Are we all doomed?

[Siraris]

I'm no expert on anthropology, or history, but I don't think it takes one to see that the United States is in decline. Corruption, greed, selfishness, infighting, living beyond our means, intolerance are rampant, as well as an almost anti-intellectualism; it seems to me that we're heading down the same path that the Romans did.

Then I was treated to a slide show about a trip to Easter Island. Easter Island is the greatest single example of societal destruction in isolation. At one point, Easter Island was a veritable paradise. Palm trees grew there up to 80 feet tall, and 6 feet wide. There was a rich culture of flora, tropical birds and sea creatures. But over time, all that was left was ruin. There was a point in history when there was not one living tree on Easter Island due to deforestation, and the soil was utterly unusable due to erosion. At that point, there was no wood left to construct boats in order to trade, and the natives resorted to violence and cannibalism.

One of the biggest contributors to the destruction of this paradise, was competition between tribes. As many of you know, Easter Island is known for its giant Maoi statues. Initially, the statues were constructed for spiritual purposes, such as warding off evil spirits, but they also indicated a homogeneous culture. Eventually, though, they became a symbol of power and conflict for the tribes. Rival tribes would destroy the others statues so that only theirs would be left standing, and they could claim power.

I could go on, but this was not meant as an education lesson on Easter Island, as much as it was an illustration of what could be in our future. There are strong parallels between what happened on Easter Island, and the unsustainable path that most of the western world is currently on.

Jared Diamond, an award winning author and academic who has written such books as "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed", and "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies", compiled a list of 8 factors that have contributed to the fall of societies in the past:

1. Deforestation and habitat destruction
2. Soil problems (erosion, salinization, and soil fertility losses)
3. Water management problems
4. Overhunting
5. Overfishing
6. Effects of introduced species on native species
7. Overpopulation
8. Increased per-capita impact of people

And 4 new ones that apply to more modern times:
1. Human-caused climate change
2. Buildup of toxins in the environment
3. Energy shortages
4. Full human utilization of the Earth’s photosynthetic capacity

All of these are issues that the world is facing today, and it will only get worse. Along with the issues I listed that effect America (and other countries) you can add many of these to America and the rest of the world. We are on an utterly unsustainable path, depleting the oceans, destroying the flora, extincting species, polluting the environment, fitting humans into every space that isn't already occupied, augmented by the fact that most of us can't even seem to get along.

All of these factors contribute to my original, non-facetious question: Are we doomed?

[Wraith]

At least when we're talking about the U.S., I believe a number of these areas have improved over decades past. Particularly those related to conservation (hunting, fishing, habitat, forests). Air & water pollution standards have certainly improved. And though we do have urban sprawl (and in general, a lot of area used per person/household), I don't think the U.S. is one of the countries facing a serious overpopulation problem.

We still have serious concerns in these areas, but I don't think the doom & gloom is warranted. I'd guess that water management, energy and climate change are the most pressing of these, and impact per-capita affecting these areas.

[Ancalagon]

Your post starts off discussing societal problems but then focuses on environmental problems.

Anyway, the first would concern the USA as a world power and empire, as you say similarities can be found between it and the Roman Empire. Has it had its day? I dont think it has just yet, but its in danger of becoming increasingly irrelevant unless it starts leading the pack in terms of scientific progress again. Yeah, its still no slouch, but its a far cry from the days of ARPANet, the Manhattan project, SR71 Blackbird, etc etc.

And yes, unfortunately a culture of mistrust towards scientific education doesnt help matters. See the evolution "debate", the lack of funding for scientific education and research (mainly research I would think). Even Bill Gates says that the long term visa program needs to accept far more immigrants, because the American education system is apparently not coming up with the goods.

I dont think corruption is worse than it ever has been, I just think its more noticeable. Time will tell if the powers at be just get better at hiding it. If the corruption gets worse, then the country is in trouble. Aspects of America's free market status are up for debate at the moment (import tariffs and restrictions, price fixing, regulatory capture etc), so more corruption wont help that.

As for the planet, environmentally? No, I think its too early to say that. There is already a large awareness of the environment, people in the Western world are becoming more conscious of how unsustainable their lives are. Will this lead to a permanent change? I dont know. But its a start. The first step towards a solution is admitting you have a problem after all.

