I’ll need someone to reel me back in then…

The video is great too. Now I understand what you meant by private property rules. In Singapore, most people live in high rise apartment flats. I haven’t had much contact with private property owners, let alone know what rights private property owners have.

I am humbled. Thank you for expanding my education.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrTsaSUFfpo and related are a good start (part 2 is actually talking about the tragedy of the commons).

I should have been careful on absolutes (“everybody” or “every man”), particularly when I come with a background of writing math proofs containing “for all”s and “there exist”s…

And you’re right. I don’t understand the part on private property. Perhaps you can point me to some resources where I can find out more.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Not really. Sane people don’t care.

“When someone thinks there’s enough clean air for everybody, he might selfishly decide to up the noxious gas output (as a means of upping his profit too).”

So? You’re either negatively affecting someone else (in which case standard private property rules can apply) or not.

“If it comes to a “every man for himself” situation, the planet is going to be in deep trouble.”

When it comes to arguments, try to avoid figures of speech. The planet will be fine no matter what. Humans, on the other hand, might not.

The solution, as I said above, is private property. I don’t expect you to understand that, though – environmentalists are (usually) socialist.