It's obvious now to even the dumbest of the lot that

[happydreams]

the human race is done. So all you can do is sit around and play a political game that will do no good. How pathetic. :puke:

But maybe self-delusion is all you have.

[peace13]

1. Time to get out in the fresh air.

Hope tomorrow is a better day for you. Peace, Kim

[Hydra]

2. Here:

:popcorn:

We may be doomed, but you can enjoy the show. Remember that if we really are doomed as a species, it's better that we die out before we take a lot more species with us.

[JuniperLea]

46. Too late... they are dying first... eom

[Jack Bone]

3. Like they're even going to count the votes...LOL

[Lex1775]

4. Please...

Humanity didn't come down out of the trees, figure out fire, survive multiple climate shifts, and split the atom, just to fade away in self misery.

Stephen King got it right in Cell:
"Man has come to dominate the planet thanks to two essential traits. One is intelligence. The other has been the absolute willingness to kill anyone and everything that gets in his way."

We got where we are by being the baddest, meanest motherfuckers on the planet. We aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

[JuniperLea]

6. Every civilization with that attitude...

Died.

[Lex1775]

7. Good thing we're a species and not a civilization.

[JuniperLea]

9. Those civilizations were made up of the same species...

Split hairs much?

[Lex1775]

12. Sure do, because the SPECIES is still here, and doing just fine.

[JuniperLea]

17. Doing just fine?

Really? Hmmm...

Our species has digressed to the point where we couldn't live alone without a civilization.

[BigDaddy44]

26. Doing just fine?

Yes as a matter of fact. We have the highest life expectancy and highest standard of living (on the aggregate) than at any time in human history. If at this point we are doing so horribly, to which period of time would you prefer to be if you had the choice?

[JuniperLea]

28. How is it better to live longer...

When there is no quality of life? How well are we doing when the Earth is dying because of us? How well are we doing when in the 21st century we are still killing on another?

[AngryAmish]

30. Fewer people died of violence in the 20th century then when mankind were hunter/gatherers

Quality of life? There are fewer subsidence farmers than ever before (that is a horrible life of toil and misery).

We are still killing each other but at rates far below historical levels.

Mankind, by and large, does not live in constant fear of invasion. Invasion, where men come from over the horizon, burn your house, steal your wife and daughter and sell you into slavery.

Your attitude shows a lack of knowledge of history.

[JuniperLea]

36. Your attitude shows a lack of perspective

My 99.75 year old great grandmother taught all us girls to make our own soap, make our own clothes, plant vegetables, etc. We spent a lot of time listening to her and her aged siblings talk about how hard they worked and how little they had as we sat around her spacious modern kitchen that she loathed. She had 15 kids in rural Iowa during the great depression, and she longed for the simpler times. She would have happily "given up" all the conveniences and so-called comforts she had to go back to having three kids in diapers that she had to wash by hand with a washboard and tub... the tub she had to fill with water that went from a pump in the backyard, to a fire nearby, to the tub.

What are these "historical levels" of which you speak? Percentages or numbers? And how many of these older folks now are living below the poverty level? Sounds like a blast.

The "mankind" I know lives in constant fear of losing their jobs, homes and freedoms to a tyrannical government that is behaving much like ancient governments that are no more. And the Earth is dying... we are killing it.

Yeah, we're doing great. Just great.

[go west young man]

58. Tell that one to the Iraqi's.

[JuniperLea]

61. And the Jews...

And all the other peoples and countries who have suffered genocide and ethnic cleansing in the 20th century.

[go west young man]

67. A little Stephen Hawking quote for ya.

Although Sept. 11th was horrible, it didn't threaten the survival of the human race like nuclear weapons do," said the Cambridge University Scientist. "In the long term, I'm more worried about biology. Nuclear weapons need large facilities, but genetic engineering can be done in a small lab. The danger is that, either by accident or design, we create a virus that destroys us. I don't think the human race will survive . . unless we spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet."

[JuniperLea]

74. Don't forget Einstein’s quote...

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

[BigDaddy44]

32. No quality of life?

Go back about 200 years and lets talk about quality of life. You live better RIGHT now than the richest king on earth 200 years ago. You are more comfortable, have more creature comforts, and enjoy a better life expectancy.

You know, the world didn't start spinning in 1980. Life until quite recently was nasty, brutish and short. We have it very very very well compared to anyone who proceeded us on this orb.

[JuniperLea]

39. Everything being subjective...

I fail to see how living to be 100 is so great when you have no money and no health care. I know plenty of elderly people who long for that "nasty, brutish and short" life.

Personally, I'm more comfortable living in a tent, fishing and gathering wild plants for food.

Perspective is everything. Your "quality of life" really only pertains to you.

The question isn't about those who proceeded us on this orb, but rather who will find this orb we killed 200 years from now?

