489 réponses à ce sujet

[ubermensch007]

There was a thread here in the Off-Topic section that asked a related question.It got locked by the Moderators - I'm not sure why.And to top it off.It got locked write while I was about to press the submit button on my  post in it. Lol.

I had something that I wanted to say goddammit, and I mean to say it.And hopefully this thread won't get locked, b/c I believe that it raises an important topic of discussion.Which is:

"How much faith do you have in our species?"

Are we more of a blessing to this planet and the other lifeforms that we share it with - or are we more of a curse?

I'll never forget when I was a kid watching Terminator 2: Judgment Day.That scene when they are in Mexico, where young John Connor observes kids playing and says to the T-800:

John Connor: We're not gonna make it, are we? People, I mean.

The Terminator: It's in your nature to destroy yourselves.

John Connor: Yeah. Major drag, huh?

I had a moment like J.C. a couple of years ago, during the BP Oil Spill... I was so shocked, dumbfounded and appauled at the level and scale of human incompetence and irresponsibility there.That I felt as though I had to apologize to the Earth itself (and plant and animal populations) on our behalf... For me that just was a real: "My God... What have we done?!"  Moment in human history on this planet...

You see, I grew up watching He-Man, G.I.Joe, Transformers, TMNT, Voltron, ThunderCats and Captain Planet and the Planeteers:

The latters message of humanity being "Stewards of the planet and advocates for it. (if need be) Along with the 3 R's: Reduse, Reuse, Recycle - stayed with me.

I remember during September 11th 2001.Hearing a few people say something like, "Damn... This is definetly one of those: "This looks like a job for Superman" - scenarios."

I felt the same way about Captain Planet during the BP Oil spill.

But no Superman or Captain Planet came to the rescue.There not here.Its just us... And look at what were doing:

Look at how we have misused so many of this planets resources.

look at how we have in many  ways failed to govern ourselves.

Police ourselves even!

In spite of the fact that ****** sapiens on this planet make no contribution whatsoever to the Ecosystem or Circle of
Life.(There is even a world famous book called "The World Without Us" That shows how the planet and its other residence would do just fine if we wern't here.)

We come out still being the most powerful and influential species on the planet.Despite the fact that we play no part in producing its life sustaining balance.

I'm not trying to preach or anything but, when I think of things like:

- The (seemingly ever-growing) Military Industrial Complex, that President Eisenhower spoke of in his:

Farewell Address

-  The Prison Industrial Complex that is so prevalent in America...

The repeated cases of ethnic cleansing and genocide that continues to take place throughout the world.Why the inter-national community  persist in saying,"Never again." But its still happening.

The way the wealthiest of us decide to use there vast financial might.Instead of how it could be used:

 ("World On Fire")

What is one to say? What is one to think - about such a species? I know that there's good in the world.People who are willing to lend a helping hand.We have Social Workers, Activist, Veterinarians, Environmentalist,
Human Rights Activist and such.

But - sigh... This isn't enough.It doesn't balance out the scale.Compared to what we do to ourselves.How we treat others.And how we --

I don't know... Look I'm not misanthropic or anything.I just can't say that I have been feeling very proud of the human race lately...

So... What's your opinion of the human race?

Edit: Here's a link to the "Poll"

Modifié par ubermensch007, 09 septembre 2011 - 03:46 .

[whykikyouwhy]

If anything, we would, as a people, do well to remember the adage about learning from history.

[Inquisitor Recon]

Humanity sucks. But I'm determined to take out our planet, if not our whole solar system, with us.

As somebody who works in the defense industry (aka some part of the military industrial complex) I am sick and tired of Congress wasting billions while trying to cut efforts to modernize the military. Most of these workers and engineers I see are more beneficial to our country than some activists trying to "raise awareness" about causes which are all too often pointless or futile.

When I get asked or have an opportunity to donate to a charity or something, I usually do, but in the long run it is often futile.

Then look what happens when military intervention in some 3rd world hellhole occurs. It is the same human-rights activists who want us to restore order that start complaining about civilian casualties in a warzone, something which is an inevitable part of war.

In the end, any cause or conflict comes down to blood and treasure and how much an organization is able or willing to spend.

