Is hell really other people? Vanessa Baird concludes with some sobering facts and reflections on equality.
A survey conducted in the Netherlands asked people three questions. One: ‘Are there too many people in the world?’ Yes, replied the majority. Next: ‘Are there too many people in the Netherlands?’ Yes, again came the reply. Finally: ‘Are there too many people in your community?’ No, they replied.
The story is told by demographer Nico van Nimwegen and it illustrates a key point. ‘Too many people’ is almost inevitably too many other people. Not us.
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