Comment by oblio

1 day ago

> but if there aren't population centers, you'll have to have plans to create them in order to support the rail system itself.

This is such a misanthropic point of view.

Nobody "creates" population centers. People aren't created out of raw clay, they already exist.

If population centers are "created" it's because people already exist and want to live in a specific place, often time urban.

And if they wouldn't go to these population centers they wouldn't live in caves in the dark. They would be spread over many more places, yes, creating lower levels of light pollution but lots more of them, covering a lot more land.

Many cities and settlements have been created intentionally rather than as a result of populations organically reproducing on the spot. Colonies, chartered towns/cities/etc, company towns, etc. It's a very common thing throughout history to the present day.

  • And... the people? Where do they come from? Mars?

    All you're describing is population redistribution, not population creation. Urban centers have very low fertility rates, which actually reduces populations...

    • Yes, the people come from other places. The "population center" is very often made by people with intention though. The global population is still rising, so conjecture about the effect of cities on fertility rates is irrelevant. Humans aren't going extinct any time soon.

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