The Edict by Max Ehrlich

[t***@gmail.com]

The Edict" by Max Ehrlich:

Earth is so crowded and short on food (with everyone limited to just a few hundred calories a day) that births are banned for 30 years. In an effort to satisfy women's maternal instincts, the World Government provides them with mechanical babies so realistic that they will accept feedings (which would
seem to defeat the food saving purpose of the Edict!). Even then, the women have to undergo psychonarcosynthesis to make their subconsciousnesses believe that the babies are real. However, the psychonarcosynthesis doesn't always hold, and the women awaken from their fantasy and become revolted by the fake babies. Some couples have babies in violation of the Edict. If they are caught, they are suffocated. The protagonists, Russ and Carole Evans, have a baby and must hide it from everyone. When their neighbors George and Edna Borden find out, Edna insists on partial custody of the baby. Edna takes
greater and greater control of the baby, so Russ and Carole must escape to an island off shore.

[Robert Carnegie]

Post by t***@gmail.com
Earth is so crowded and short on food (with everyone limited to just a few hundred calories a day) that births are banned for 30 years. In an effort to satisfy women's maternal instincts, the World Government provides them with mechanical babies so realistic that they will accept feedings (which would
seem to defeat the food saving purpose of the Edict!). Even then, the women have to undergo psychonarcosynthesis to make their subconsciousnesses believe that the babies are real. However, the psychonarcosynthesis doesn't always hold, and the women awaken from their fantasy and become revolted by the fake babies. Some couples have babies in violation of the Edict. If they are caught, they are suffocated. The protagonists, Russ and Carole Evans, have a baby and must hide it from everyone. When their neighbors George and Edna Borden find out, Edna insists on partial custody of the baby. Edna takes
greater and greater control of the baby, so Russ and Carole must escape to an island off shore.

I presume the message of the story is about contraception?

[TB]

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com
Earth is so crowded and short on food (with everyone limited to just a few hundred calories a day) that births are banned for 30 years. In an effort to satisfy women's maternal instincts, the World Government provides them with mechanical babies so realistic that they will accept feedings (which would
seem to defeat the food saving purpose of the Edict!). Even then, the women have to undergo psychonarcosynthesis to make their subconsciousnesses believe that the babies are real. However, the psychonarcosynthesis doesn't always hold, and the women awaken from their fantasy and become revolted by the fake babies. Some couples have babies in violation of the Edict. If they are caught, they are suffocated. The protagonists, Russ and Carole Evans, have a baby and must hide it from everyone. When their neighbors George and Edna Borden find out, Edna insists on partial custody of the baby. Edna takes
greater and greater control of the baby, so Russ and Carole must escape to an island off shore.

I presume the message of the story is about contraception?

Everyone has an abortion machine.

Carole got pregnant on purpose, due to her strong psychological need for a REAL child.

I think the main purpose is to warn of the dangers of overpopulation & environmental degradation (Birds & bees gone, cats, dogs, cows, flowers, trees almost gone).

[Quadibloc]

Post by TB
I think the main purpose is to warn of the dangers of overpopulation &
environmental degradation

Having watched the movie, it seemed like its purpose was to warn of the
totalitarian mentality of the people who would like to limit population growth.

John Savard

[David Johnston]

Post by Quadibloc

Post by TB
I think the main purpose is to warn of the dangers of overpopulation &
environmental degradation

Having watched the movie, it seemed like its purpose was to warn of the
totalitarian mentality of the people who would like to limit population growth.

That seems likely.

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by David Johnston

Post by Quadibloc

Post by TB
I think the main purpose is to warn of the dangers of overpopulation &
environmental degradation

Having watched the movie, it seemed like its purpose was to warn of the
totalitarian mentality of the people who would like to limit population growth.

That seems likely.

How would a democracy have handed the situation the world of "The Edict" was in?

