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How many of you think humanity is at the end?
Posted by DrBurst • 4/27/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Hey, I was wondering, how many of you think we are at the end of days. Many of my friends think we'll be fine, but it is geting bad. Really bad, really fast. So, what do you think.
User Comments
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nope.-
ditto
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No. True the overall climate and mood of things isn't flowers and rainbows right now, but this is a part of life. We went through this in the 80s, the 70s, the 40s, etc.-
Yea, This is just the first "end of days" I went through. Truth is, i'm a bit scaried.
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I grew up in the 80s during the cold war where we were surrounded by apocalytic films and felt, more or less, there was a good possibility of being blown up by nuclear war. It's interesting to me that now we're seeing 80s fashion and music come back because the tone is very similar.
We'll get through this as well. But it certainly is one of the more depressing periods of time I can think that I've lived through. -
TSR, I guess we grew up at the same time. I remember we had safety drills at school and had to crawl under our desks so what new what to do in case a nuclear bomb hit.
Great, I want to be vaporized while cowering under my desk. -
I don't recall the desk drills, but I do remember there was a made-for-TV movie about the US being hit by a nuclear bomb ("The Day After"?) that just everyone watched... And it pretty much summed up what we were all worried about at the time.
When the Wall came down, then, it was almost hard to even reconcile, because so many of us had expected the worst for so long. -
I grew up in NY which was considered the "First target" of a nuclear strike at the time. Mass paranoia.
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I was in New Jersey, so-- Yup!
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who can predict the future? I can't so I have no idea where this is heading. All we can do Is try to live in harmony with each other and nature.
So many have tried to predict and so many failed. Human and animals both can do really stupid things out of fear also. -
Impossible to say. I'm concerned, as things are obviously a huge mess in the world these days - especially here in the USA. But I'm not going to count out existence just yet. I'm expecting the end to be something more random - like someone putting tinfoil in their microwave with some popcorn by accident and the entire universe and reality as we know it simply abruptly blipping out of existence. -
Haven't people throughout the ages thought we are nearly at the end? Didn't folk wear billboards hundreds of years ago with 'the end is nigh' written upon them. And yet we are still here.
Why should we be at the end now, despite all the problems? -
Sorry clicked the button twice. The finger is on the button - love that song.
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I'm less concerned that we might be "near the end" than that we might continue on indefinitely in this downward spiral.-
Well said
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Despite the downward spiral, not enough gets said about the good things going on in the world. It is human nature to concentrate on the drama of the bad. If good is supposed to triumph over bad isn't there always some kind of hope?
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We do have the technology to do greater damage than ever before. Ultimately however, good does triumph over evil... sometimes it is a while in coming.
If rather than to fear, we love the people around us like it might be our last day to make life matter,work to accomplish our dreams like we may be running out of time and still make plans for both ourselves and our children in the future, can we be better for it? -
I often hear that idea expressed, that the "good doesn't get enough attention", but I don't see any evidence for it. It seems to me that people are grasping at any possibility to point out something good; our local news stations continually spotlight teenagers who are taking exceptional actions, the kids' channels that my daughter watches have segments on kids who are involved in their communities and volunteer organizations all the time. When I worked for local newspapers, we regularly ran special sections featuring local volunteers. Organizations trip over themselves to hand out certificates and host volunteer recognition nights and such. Every time someone does something heroic, it's not only all over the news, but various organizations hold awards ceremonies and such. Dogs who find their way home from a long distance get national news coverage. Where is all the good stuff that's being ignored? It seems to me that we're "reporting" people acting as everyone should act every day as news because we're so desperate for something positive to say.
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What do you mean by "end of days"? As in, end of the human species or planet earth itself? Or both?
I think we're more resilient than we think we are. And earth regenerates herself constantly - she's a tough cookie. I think "the end of days" is impossible. Although I do think action is needed, but I don't think the level of fear is necessary.
There's nothing to fear except fear itself.