The only way I see humanity ever "uniting" is by force. Presuming such a thing ever occurs, you may not want to stick around depending on who this victor is.

[Volus Warlord]

Nonsense! We can unite with amicable means! And the diversity of a world government will be a huge strength and stabilizing factor! Like it was in Yugoslavia...eh...

[DarkDragon777]

In general, humanity is going down the wrong path. We've been accepting things we shouldn't and have been following foolish liberal ideologies. If I were to be put in charge, I would restore the conservative values our ancestors had, as I myself am conservative.

And perhaps instead of worrying about the animals, the environment, etc., we should be worrying about our own prosperity as a species. And sacrifices must be needed to get prosperity for oneself. Unity and world peace is not possible, so you must simply look out for yourself to gain...

Optimism, acceptance, and charity are all a lie conjured by fools afraid of the shadows. America, in particular, I see on the decline culturally. We've allowed liberal ideologies to infest our systems and plague the mind. Liberalism in general, is like a parasite that feeds of any kind of system until it is overinflated and bursts, disguised as something kind, but in general is evil. Instead of looking out for other countries and giving money that is used unwisely, we should look inwards and help ourselves.

Overall, the future doesn't look great for us, at least in my opinion.

[GumbyDammit]

We're not going to kill the planet. The only thing we're going to (possibly) do is kill the ecosystem that supports us. But guess what? Something else will arise/evolve to replace us. If the worst case scenario occurs (i.e. we end up wiping ourselves out), life will go on. Just not human life.

Extinction events have happened several times in the past, which destroyed almost the entire planetary ecosystem, but life went on. It still will, no matter what we humans contrive to do to the planet. Except the continuing cycle of life just may not include us.

As pessimistic as that may sound, I actually don't think it's all doom and gloom for the human race. As many bad and terrible things that you can point to that we've done, there are just as many good things that we do as well. I honestly believe we'll do alright in the end, both for us and the world at large.

[TJPags]

intersting question. I think we're doing fine overall. Why do I think that? Simple.

1) Are we here to nurture the planet, or ourselves? Me, I think ourselves, I have no problem with fossil fuels, etc. If we run out, go nuclear.

2) Could we really destroy the planet even if we wanted to? Short of nuclear war, I don't think so. Maybe we couldn't operate things as they are, but I have no doubt we'd adapt. And if we didn't . . . well, we had a nice run.

[Volus Warlord]

TJPags wrote...

intersting question. I think we're doing fine overall. Why do I think that? Simple.

1) Are we here to nurture the planet, or ourselves? Me, I think ourselves, I have no problem with fossil fuels, etc. If we run out, go nuclear.

2) Could we really destroy the planet even if we wanted to? Short of nuclear war, I don't think so. Maybe we couldn't operate things as they are, but I have no doubt we'd adapt. And if we didn't . . . well, we had a nice run.

WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU! 

YOU ARE CONDONING THE KILLING DOLPHINS! YOU SHOULD BE SHOT IN THE STREET TO PROMOTE PEACE AND LOVE!

[KenKenpachi]

*Reads...falls asleep* why yes, yessthe answer is obviously Hamburgers.

[TJPags]

Volus Warlord wrote...

TJPags wrote...

intersting question. I think we're doing fine overall. Why do I think that? Simple.

1) Are we here to nurture the planet, or ourselves? Me, I think ourselves, I have no problem with fossil fuels, etc. If we run out, go nuclear.

2) Could we really destroy the planet even if we wanted to? Short of nuclear war, I don't think so. Maybe we couldn't operate things as they are, but I have no doubt we'd adapt. And if we didn't . . . well, we had a nice run.

WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU! 

YOU ARE CONDONING THE KILLING DOLPHINS! YOU SHOULD BE SHOT IN THE STREET TO PROMOTE PEACE AND LOVE!

Yes, I know, I'm a terrible person.  But you know, dolphin gives tuna fish that little extra something it needs to taste just right. 

But seriously, that kind of thinking - we can't do X because it will harm some species - makes me wonder at the point of certain environmentalist groups.  They want to save other species, but at our expense.  How does that make sense?

