We have about 75 years on the Earth,why do people care about the future of humanity?

JC 2K3 · 21-06-2006 05:44PM #1

Forgive me for being cynical, but I've been thinking recently. Why do we care so much about the human race? I mean we are humans fair enough. But why do we care so much about the future of the Earth and humanity after we die? Why do we care about our health when it's been proven in millions of cases that you can live to a very old age with unhealthy habits? Why do we bother to procreate?

Why not just forget about future generations, sterilise everyone and have a fúcking good time until all of humanity dies out?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 21-06-2006 05:46PM

why does the letter a have an 'ay' sound and not a sound more similar to what we associate with the letter k ?

Sarky · 21-06-2006 05:49PM

JC 2K3 wrote:

Forgive me for being cynical, but I've been thinking recently. Why do we care so much about the human race? I mean we are humans fair enough. But why do we care so much about the future of the Earth and humanity after we die? Why do we care about our health when it's been proven in millions of cases that you can live to a very old age with unhealthy habits? Why do we bother to procreate?

Why not just forget about future generations, sterilise everyone and have a fúcking good time until all of humanity dies out?

You got dumped recently, didn't you?

Teg Veece · 21-06-2006 05:53PM

Survival of the species.
It's programmed into our genes.
It seems to take presidence over most other priorities. Even survival of the individual and certainly over whether or not your having a good time.

Femelade · 21-06-2006 05:55PM

He's not serious is he?

JC 2K3 - some people have children who actually do care what happens the human race in the future.

Sangre · 21-06-2006 05:58PM

Why don't we go around killing people for the fun of it?

Sarky · 21-06-2006 05:59PM

Teg Veece wrote:

Survival of the species.
It's programmed into our genes.

We're somewhat predisposed to have sex as a result of, among other factors, mind-altering chemicals our genes happen to make. But I wouldn't call it programming.

JC 2K3 · 21-06-2006 06:01PM

Femmy wrote:

He's not serious is he?

JC 2K3 - some people have children who actually do care what happens the human race in the future.

Well I'm not necessarily serious, it's basically just to provoke thought. If we stopped having children then we wouldn't have too care

the_syco · 21-06-2006 06:04PM

JC 2K3 wrote:

Well I'm not necessarily serious, it's basically just to provoke thought. If we stopped having children then we wouldn't have too care

Dude, that'd mean no sex... and thats an awfull thought!

JC 2K3 · 21-06-2006 06:05PM

the_syco wrote:

Dude, that'd mean no sex... and thats an awfull thought!

JC 2K3 wrote:

sterilise everyone

.

Crucifix · 21-06-2006 06:14PM

JC 2K3 wrote:

Why not just forget about future generations, sterilise everyone and have a fúcking good time until all of humanity dies out?

It'd be rough on younger people. By the time they're old they'd have no young 'uns to stock shelves their supermarkets and so on.

The Free Man · 21-06-2006 06:18PM

JC 2K3 wrote:

Why not just forget about future generations, sterilise everyone and have a fúcking good time until all of humanity dies out?

you can have a fúcking good time and procreate, they usually come hand in hand.

Dooom · 21-06-2006 06:34PM

Reincarnation my good friends, what we do to piss of the world today will come back and bite us in the ass a few lives down the road.

Blowfish · 21-06-2006 06:46PM

Because OP, maybe not everyone is as selfish as you seem to be?

Kernel · 21-06-2006 07:20PM

Sarky wrote:

We're somewhat predisposed to have sex as a result of, among other factors, mind-altering chemicals our genes happen to make. But I wouldn't call it programming.

Of course it is Sarky, everything about our biological make up is programmed and stored in our genes. Amazing things.

simu · 21-06-2006 07:35PM

Most people don't... look at the state of the planet.

BMH · 21-06-2006 08:09PM

The want to have our genes carry on to the next generation and for generations to come. You should read the Pocket Guide to Manwatching by Desmond Moriss; it has very interesting insights on behavioral psychology and consciences, such as why we risk our genes to save some stranger in a burning building(fire brigade, etc).

Kernel · 21-06-2006 08:21PM

BMH wrote:

interesting insights on behavioral psychology and consciences, such as why we risk our genes to save some stranger in a burning building(fire brigade, etc).

Isn't the jury still out on that one? What does Moriss say about that?

scop · 21-06-2006 08:22PM

Its in our genes, simple as.

matu · 21-06-2006 08:25PM

What a topic I wonder what response the OP thought he was going to get.
Its in the Levi's and thats that. LOL

Sarky · 21-06-2006 08:33PM

Kernel wrote:

Of course it is Sarky, everything about our biological make up is programmed and stored in our genes. Amazing things.

Genes are certainly comparable to a recipe for making living things, like a cake recipe, but they assume that you know how the kitchen is set up, what measurements of ingredients are needed, what temperature the oven should be, and several other factors besides. You cannot take DNA and make a creature out of it without making big mistakes along the way. Dolly the sheep's rather unpleasent death showed that. I'm not arguing that everything about your biological makeup is stored in genes (prions may well be an exception to that, incidentally). But Behaviour isn't based solely on biology.

A person's behaviour is certainly influenced by genetics, but plenty (I would suggest most) of it is a result of the extelligence (Culture, with resultant morals, philosop[hies, and taboos) that person grows up in.

Kernel · 21-06-2006 09:13PM

Sarky wrote:

A person's behaviour is certainly influenced by genetics, but plenty (I would suggest most) of it is a result of the extelligence (Culture, with resultant morals, philosop[hies, and taboos) that person grows up in.

I agree with that, but the brain-drug induced euphoria of our animalistic urge to procreate and put our willies in things is all coded into the genes. Some people even say that humans are just containers, and that DNA is the 'thing' we carry. DNA has made us who we are, through evolution, and we have evolved purely to protect the DNA until it is passed on and survives. I think it's an interesting view.

Teg Veece · 21-06-2006 09:17PM

Who tells a caterpillar to morph into a butterfly, or tell an ant that his role in life is to be a link in an ant bridge. I would have thought that all that stuff is preprogrammed into them.

Piste · 21-06-2006 09:21PM

Programming implies intelligent design....like some giant nerd made us all.

Sarky · 21-06-2006 09:23PM

Kernel wrote:

I agree with that, but the brain-drug induced euphoria of our animalistic urge to procreate and put our willies in things is all coded into the genes. Some people even say that humans are just containers, and that DNA is the 'thing' we carry. DNA has made us who we are, through evolution, and we have evolved purely to protect the DNA until it is passed on and survives. I think it's an interesting view.

We seem to be saying more or less the same thing. My point was that calling it programming or code suggests some kind of order or plan, when it's all a result of things bumping into eachother randomly and the more stable stuff sticking around longer, for no other reason than "that's the way it is".

That's probably the closest to agreeing on something we'll ever come to. Savour this moment. I know I will.

*shrug*

Giruilla · 21-06-2006 09:28PM

Because we're not all ignorant pricks like you!!!!

Random · 21-06-2006 09:29PM

The OP makes a grand point ... I guess it's just "what makes us human" that keeps us going? Why not just kill yourself now and be done with it? Don't bother with the stress of life ... great mind altering questions ...

Kernel · 21-06-2006 09:41PM

Sarky wrote:

We seem to be saying more or less the same thing. My point was that calling it programming or code suggests some kind of order or plan, when it's all a result of things bumping into eachother randomly and the more stable stuff sticking around longer, for no other reason than "that's the way it is".

But you don't think there is an order to it? I do. I also think all our biological processes including procreation are hardwired into our genes. The process of evolution favours genes which are more suitable for the environment - that shows order right there.

Sarky wrote:

That's probably the closest to agreeing on something we'll ever come to. Savour this moment. I know I will.

What? I thought you mostly agreed with the nuggets of genius I sprinkle around boards???

Kernel · 21-06-2006 09:42PM

ciaranfo wrote:

The OP makes a grand point ... I guess it's just "what makes us human" that keeps us going? Why not just kill yourself now and be done with it? Don't bother with the stress of life ... great mind altering questions ...

If you kill yourself before spreading your DNA out there then you weren't a very good container and the aliens' experiment would be ruined!

Sarky · 21-06-2006 09:57PM

Kernel wrote:

But you don't think there is an order to it? I do. I also think all our biological processes including procreation are hardwired into our genes. The process of evolution favours genes which are more suitable for the environment - that shows order right there.

Sexual reproduction turned out to be more stable for bigger things to develop. There were genes long before it ever came about. I suspect the "niceness" of it is a side-effect that happens to make it more likely.

And evolution isn't really a process. Do you build a wall by blindfolding yourself and flinging rocks about? It's just what happens when random events cause pressure on organisms. The planet could, right now, just as easily been populated by sentient lizards, or perhaps insectoids. We're here because through sheer chance, conditions appeared that our ancestors happened to be able to live in quite well.

elivsvonchiaing · 21-06-2006 10:46PM

We know we are going to die. We know our sun is going to flame-grill out planet and everthing on it - we know we will be extinct.

We may become inter-stellar capable (without discovering a cure for baldness

) but ultimately we are doomed to a big crunch/ fúck all the lights have gone out.

The universe is here for random reasons - or it is here for a purpose. Our planet is insignificant - but we may still have a shot at the Galactic trophy - "most successful species".

Therefore, either adopt nihilism or embrace the fact that there maybe a bigger picture - albeit unknowable.

Nihilism will find you unlaid, unhappy, unfriendly, unknown to your friends etc. On the plus side you can claim to "know" that life is meaningless and you'll be a big hit at goth parties :rolleyes:

We have about 75 years on the Earth,why do people care about the future of humanity?

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