"Have no fear for atomic energy, cos none of them can stop the time" - Bob Marley :))-
"end of days" presumably in a Christian apocalyptic way. Anti-Christ, zombies, righteous few, etc.
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In some ways it is a "Is the glass half full or half empty type of argument"...
There is no doubt that mankind's non-sustainable environmental practices and pollution have severely damaged Planet Earth...
The fact that we and the other lifeforms on this planet are still alive is reason enough for hope and we do have the opportunity to build a better world that is environmentally sustainable...-
You are so hopeful, I just can't see the glass as half-full
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DrBurst,
You could try seeing the glass as twice as large as it needs to be.
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It isn't, really, though. The question is more, "Is the glass being slowly filled up or drained?"
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I'm an optimist, I think its just another cycle -
If you can, try to see the beauty in the cyclical patterns of nature. Everything must have a beginning and an end. Autumn leaves fall to bring spring flowers. Civilizations have come and gone. The earth was a ball of rock at one point before we even existed. We are resilient and will overcome any adversity we are meant to overcome. It is in our nature to survive.
When things feel a little gloomy just remind yourself of all the good times because there are many more to come. Also, consider where you are getting your sources of media if they are causing you anxiety. You may want to look for avenues with more positive messaging. I know if I watch our local news too much I get bombarded with negative messages, but I am also sensitive to advertising too. Now I get most of my information from direct RSS feeds from media sources on particular topics of interest. I feel a little sheltered at times but it helps me to keep my perspective on real world events that matter vs. being micro-sensitive to every little issue. Hope this helps, hang in there.
If it feels like a slippery slope make sure you are grounded. It helps to be positive and not to waiver from a belief in good. -
I think Ekim is right. Vaporization would be my preferred method of obliteration, my favorite way to go.-
Here you go Jack, there is a post for adding the opposite of your preferred method
www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/which-way-not-to-go
You know your picture kind of looks like...and the name Jack...and irony of "payne", hmm...
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Don't worry Jack, the desk will protect you
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Chicken Little thinks it is!
Trailer: www.apple.com/trailers/disney/chicken_little/
Story: www.eleaston.com/chicken.html -
Okay, on a more serious note.
Glen Beck (I don't watch him regularly) recently interviewed Joel Rosenberg, a former political advisor, now political thriller author. Rosenberg has written a series of fictional books based upon non-fictional and current events, tying in biblical theology/eschatology, all related to the end of times.
Here are is the link to some of the transcripts related to the end of times and biblical prophecy: www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/196/8554/
Full transcripts: transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0804/25/gb.01.html
Items in the transcript include: war in Middle East, anti-Christ, resurrection of Babylon in Iraq, Christianity, Islam, rebuilding of Roman Empire, etc. -
Just about a done deal.
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Dare I mention Dec 21 2012, hence my blog and passion for solar cooking and free energy devices.
At least I'll have roasted squirrel cooked by the sun during the post-apocalypse era.
Regards
Sol
I look forward to some jovial BC banter from the non-tin foil hat brigade lol
PS Be gentle with me gentlegirl, I'm in a delicate mood this evening. x -
End of primitivism, I hope.
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So, you want all of mankind to be advanced...
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It's not a matter of "wanting". We were monkeys. Industrial Revolution was like yesterday.
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DrBurst,
Advanced what? Rollerbladers? My vote is for advanced writers.
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It looks like we'll have a rough time, about 5,000,000,000 years from now, when the sun runs out of hydrogen ( www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/science/13planet.html ) At the very least, someone's going to have to decide whether to hunker down or move.
Until then, I'm pretty sure that there will be some unpleasant episodes.
And, we've been through some difficult times. The eruption of Mt. Toba, for instance, was very bad news for people, roughly 70,000 years back.
But, we're still here.
I've seen movies like "Road Warrior," and read about the food riots in the sixties: the ones that were supposed to happen, but didn't.
