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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 28. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lynn970 on October 13, 2005, at 16:18:46
So many crazy things happening.
Posted by TexasChic on October 13, 2005, at 18:55:54
In reply to This world does SUCk!, posted by lynn970 on October 13, 2005, at 16:18:46
I've proposed this theory many times, but nobody seems to understand it. In nature, when a pest threatens the existence of a plant, the plant sometimes, over time, developes toxins that are poisonous to the pest. Maybe the earth is tired of being polluted and is trying to get rid of the pest (us). I told my Mom this and she got all upset because she thought I was saying the earth possessed intelligent. Of course, she thinks its 'the end of days', so you can see how we would clash.
Posted by Susan47 on October 13, 2005, at 22:18:57
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk!, posted by TexasChic on October 13, 2005, at 18:55:54
I don't know, I don't think the earth is trying to get rid of us, I think we're self-destructing because we threaten the existence of everything, period.
Posted by Declan on October 13, 2005, at 22:59:10
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk! » TexasChic, posted by Susan47 on October 13, 2005, at 22:18:57
There is no limit to human stupidity. And other things that are worse (or the same), sense of entitlement, pride, arrogance, you know the list.
Declan
Posted by crazy teresa on October 13, 2005, at 23:08:11
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk!, posted by TexasChic on October 13, 2005, at 18:55:54
of days. I'm ready to get outta here!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by lynn971 on October 14, 2005, at 17:28:34
In reply to INDEED IT DOES, posted by Declan on October 13, 2005, at 22:59:10
I hope Jesus comes back tomorrow. Not tonight. My attitude is not quite right.
Posted by TexasChic on October 14, 2005, at 20:20:14
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk! » TexasChic, posted by Susan47 on October 13, 2005, at 22:18:57
I'm a big Michael Crichton fan, and this conversation reminds me of a scene in Jurassic park (the book, not the movie). They were all hiding from the dinasours and Malcolm and Hammond engage in an argument. Hammond is relieved that the animals did not get free and overrun the world. Malcolm says that the world cannot be destroyed. It will always survive whatever disasters take place. If humanity destroys itself, the earth will not miss us.
Posted by lynn971 on October 14, 2005, at 22:09:55
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk!, posted by TexasChic on October 14, 2005, at 20:20:14
I really dont think that the earth would miss us.
Wild animals act better than some humans.
Posted by Susan47 on October 17, 2005, at 19:12:55
In reply to I hope your mom's right about it being the end, posted by crazy teresa on October 13, 2005, at 23:08:11
> of days. I'm ready to get outta here!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't be too ready, this might be all you ever get.
Posted by Susan47 on October 17, 2005, at 19:23:08
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk!, posted by TexasChic on October 14, 2005, at 20:20:14
So true.
What I find interesting is all range of possibilities we face on the road to self-destruction. I mean, will we have the chance to destroy ourselves or will an asteroid do it? Certainly we have no chance of surviving the way we currently are. Not without massive and rapid changes to our biology. Impossible to achieve, during the time we have left. It's too short. There simply isn't time for evolution to produce the required changes in our biology. If man survives beyond the next couple hundred years, we'll require special contained environments. The outside world will be hostile.
Yeah.
Like the bottom of the ocean is to us, now.
So, will it be an asteroid? Okay, if it is, that will produce climate changes that will eventually create a certain form of life, don't you think?
Whereas, if an asteroid doesn't hit the earth, but other life forms are allowed to evolve from the greenhouse damage, doesn't that present the possibility of an entirely different living world than the one an asteroid would create?
Whew. I think all the planets that sci-fi writers have up their sleeves are all possible future earths.
Or maybe this huge mass of material will suddenly implode from some atomic force we haven't yet discovered ... or disintegrate, is that possible, to just disintegrate into nothingness?
Posted by crazy teresa on October 18, 2005, at 9:28:52
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk! » TexasChic, posted by Susan47 on October 17, 2005, at 19:23:08
Posted by Susan47 on October 18, 2005, at 20:12:59
In reply to Where's your hope? (nm) » Susan47, posted by crazy teresa on October 18, 2005, at 9:28:52
That's an aptly-put question, sweetie, and I have only one answer right now; the present moment.
Posted by TexasChic on October 19, 2005, at 16:19:19
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk! » TexasChic, posted by Susan47 on October 17, 2005, at 19:23:08
Just to play the devil's advocate, think about how fast our technology advances. Just fifty years ago was a totally different world. There's no way to predict what they may come up with in the future.
-T
Posted by Susan47 on October 19, 2005, at 20:35:33
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk! » Susan47, posted by TexasChic on October 19, 2005, at 16:19:19
Well, man can come up with all kinds of stuff, certainly. Is time travel possible? Isn't there a recent theory that it is not? Because I predict without that, man won't be able to come up with anything good enough to save himself. Because there's likely a limit to how much we can develop beyond this burst of creativity since the Industrial Revolution, without the hand of evolution, which takes too long to help us now. Sorry. I hope I'm wrong. But.
Posted by sunny10 on October 20, 2005, at 7:18:02
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk!, posted by Susan47 on October 19, 2005, at 20:35:33
I think we still ARE evolving... If not, then why are our kids so much bigger than we were???
It's a generalization, but MOST kids these days are taller and pudgier than we were... who knows, maybe there's a reason for that...