[Generation ABXY]

I'm more with Wraith on this one (people are seeing what needs to be done and taking steps to do it), but I’m not sure it really matters either way. Societies rise and fall, but people live on...well, unless a giant volcano erupts and kills them without cause or warning.

[txshurricane]

No, we're not doomed.

[evilgoodwin]

Pfft, I've hared that "Theory" on Easter Island, too.

Everyone knows this is what happened to Easter Island.

Kdab-T1B0ZQ

[Chris_D]

Things tend to work themselves out. Like the Easter Islanders who ate each other until the population was reduced to a low enough level such that they could survive on fish and roots. I'm sure we can manage to adapt in a similar way!

[Wasson_]

*points to signature

[ShivaX]

http://i41.tinypic.com/34rd28k.jpg

[Khrymsyn]

http://khrymsyn.infinited.net/CoG/wile_e_doomed.jpg


I really have nothing to contribute. Which is how I basically feel about us being doomed. There's really nothing I can do to change anything, no matter how much I hope.


That's why I drink.

[Wasson_]

I really have nothing to contribute. Which is how I basically feel about us being doomed. There's really nothing I can do to change anything

Buy guns. You CAN make a difference!
2UhalTb2K0A

[Generation ABXY]

The way you worry, you're going to have a heart attack before you get the chance to survive World War III.

[Hawkzombie]

Buy guns. You CAN make a difference!
2UhalTb2K0A

Best. Movie. Ever.

[Ultima Thulian]

99% of all life ever to exist on this planet is gone. Poof! It's only a matter of time before we off ourselves or the planet shakes us off like a bad case of fleas. Most of the shit you listed is either old hat, not important, flat out wrong, or minor in the grand scheme of things.

Everything eventually ends, except to the universe as a whole. What makes us so special to think we're an exception?

[Dorkandproudofit]

99% of all life ever to exist on this planet is gone. Poof! It's only a matter of time before we off ourselves or the planet shakes us off like a bad case of fleas. Most of the shit you listed is either old hat, not important, flat out wrong, or minor in the grand scheme of things.

Everything eventually ends, except to the universe as a whole. What makes us so special to think we're an exception?

Ever the nihilist, eh Ulty? :D

[Ultima Thulian]

It's not nihilist. It's fact. We already have the means to completely wipe out our species with nuclear armaments. And nature doesn't give two lukewarm shits about us. Just ask the folks in Pompei. All it takes is a super volcano to go off, blanketing the atmosphere with ash, and creating another ice age. Good bye us. Or maybe an asteroid? Maybe a new disease or virus? Malaria is making a comeback. It's nasty shit.

If you honestly wanna know how I feel about my species, it's that as individuals, we can be truly amazing. But as a group, we lose ourselves. And yet, we're social creatures and rarely function well without others. We're like one big walking paradox, what could've been nature's magnum opus is instead another failed experiment. We are what we are. And our time is indeed finite.

[Dorkandproudofit]

It's not nihilist. It's fact. We already have the means to completely wipe out our species with nuclear armaments. And nature doesn't give two lukewarm shits about us. Just ask the folks in Pompei. All it takes is a super volcano to go off, blanketing the atmosphere with ash, and creating another ice age. Good bye us. Or maybe an asteroid? Maybe a new disease or virus? Malaria is making a comeback. It's nasty shit.

If you honestly wanna know how I feel about my species, it's that as individuals, we can be truly amazing. But as a group, we lose ourselves. And yet, we're social creatures and rarely function well without others. We're like one big walking paradox, what could've been nature's magnum opus is instead another failed experiment. We are what we are. And our time is indeed finite.

Well, truthfully, I agree with every word you said (especially that last paragraph). I was just hoping you'd reply with your famous razor-sharp wit.

[Ultima Thulian]

Well, I figured you were joking, since you used a smiley face, but I went ahead and answered the question seriously anyway.

Oh, I just realized my favorite painting is somewhat pertinent to this topic. This grants me an excuse to post it:

http://i35.tinypic.com/2hs0qcm.jpg

If it's anyone I can relate to in history, it's Stanczyck.

[ShivaX]

What makes us so special to think we're an exception?

Honestly as long as theirs advanced life-forms on the planet I think we'll be around. Civilization might collapse and we might be back to killing things with rocks and spears, but we'll be here. When it comes to adaptability we really are the pinnacle of evolution. Even a nuclear war scenario would likely have survivors.