[Robert Carnegie]

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by David Johnston

Post by Quadibloc

Post by TB
I think the main purpose is to warn of the dangers of overpopulation &
environmental degradation

Having watched the movie, it seemed like its purpose was to warn of the
totalitarian mentality of the people who would like to limit population growth.

That seems likely.

How would a democracy have handed the situation the world of "The Edict" was in?

The United Kingdom recently introduced an "austerity"
measure of withdrawing state aid for offspring past
the parents' Birthright, as it was called on
Known Space Earth, i.e. one couple can have two
children. But there's an exception for rapists.
Really - including the "rape clause" - unless they
undid all this since I looked.

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by David Johnston

Post by Quadibloc

Post by TB
I think the main purpose is to warn of the dangers of overpopulation &
environmental degradation

Having watched the movie, it seemed like its purpose was to warn of the
totalitarian mentality of the people who would like to limit population growth.

That seems likely.

How would a democracy have handed the situation the world of "The Edict" was in?

The United Kingdom recently introduced an "austerity"
measure of withdrawing state aid for offspring past
the parents' Birthright, as it was called on
Known Space Earth, i.e. one couple can have two
children. But there's an exception for rapists.
Really - including the "rape clause" - unless they
undid all this since I looked.

WorldGov had cut off education aid for any kid past the 1st, but to no avail.

So the Conservatives favor population control?

Are the Greens dancing for joy?

[Robert Carnegie]

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by David Johnston

Post by Quadibloc

Post by TB
I think the main purpose is to warn of the dangers of overpopulation &
environmental degradation

Having watched the movie, it seemed like its purpose was to warn of the
totalitarian mentality of the people who would like to limit population growth.

That seems likely.

How would a democracy have handed the situation the world of "The Edict" was in?

The United Kingdom recently introduced an "austerity"
measure of withdrawing state aid for offspring past
the parents' Birthright, as it was called on
Known Space Earth, i.e. one couple can have two
children. But there's an exception for rapists.
Really - including the "rape clause" - unless they
undid all this since I looked.

WorldGov had cut off education aid for any kid past the 1st, but to no avail.

Is it a new discovery since then that education - schooling -
tends to reduce procreation? Especially education of young
women. I suppose they're just too tired??

Post by t***@gmail.com
So the Conservatives favor population control?
Are the Greens dancing for joy?

I think our Conservatives just don't like children,
and poor people.

[Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha]

Post by Robert Carnegie
I think our Conservatives just don't like children,
and poor people.

Well, nobody likes poor people. And only poor people like children.
--
Terry Austin

Vacation photos from Iceland:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/collection/QaXQkB

"Terry Austin: like the polio vaccine, only with more asshole."
-- David Bilek

Jesus forgives sinners, not criminals.

[David DeLaney]

Post by Robert Carnegie
Is it a new discovery since then that education - schooling -
tends to reduce procreation? Especially education of young
women. I suppose they're just too tired??

Our own James N. has a quote about this ... it's only known in the last
century, I think. The key is that edumacated wimmin have more things they
can work at, or do with their life, than being a housewife and popping out a
kid every year or so. Wimmin with access to birth control, which was mid-'60s,
also tend to have rather fewer kids than ones without.

Post by Robert Carnegie
I think our Conservatives just don't like children,
and poor people.

Well of course; they're not rich white adult male Christians, so don't
DESERVE to have good things happen to them or to have ways to escape the
lowest caste.

Dave, it's all about who-all you actually see as "people"

[Dimensional Traveler]

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Robert Carnegie
Is it a new discovery since then that education - schooling -
tends to reduce procreation? Especially education of young
women. I suppose they're just too tired??

Our own James N. has a quote about this ... it's only known in the last
century, I think. The key is that edumacated wimmin have more things they
can work at, or do with their life, than being a housewife and popping out a
kid every year or so. Wimmin with access to birth control, which was mid-'60s,
also tend to have rather fewer kids than ones without.