Posted by lynn971 on October 20, 2005, at 19:55:40
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk! » Susan47, posted by sunny10 on October 20, 2005, at 7:18:02
With all due respect to all my lovable evolutionist friends, I dont believe in evolution, I DO, however believe in adaption.
I might get some flack for this statement so I wont comment any further.
I just agree to disagree with people who dont share my beliefs.
Posted by crazy teresa on October 20, 2005, at 20:01:46
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk! » Susan47, posted by sunny10 on October 20, 2005, at 7:18:02
> I think we still ARE evolving... If not, then why are our kids so much bigger than we were???
>
> It's a generalization, but MOST kids these days are taller and pudgier than we were... who knows, maybe there's a reason for that...Like synthetic horomones in all our food and video games??? ;~}
Posted by Susan47 on October 20, 2005, at 20:19:50
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk! » Susan47, posted by sunny10 on October 20, 2005, at 7:18:02
Of course we're evolving, there's no doubt that every life form does that.
But not quickly enough to save ourselves.
Posted by sunny10 on October 21, 2005, at 8:49:50
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk! » sunny10, posted by Susan47 on October 20, 2005, at 20:19:50
I agree with you all...
evolving can be described as adapting...
synthetics seem to be more readily available than the real things...and cause less depletion of resources.our children seem to be adapting to a less "natural" (read earthy) way of life. Which is exactly how we have to evolve (read adapt) to a planet whose resources are diminishing by leaps and bounds.
I think we're all "right", here... I don't think there is a wrong answer.
My SO says that we won't destroy the earth- the earth will shake us off its back before we could ever actually destroy it...
Maybe he's right and the fires, earthquakes, bird flu, and floods are a way to get rid of some of the over-population of the earth...
The earth and its atmosphere may be shaking some of us off of its back!!!And if that's true- we are not adapting fast enough...so Susan's right, too...
If we brainstorm enough, we could argue every possible scenario...
Posted by Susan47 on October 21, 2005, at 20:54:06
In reply to Re: everyone, posted by sunny10 on October 21, 2005, at 8:49:50
> I agree with you all...
>
> evolving can be described as adapting...
> synthetics seem to be more readily available than the real things...and cause less depletion of resources.
>
Example? I'm curious, because it seems to me that if we can somehow disregard the fact that we're depleting the earth with our farming methods alone ... how're synthetics less depleting? Now if you factor the previous Into the equation, then yes, I'd agree.
Or am I off base in my understanding of everything?
Posted by Susan47 on October 21, 2005, at 20:58:34
In reply to Re: everyone, posted by sunny10 on October 21, 2005, at 8:49:50
Sunny, when I read this (read here rhymes with red)
> our children seem to be adapting to a less "natural" (read earthy) way of life. Which is exactly how we have to evolve (read adapt) to a planet whose resources are diminishing by leaps and bounds.I see Jetsons. Do you?
I don't know, I really don't know. Yes, and no. Is it a coin toss at this stage? How many different predictions of man's future do we have?
Perhaps as many as we can imagine? Are All of them possible? Probable? Which Will it be? Which?
Posted by TexasChic on October 22, 2005, at 15:51:43
In reply to Re: everyone, posted by sunny10 on October 21, 2005, at 8:49:50
> My SO says that we won't destroy the earth- the earth will shake us off its back before we could ever actually destroy it...
>
> Maybe he's right and the fires, earthquakes, bird flu, and floods are a way to get rid of some of the over-population of the earth...
> The earth and its atmosphere may be shaking some of us off of its back!!!
>
Hey! That's what I said! Finally someone who agrees with me.I don't believe mankind is doomed though. Life finds a way (another Jurassic Park quote).
-T
BTW, what's an SO?
Posted by Susan47 on October 22, 2005, at 22:01:56
In reply to Re: everyone, posted by TexasChic on October 22, 2005, at 15:51:43
Significant Other. The buzzword for whatever/whoever your partner in life at this moment, is.
Posted by sunny10 on October 25, 2005, at 8:04:22
In reply to Re: everyone » TexasChic, posted by Susan47 on October 22, 2005, at 22:01:56
I think all scenarios are possible... I think I'd have to sit back and let the scifi folks talk about which are more probable...
And, yes, I see the Jetsons here a bit...
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 28, 2005, at 11:40:27
In reply to Re: This world does SUCk!, posted by Susan47 on October 19, 2005, at 20:35:33
> Well, man can come up with all kinds of stuff, certainly. Is time travel possible? Isn't there a recent theory that it is not? Because I predict without that, man won't be able to come up with anything good enough to save himself. Because there's likely a limit to how much we can develop beyond this burst of creativity since the Industrial Revolution, without the hand of evolution, which takes too long to help us now. Sorry. I hope I'm wrong. But.
I don't mean to just reply to this post, but to the thread, really.
I'm surprised that nobody mentioned the Gaia Hypothesis. It considers the living organisms on the Earth as if they are expressions of one single organism. A meta-organism, if you will. Life is self-regulating, and if one aspect of the organism(s) gets out of hand, the tendency is that something will arise to restabilize things.
http://www.kheper.net/topics/Gaia/Gaia_Hypothesis.htm
So, if people overpopulate and destabilize the Earth, life will find a way to depopulate/stabilize everything. The more we over-populate, the more vulnerable we are to e.g. HIV, ebola, bird flu, something new. Humans might not last, but life will.
Lar
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