And now I understand that WR 104 is aimed at us, and could go off soon (in geological terms). WR 104 is a binary star about 8,000 light-years away, in the general direction of the center of the galaxy we're in. ( www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gekko/press/wr104_Mar08/nature.html )
But, no: I don't think these are 'end times.' Writing about such things is a pretty good way to sell books, though.
I've wondered if the continuing fascination with catastrophes that haven't happened is related to the continuing popularity of gothic romances (the sort of novel whose cover shows a young woman in a see-through nightie running away from a run-down Victorian house).
If you really want to get scared, read about details of the five worst mass extinctions in Earths history ( www.space.com/scienceastronomy/planetearth/extinction_sidebar_000907.html )-
Great, the sun is gonna run out in 5,000,000,000 years and I haven't payed my electric bill. I'll be the first to feeze.
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ekim941,
Actually, our current state of ignorance says that, since the sun will expand as it runs low on fuel, the problem will be excess heat, not cold.
Earth may or may not be vaporized in the process, or possibly be so far into the sun's atmosphere that its orbit will decay and it will fall into the sun.
The latest educated guess is that Earth will survive, but after a burn-off that will kill anything living. Then Earth will freeze.
That won't be good for real estate values. -
So, in other words, I need a swimming pool and a jacket. Thanks, I have a while to save up for the pool.
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Primitivism - a celebration of the "unconscious" according to wiki.
Maybe it should read - a celebration of the dawning of our "subconscious" awakening.
Peace and light -
Want a history of apocalyptic thought in Germany? Here's a good one: press.umsystem.edu/spring2000/vondung.htm-
markstoneman,
Whaddaya trin' ta doo? Make us think?
(Read the review: looks promising. Thanks.) -
looks good, thanks.
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Norski, just trying to remind people that this kind of thinking is nothing new. Presentist thinking is impoverishing.
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it's inconsistent with most prophecy-
But, man: can it sell books!
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we could write one
How to survive the oncoming catastrophe ebook
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Our machines shall inherit the Earth.-
Oh Lord...
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machinehuman,
Actually, there's a sizable sub-genre of science fiction dealing with that idea.
I'm a little dubious about the possibility, myself: at least in the sci-fi sense.
Particularly since machines, technology, from string to pocket calculators, are tools that people use. That being the case, it's a little hard to take a vision of 'machines taking over the world' as anything more than a metaphor for something else. -
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It's not only a plausible idea, it's probable.
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@urikalish - I've posted this video a few weeks ago.
This robot is amazing.
machine-human.com (shameless) -
One of my favorite videos Uri.
Have you seen the robot bully picking on Dexter?
www.youtube.com/v/_CQ5AKaEi3U -
@ekim941 almost a Michael Jackson (the shoes, look at the shoes)
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But that's OK. In a way, the machines are humanity's children, and the next step in our evolution.
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urikalish,
The 'dog' is a remarkable device - and much more practical than "Asimo."
What struck me was how well the thing does on ice.
I can't help but remember, though, that this automaton is just that: a remarkably well-designed copy of a quadruped. Its AI is quite remarkable: particularly its ability to deal with unexpected and rapidly-changing situations.
However, it is a vehicle: and as likely to take over the world as a car with an automatic transmission. Both are remarkable devices, with sophisticated (for the time of their design) control and feedback systems. But both are just that: vehicles.
I know: If human beings are viewed as a collection of automata, then other automata could, and probably will, take over. I don't view human beings that way, so I'm not likely to see the latest information technology as a threat to humanity's supremacy: didn't see direct-dial long distance telephones that way, don't see the dog that way, either.
Still, a remarkable device. -
But power comes down to, you know, power. And I can destroy any machine much easier than it can destroy me.
People first! -
You probably have seen these, but:
youtube.com/watch?v=cZzLAsHiGHU
youtube.com/watch?v=g1SADcP5g1o
youtube.com/watch?v=gD1tjTsBsJc
(I've worked with people who were less believably human than these.) -
@uri
All your bases are belong to us
I am going to start collecting post-apocalyptic action heros now. They're hot and I can only imagine what they will be worth in 30 years, when the movie Waterworld makes a retro comeback as a cult classic!