"Until recently baby production was largely dependent on slave labour;
as soon as women are allowed to answer the question "Would you like to
squeeze as many objects the size of a watermelon out of your body as it
takes to kill you?" they generally answer "No, thank you." This leads to
falling birthrates everywhere women are not kept enslaved and ignorant
of the alternatives." - James Nicoll, 2005

[Juho Julkunen]

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by David Johnston

Post by Quadibloc

Post by TB
I think the main purpose is to warn of the dangers of overpopulation &
environmental degradation

Having watched the movie, it seemed like its purpose was to warn of the
totalitarian mentality of the people who would like to limit population growth.

That seems likely.

How would a democracy have handed the situation the world of "The Edict" was in?

The United Kingdom recently introduced an "austerity"
measure of withdrawing state aid for offspring past
the parents' Birthright, as it was called on
Known Space Earth, i.e. one couple can have two
children. But there's an exception for rapists.
Really - including the "rape clause" - unless they
undid all this since I looked.

Subsidizing offspring with state aid is explicitly pronatalist policy,
rather than a natural right. Presumably people can still keep having
children past two, if they so choose.

Subsidizing rape might be a more controversial stance.

[Kevrob]

Post by Juho Julkunen

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by David Johnston

Post by Quadibloc

Post by TB
I think the main purpose is to warn of the dangers of overpopulation &
environmental degradation

Having watched the movie, it seemed like its purpose was to warn of the
totalitarian mentality of the people who would like to limit population growth.

That seems likely.

How would a democracy have handed the situation the world of "The Edict" was in?

The United Kingdom recently introduced an "austerity"
measure of withdrawing state aid for offspring past
the parents' Birthright, as it was called on
Known Space Earth, i.e. one couple can have two
children. But there's an exception for rapists.
Really - including the "rape clause" - unless they
undid all this since I looked.

Subsidizing offspring with state aid is explicitly pronatalist policy,
rather than a natural right. Presumably people can still keep having
children past two, if they so choose.
Subsidizing rape might be a more controversial stance.

ObSF: the official state rape by conscription - the "Peace Corps" -
in J. Neil Schulman's "The Rainbow Cadenza." It also has the
licensed, rape and murder of "the Touchables," an underclass
of convicted felons.

It may be M. Savard's Nightmare Novel, what with the imbalance
of men v women in the population so heavily skewed towards men.

Kevin R

[Ignatios Souvatzis]

Post by t***@gmail.com
Earth is so crowded and short on food (with everyone limited to
just a few hundred calories a day) that births are banned for 30
years. In an effort to satisfy women's maternal instincts, the
World Government provides them with mechanical babies so realistic
that they will accept feedings (which would
seem to defeat the food saving purpose of the Edict!). Even
then, the women have to undergo psychonarcosynthesis to make their
subconsciousnesses believe that the babies are real. However, the
psychonarcosynthesis doesn't always hold, and the women awaken from
their fantasy and become revolted by the fake babies. Some couples
have babies in violation of the Edict. If they are caught, they
are suffocated. The protagonists, Russ and Carole Evans, have a
baby and must hide it from everyone. When their neighbors George
and Edna Borden find out, Edna insists on partial custody of the
baby. Edna takes greater and greater control of the baby, so
Russ and Carole must escape to an island off shore.

I know that plot! Later (or earlier) made into a 1970's movie ...
--time passes--
earlier. Ehrlich based the novel on the screenplay Frank de Felitta and
himself wrote, which was the base for Z.P.G.(1979).

-is

[Quadibloc]

Post by Ignatios Souvatzis
Ehrlich based the novel on the screenplay Frank de Felitta and
himself wrote, which was the base for Z.P.G.(1979).

I remember seeing that movie, with Ed Asner, on television.

