[split] Neil Armstrong Dead

[Jackalope]

@ mods: can we split this thread please? This is not about paying tribute to a great historic figure anymore.

Done.

Keep topics not directly related to the original thread in this split thread.

[Anomalocaris]

Whats wrong with thousands of people putting money into church collection bowls - it's called charity.

Bullshit.... it's called another Rolls-Royce for some cocksucking preacher.

How fucking naive are you?

He is not naive. He is as stupid as a mud puddle and understandably beholden to the fraud that tells him sad excuses for mental processes equals divine wisdom so long as he believes what he conceives tobe the bible.

[Ace Otana]

Whats wrong with thousands of people putting money into church collection bowls - it's called charity.

It helps run soup kitchens and homeless shelters and clean water projects....HERE ON EARTH!

I guess you don't know then. Do you have any idea how much money the church actually makes?
If we taxed religion, we'd have enough money to send over a dozen Mars rovers. Religion has more than enough money to feed hundreds of millions.
Though they'd rather spend the money on fancy cars and huge churches.


When you look at how much religion makes and what they spend all that money on, religion is the ultimate corruption. The top 10 for most evil and selfish.

[5thHorseman]

You teach evolution because it's a major part of biology.

That wasn't so hard to figure out.

Not teaching evolution would be like leaving out gravity when teaching physics.



Also, why are you comparing NASA achievements to water? Theyre different fields and NASA has a great many inventions that have helped mankind. If youre reading this, youre using one of them.

You don't have to feed the world at the cost of other fields. You can do both.

[Phish]

I still dont get this,why do we even go into space,we throw like millions of dollars away,same is with olimpic sports,how much money was throws away. We must face it human race is going to die out,but at least until that time arrives,we should make our planet more friendly.

If we used all that money that was thrown into wars,useless materialism,luxury,... there wouldn't be no hunger,no pollution no nothing. We could live in perfect harmony.
But we throw all our resources into fun!

If you ask me human race deserves to die. We are corrupted, ravening, and power hungry. I still dont get why do we even reproduce there is no meaning in this life.

[Kayenneh]

If you ask me human race deserves to die. We are corrupted, ravening, and power hungry. I still dont get why do we even reproduce there is no meaning in this life.

Wow, that's a bleak outlook on life.. Don't worry, whether we deserve it or not, eventually all will die.

You know, using absolutes like that is kind of unfair towards all of those who have made this world a better place and worked in favor of humanity. Yes, there will always be the party crashers, who care about nothing but themselves, but there are also good, kind and altruistic people in this world. There's no need to be naive and think that humankind will ever be free of greed (hell, it's part of our blueprint), but I will continue to appreciate people as long as there are those few wonderful people around. Getting cynical helps no one, a smile and sunny disposition can make all the difference in the world and it costs absolutely nothing.

[frankiej]

As soon as I saw this split thread and realised it was instigated by Lion IRC, I felt like weeping.

[Ace Otana]

If you ask me human race deserves to die. We are corrupted, ravening, and power hungry. I still dont get why do we even reproduce there is no meaning in this life.

Very grim attitude you got there. Heck even I think mankind is fucked but I'm still jolly. Just waiting for those billions of tons of methane to be released. Still happily looking to all the good things we've got.

What we should be doing is putting some time capsules in space. Around earth, on the moon. So that when we've killed ourselves, we'll leave a lasting legacy for interstellar visitors to find and document. So they'll know that there was once a race of sapiens here on earth, too stupid to advance any further.

[frankiej]

I'm as happy as can be, but I still think the human race deserves to die out.

[Cyberman]

Everyone knows my personal emotional rollercoaster (hint: it's the one from Final Destination 3) but even I don't think the human race deserves to die out.

Geek time again, I'm afraid: there's a powerful scene in the final episode of the 'classic' - read 'proper' - Doctor Who series story Genesis of the Daleks in which opponents of Davros' Dalek project for the survival of his own humanoid race, the Kaleds, are holding what they think is a debate with him regarding the pros and cons of the project (Davros is using the debate to gain time while his prototype-Dalek forces move into position, but I digress):

Davros: The issues are simple and clear cut! I have given my life's work to the survival of our race. The travel machine I designed, the Dalek, will give the creature into which we will mutate its only possibility of continued existence.

Gharman: But you have deviated from that intention. You have introduced genetic changes that will alter the mutation into a creature without morals and without ethics.

Davros: I have introduced aggression! Without which, no race can survive.

Gharman: But aggression without a conscience.

Davros: History will show that co-operation between different species is impossible! One race must survive all others; and to do this, it must dominate. Ruthlessly. Now I intend that when all the bickering and battling is over, the supreme victor shall be our race - the Daleks! At this very moment, the production lines stand ready, totally automated, fully programmed. The Daleks are no longer dependent on us; the machinery is ready. They are a power in their own right!

If any one of you would destroy everything that we have ever achieved, then here... is a destruct button. Press it and you will destroy this bunker and everything in it. Only this room will remain! Press it and you will wipe out our entire race, destroy the Daleks forever! Which of you - will do it?

[Nobody moves, except to shift uneasily]

Davros: (with deep contempt) You are men without courage. You have lost your right to survive.

[Davros and his lieutenant, Nyder, confer]

Davros: (whispering) Good. We have achieved the delay we needed. Wait a few minutes, then check that everything is ready.

[Gharman address the assembly]

Gharman: You have heard Davros' case. What he has not made clear is that there is another way.

Davros: There is no other way!

Gharman: Production of the Dalek can continue. We can destroy the genetically conditioned creatures and allow the mutation to follow its own course. Our race will survive if it deserves to survive - but let it have all the strengths and weaknesses that we have; compassion and hate. Let it do good things and evil. But we cannot let it become an unfeeling, heartless machine. That is our choice. Now... we must decide.

I think what I'm saying essentially is that, similarly, our race ought to be allowed to survive if it deserves to survive. However, in order for that to happen, we must out-evolve and outgrow the more obvious threats such as wilful and manipulative stupidity, whether religiously- or politically-motivated (even if there's such a distinction): I can see nothing good coming from such things

---

Ah - just found the example I was looking for; and it's not sci-fi related this time. This is from 2010 regarding Obama's 2011 Budget Proposal, but I understand the situation is actually even worse now:

Wait, how big is NASA’s budget again?

Can you find NASA on there? It’s actually listed under General Science, near the bottom right. That rectangle’s not very big, is it? And NASA is only a part of that section, so the space agency’s lion’s share is starting to look more like a kitten’s nibble.

And that's NASA, funded by the wealthiest Western economy - I have no idea what the ESA funding is by comparison.