[Ultima Thulian]

Pfft. Mass virus infection or destruction of plant life (i.e. my volcano example again). Then we, and everything else, would be done like dinner.

[ShivaX]

Pfft. Mass virus infection or destruction of plant life (i.e. my volcano example again). Then we, and everything else, would be done like dinner.

Well viral infections probably wont be 100% fatal, even a 99% fatality rate would leave enough for the species to continue.

As far as a world ending event like killed the dinosaurs, I think our species would survive it just like our rat ancestors did. There might not be many of us left, but given our level of technology we could easily find a way to do it. Its not like all life died when the asteroid killed the dinosaurs, some things made it. Even some fairly unadaptable species like reptiles and the like.

[Hotcod]

Everything eventually ends, except to the universe as a whole. What makes us so special to think we're an exception?

We are the only living thing to ever exist that can adapt to very different, new (or changed) environments inside one generation. Plus if we pull our finger out and stop mucking around we can get our self up and out in the relative safety of space.

That is the heart of the matter for me. Planets are stupid places to live anyway and as a spices being reliant on just one of them is pretty much an insanity. If we can spread out across a few planets in our system and then in to orbital habitats then we are pretty much safe until the sun is done for... by which point you have jumped out in to deep space anyway.

Which is why it astounds me that the likely reason we are going to see any real off world colonies in the next 100 years it will start on the moon as private mining operations for fuel.

[Generation ABXY]

And our time is indeed finite.

I'd post Dust in the Wind again, but embedding was disabled last time. :D

[pomeroy]

http://i41.tinypic.com/34rd28k.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w53/pomeroy_bucket/DontPanic_1024.jpg

[johnperkins21]

by which point you have jumped out in to deep space anyway.

This will never happen. We're stuck on this rock for the foreseeable future, and in this galaxy for eternity.

[Narradisall]

Yes.

We consume more resources than renew. It's as simple as that. The current world setup is not sustainable and we are clearly incapable of preempting things, we wait till the disaster before we react, on a personal, national and global scale. See last year.

[Generation ABXY]

No...

Yes.

I suggest a fight to the death, it's the only way to settle this.

[fitbabits]

Since the very creation of Earth, the planet has been doomed. It is nothing more than a ticking time bomb.

[Superman's Dead]

I don't think so. Civilization evolves. Smallpox is gone. We've stopped being eaten by carnivores for the most part.

When we're faced with a problem we eventually try and fix it. We attained weapons with which to destroy ourselves over fifty years ago and they've only been used on other humans twice in the history of the world and never since.

I think if anything is going to kill humanity it's cynicism.

[Dorkandproudofit]

I think if anything is going to kill humanity it's cynicism.

Exactly! Social problems are a nuisance, but they can be solved if we work at it from the right direction (Social Psychology seems a good place to start, IMO). But we'll never get anywhere by sitting around and whining about how bad things are.

[Ultima Thulian]

I always knew our species was arrogant, but goddamn. I'm the only who thinks its possibly and even likely that someday, somehow, our species will be extinct? Really? I'm telling, it doesn't take as much as you guys think. Again, plants. They go, everything goes. And it wouldn't take much to make them go.

But we made the iPod, so yea, we're invincible.

[Generation ABXY]

Do I think every trace of humanity will be wiped from the face of the planet? Well, there's always the potential for some global disaster or epidemic that we can't guard against, so, yeah, it is possible. Even without it, though, it seems inevitable that we will eventually have evolved into something different. So, in that case, I suppose it depends on how loosely you want to define "human," for me...

[johnperkins21]

I always knew our species was arrogant, but goddamn. I'm the only who thinks its possibly and even likely that someday, somehow, our species will be extinct? Really? I'm telling, it doesn't take as much as you guys think. Again, plants. They go, everything goes. And it wouldn't take much to make them go.

But we made the iPod, so yea, we're invincible.

Nope, I'm 100% positive we'll be extinct eventually. My guess is within the next 300 years. It's possible that we'll evolve into a different species, but humans, in our current form, will most definitely be gone eventually.

[Wraith]

Is this thread about extinction of mankind of the downfall of a civilization/empire/nation?