John Savard

[Ignatios Souvatzis]

Post by t***@gmail.com
Earth is so crowded and short on food (with everyone limited to
just a few hundred calories a day) that births are banned for 30
years. In an effort to satisfy women's maternal instincts, the
World Government provides them with mechanical babies so realistic
that they will accept feedings (which would
seem to defeat the food saving purpose of the Edict!). Even
then, the women have to undergo psychonarcosynthesis to make their
subconsciousnesses believe that the babies are real. However, the
psychonarcosynthesis doesn't always hold, and the women awaken from
their fantasy and become revolted by the fake babies. Some couples
have babies in violation of the Edict. If they are caught, they
are suffocated. The protagonists, Russ and Carole Evans, have a
baby and must hide it from everyone. When their neighbors George
and Edna Borden find out, Edna insists on partial custody of the
baby. Edna takes greater and greater control of the baby, so
Russ and Carole must escape to an island off shore.

I know that plot! Later (or earlier) made into a 1970's movie ...
--time passes--
earlier. Ehrlich based the novel on the screenplay Frank de Felitta and
himself wrote, which was the base for Z.P.G.(1972).

-is

[Joy Beeson]

. . . everyone limited to just a few hundred calories a day)
that births are banned for 30 years.

Ain't nobody going to get pregnant nohow, unless she gets more than
her share of calories.

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by Joy Beeson

. . . everyone limited to just a few hundred calories a day)
that births are banned for 30 years.

Ain't nobody going to get pregnant nohow, unless she gets more than
her share of calories.

Russ was a guard at a natural history museum that was one of the few areas of open space left! As such, he & his partner (marriage had been abolished, since the reproductive purpose of marriage had been outlawed) got extra calories! They lived in an actual house at the museum, so could grow vegetables in their garden.

Post by Joy Beeson
--
Joy Beeson
joy beeson at comcast dot net
---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by h***@gmail.com

Post by t***@gmail.com
Earth is so crowded and short on food (with everyone limited to just a few hundred calories a day) that births are banned for 30 years.

I suspect that on a few 100 calories a day people aren't going to live for 30 years.
It's almost always well over 1000 calories a day to maintain weight.

The book does say that 90% of deaths were from malnutrition!

[h***@gmail.com]

Post by t***@gmail.com
Earth is so crowded and short on food (with everyone limited to just a few hundred calories a day) that births are banned for 30 years.

I suspect that on a few 100 calories a day people aren't going to live for 30 years.
It's almost always well over 1000 calories a day to maintain weight.

[t***@gmail.com]

To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years. Yet women are supplied with mechanical babies so realistic that they will accept feedings (which would seem to defeat the food saving purpose of the Edict!).

[Moriarty]

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

-Moriarty

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

The world's population has grown like gangbusters in the last few centuries. How is it stupid to extrapolate that trend to come up with a world almost completely covered with cities and short on food?

[Robert Carnegie]

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

The world's population has grown like gangbusters in the last few centuries. How is it stupid to extrapolate that trend to come up with a world almost completely covered with cities and short on food?

You hope that someone would have done something about
it sooner. Such as this World Government you mentioned.

If I'd read the story, I might defend it by claiming that
the World Government was only formed /after/ fossil oil ran
out and world food production, which depends on it,
collapsed. In the meantime, several present-day cultures
are crazy to breed.

But it's a fable, basically. As much science fiction is -
like "The Cold Equations". Making a point - after a
fashion - is at least equally the author's goal as being
scientifically plausible. Also I mentioned Rumpelstiltskin
already.

Or could it be about the Holocaust? Although I'm afraid
to suggest that as a casual remark.

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

The world's population has grown like gangbusters in the last few centuries. How is it stupid to extrapolate that trend to come up with a world almost completely covered with cities and short on food?

You hope that someone would have done something about
it sooner. Such as this World Government you mentioned.

I would have hoped the same about Global Warming! Efforts to stop it have been hamstrung by fossil fuel company propaganda that claims that GW is Fake News!

It is often the case that we must come to the edge of the cliff before we can change.