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PS, ekim, you might want to check out the warning on the action figurine box...CHOKING HAZARD. I am little confused. It says it is for ages 5 and up and not for anyone under 3, so what about if you're four? Not a choking hazard then? At least we are safe from choking, phew.
Were we just made victims of overinstruction?
www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/overinstructed -
Good one Amp.
Norski, you are pointing out robots that follow a specific instruction set. Other robots, like Dexter, are learning robots. When you combine the technology with the ability to learn or evolve, we take the next step towards what Uri is talking about.
Imagine the automobile with the knowledge base of the internet and the intelligence to know what to do with it. That will be when machines become superior to humans. -
ekim941,
I know what you're talking about. In fact, the computer I'm using has "learned" how I work, since I got it, resulting in a little smoother use. (No kidding - and nowhere near as fancy as it sounds. It's a step up from the 'icons not used' sort of thing, though.)
And the Terminator scenario is more than good enough for a story. It's not absolutely unreasonable to think that eventually there will be gadgets that are smart enough to pass for C3PO.
Will they be people? Good question. When my word processor starts criticizing what I write - and not just my spelling and grammar - I'll start thinking harder about the matter.
On a different tack, right now I'm doing some creative daydreaming about robots that may not be self-aware, but do an awfully good job of acting like they are. If I get anywhere with it, it will be a story. -
You may have heard about Moores Law and if you think about how far computers have come in the past 10 years it is not beyond reason to think that they are too far from becoming self aware.
Personally, I am less concerned about them becoming self aware as I am with them creating an original thought (I did some work on this a few years ago and came up with a block diagram proving that it is feasible).
The common theory is that the robots will kill off humans when they get to that point. I disagree.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore\'s_law -
Something came up yesterday: HP Labs unveiled the memristor.
It's quite a remarkable bit of new technology.
The articles and announcements I read said that the memristor would allow computers to evaluate and make decisions (a rough paraphrase) - but didn't say how.
With no supporting evidence, I wrote the assertions off as entertaining hype.
Happily, Anonymous directed me to a Wired article - which explained that memristors can be used in analog circuits - and why that's important.
That's significant - and intriguing. More at ( apatheticlemming.blogspot.com/2008/04/memristor-cool-new-technology-from-hp... ).
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Humanity coming to an end? Ironic how NOT having children is probably a better choice for humanity than having children.
No humanity is not coming to an end. How do I know? I have my sources. -
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How profound Uri, not to mention true
Technology is evolving at a much faster rate than humans.
People are ignorant to this fact, this is worrying.
Skynet could very well become a reality.
Maybe this is the vision for 2012 - the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning. You decide.-
I can live with that type of end. We will live on in a way...
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I totally agree DrBurst.
We will live on as energy can be neither created nor destroyed.
So, as we die (transcend to another dimension) our energies are merely dispersed back into the aether.
After all we are simply batteries - bundles (balls)of energy encased in a carcass we call the human body-
yep
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Yes, in my view, the soul lives on. Somewhere but not here.
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Look, the problem that I have with the end is that we have came so far. We are on the verge of expansion into space. We are the first forms of life to leave earth. It would be very sad to die out at the beginning of a brilliant age.
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It's just really hard to deal with the whole end of the world thing as an athist. But, I fear religion will bring the end of the world. There is talk of building a 3rd temple where the dome of rock stands. This will cause massive death.
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oh come on, all religion can do nowadays (in the West) is sell a few cheap plastic figurines of Jesus and take up rainy weekends.
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The Singularity is coming, whether we like it or not.
Some say 2029, some say later on; no one is saying it won't happen.-
What does Nostradamus say?
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Singularity - as in the Borg culture. I agree that times is upon us.
It all adds up - dumbed down society (chavs), global government agendas - NWO etc -
Nostradamus said "blah blah blah" ('cause I don't know French).
Well, I know a little.
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@daniel
LOL
That is one of the best descriptions for religion I've ever heard. Bravo -
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The end is near my friends! Let's all pack up our Prada purses and get ready for the Hale Bopp commet! -
Nostradamus reckons 2012 it will all kick off, something about planet X. My French isn't too good either lol
www.satansrapture.com/nostra2012.htm -
People who question the scientific basis of human-caused global warming are raving nutters but believers in metaphysical gobbledeegook about "Singularity" and Nostradamus and astrology and the Mayan calendar and what have you are just normal?
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it's hard to question religion... the bible "is the truth". not even possible that one line was slipped in there to decive people.
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Yes, yes I know all about this AI bollocks. I was an enthusiast myself in my day. But its bollocks. Karl Marx talked about the tendency in human economic life to give commodities and capital "divine powers" (Commodity fetishism) -- the idea that "things", not people, are the movers and shakers of social life. Capital is "productive", commodities "sell themselves", etc. Kind of like the dancing house-hold items in Beauty and the Beast.
This idea of autonomous computer intelligence is just the ultimate extreme of "alienation" as Marx defined it. -
D23, you can't seriously peg me as a Nostramayalogicalitrarian?
I guess coming over to your house to hang out to watch the following film is out of the question?
www.netflix.com/WatchNowMovie/The_End_Times/60028594
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@Daniel23
You include scientists saying the Singularity is near in the same group of people who believe in Nostradamus, astrology and the Mayan calendar??? -
DrBurst, are you being sarcastic? It's hard to tell.
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form his very beginning of humanity, human think the sky will fall!-
That is true, we have throught the world would end so many times.
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Humanity is at the end in one dimension but will open up to others before December 21st 2012...
Yup!
www.gosmelltheflowers.com -
I think that we are in the midst of the "end of days" era....-
If we are, it's a phase, the kind we've been through before, as you imply with your quotes and the word "era." (I like the way you did that.)
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I study Bible prophecy and there are "four" major prophecies in the process of
being fullfilled right now. But relax, we have at least 7 years left :-)-
where did you get the number 7 from.
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The prophecy of Daniel 9:27 says that the antichrist will confirm a covenant (which many people believe is the coming mideast peace treaty) with many for one "seven." In the middle of the "seven" he will put an end to the daily sacrifice (in the yet to be rebuilt third Jewish temple templeinstitute.org )
30 days later (according to Daniel 12: 11) the antichrist will set himself up in the temple and claim to be God. See II Thessalonians 2: 1-4. For 1260 days (3 1/2 years) the antichrist will reign over the entire earth, and then the Lord will come, over a period of 45 days (back to Daniel 12: 11) the Lord and his angels will pour out his judgements upon the earth, then he will set up a kingdom on earth which will last for 1000 years.
for more info visit endtime.com
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IS it really getting bad? Or has it just become much easier to report and sensationalize the bad? I think the second is more true.
Crimes and disasters in certain cases have gone down, but TV and internet make it much easier to know about them. -
I have had for about the last year - a very uneasy feeling that something big is going to happen. I don't believe it will be the end but I do believe that the world as we know it is going to overwhelmingly change. There is too much unrest everywhere - too many things are going wrong. It's just going to take a match to set everything on fire. I write about it all the time. Do any of you believe the interpretation of Revelations in the Bible about the anti-Christ? I believe he/she is here on earth at this time. Stop laughing - I am not really a very religious person but there is something very evil in the world right now.-
Just about every major political and religious figure has had some anti-Christ story revolving around them.
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I think the world (which means the people not the planet)as we know it will end sooner than anyone could imagine. -
Since Ray Bradbury died, who's left to save us?
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Eventually we're going to evolve into something better.
Disregarding this technical "end" to humanity, we're just at the beginning.
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