[JuniperLea]

59. That would be... preceded... eom

[BigDaddy44]

69. Then whats stopping you?

Just go live in a tent, fish, and gather wild plants for food. No one will bother you, and you can live happily ever after. Oh, and by the way, 100 years ago you would have had no money, no health care, and no social security. If you didn't work, you would die. Simple as that.

[JuniperLea]

72. Where do you propose I do that?

Where is there a wilderness area that would allow that?

If you don't work now, you die too!

100 years ago I could have raised hens for sale, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, whatever, that would have been accepted by the local doctor for payment. I could have made soap, clothing... I could have opened a small hotel, cooked and cleaned... I wouldn't need social security because families stuck together and took care of their aged.

You're barking up the wrong tree if you are trying to tell me what life was like 100 years ago. I got that story from the horse's mouth a long time ago.

[Dorian Gray]

38. I think that quality of life is just fine for many people

And for the poor in our country and outside of our country, we need to be advocates for their quality of life. We need to do what we can. Being negative only leads to non-action because we all think it's all hopeless. Only when we feel hope will we truly feel motivated to try to make a difference.

[JuniperLea]

42. Why would we feel the need for "hope"

When we wear rose colored glasses and don't truly see what is going on?

I think when we see others in need, we should feel motivated to try and make a difference. We won't unless we open our eyes.

"Being negative only leads to non-action because we all think it's all hopeless."

I couldn't disagree more. Non-action comes from not understanding the needs.

[Dorian Gray]

50. Your view and mine differ greatly

obviously. It's a shame.

I don't wear rose colored glasses. My career is in non-profit, and I work closely with many organizations that deal with poverty in our communities. It's disheartening and sad. But I find inspiration in human beings, and I don't think that all is hopeless. If I did, I'd probably crawl into my bed, pull the covers over my eyes, and ignore the problems in the world.

[JuniperLea]

56. It is a shame...

It's a shame you let life get to you like that. I have far more tenacity and have never once thought I'd ever want to "crawl into my bed, pull the covers over my eyes, and ignore the problems in the world".

I'll keep fighting for humankind up until my last oxygen deprived breath. I have no problem facing reality AND keeping the faith that I can make a difference. I won't ever delude myself by ignoring the world's problems.

[Dorian Gray]

62. Au contraire!

I don't let life get to me at all. I'm a positive person who enjoys life and people. I don't think it's all crumbling down. IF I did, I don't think I'd be positive, as I have some very negative friends. They are the ones who are complaining while living at home under their blankets.


And your statement continues to imply that those of us who are POSITIVE delude ourselves into being so. Maybe you didn't mean to do that, but I, in no way, am deluding myself into anything. I know about the pain that exists in this world. It's awful, and it's worth fighting against. Never stop!

[JuniperLea]

63. Ahhh... I don't think we are all that different...

I think you have mistaken me for one of your negative friends:) One "negative" post does not a negative person make. I'm firmly footed in reality, but have much hope. And I subscribe to the arts of positive thinking and visualization, so I don't consider myself negative at all. Just a realist.

[Dorian Gray]

64. Good to know.

:) Reality can suck!

And all the good that you do in the world is great! No matter where it comes from.

[Ghost Dog]

8. So you would recommend culling, I take it?

[Lex1775]

14. Not at all.

But saying things like "We're doomed as a species" is ignorant as hell. Compared to other species we've barely even spent any time on the planet... and we've far exceeded ANYTHING any of the other ones have done. Humans are a resilient, intelligent species, we find ways to survive.

[OwnedByFerrets]

15. And anyone with a brain understand that by "killing"

everything in our way, we ultimately destroy ourselves.

[JuniperLea]

18. Well said!

Very well said.

[OwnedByFerrets]

21. Nod of the head...TY very much...nt

[pscot]

20. Now if we can just learn to breath CO2...

n/t

[JuniperLea]

43. Seriously! n/t

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

5. It's aways been a game, a wonderful cosmic joke. let the games

begin. Peace be with you all.

[madmom]

10. So you know something we don't? rapture perhaps? or are you just wanting to yell terra terra

[spanone]

11. your name is somewhat ironic

[blondeatlast]

16. You noticed that too, eh?

:rofl:

[happydreams]

22. my name was suppose to be "happydreamsatleast", but i messed

up when creating it.

[blondeatlast]

13. So this is what you offer to inspire us? Wow. Self-deluded as to your own grandeur much? nt

[happydreams]

24. Granduer?

:shrug:

It is our duty to suffer fools; that way the wise don't have to work as hard. :dilemma:

[blondeatlast]

19. Post a downer. Run. What fun.

:eyes:

[Political Heretic]

23. "You fool... as if it matters how a man falls down...."

"...when the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal."

Stop sniveling, and get out there and do some good. Not because it will save the world, but because it is right.

[happydreams]

25. Don't just do something...

stand there!

That's what I suggest. Just fucking stand there and think, look around and realize that all of this activity is feel good bullshit that is in many ways worse than doing nothing. That is because motor activity for its own sake makes people feel like they are doing something useful when they aren't.