Post by Robert Carnegie
If I'd read the story, I might defend it by claiming that
the World Government was only formed /after/ fossil oil ran
out and world food production, which depends on it,
collapsed. In the meantime, several present-day cultures
are crazy to breed.

The WG was created by a revolution caused by a very severe pollution crisis. This pollution wiped out the bees (needed to pollinate crops), fish, and farm animals. Also birds. The WG banned fossil fuels.

Post by Robert Carnegie
But it's a fable, basically. As much science fiction is -
like "The Cold Equations". Making a point - after a
fashion - is at least equally the author's goal as being
scientifically plausible. Also I mentioned Rumpelstiltskin
already.
Or could it be about the Holocaust? Although I'm afraid
to suggest that as a casual remark.

The Chinese leader suggested killing all the old folks.

[Robert Carnegie]

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

The world's population has grown like gangbusters in the last few centuries. How is it stupid to extrapolate that trend to come up with a world almost completely covered with cities and short on food?

You hope that someone would have done something about
it sooner. Such as this World Government you mentioned.

I would have hoped the same about Global Warming! Efforts to stop it have been hamstrung by fossil fuel company propaganda that claims that GW is Fake News!
It is often the case that we must come to the edge of the cliff before we can change.

Post by Robert Carnegie
If I'd read the story, I might defend it by claiming that
the World Government was only formed /after/ fossil oil ran
out and world food production, which depends on it,
collapsed. In the meantime, several present-day cultures
are crazy to breed.

The WG was created by a revolution caused by a very severe pollution crisis. This pollution wiped out the bees (needed to pollinate crops), fish, and farm animals. Also birds. The WG banned fossil fuels.

Post by Robert Carnegie
But it's a fable, basically. As much science fiction is -
like "The Cold Equations". Making a point - after a
fashion - is at least equally the author's goal as being
scientifically plausible. Also I mentioned Rumpelstiltskin
already.
Or could it be about the Holocaust? Although I'm afraid
to suggest that as a casual remark.

The Chinese leader suggested killing all the old folks.

That's a popular sci-fi solution (up to a point),
but don't Chinese leaders tend to /be/ old folks?

Wiping out farm animals should increase available
food supply. But ploughing is a lot more difficult
(the pre-industrial way).

[Greg Goss]

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

"How We Banned the Bomb"

If you have a "population explosion", then each baby becomes a bomb?

Anyhow. I don't remember if it was a short story or a novel, but the
story cuts back and forth between the latest mother hunt (after years
of no enforcement lapses) and the scientists discovering that their
"temporary" fertility blocker cannot be reversed. The woman that's
being hunted may be the last fertile human on the planet.

I don't remember how it concluded.

The Sigmund Ausfaller book in the Fleet of Worlds series spends a lot
of its focus on his (and his girlfriend's ) distaste for the Mother
Hunts that were required to balance Earth's population.

[David DeLaney]

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

It's Tim Bruening; he will continue trying to do so for a week and a half, then
suddenly stop, only to return abruptly to the thread circa 2026.

Dave, explanations seem to have a low chance of taking for him, as well

[Scott Lurndal]

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

And you are responding to TB. 'nuf said.

[Moriarty]

Post by Scott Lurndal

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

And you are responding to TB. 'nuf said.

True. Although I will point out that it is actually possible to have a conversation with Tim Bruening. Just not in real time.

-Moriarty

[David DeLaney]

Post by Moriarty

Post by Scott Lurndal
And you are responding to TB. 'nuf said.

True. Although I will point out that it is actually possible to have a
conversation with Tim Bruening. Just not in real time.

Vernor Vinge, thou art vindcated!

Dave, how many days 'til Christmas?

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

[Moriarty]

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

Maybe the robots are eating the babies AS food, thus enforcing the ban.

-Moriarty

[David Johnston]

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

Actually babies don't eat as much as adults. And the extinction of
humanity ought to solve the food problem.

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by David Johnston

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

Actually babies don't eat as much as adults. And the extinction of
humanity ought to solve the food problem.

