An unpolished post on a silly article

http://www.theawl.com/2010/09/were-vampires-baby-sucking-blood-from-the-earth

Reading this article reminded me of someone I knew who hated ants (or maybe just the particular species of them) because some species of ants would enslave ants from other colonies/species.

It's kind of an interesting way of putting things, and it is a good idea for human beings to understand how they alter their environment and learn how to avoid destroying our food supply (in fact, I have altered my own diet as a result of my desire to preserve it). That said, it's ridiculous to say that we're like the Independence Day aliens as if WE WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES. There are so many lifeforms that wipe out indigenous life when they move in and or destroy the "delicate ecosystems" they inhabit. It's less excusable on our part because we have some inkling of what we're doing and the consequences of it, but don't flatter yourself with thinking humans aren't a part of the whole system.

""Farming drives much of the ecological damage humans do...""

You know, corn is also thriving right now. We interact with corn plants, and they have done a great job of domesticating us to the point that we do all the work for them. We gather their seeds, plant them in ideal locations, and pump them with every nutrient we can find.

I don't actually think we're in thrall to some malevolent corn spirit that has domesticated us (but maybe a benevolent one... just kidding). I just found that to be one of the more fascinating little side alleys that Michael Pollan dipped into in Omnivore's Dilemma.

Anyway, if you're concerned about human beings destroying the planet for the planet's sake and not for the sake of human beings (that is, you value your fantasy of earth's environment over the continuation of the species), then I suggest you join the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement.