Comments on: Extreme Frugal Living and Farming vs. Hunting-Gathering http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/extreme-frugal-living-and-farming-vs-hunting-gathering/ A premier personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Tue, 22 May 2012 10:20:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bergevpi http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/extreme-frugal-living-and-farming-vs-hunting-gathering/comment-page-1/#comment-617 bergevpi Sat, 16 Jul 2005 09:57:25 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=384#comment-617 One thing that Diamond also pointed out is that in order for governments to take off the personnel structure needed food that was stored in order to perform their government duties. This food was grown by others in the community, where in a hunter/gatherer society everyone had to pull their own weight to survive, thus no time to run a government. One thing that Diamond also pointed out is that in order for governments to take off the personnel structure needed food that was stored in order to perform their government duties. This food was grown by others in the community, where in a hunter/gatherer society everyone had to pull their own weight to survive, thus no time to run a government.

]]> By: nickel http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/extreme-frugal-living-and-farming-vs-hunting-gathering/comment-page-1/#comment-616 nickel Sat, 09 Jul 2005 21:56:53 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=384#comment-616 According to the Jared Diamond article that you linked, life expectancy decreased from 26 to 19 years following the ag transition. It has, however, increased dramatically since then, even in developing countries. And this change wasn't driven a shift away from ag-based living. And Darren... No, it wasn't relaxed selection that caused this -- the change was far too quick for that. It was a change in the environment (hunting/gathering to agriculture) that caused this, just as the dramatic increase in average height over the past 100 years is due to improved nutrition, medical care, etc. -- <a href="http://www.fivecentnickel.com/" rel="nofollow">fivecentnickel.com</a> According to the Jared Diamond article that you linked, life expectancy decreased from 26 to 19 years following the ag transition. It has, however, increased dramatically since then, even in developing countries. And this change wasn’t driven a shift away from ag-based living.

And Darren… No, it wasn’t relaxed selection that caused this — the change was far too quick for that. It was a change in the environment (hunting/gathering to agriculture) that caused this, just as the dramatic increase in average height over the past 100 years is due to improved nutrition, medical care, etc.
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fivecentnickel.com

]]> By: Darren R. Sussman http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/extreme-frugal-living-and-farming-vs-hunting-gathering/comment-page-1/#comment-615 Darren R. Sussman Sat, 09 Jul 2005 18:06:18 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=384#comment-615 One could also argue that as living became easier (i.e., you didn't have to hunt in order to eat), natural selection did not work as well as it perhaps should have, thereby allowing the weaker members of society to last longer and bringing down the average for height, life expentancy, etc. One could also argue that as living became easier (i.e., you didn’t have to hunt in order to eat), natural selection did not work as well as it perhaps should have, thereby allowing the weaker members of society to last longer and bringing down the average for height, life expentancy, etc.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/extreme-frugal-living-and-farming-vs-hunting-gathering/comment-page-1/#comment-613 Kevin Fri, 08 Jul 2005 21:59:52 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=384#comment-613 Agriculture was/is necessary for the production of Beer and Wine!! Agriculture was/is necessary for the production of Beer and Wine!!

]]> By: ib http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/extreme-frugal-living-and-farming-vs-hunting-gathering/comment-page-1/#comment-612 ib Fri, 08 Jul 2005 21:31:55 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=384#comment-612 thanks for posting this. it is very interesting. thanks for posting this. it is very interesting.

]]> By: Jose http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/extreme-frugal-living-and-farming-vs-hunting-gathering/comment-page-1/#comment-614 Jose Fri, 08 Jul 2005 19:18:05 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=384#comment-614 Interesting thoughts. I must point out that as communities grew they started consuming the resources available -- no more fruits to gather or animals to hunt. To support larger communities, farming and animal domestication (cattle) was necessary. Regarding needing/having more kids, you are right. More kids help on a farm. However, since the death rate was quite high, you needed a lot more people to replace em. Plus... since contraception was not an option, lots of childs where frequent. Interesting thoughts.

I must point out that as communities grew they started consuming the resources available — no more fruits to gather or animals to hunt. To support larger communities, farming and animal domestication (cattle) was necessary.

Regarding needing/having more kids, you are right. More kids help on a farm. However, since the death rate was quite high, you needed a lot more people to replace em. Plus… since contraception was not an option, lots of childs where frequent.

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