[qubex]

Oh yes, that’s a great example: “so many people died that the two-thirds that survived enjoyed benefits for generations”.

Yes, it’s accurate... but I think it also somewhat misses the point. The unexpected consequences of a mass culling several years down the line probably is of the “extremely bad” persuasion.

[impendia]

According to some historians, OP is right about the Black Death. For example, it has been suggested that it led to the Renaissance. See for example here:

https://dailyhistory.org/How_did_the_Bubonic_Plague_make_the...

The Black Death was horrific, but had what I would argue were some very positive long-term consequences.

[qubex]

I am absolutely certain that the OP is correct, I don’t dispute it

But telling somebody who is managing a 40-people firm facing 20x revenue drop that “it might work out as well as the Black Death did” is... kind of missing the whole point, to be perfectly accurate.

[take_a_breath]

And how long was the period between the Black Death (1347-1350) and the Renaissance? That’s what matters to the people alive today.

[ljm]

Arguably the same after WW2, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a new generation of 'boomers' if our societies go through that kind of phase again. Pure speculation though, and I'd personally rather hope that aspects of our society can reform without a major death toll.

[lotsofpulp]

How many years down the line? Because for the environment, I can’t see anything better than a “mass culling” (since the only way energy and other resource usage will go down is a reduction in population).