Live data from Hacker News

China announces ban on ivory trade by end of 2017

bbc.com

181–184 of 184 posts

Re: China announces ban on ivory trade by end of 2017

#181
post #130
post #39

Only if bans worked!

They do, sometimes. It depends on barriers to entry. It's hard to ban marijuana or alcohol, because it's so easy to make. Relatively true for meth as well. But you don't see many people doing quaaludes anymore because it's not easy to make. Additionally, a ban like this doesn't have to be 100% effective to be worth the trouble. The time frame is also important. Saying "bans don't work" is absurdly reductionist.

So what bans have worked so far ? all the verbal sophistry useless unless you give a proper example.

Re: China announces ban on ivory trade by end of 2017

#182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember the day Mr. T convinced me not to do drugs.

Drugs are biologically and psychologically addictive. Stuff like ivory have social appeal. The only reason they are valuable (like diamonds) is because others think they are valuable. So having celebrities decry them hits them directly at their source of appeal unlike drugs. This doesn't affect the bs medicinal market directly but if it reduces the value but keeps the cost high anyways (thanks to additional penalties…

I think drugs have a social component too. No one is addicted to drugs before trying them for the first time.

Re: China announces ban on ivory trade by end of 2017

#183
For people wondering why it will take til the end of 2017, compare: the egg "industry" tosses all male chicks into blenders (yes, while alive), and have promised to stop doing it by 2020: http://www.vox.com/2016/6/9/11896096/eggs-chick-culling-ende...

That's 3+ years, and hundreds of millions of baby birds shredded alive.

Re: China announces ban on ivory trade by end of 2017

#184

They need to go further and ban any and all exotic animal trade for the quackery medicine and delicacy markets.

It sort of depends on what "delicacy" means, right? Is bacon a delicacy? I'm sure most here will balk at the idea, but can we really feel good about abusing those incredibly intelligent animals because we prefer the taste to other equally healthy choices?
Post reply on HN