[Ink Asylum]

Until we, as a species, cut down on our population explosion we're going to be hit by disaster after disaster: environmental, war, poverty, disease, starvation, etc. There are way too many people and our tech isn't advancing fast enough to avoid the problems that causes.

In nature, when a species reproduces too much it suffers. We've been able to put off our eventual ecosystem smackdown by using technology to increase our ability to extract resources from the environment, but we can't do that forever.

We're incapable of coming to a species-wide acceptance that we have to stop breeding like rabbits. Individuals might realize we're overpopulated in the abstract but that's not going to stop them from wanting kids of their own. Self-gratification almost always wins out against the long-term interests of our species. That's just human nature.

So instead we'll wait until a virus kills most of us, or wars over resources devastate nations, or we wreck the ecosystem that provides our food leading to mass starvation, or any number of disaster situations that will cull our population because in a horrible, painful, unnecessary wa because we're too selfish and shortsighted to do it manually.

Agent Smith was right.

[Voodoo]

...

I'm of the opinion that we are doomed to go extinct unless we leave.

[Ink Asylum]

I'm of the opinion that we are doomed to go extinct unless we leave.

Agreed. I forget who said it, but I'll paraphrase: Earth is far too fragile a basket for us to put all our eggs in.

That's not saying we'll destroy Earth, but that we'll make it, or it will naturally become, unsuitable for human life. If we don't eventually hedge our bets and start colonizing other planets/solar systems it's almost guaranteed that mankind will become extinct sooner than it has to.

[txshurricane]

I suggest a fight to the death, it's the only way to settle this.
How many of these am I going to get suckered into?!

Oh, and: if we're buying guns to prevent inevitable doom, then I'm in. I could always use another gun.

[Ultima Thulian]

Is this thread about extinction of mankind of the downfall of a civilization/empire/nation?

This is a good question. The OP kinda went everywhere with his post, but I assumed the death of us. Not our nation. Both are doomed. Every nation falls eventually. Now, there may be a chance of a rebirth (London comes to mind). But there's no guarantee.

[Shrinn]

Since the very creation of Earth, the planet has been doomed. It is nothing more than a ticking time bomb.

If I remember right, most theories of planetary creation say that it's possible that most planets had very similar core structures to ours, and that for some reason they eventually cooled which caused a lot of changes to the planet and eliminated whatever characteristics were headed toward making it inhabitable. I wonder if that will happen to ours.

[Xerxes]

Ever the nihilist, eh Ulty? :D

http://cravencottagenewsround.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/nihilists.jpg
He believes in nothing...

[LordDon]

I think if anything is going to kill humanity it's cynicism.

After reading about my fellow countrymen cheering on the corporate fucks running insurance companies, bankers, and possibly voting down gay marriage in Maine, just kill me. Fuck this country.

[Narradisall]

Social problems we might be able to overcome or control, but reading the Easter Island thing it was clear the thing that started their decline was a lack of resources. We have no solution for that now or in the foreseeable future.

Humanity may live on on Earth, but in a vastly reduced number than we have now. 6-7 billion + is not sustainable. Something bad will happen, be in climate change, starvation, war, disease etc and a lot of people are going to die. You can knock up as many social programs as you like, makes no difference. Travelling to other planets to live? Yeah, we're really far down that road.

The sustainability of an entire species, especially if we continue down this path would take a huge concerted effort on all parties to reach a solution.

Most people/countries are short sighted or only looking after number 1.

[Superman's Dead]

So in my Ethics class we JUST talked about overpopulation and DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM, etc.

We know how to fix these problems. We know how! People have done studies. We know exactly what we would need to do to begin ending the harshest poverty/hunger/overpopulation in the world, and we could do it inside a decade or so (with overpopulation being under control by 2050).

We don't because of cynicism.

I want to be a movie star, and a rich and famous one. It would take approximately $350,000 to save an entire village in Africa. And not just feed them for a while, give them the tools they need to make the village sustainable; after that initial investment they take care of themselves. If I keep getting fatty paychecks, I can just drop a couple mil all over the world and save it piecemeal.

This kind of question frustrates me, because it's almost defeatist in nature. Yeah, we can succeed because we made the iPod. Because how many brilliant earth-shattering discoveries lead to the iPod? Plastic, batteries, language, computer chips, all kinds of stuff that gives us a big fucking edge over everyone else.

