, apart from my job, I’ve not seen a penis for years. And I’m quite glad about it🙂
I agree with PP, with pollution and greed, tiny penises are a easy way to prevent sexual assault, and pare down the human race.

Sorry to drag covid into this but it's another reason I can't get worked up about coronavirus- more people die each year from pollution in the UK and the emergency response wasn't to address food waste and taking cars off roads.

I thought most people were aware of the effects of phthalates. It's why you get plastic containers with labels on saying bpa/phthalate free.

It's why loads of people are trying to reduce plastic use, among other factors.

Doesn’t seem very plausible - the global population is still growing. Is she genuinely suggesting that trend will reverse to the point of zero in just 25 years?

Yes I’ve been trying really hard to go plastic free but I hadn’t considered the effect on fertility happening so quickly.

@CloudFormations seems extreme and hard to believe, but scary reading nonetheless

yeah, we are totally oblivious/indifferent to the terrible global pollution we have caused over the last century or two. it's do much more than carbon. we are advised not to eat too much of certain fish due to the possibility of mercury poisoning ourselves ffs, why don't more people care about this type of thing?

Dr Swan has warned that if the current rates of sperm count continues at the present rate, humanity will hit a count of zero by the year 2045.

This seems like one of the more peaceful and humane extinction routes I've heard of actually, a quiet slipping away of the species.

tiny penises are a easy way to prevent sexual assault, and pare down the human race.

This seems like one of the more peaceful and humane extinction routes I've heard of actually, a quiet slipping away of the species.

While I agree with the sentiment, I actually think there is every chance we'd end up living in some god awful dystopian Handmaid's Tale type scenario.

Just saw the headline for this and thought, well now climate change is effecting penises people in charge are more likely to want to combat it

Wonder what would happen if male fertility did /does decline so rapidly? I guess females would pay the price.

now climate change is effecting penises people in charge are more likely to want to combat it

I believe it's pollution rather than climate change, but I take your point. However since this only affects future penises and not existing penises I'm not sure it'll inject the same level of urgency

The book doesn't have a very catchy title

Count Down: How our Modern World is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race

It's Margaret Atwood's World. We just live in it.

@MammaSchwifty

now climate change is effecting penises people in charge are more likely to want to combat it

I believe it's pollution rather than climate change, but I take your point. However since this only affects future penises and not existing penises I'm not sure it'll inject the same level of urgency

Oops! Thanks for the correction, this is what I get for having a swift read of headlines while I made dinner

falling sperm count has been known about for a while - there is plenty of evidence that it is a real phenomenon

www.scientificamerican.com/article/sperm-count-dropping-in-western-world/

www.gq.com/story/sperm-count-zero

www.britishfertilitysociety.org.uk/press-release/uk-study-shows-29-drop-in-sperm-concentration/

Wouldn't it be possible to just freeze loads of sperm and keep using that store to populate the human race?