Badger cull?

[operanut1972]

Originally Posted by STYRBJORN

I was playing Devil's Advocate! I totally agree with Roy about correlation not establishing causation. Consider. The curve mapping the decline in the house sparrow population closely matches the curve showing the increasing disparity of income between rich and poor. OBVIOUSLY the poor are eating house sparrows.

Ric

Damn, you've caught me at it I promise I'll only eat tree sparrows from now on

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by STYRBJORN

The curve mapping the decline in the house sparrow population closely matches the curve showing the increasing disparity of income between rich and poor. OBVIOUSLY the poor are eating house sparrows.

Ric

Obviously? I would suggest that you've got it the wrong way round. It's the rich that are eating the House Sparrows as an over priced gourmet delicacy sold by unscrupulous posh restaurants. Surely everyone knows that the poor only eat highly processed junk food and takeaways?

[STYRBJORN]

Originally Posted by RoyW

Obviously? I would suggest that you've got it the wrong way round. It's the rich that are eating the House Sparrows as an over priced gourmet delicacy sold by unscrupulous posh restaurants. Surely everyone knows that the poor only eat highly processed junk food and takeaways?

Good response. The fun thing with this kind of "reasoning" is that you can reach your conclusion first then manipulate the "evidence" to suit. Even if there is a causative link, great care is needed in deciding the direction of the causative arrow.

Ric

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by STYRBJORN

Even if there is a causative link, great care is needed in deciding the direction of the causative arrow.

It's so obvious now that I can't believe we missed it before...

The poor are getting poorer because the decline in House sparrows means they can no longer catch as many to sell to the posh restaurants, and the rich are getting richer because the fact that this delicacy is no longer available means they don't spend their money!
The decline of sparrows is the cause not the result!

[stevecurtis]

Can dogs and cats carry T.B?.

Steve

[STYRBJORN]

Originally Posted by RoyW

It's so obvious now that I can't believe we missed it before...

The poor are getting poorer because the decline in House sparrows means they can no longer catch as many to sell to the posh restaurants, and the rich are getting richer because the fact that this delicacy is no longer available means they don't spend their money!
The decline of sparrows is the cause not the result!

Next logical step will be for the rich to start eating the poor. I recollect that Swift suggested something along those lines . . .

Ric

[Biomotors]

TB in humans is a disease associated with poverty, I believe.

Obvious conclusion? Cull poor people.

[stevecurtis]

Hi Biomotors, can you give me a definition of poor before I agree.

All the best Steve

[Biomotors]

Well, the President of the CLA, whom I criticised in my other post for calling for a badger cull ("At last, Badger Free, 1500 square kilometers") - when the CLA ought to stand for all coutryside interests including conservation - might say it is anyone who does not own a large stately home and estate in Yorkshire as he does.

Most of us then...

Still the government would never let it happen. Reducing the population would ease the pressure on the housing market, which is the only thing that keeps UK plc afloat. If the farmers are good at lobbying, then the builders are fantastic. Sorry, that's Off Topic.