Colonizing the universe would be cool. But the carrion microbacteria of the world are going to have to pry the Earth from my cold dead hands.

[ShivaX]

Agreed. I forget who said it, but I'll paraphrase: Earth is far too fragile a basket for us to put all our eggs in.

That's not saying we'll destroy Earth, but that we'll make it, or it will naturally become, unsuitable for human life. If we don't eventually hedge our bets and start colonizing other planets/solar systems it's almost guaranteed that mankind will become extinct sooner than it has to.

The problem is that the universe is too fucking big. Unless theres an Earth-like planet orbiting Alpha Centauri we're fucked. Hell even if there is we're probably fucked, but thats basically our only remote hope. I mean NASA is gravely concerned about the effects of zero gravity going to Mars and you can't get any closer to Earth than that except for the Moon.

Without Faster-Than-Light travel space is just too big to colonize. Even at near light speed its too big and we're nowhere near being able to pull that off with anything bigger than an atom.

I mean statistically there have to be other Earth-like worlds out there that can support life. Unfortunately the only reason that is true is that the universe is so insanely fucking huge that just about anything becomes statistically probable. I mean the odds of Earth forming into a planet that can support advanced life forms is probably one in millions. Which means in the Milky Way there would be millions of them. Heres the problem: We have to find them and then get to them. Basically every exploration attempt is like buying a lottery ticket and hoping you win, only that ticket would require unimaginable resources to buy and decades or even centuries to redeem.

Oh and...
XgaYaygc9I8
Still one of my favorite lines ever (well the first half of it anyway).

And why not (with "IT" being the world)
JYc05gZFly0

[nnanji]

The problem is that the universe is too fucking big. Unless theres an Earth-like planet orbiting Alpha Centauri we're fucked. Hell even if there is we're probably fucked, but thats basically our only remote hope. I mean NASA is gravely concerned about the effects of zero gravity going to Mars and you can't get any closer to Earth than that except for the Moon.

Without Faster-Than-Light travel space is just too big to colonize. Even at near light speed its too big and we're nowhere near being able to pull that off with anything bigger than an atom.

I mean statistically there have to be other Earth-like worlds out there that can support life. Unfortunately the only reason that is true is that the universe is so insanely fucking huge that just about anything becomes statistically probable. I mean the odds of Earth forming into a planet that can support advanced life forms is probably one in millions. Which means in the Milky Way there would be millions of them. Heres the problem: We have to find them and then get to them. Basically every exploration attempt is like buying a lottery ticket and hoping you win, only that ticket would require unimaginable resources to buy and decades or even centuries to redeem.



The universe being "too big" is only a problem for getting YOU out to the stars. There are plenty of ways I can imagine for getting humans out and into the galaxy using slower than light drive. They might not be culturally related to Old Earth, but so what? They will still be out there, preventing our cosmic extinction.

And even that is ignoring the hugs benefits we would get just buy colonizing our own solar system. Spreading out to Mars, the asteroid belt, and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn would allow our race to survive for the billions of years left until Sol dies of old age.

I agree with Superman's Dead that cynicism is a big part of the problem with fixing things here on Earth, but ego is the main thing holding us back from the stars. Space is indeed far too big for anyone alive today to take advantage of, and that means that those with the power and means to exploit it won't be arsed to do anything about it.

[Ultima Thulian]

Ugh...colonization outside of Earth? Haven't we done enough damage?

[evilgoodwin]

Ugh...colonization outside of Earth? Haven't we done enough damage?

To this planet? Yes. To others? Not nearly enough!

I mean, only with our expansion through the galaxy will we finally tick off that alien race, leading us to a fantastic space war as the humans try to stop them from finding where Earth is.

...God, I want to play Freespace again.

[Ink Asylum]

Ugh...colonization outside of Earth? Haven't we done enough damage?

Despite the damage we've done to the planet and our fellow man, I believe there is enough potential in the human race that I don't want to see it snuffed out when we either fuck up or the planet becomes uninhabitable. There's a chance we're the only sentient life in our galaxy and some aspect of that should continue as long as possible.

[nnanji]

Ugh...colonization outside of Earth? Haven't we done enough damage?

