Would the world be a better place after a flu pandemic?

[Spacecadet]

Catastrophic events cause harm to the economy as it did when the UK had plagues when the population level almost dropped to non subsistence levels. Properties and farms get deserted, professional people die and skills are lost.
.

Actually the plague had a good effect for the "working man". Labour, skilled or otherwise was in such short supply that the balance of power shifted slightly from the wealthy land owners to the peasants who could now demand a more than barely subsistance level of pay.
In that respect the plague was quite good for the "Economy"

[Paddy]

My understanding is that the plague improved living conditions of the surviving poor considerably and that later generations owe a great debt to those who died.

In the long term yes, in the short term the UK was nearly wiped out.

[NickFitz]

In the long term yes, in the short term the UK was nearly wiped out.

So obviously the thing to do is to engineer the plague so it only attacks those who don't have the gene that makes someone British rather than foreign.

[doodab]

There would also be dirty snot rags, rotting corpses and other mingingness everywhere.

It would be much better to do a deal with an advanced alien civilisation whereby they could eat half the population in return for some cool advanced technology. That would have the added benefit of making apple fanbois realise that the ipad isn't actually "magic".

It could be arranged by turning say Africa into some sort of giant hunting range, which would mean thrillseekers could go there to run the gauntlet for fun, boosting tourism in the region, and the hunt could also form the basis of a reality show to occupy the remaining 49% of people who are too thick to be allowed out.

[doodab]

So obviously the thing to do is to engineer the plague so it only attacks those who don't have the gene that makes someone British rather than foreign.

I've noticed some British people are wearing very silly jeans these days. Far too tight, can't possibly be comfortable.

[Spacecadet]

It could be arranged by turning say Africa into some sort of giant hunting range, which would mean thrillseekers could go there to run the gauntlet for fun, boosting tourism in the region, and the hunt could also form the basis of a reality show to occupy the remaining 49% of people who are too thick to be allowed out.

What have you got against Africans?????

[TimberWolf]

There would also be dirty snot rags, rotting corpses and other mingingness everywhere.

It would be much better to do a deal with an advanced alien civilisation whereby they could eat half the population in return for some cool advanced technology. That would have the added benefit of making apple fanbois realise that the ipad isn't actually "magic".

It could be arranged by turning say Africa into some sort of giant hunting range, which would mean thrillseekers could go there to run the gauntlet for fun, boosting tourism in the region, and the hunt could also form the basis of a reality show to occupy the remaining 49% of people who are too thick to be allowed out.

I was thinking more along the lines of a cull by natural means. Ideally with a natural death no more unpleasant than any other. I wouldn't take the 50% chance card today, but am not so confident about man's future.

Straying further off topic, I read the other day that the Japanese ate prisoners

[Spacecadet]

Straying further off topic, I read the other day that the Japanese ate prisoners

If it was in the yorkshire post then there is no need for concern.

[NickFitz]

There would also be dirty snot rags, rotting corpses and other mingingness everywhere.

A bit like the District line after Aldgate East then

[TimberWolf]

If it was in the yorkshire post then there is no need for concern.

Worse than that, Wiki

However, according to historian Yuki Tanaka: "cannibalism was often a systematic activity conducted by whole squads and under the command of officers"...

he Japanese started selecting prisoners and every day one prisoner was taken out and killed and eaten by the soldiers....

Horrific. Bad enough being killed, but being lunch too is taking the mickey.