Instead of people having real babies that eat food, we have people having robot babies that eat food! What have we gained?

[David Johnston]

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by David Johnston

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

Actually babies don't eat as much as adults. And the extinction of
humanity ought to solve the food problem.

Instead of people having real babies that eat food, we have people having robot babies that eat food! What have we gained?

"Babies" who will never grow up to eat as much an adult, and more
importantly will never reproduce.

[Jay E. Morris]

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by David Johnston

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

Actually babies don't eat as much as adults. And the extinction of
humanity ought to solve the food problem.

Instead of people having real babies that eat food, we have people having robot babies that eat food! What have we gained?

Perhaps, like R. Daniel, they eat but don't consume the food?
reprocessed for adults"

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by Jay E. Morris

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by David Johnston

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

Actually babies don't eat as much as adults. And the extinction of
humanity ought to solve the food problem.

Instead of people having real babies that eat food, we have people having robot babies that eat food! What have we gained?

Perhaps, like R. Daniel, they eat but don't consume the food?
reprocessed for adults"

The robot kids poop.

[Jay E. Morris]

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Jay E. Morris

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by David Johnston

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

Actually babies don't eat as much as adults. And the extinction of
humanity ought to solve the food problem.

Instead of people having real babies that eat food, we have people having robot babies that eat food! What have we gained?

Perhaps, like R. Daniel, they eat but don't consume the food?
reprocessed for adults"

The robot kids poop.

Well, what else would be reprocessed?

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by Jay E. Morris

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Jay E. Morris

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by David Johnston

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

Actually babies don't eat as much as adults. And the extinction of
humanity ought to solve the food problem.

Instead of people having real babies that eat food, we have people having robot babies that eat food! What have we gained?

Perhaps, like R. Daniel, they eat but don't consume the food?
reprocessed for adults"

The robot kids poop.

Well, what else would be reprocessed?

Who would want to eat poop?

[Robert Carnegie]

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Jay E. Morris

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Jay E. Morris

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by David Johnston

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

Actually babies don't eat as much as adults. And the extinction of
humanity ought to solve the food problem.

Instead of people having real babies that eat food, we have people having robot babies that eat food! What have we gained?

Perhaps, like R. Daniel, they eat but don't consume the food?
reprocessed for adults"

The robot kids poop.

Well, what else would be reprocessed?

Who would want to eat poop?

If it actually is poop, then mainly dung beetles do.
But a robot baby usually doesn't need to digest food,
although I suppose it can. So if it just goes through
then it's just a rather complicated "food processor".
You could make soup of what comes out.

I've been told that koala poop is nutritious to infant
koalas. Being a mammal species has felt odd to me lately
but evidently it could be worse.

[Lawrence Watt-Evans]

On Fri, 3 Aug 2018 14:26:21 -0700 (PDT), Robert Carnegie

Post by Robert Carnegie

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Post by Jay E. Morris

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Post by Jay E. Morris

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Post by David Johnston

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Post by Moriarty

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To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

Actually babies don't eat as much as adults. And the extinction of
humanity ought to solve the food problem.

Instead of people having real babies that eat food, we have people having robot babies that eat food! What have we gained?

Perhaps, like R. Daniel, they eat but don't consume the food?
reprocessed for adults"

The robot kids poop.

Well, what else would be reprocessed?

Who would want to eat poop?

If it actually is poop, then mainly dung beetles do.

So do rabbits, when food isn't abundant. Their digestive tracts
aren't all that efficient; it takes two or three passes through the
system to coax out all the available nourishment.

Post by Robert Carnegie
But a robot baby usually doesn't need to digest food,
although I suppose it can. So if it just goes through
then it's just a rather complicated "food processor".
You could make soup of what comes out.
I've been told that koala poop is nutritious to infant
koalas. Being a mammal species has felt odd to me lately
but evidently it could be worse.