[Political Heretic]

27. I help homeless people find housing.

I thus disprove your "claim" that "all this activity is feel good bullshit." It's not bullshit to James, who I helped today, nor Angela, nor Jessica and Tim, nor Anthony.... real people.

So, forgive me for my frankness, but you can take all your teenage-angsty proto-nihilism and shove it up your ass.

[AngryAmish]

31. Wouldn't shoving proto-nihlism up an ass be kinda ouchy?

[Dorian Gray]

41. Kinda?

I think it would be a whole world of hurt!

[Political Heretic]

48. lol - thanks for the smile today

I was right in the middle of helping a 100% blind gentleman who didn't have enough money to pay rent or utilities stay in his tiny home get connected with assistance.

So... silly me, I thought actually doing something made a difference, but clearly happydreams has shown me that my time would be better spent sitting in my house bitching about how hopeless it all is with my thumb up my butt.

[Dorian Gray]

51. That's the ticket!

;)

[Marr]

57. I love that movie.

The Lion in Winter. I'd offer something else from the same film as being appropriate in this thread. 'If you're broken, it's because you're brittle'.

[Richard Steele]

29. I bet you're loads of fun at parties. nm

[Bluebear]

33. Do you talk like that on first dates?

[Richard Steele]

35. Actually, yes....yes I do.

With an amazing success rate, at that. :shrug:

[Bluebear]

52. Oh dear, I meant to address that to the OP.

You would never bore me on a first date :)

[Richard Steele]

70. I gotta warn ya up front:

After a few glasses of wine, I do tend to get a bit "handsy". :evilgrin:

BOREDOM would be the least of your problems!

[Bluebear]

71. Promises, promises lol!

[blondeatlast]

45. The OP, a Nietzsche reader and a house full of margarita'd up

cavorters can simply NOT be beat. When we get "Pin the Tail on Eeyore" out--look out, because the cops are sure to follow and someone is likely naked in the pool with the "disco" lights programmed and an unidentified "floatie"...

[Richard Steele]

49. Geez- I get naked ONE TIME at a Nietzsche reading...

...and no one ever lets me forget it. :evilfrown:

















:rofl:

[hunter]

53. Oh man, you did that too?

What is it about Nietzsche?

[Richard Steele]

66. "MAN is a rope, stretched across the Abyss..."

That just screams "drop trou and hit the pool" to me. :shrug:

[blondeatlast]

68. It's in the 'ritas...

Ahem--mescal. Shhh...

[blondeatlast]

65. Margaritas, a naked dicksteele, and Ubermensch--that's a memorable evening indeed! nt

[slackmaster]

34. I for one plan to survive

SHTF, even TEOTWAWKI.

[Dorian Gray]

37. We're so done and we don't even know it!

Maybe enjoy going out there and appreciating the good fun things to do out in the world. Negativity will only serve to make you depressed, and that will lead to hopelessness.

[zanne]

40. happydreams is my life coach. nt

[Patsy Stone]

73. happydreams

needs to re-think the screen name.

[Ilsa]

44. Yeah, I think we're toast, too. It may take only a hundred years or so. nt

[onenote]

47. And the best way you can think to spend the little time we have left is posting on DU?

That's pathetic.

[Forkboy]

54. Nihilism is best done by professionals. - Iggy Pop.

[hunter]

55. This civilization will crash, but people will still be around.

For a little while anyways.

And it'll only take a few hundred thousand years for nature to clean up the mess, and a few million years to fill up all the holes we've made in the biosphere.

If things go well our intellectual descendants will probably look a lot like gravel floating through space.

On Tuesdays we'll be surfing the rings of Saturn.

[champion-these-facts]

60. NAT GEO RULES - (whenever I'm depressed)

you might want to watch the airing of

"POPULATION ZERO"

It is Mar 9 in our area at 8PM
Freaky....when I go to look for the writeup, it says "file not found".

BTW....tonite a very nice show "birth of the solar system" if you didn't see it.
Yes...we are the result of some absolutely unbelievable chain of events.
It shows how the moon formed through a very random collision of a planet with earth, the glancing aspect and precision of this hit key to the earth's present tilt and the exact formation of the moon size as we know it. The moon then of course being key to allowing the soup of life to take shape. All these amazing things are inextricably connected. If you want to go with the theory that God might have to do with the 4 fundamental forces of the universe I can go along with that...but the formation of the earth and moon and life on this planet of ours was quite random.

"Where did our solar system come from? Scientists have been proposing theories but the advent of space flight and space-based telescopes gave unexpected clues to solving the mystery of the formation of our solar system as it exists today. See how scientists at the forefront of the quest are using methods ranging from sending spacecraft to collect dust samples from comets to infrared telescope technology, to meteorite analysis and lunar rock testing to uncover the birth of our Solar System."

[Rex]

75. Done? Again?

How funny.