[PhasmaFelis]

I was nodding along with you--yes, the population explosion is destroying the environment--until I realized, with mixed bemusement and horror, that you were in favor of this.

Just for starters: Why is "the Industrial Revolution happened" an argument against trying to do better in the future?

[corporateslaver]

It points to a hard fact about what kind of things cause environmental destruction but are also massive improvements for humanity. The picture painted where environmental destruction is superfluous is completely wrong and disingenuous.

[PhasmaFelis]

It may be that the Industrial Revolution couldn't have happened without massive pollution, sure. The Industrial Revolution is long over. Why should we recapitulate the past when we have radically more advanced technology and a far better understanding of its effects? If you're in favor of progress, it should be obvious that we can do better than the Industrial Revolution.