not everything! when there are finally no more humans, human patriarchy (and the oscars, fortunately) will fade into the past. It's a solution to so many problems...
I'm not saying that it's the only way to fix things, or that we shouldn't bother doing anything in the meantime. But yeah: support people who aren't breeding, discourage breeding (especially among the wealthy and powerful, whose progeny are more likely to consume shared resources disproportionately), and help folks dig out from under the various kinds of oppression we lovely creatures have heaped upon them since birth.
for myself, i aspire to live up to the characterization a friend of mine offered me recently (though i suspect she was being far too generous). She said, for someone so completely without hope, you treat other people pretty well.
Or, as VHEMT puts it, Be good to each other, and the last one out, turn off the lights! It's simplistic, but i think it helps to focus on the humans (and other creatures) who are here now. Suddenly, our mutual plight becomes more immediately relevant. These people you see suffering today, those are the people you need to help.
These people you see suffering today, those are the people you need to help. That's actually very close to (Tibetan, engaged) Buddhism as I understand it. Their preface has nothing to do with voluntary extinction -- instead, they see the world as illusion, but suffering as real. But the conclusion they come to is the same.
I'm not saying that it's the only way to fix things, or that we shouldn't bother doing anything in the meantime. But yeah: support people who aren't breeding, discourage breeding (especially among the wealthy and powerful, whose progeny are more likely to consume shared resources disproportionately
I think that's very pessimistic Dan. Yes, they will consume more probably but not necessarily if they are raised right. Like you guys for instance. You could consume a lot more and you don't. I think education is the key and I do have faith that the wealthy and powerful can learn.
I do like this Dan. Though to push the thought further, if you don't have faith in yourself , it's very difficult to have faith in others. Not saying that you don't. Just saying that maybe saying that you are without hope isnt'accurate.
Well yeah. But I just can't go down that road. Though that is what may happen.
Humans do bad things but they also do amazing things. I see your point. Just can't go there though. If I don't believe in human life how am I supposed to live and enjoy the one I have ?
And I guess happiness doesn't have to be the path... But it beats being miserable.
Well, I THOÜGHT that article would get some responses!
I do so very much agree with all that has been said here. Depressing scenario that's really not based on much. And certainly not an argument for breeding, in my view!
And everything does lead to patriarchy -- except when humans become extinct, as dkg says! Yech.
We went to a Saturn viewing on Friday night at the Emory Observatory (very cool) and one of the grad students was expounding on how some event is going to take place in 10,000 years or something which will lead to the Earth being bombarded with meteors to such and extent that life will be impossible. My reaction was -- well that's no problem, humans will have destroyed the Earth by then anyway. I guess the biggest question for me is whether humans can manage to kill themselves off without killing off all other life on the planet.
That's the real problem.
Saw the Oscars ?
Ha.
The article is interesting but I tend to agree with Troke and Dan.
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for myself, i aspire to live up to the characterization a friend of mine offered me recently (though i suspect she was being far too generous). She said, for someone so completely without hope, you treat other people pretty well.
Or, as VHEMT puts it, Be good to each other, and the last one out, turn off the lights! It's simplistic, but i think it helps to focus on the humans (and other creatures) who are here now. Suddenly, our mutual plight becomes more immediately relevant. These people you see suffering today, those are the people you need to help.
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That's actually very close to (Tibetan, engaged) Buddhism as I understand it. Their preface has nothing to do with voluntary extinction -- instead, they see the world as illusion, but suffering as real. But the conclusion they come to is the same.
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I think that's very pessimistic Dan. Yes, they will consume more probably but not necessarily if they are raised right. Like you guys for instance. You could consume a lot more and you don't.
I think education is the key and I do have faith that the wealthy and powerful can learn.
I am not ready to give up on humanity.
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But I just can't go down that road. Though that is what may happen.
Humans do bad things but they also do amazing things. I see your point. Just can't go there though. If I don't believe in human life how am I supposed to live and enjoy the one I have ?
And I guess happiness doesn't have to be the path... But it beats being miserable.
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I do so very much agree with all that has been said here. Depressing scenario that's really not based on much. And certainly not an argument for breeding, in my view!
And everything does lead to patriarchy -- except when humans become extinct, as dkg says! Yech.
We went to a Saturn viewing on Friday night at the Emory Observatory (very cool) and one of the grad students was expounding on how some event is going to take place in 10,000 years or something which will lead to the Earth being bombarded with meteors to such and extent that life will be impossible. My reaction was -- well that's no problem, humans will have destroyed the Earth by then anyway. I guess the biggest question for me is whether humans can manage to kill themselves off without killing off all other life on the planet.
Wow, am I on a depressive streak today!
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