[J. Clarke]

On Fri, 03 Aug 2018 17:57:32 -0400, Lawrence Watt-Evans

Post by Lawrence Watt-Evans
On Fri, 3 Aug 2018 14:26:21 -0700 (PDT), Robert Carnegie

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Jay E. Morris

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Post by Jay E. Morris

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Post by David Johnston

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Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

Actually babies don't eat as much as adults. And the extinction of
humanity ought to solve the food problem.

Instead of people having real babies that eat food, we have people having robot babies that eat food! What have we gained?

Perhaps, like R. Daniel, they eat but don't consume the food?
reprocessed for adults"

The robot kids poop.

Well, what else would be reprocessed?

Who would want to eat poop?

If it actually is poop, then mainly dung beetles do.

So do rabbits, when food isn't abundant. Their digestive tracts
aren't all that efficient; it takes two or three passes through the
system to coax out all the available nourishment.

Post by Robert Carnegie
But a robot baby usually doesn't need to digest food,
although I suppose it can. So if it just goes through
then it's just a rather complicated "food processor".
You could make soup of what comes out.
I've been told that koala poop is nutritious to infant
koalas. Being a mammal species has felt odd to me lately
but evidently it could be worse.

Then there's Kope Luwak--civet crap sold for about $500/pound as
premium coffee.,

[Robert Woodward]

<SNIP>

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Jay E. Morris
Well, what else would be reprocessed?

Who would want to eat poop?

If it actually is poop, then mainly dung beetles do.
But a robot baby usually doesn't need to digest food,
although I suppose it can. So if it just goes through
then it's just a rather complicated "food processor".
You could make soup of what comes out.
I've been told that koala poop is nutritious to infant
koalas. Being a mammal species has felt odd to me lately
but evidently it could be worse.

It is not nutritious per se for infant koalas. Doing that is necessary
for the infant koalas to receive the bacterial flora needed to digest
Eucalyptus leaves.

[Jay E. Morris]

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Jay E. Morris

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Jay E. Morris

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by David Johnston

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by Moriarty

Post by t***@gmail.com
To save the planet's food supplies, births are banned for 30 years.

You're trying to make sense of a book with a monumentally stupid premise. Don't.

But what about the robot babies eating food, thus nullifying the very purpose of the birth ban?

Actually babies don't eat as much as adults. And the extinction of
humanity ought to solve the food problem.

Instead of people having real babies that eat food, we have people having robot babies that eat food! What have we gained?

Perhaps, like R. Daniel, they eat but don't consume the food?
reprocessed for adults"

The robot kids poop.

Well, what else would be reprocessed?

Who would want to eat poop?

I'm not posting any links, you can google them yourself.

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by t***@gmail.com
Earth is so crowded and short on food (with everyone limited to just a few hundred calories a day) that births are banned for 30 years. In an effort to satisfy women's maternal instincts, the World Government provides them with mechanical babies so realistic that they will accept feedings (which would
seem to defeat the food saving purpose of the Edict!).

Robot kids up to youngster age are available. I wonder if the robot youngsters can go to school and learn there.

[Robert Carnegie]

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by t***@gmail.com
Earth is so crowded and short on food (with everyone limited to just a few hundred calories a day) that births are banned for 30 years. In an effort to satisfy women's maternal instincts, the World Government provides them with mechanical babies so realistic that they will accept feedings (which would
seem to defeat the food saving purpose of the Edict!).

Robot kids up to youngster age are available. I wonder
if the robot youngsters can go to school and learn there.

Well, it's not like the parents can just switch the
children off... oh, wait, yes it is.

The school might not need to be strictly realistic...
A joke comes to mind for some reason, I wonder if
it is appropriate enough:

"What did the inflatable teacher in an inflatable
school say to the inflatable pupil who came to school
with a pin?

"You've not only let yourself down, you've let me down,
in fact you have let the whole school down!!"
<http://www.beckstone.cumbria.sch.uk/kidspage_jokes_jan.htm>

I suppose that robot school pupils have a rule
against running down in the corridor...