Damage to what? The Earth? Believe me, when we finally pollute or nuke ourselves enough that we all die out, the Earth and her life will get along just fine. And if we moved out into space we would really be playing in a sandbox too large for us to fuck up. Even if we destroyed our entire galaxy there are plenty more for the universe to play with.

[Ultima Thulian]

Come on folks. Do we really wanna spread shit like this all over the universe?

NMMFSCMR0Dc

Christ, we're so fucking embarrassing. Humorously so, but still.

[ShivaX]

The universe being "too big" is only a problem for getting YOU out to the stars. There are plenty of ways I can imagine for getting humans out and into the galaxy using slower than light drive. They might not be culturally related to Old Earth, but so what? They will still be out there, preventing our cosmic extinction.


No the problem is that theres strong evidence that human beings simply can't survive floating in outer space for long periods of time. Lets say we send colonists to Alpha Centauri cause we know theres a habitable world there. Lets say its going to take 100 years to get there. If the colonists actually survive the trip and are able to reproduce they likely wont be able to land on the planet and survive since they've lived for generations without gravity. Their hearts would likely collapse on the surface, assuming their bones could even support their weight. At best they'd be incapable of standing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_medicine

[Superman's Dead]

Christ, we're so fucking embarrassing. Humorously so, but still.

Who the hell are we embarrassing ourselves in front of?! If humanity is such a joke, who gets the punchline? Why should we quit just because as far as we know we're the only horse in the race? Who are we judging ourselves against.

I can get being defeatist about your economy or system of government, but your entire species...that just seems...lame.

[evilgoodwin]

Actually, I would want to send those people off to other planets. Away from us. Forever.

[nnanji]

No the problem is that theres strong evidence that human beings simply can't survive floating in outer space for long periods of time. Lets say we send colonists to Alpha Centauri cause we know theres a habitable world there. Lets say its going to take 100 years to get there. If the colonists actually survive the trip and are able to reproduce they likely wont be able to land on the planet and survive since they've lived for generations without gravity. Their hearts would likely collapse on the surface, assuming their bones could even support their weight. At best they'd be incapable of standing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_medicine

True, but most of these conditions are caused by the functioning of the human body in an environment it is not designed for. Most of our observations of men (and women, obviously) in space are done in free-fall environments because it costs too much to maintain acceleration. Bone density loss, muscle atrophy, and fluid distribution are clearly problems, but they are also reversible in the presence of gravity, which could be simulated on a large enough vehicle, or on a vehicle under constant acceleration. They also could potentially be avoided by freezing the astronauts, locking the body in stasis and thus minimizing the biological time spent in space. But in my original post I was thinking primarily of embryonic space colonization. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryo_space_colonization)

Hell, even just seeding outer space with terrestrial DNA in the form of bacterium (which are very capable of surviving in space in the form of spores) would guarantee the survival of DNA, if not of man.

[Ultima Thulian]

Actually, I would want to send those people off to other planets. Away from us. Forever.

Okay, this I can get behind.

[Narradisall]

Okay, this I can get behind.

The great thing is we don't even have to have the logistics of making it to another habitable planet sorted either! If the ship doesn't make it (or never could in the first place), no loss!

[Ink Asylum]

I'm assuming we've all read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, as that very plan featured heavily in the plot.

[Ink Asylum]

Thinking about this topic while going out for lunch gave me an interesting idea for a series of Young Adult novels. Hmm...wonder if I can run with this.

[MagGnome]

I always knew our species was arrogant, but goddamn. I'm the only who thinks its possibly and even likely that someday, somehow, our species will be extinct? Really? I'm telling, it doesn't take as much as you guys think. Again, plants. They go, everything goes. And it wouldn't take much to make them go.

But we made the iPod, so yea, we're invincible.

I completely agree with you. I think that there is a very good chance that the majority of humans, if not the entire species, will be wiped out in the near future. Most likely of the species' own doing. Humans as a whole are selfish, greedy, and arrogant, and our pillaging of the planet and its resources will be our downfall.


After reading about my fellow countrymen cheering on the corporate fucks running insurance companies, bankers, and possibly voting down gay marriage in Maine, just kill me. Fuck this country.

Agreed. After the events I've seen in my lifetime, I often wonder if the species if even worth saving.


Come on folks. Do we really wanna spread shit like this all over the universe?


