The Human Game

[Mr Snow]

This post is for the discussion of the long-term viability of the Human Race. And what would be required to ensure long-term viability.

My thoughts are that:
1. I can easily see Hunter-Gatherer humans comfortablely living tens of thousands of years (which they already did). But I cannot see humans structured around modern-day lifestyles living for the same period (I can't even see the human species lasting the rest of this millenium ie to the year 3000).
2. Humans would not be able to regress to H-G existance easily and/or peacefully.

So all I can see would be changing birth-rates (if diseases didn't naturally control the population, like Aids will do in the next 20-50 years IMO [and I am not saying that is right or wrong]), changing the way food is produced (as in less mass farming) and a re-order of lifestyle (less cars etc).

How do others see our Species needing to be changed, if at all?

[Aegis]

The way I see it, I think we, as a people, need to be restrated. We have really screwed this world, and society up to a point where we are just going to destroy ourselves.

[fable]

Well, the upright human torso isn't a very good arrangement, when you think of it. The pressure on the vertibrae causes all sorts of problems with age, and the internal organs tend to slip down. Four-legged animals do not have these problems.

So I suppose the only thing to do is for humanity to spend a few generations lying on the ground. Over time, individuals will develop rudimentary creepers, and breeding will take care of the rest.

Go on, ask me another. I'm glad to help.

[ 10-03-2001: Message edited by: fable ]

[Aegis]

@Fable: Surely you don't have a problem with the upper torso of the females of our species!

[VoodooDali]

ROTFLMAO, Fable.

[THE JAKER]

Originally posted by Mr Snow:
<STRONG>I cannot see humans structured around modern-day lifestyles living for the same period. I can't even see the human species lasting the rest of this millenium ie to the year 3000.</STRONG>

I'll take that bet.

One thousand years ago people probably said the same thing...

As far as "modern-day" lifestyles, I think that's kind of hard to extrapolate from, after all the lifestyle of today is so different from the lifestyle 50 years ago, or 110 years ago, so to say that the "modern lifestyle" will continue just as it is now is pretty improbable. For instance look at cars - the ones they have now pollute way less than the ones 40 years ago, and the ones they will have in 10 years will probably just produce a nice floral scent. (they are REALLY into the clean cars here in California). Even though more people drive cars here in LA than did 40 yrs ago, the air quality is MUCH better - you can almost see the mountains some days! Another example would be the energy industry. 120 years ago people lit their houses with oil made from whale blubber. In the ensuing years, we've found a lot of better ways to light our houses, who's to say what will be in use in another 120 years?

I get tired of all the doomsaying that goes on about the environment, earthquakes, Y2K, etc. People are as far as I can tell the most adaptable, intelligent, hardy species around. I wouldn't count them out.

[Mr Snow]

@The Jaker:

I'm not trying to be a doomsayer.
But I also don't buy the "Technology will save us" jargon, Look at all the modernday conveniences that were supposed to make our life easier but hasn't (Like the vacuum/washing machine etc). And it is a fact that humans now work longer hours than ever before and have less leasure-time IIRC.

Here in Australia in the 1970s the supposed future was that people only worked 35hrs a week, well I can tell you personally that I don't know anyone who works that. And we are pressured to work even more.
To me technology just puts more pressure on people, look at how fax/email/internet etc has vastly changed the workload. Before if someone wanted a item or whatnot they were fine waiting for it to arrive, now there is extreme pressure to have it out, and out today.

The point of the discussion (to me) was that how would you change humans (Life-style wise) for the better. If that is at all possible.

[C Elegans]

@Mr Snow: Whooaa...the question of the long term viability of our species, is really the subject of hundreds of dissertations...
There are so many factors to take into account. The survival of a species, any species, is a very complex issue.

A major factor IMO is the global environmental issues. Global warming, pollusion, exploitation of natural resources, etc.

Man is a generalist, and very flexible. That's why we have spread to virtually every corner of this planet. On the other hand we have a rather long life span in relation to how fast we change our world, and we might be able to change basic premisses for life faster than we can adapt to these changes.

I don't think the Western modern day life-style and values will lead to extinction of our species as such, on the contrary, modern technology have increased human longevity and decreased death from disease. Genetic engineering, immunology, stem cell research and many other areas, will likely improve our average life span even more. Genetic scientists have increased the life span of worms with about 4-5 times. Many geneticists think that prolonging of human life span will be possible within 50 years or so.

IMO the increasing stress etc in modern society will not kill our species, but it might well make us more unhappy, which is another question.

[fable]

Originally posted by Aegis:
<STRONG>@Fable: Surely you don't have a problem with the upper torso of the females of our species! </STRONG>

By no means, though I discount my own subjectivity in this very scientific journal.

[Sailor Saturn]

Originally posted by C Elegans:
<STRONG>I don't think the Western modern day life-style and values will lead to extinction of our species as such, on the contrary, modern technology have increased human longevity and decreased death from disease. Genetic engineering, immunology, stem cell research and many other areas, will likely improve our average life span even more. Genetic scientists have increased the life span of worms with about 4-5 times. Many geneticists think that prolonging of human life span will be possible within 50 years or so.</STRONG>

This reminds me of Heinlein's book "Time Enough For Love."

[Shadow Sandrock]

Note this post is from a Christian's point of view, so you might disagree with some things but this is just my faith...

Originally posted by Aegis:
<STRONG>The way I see it, I think we, as a people, need to be restrated. We have really screwed this world, and society up to a point where we are just going to destroy ourselves.</STRONG>

I totally agree...

If just one nuclear accident occurs, a chain reaction would destroy this entire planet... If events ran their natural downward spiral course, face it, guys, this earth is going.

Which is exactly why the Rapture needs to happen very soon.

The bombings in New York were among many "Birth pangs" this planet has felt... great natural disasters left and right are only signaling the coming end of time. If things go the way they seem to be going, the Antichrist will be sooner than later rising in power...

And just look at the Media. People in movies are always identifying themselves with "The Mark", which is literally "666" and is found in all supermarket bar codes. We are literally trying to say, "This is what the end will be like. Let's try to make it all happen now." But lemme warn ya'll, the Rapture will happen, and that's when the real games begin...

Think about it. With all the nuclear warfare and terrorism today, what would the world think of millions of people, young and old, disappearing worldwide? If it were to happen today, and that is possible, what will the world blame it on? The world won't know what really happened, the Christians are gone, leaving behind the unknowing and the unwanting of the faith. It would more than likely be blamed on terrorism, and if we're not around to see WWIII start, it'll probably start then.

Later ya'll