[Kevrob]

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by t***@gmail.com
Earth is so crowded and short on food (with everyone limited to just a few hundred calories a day) that births are banned for 30 years. In an effort to satisfy women's maternal instincts, the World Government provides them with mechanical babies so realistic that they will accept feedings (which would
seem to defeat the food saving purpose of the Edict!).

Robot kids up to youngster age are available. I wonder
if the robot youngsters can go to school and learn there.

Well, it's not like the parents can just switch the
children off... oh, wait, yes it is.
The school might not need to be strictly realistic...
A joke comes to mind for some reason, I wonder if
"What did the inflatable teacher in an inflatable
school say to the inflatable pupil who came to school
with a pin?
"You've not only let yourself down, you've let me down,
in fact you have let the whole school down!!"
<http://www.beckstone.cumbria.sch.uk/kidspage_jokes_jan.htm>

That reminds me of:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balloon_Land

Post by Robert Carnegie
I suppose that robot school pupils have a rule
against running down in the corridor..."

"Class, settle down, plug into your desk's
charging station, and take out your slates."

Oh, the fun they didn't have!

Kevin R

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by t***@gmail.com
Earth is so crowded and short on food (with everyone limited to just a few hundred calories a day) that births are banned for 30 years. In an effort to satisfy women's maternal instincts, the World Government provides them with mechanical babies so realistic that they will accept feedings (which would
seem to defeat the food saving purpose of the Edict!).

Robot kids up to youngster age are available. I wonder
if the robot youngsters can go to school and learn there.

Well, it's not like the parents can just switch the
children off... oh, wait, yes it is.

Edna Borden once unscrewed her robot baby Peter's head to find out why he wasn't saying "Ma-ma", but I never read of any indication of an off switch.

[J. Clarke]

On Mon, 23 Jul 2018 00:49:33 -0700 (PDT), Robert Carnegie

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com

Post by t***@gmail.com
Earth is so crowded and short on food (with everyone limited to just a few hundred calories a day) that births are banned for 30 years. In an effort to satisfy women's maternal instincts, the World Government provides them with mechanical babies so realistic that they will accept feedings (which would
seem to defeat the food saving purpose of the Edict!).

Robot kids up to youngster age are available. I wonder
if the robot youngsters can go to school and learn there.

Well, it's not like the parents can just switch the
children off... oh, wait, yes it is.
The school might not need to be strictly realistic...
A joke comes to mind for some reason, I wonder if
"What did the inflatable teacher in an inflatable
school say to the inflatable pupil who came to school
with a pin?
"You've not only let yourself down, you've let me down,
in fact you have let the whole school down!!"
<http://www.beckstone.cumbria.sch.uk/kidspage_jokes_jan.htm>
I suppose that robot school pupils have a rule
against running down in the corridor...

Of _course_ the robot kids have to go to school. Otherwise you'd lose
the support of the teachers' union.

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by J. Clarke
On Mon, 23 Jul 2018 00:49:33 -0700 (PDT), Robert Carnegie

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by t***@gmail.com
Robot kids up to youngster age are available. I wonder
if the robot youngsters can go to school and learn there.

Well, it's not like the parents can just switch the
children off... oh, wait, yes it is.
The school might not need to be strictly realistic...
A joke comes to mind for some reason, I wonder if
"What did the inflatable teacher in an inflatable
school say to the inflatable pupil who came to school
with a pin?
"You've not only let yourself down, you've let me down,
in fact you have let the whole school down!!"
<http://www.beckstone.cumbria.sch.uk/kidspage_jokes_jan.htm>
I suppose that robot school pupils have a rule
against running down in the corridor...

Of _course_ the robot kids have to go to school. Otherwise you'd lose
the support of the teachers' union.

WorldGov seems to be a dictatorship, so shouldn't have to court the teachers!