[KenKenpachi]

Volus Warlord wrote...

TJPags wrote...

intersting question. I think we're doing fine overall. Why do I think that? Simple.

1) Are we here to nurture the planet, or ourselves? Me, I think ourselves, I have no problem with fossil fuels, etc. If we run out, go nuclear.

2) Could we really destroy the planet even if we wanted to? Short of nuclear war, I don't think so. Maybe we couldn't operate things as they are, but I have no doubt we'd adapt. And if we didn't . . . well, we had a nice run.

WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU! 

YOU ARE CONDONING THE KILLING DOLPHINS! YOU SHOULD BE SHOT IN THE STREET TO PROMOTE PEACE AND LOVE!

Funny enough I like to go to the beach, pretend I'm drowning, then when the dolphins come to "save" me I murder them.

Thats what they get for killing sharky >>

Also TJ thats as a good number of such groups are nut jobs who if could make bioweapons wouldn't think twice to use them on all of humanity.

[Saaziel]

Every once in a while I get an "Entering the Twilight zone" kind of feeling; Seeing how people are aware of the problems facing our species ,yet incapable or unwilling to do anything about it.

Its pretty hard to talk about the species as a whole , from what i see in our western civilisation it doesn't look all that great.

I think your Superman & Captain planet anecdotes are somewhat telling about what the general population expect (As it is , i'm sure , they are quite a common reminiscence); We've been taught to fend for ourselves, look out for #1 ,and relinquish decision making to a ruling Financial/Political/Military class. I think this leads , in part , to the sense of hopelessness & anxiety so prevalent now days.

One person , alone , can't do anything to turn the tides , but we wish we could , so we live out our fantasies within the "Hero" notion. Not just in kids cartoons , but in Authoritarian figures or concepts : Celebrities , Bosses , Owners and so on.

I don't want to sound to preachy; I could go on for a while on this topic. What i think it boils down to is people see & want to fix the problem(s) , but aren't willing to chip in (not just materially i mean). I personally believe that united we stand (Or a least stand a better chance) & divided we fall. As it were , this is very much a divided culture. I call it "the Society of individualists" , a complete oxymoron; We , the people , together , for me my self and I.

So to answer your question ; How are we doing as a species? I'd say that an Outside observe would be laughing his/her/its ass off. Whether we can make it or not , i think is not worth speculation on.

Modifié par Saaziel, 05 septembre 2011 - 03:27 .

[chunkyman]

We as a species are doing great. 
We have cable TV, video games, blackjack and  strip chess clubs! What kind of dolphin or turtle has that?

[chunkyman]

Montezuma IV wrote...

 Political discussion 

I like how you ascribe opinions to people that they never actually expressed. 

[Kaiser Arian XVII]

Refine the Internet and Satellite TV programs and I might find hope in humanity.
If humanity reaches to a high rational and ethical level (rather being sentimental, hedonistic and utilitarian), We will achieve perfection (I call 9/10 perfect).

[Ryllen Laerth Kriel]

Most people are hopeless because they give in to their animal tendencies and breed and eat with the abundance society creates. And some are hopeless because they trap themselves in little ivory towers, over-educating themselves in a narcisstic bliss, surrounding themselves with plots, schemes and like-minded sophistocates. There is no set solution to how humanity should behave others have mentioned this and I agree.

If it comforts you at all OP, we'll all likely be sucked into the radial smear of a super massive blackhole one day, the saints and the sinners alike all just a smudge of light data on the event horizon. Does it matter what we did billions of "years" ago? Not one bit, but it all makes for amusing stories if any are remembered or recorded.

[Mr. Sprinkles101]

Communism would fix everything... that is all

[Ulous]

Mr. Sprinkles101 wrote...

Communism would fix everything... that is all

Democracy is non-negotiable.

[Ulous]

ReconTeam wrote...

The only way I see humanity ever "uniting" is by force. Presuming such a thing ever occurs, you may not want to stick around depending on who this victor is.

I would advise you brush up on your Chinese (of all dialects)

[Homebound]

our machines are moving faster than our humanity.
We need to stop and work towards a great spiritual awakening now more than ever or MAD ourselves within the next 200 years.