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The War, It's Got a Lot of Power, It Makes Me Feel Like, It Makes Me Feel Like... Woooo!
All that Israeli blood that isn't being shed is apparently flowing to the right organs:
Ziv medical director Dr. Oscar Embon said that according to health fund reports, the number of pregnancies among women in the North is 35 percent higher now than at this time in 2006. Doctors, psychologists and sexologists explain that the "mini-baby boom" was motivated by the determination that life must go on despite the war and to "take revenge" on an enemy that wants to destroy Israel.
Creating new life, said the experts, is a source of consolation and hope. After every Israeli war, there is an increased number of pregnancies and deliveries; experts said that even animals that feel the threat of war are more likely to mate as an instinct for survival.
Natalism works! All you need is a populace ravaged by war. I was under the impression that birthrates dipped if citizens thought their future was dark or uncertain, but if prospects stay grim for long enough...
Goldwater Conservative|4.6.07 @ 9:40AM|#
Think of it from the perspective of the Israeli men that were having a hard time getting pussy. I know a number a men of who would support a war if they could get women.
|4.6.07 @ 9:48AM|#
"I was under the impression that birthrates dipped if citizens
thought their future was dark or uncertain, but if prospects stay
grim for long enough... "
What?
Look at Europe in the Middle Ages for an example of humanity
surviving despite war, disease, famine, and the complete collapse
of a civilization. It's a miracle there was anyone left.
Arguably at a certain point (i.e. American Indians) you can't
reproduce fast enough.
Finally, I think it's interesting that you'd think birthrates would
decline in bleak times when we're seeing declining birthrates in
Europe, Japan, and even the US when all of those populations are
quite wealthy and have a bright future. So is "choice" and
individualism more destructive than war for a society?
|4.6.07 @ 9:50AM|#
Easy explanation:
With bombs dropping all around them, these Israeli couples try to
give new meaning to going out with a
bang.
However, when they don't actually die, they become another
statistic in the rising pregnancy rates.
|4.6.07 @ 9:57AM|#
So is "choice" and individualism more destructive than war
for a society?
In some ways, yes. We're kind of seeing that people will sacrifice
the future to enjoy the present, if given a chance (for example,
women having "careers" instead of children).
Maybe this is nature's way of preventing one group from becoming
too dominant?
|4.6.07 @ 10:02AM|#
Hooked,
Yeah, it's an interesting thing ...
It reminds me of the theory that most family businesses or family
wealth rarely last(s) past the 3rd or 4th generation. If the first
two generations were successful, the prosperity tends to corrupt
the generations that follow. In a sentence, they don't know the
value of what they have since they didnt' work for it.
|4.6.07 @ 10:09AM|#
I was under the impression that birthrates dipped if
citizens thought their future was dark or uncertain, but if
prospects stay grim for long enough...
Great impression (was it Jimmy Durante?). Too bad it's completely
incorrect.
From people who deal with more than impressions:
Higher adult mortality is associated with increased levels of
risky behavior, higher fertility, and lower investment in physical
and human capital.
If the marginal utility of a surviving child is convex then
there will be a precautionary demand for children. As the mortality
rate and thus uncertainty falls, this demand decreases.
|4.6.07 @ 10:15AM|#
If the first two generations were successful, the prosperity
tends to corrupt the generations that follow. In a sentence, they
don't know the value of what they have since they didnt' work for
it.
Hard to disagree with that.
I'm sure since all of us have grown up with ubiquitous electrical
power (for example) it's almost impossible to fully appreciate the
efforts that it took to create such a system.
|4.6.07 @ 10:28AM|#
I'm sure since all of us have grown up with ubiquitous
electrical power (for example) it's almost impossible to fully
appreciate the efforts that it took to create such a
system.
That's not a good comparison at all. A more accurate analogy would
be to say that it's like trying to sew with a cabbage, or shuffle
penguins with a lily pad.
|4.6.07 @ 10:33AM|#
I guess Weigal missed the day in history class when they talked about the Jews surviving 4000 years despite exile the determined efforts of the entire world to kill them. I swear the duribility of the Jewish people and culture has to give even the most ardent athiest pause for thought.
|4.6.07 @ 10:35AM|#
Electricity? Hell, I'd be lost (literally and figuratively) without mapquest, let alone running water, electricity, etc.
|4.6.07 @ 10:53AM|#
Someone (Tim Blair linked to it) had a photo album up of women
in the IDF.
With that kind of smokin' hawtness running around, lots of
baby-making should be no surprise.
|4.6.07 @ 10:57AM|#
Speaking of electricity, if the power was out during the time
period it would explain about 99.9% of all of the "excess"
pregnancies. Modern folks don't really know what to do when when
the power is out. No TV, intertubes, radio, etc. You can't even
read at night.
So they fuck as a way of passing the time.
|4.6.07 @ 11:27AM|#
"So is "choice" and individualism more destructive than war
for a society?"
Only if it interferes with your statistical predestination.
JIMMYDAGEEK|4.6.07 @ 11:35AM|#
R C Dean | April 6, 2007, 10:53am | #
Someone (Tim Blair linked to it) had a photo album up of women in
the IDF.
With that kind of smokin' hawtness running around, lots of
baby-making should be no surprise.
Looks like scenes from Grindhouse.
IDF
1.
IDF
2.
|4.6.07 @ 11:46AM|#
the "mini-baby boom" was motivated by the determination that
life must go on despite the war and to "take
revenge" on an enemy that wants to destroy Israel.
Creating new life, said the experts, is a source of consolation and
hope
Ahhh revenge, what better reason to have a child.
The Wine Commonsewer|4.6.07 @ 12:05PM|#
Those photos are fascinating. Here is the link to the entire
album.
I wanted to post a couple of these fascinating pictures of
Israel's military women but Rachel said she'd rather I didn't.
Goldwater Conservative|4.6.07 @ 3:32PM|#
Why the hell are Israeli military chicks so hot? Not that I care, but what is the ethnic makeup of these chicks? I can't see any Sephardi's or other ethnic minorities.
M|4.6.07 @ 4:57PM|#
the duribility of the Jewish people and culture has to give
even the most ardent athiest pause for thought
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/cm/main/viewArticle.aip?id=10855&page=all
You can tell from that angle?|4.6.07 @ 4:58PM|#
I can't see any Sephardi's or other ethnic minorities
|4.6.07 @ 7:26PM|#
| April 6, 2007, 11:52am | #
I'M GONNA FUCK ALL Y'ALL! WHOOOOO!
Clevon, Sr | April 6, 2007, 11:58am | #
THAT'S MY BOY!!!!!!
Holy crap, there's another Idiocracy fan here! That gives
me a warm feeling inside.
James McPeeky|4.7.07 @ 5:07AM|#
Kind of a depressing way to do things, actually: War and
privation ruining your life? Well, heck - have more babies!
That'll show 'em!
|4.7.07 @ 10:28AM|#
Holy crap, there's another Idiocracy fan here! That gives me
a warm feeling inside.
After the opening sequence, that movie was pretty forgetable.
(Oh, and this thread settles it. I'm moving to Israel. Barukh ata
Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha‑olam, bo're p'ri ha‑etz!)
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