Christ, we're so fucking embarrassing. Humorously so, but still.

Well he is nice to look at, so there's that.

[Ultima Thulian]

He looks like a douche.

Granted, I'm straight, so my opinion on the matter is probably about as welcome as spit in a windstorm. But still.

[MagGnome]

He looks like a douche.

Granted, I'm straight, so my opinion on the matter is probably about as welcome as spit in a windstorm. But still.

Oh, no, he's a total douche. No argument there. I would never want to be trapped on a spaceship with him.

[nixpayn]

doesnt take much to kill everything cept bacteria on a planet - a big rock from space would do it very easily. but hey, we've started as bacteria before, we can do it again!

i believe saturn has already blocked several that would have ended us. im grateful to that big meat shield up there. but yea.

in the grand scheme of things, we're doomed. the sun will eventually consume us even if we do fix the planet and stop killing each other. the only way to really avoid the human race ending some day is to leave the planet and go elsewhere. i mean..its not something we need to do next week, but the one thing that is 100% sure that none of the planets in our solar system can escape, is the eventual death of our sun.

but i think we'll asplode ourselves long before we need to worry about that.

the ONE consolation is that when it DOES come, it'll get the roaches as well, which was always the shit thing about a nuke scenario.. the roaches dont die :(

[Zero]

I always knew our species was arrogant, but goddamn. I'm the only who thinks its possibly and even likely that someday, somehow, our species will be extinct? Really? I'm telling, it doesn't take as much as you guys think. Again, plants. They go, everything goes. And it wouldn't take much to make them go.

But we made the iPod, so yea, we're invincible.

It's a testament to the indomitable human will and spirit.


It's too bad we use it to be douchebags.

[ShivaX]

doesnt take much to kill everything cept bacteria on a planet - a big rock from space would do it very easily. but hey, we've started as bacteria before, we can do it again!

I dunno about that. A pretty damned big rock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceous%E2%80%93Tertiary_extinction_event)hit the planet and didn't kill off everything about 65 million years ago. It definately took a big chunk out of the life on the planet, but our rat ancestors weren't killed off by it. Hell crocodiles and their ilk survived it. Knocking everything down the bacteria level is actually pretty hard to accomplish. Its never happened, the only thing that could potentially do it is something like a planetary impact, which hasn't happened since the solar system finished forming.

[Voodoo]

I dunno about that. A pretty damned big rock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceous%E2%80%93Tertiary_extinction_event)hit the planet and didn't kill off everything about 65 million years ago. It definately took a big chunk out of the life on the planet, but our rat ancestors weren't killed off by it. Hell crocodiles and their ilk survived it. Knocking everything down the bacteria level is actually pretty hard to accomplish. Its never happened, the only thing that could potentially do it is something like a planetary impact, which hasn't happened since the solar system finished forming.

...and to think that that event wasn't even the largest loss of life catastrophic event in Earth's history. :eek: May I present the Permian-Triassic Extinction Event (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permian%E2%80%93Triassic_extinction_event).

[Wasson_]

Spare us your pseudo-science good sir. We all know the dinosaurs were wiped out by a lava tornado caused by a comet hitting a hurricane during a volcanic eruption. Why else would all their flesh have disappeared, leaving only the bones behind? Burnt off by the lava, then blown out of the atmosphere by the winds, out into space where the infinite power of dinosaur meat fuels our sun, forever and ever. The end.

Granted, I was home schooled, giving me an edge over the rest of you...with a little hard research and serious thought, I am sure you'll come to the same exact conclusion.

[Ultima Thulian]

http://i36.tinypic.com/a23t5t.jpg

[Generation ABXY]

I'd hit it.

[Panthera]

Spare us your pseudo-science good sir. We all know the dinosaurs were wiped out by a lava tornado caused by a comet hitting a hurricane during a volcanic eruption. Why else would all their flesh have disappeared, leaving only the bones behind? Burnt off by the lava, then blown out of the atmosphere by the winds, out into space where the infinite power of dinosaur meat fuels our sun, forever and ever. The end.

Granted, I was home schooled, giving me an edge over the rest of you...with a little hard research and serious thought, I am sure you'll come to the same exact conclusion.

http://i33.tinypic.com/16a62w3.gif

[MagGnome]

I'd hit it.

Of course you would.