Rants and Ruminations: A collection of thoughts from a teenager.

As more and more moved into cities, the countryside was reclaimed by nature in a matter of decades. Technologies pushed forward our production efficiency, but birth rates fell almost as fast. Artificial intelligence and breakthroughs in fabrication technology were just about able to hold afloat global supply chains. It was a undoubtable fact: the human population was dying out.

In an era of increasing division, something changed. The human population started shrinking.

The experiment was a success. Not only did the induced births reverse depopulation, the children were more likely to themselves have children. Living in close proximity together even after reintegration into society maintained “tribal” unity.

And so, the Repopulation Experiment was proposed. In a world full of distractions and pleasure, having children was little more than an afterthought. And so, countries on the brink of total demographic collapse implemented radical birth policies. In places where the technology was available, the state would pay for ex-vivo births — lab grown babies. In places that could not, women were paid prettily to have children and give them up to the state.

It’s an apt metaphor really. Humans surprisingly, were once pack animals. Our physical inaptitude only made up by our ingenuity, but above all, ability to effectively coordinate together. Where one of our ancestors would be easily gored by the ancient wooly mammoths, groups of united tribes nearly hunted them to extinction.

In an effort to prevent these new borns from becoming just like their parents, facilities were built in the remote countryside, to raise children, away from the entertainments of the present, in hopes of learning from the mistakes of previous generations. Once they came of age, they would be made citizens and given a choice to choose their place in society, if they had the requirements.

And yet, not all is so well…

Slowly, the population rebounded and efforts were made to recolonise once forgotten towns. Organic meats, once rare luxuries — the number of range farms in the world had decreased to just a few dozen — started reappearing. Combined with highly advanced technologies, society was reinvigorated.

During the last few centuries however, our dominance has led to our global expansion. The newfound space and lack of threat negated any need to pack together. Our social structures evolved and the way we interacted with each other changed. Where once your loyalty was only to your tribe, it was now divided between family and friends, nation and state, culture and religion.

Short story/ruminations: When a wolf cub is born, their mother gives them away to the pack. The pack raises the wolf as its own, no matter which wolf bore them. Owing only allegiance to the pack, each wolf takes its place in the hierarchy, minimising internal division and presenting a united front.