[oowolf]

How is it ocean algae, not usually considered particularly "sentient" creatures, have spent the last 3 million years creating gasses that create clouds that create ice ages that cool the Earth, thereby protecting all life from the Sun's ever-increasing heat? (You didn't know the ice ages were caused by algae?) The Sun's radiant energy has increased 30% since the Earth was formed and algae, acting out of enlightened self-interest no doubt, must keep the ocean's average surface temperature below approximately 53 degrees F or they will perish.

Algae apparently don't need "self-awareness" to know a cool Earth is a good Earth.

Now, in an eyeblink of geologic time, humans have come to undo 3 million years of unrelenting effort by the living Earth to protect itself from the star which created it.

Humans lived for at least hundreds of thousands of years without "Civilization", posing no threat to a biosphere well adapted to protecting itself from solar radiation while creating an environment of ever increasing diversity.

Now we have come to destroy it all.

Why?

What is there in us that hates life so much? Even our own?

The so-called benefits of "civilization" are worthless. (I use "civilization" in quotes to refer to any unsustainable organized society-especially petroindustrial civilization-that destroys the prerequisites of its own existence. Sustainable civilization is possible but apparently requires more planetary consciousness and self control--i.e. morality--than the vast majority of humans are capable of achieving. Actions speak louder than words.)

"Civilization" has done NOTHING to improve our species.

"Civilization" has created the most stupid and destructive species ever.

If it were only possible to destroy "civilization" immediately by flipping a switch or clicking a mouse!

References:
REVENGE OF GAIA by James Lovelock
ENDGAME by Derrick Jensen

This rant started as a book review.

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('oowolf', '.')..Algae apparently don't need "self-awareness" to know a cool Earth is a good Earth.

Now, in an eyeblink of geologic time, humans have come to undo 3 million years of unrelenting effort by the living Earth to protect itself from the star which created it.

Now we have come to destroy it all.

Why?

What is there in us that hates life so much? Even our own?

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('oowolf', '
')"Civilization" has done NOTHING to improve our species.

[oowolf]

The comfort or longevity of an individual cannot be made paramount to the survival of a species or preservation of habitat.

As a hunter-gatherer I more than likely would have died about 25 years ago assuming the accepted average lifespan of 32 years.

It's a specious statement but I would have rather lived 30,000 years ago. I think I could have found human existence not only bearable but enjoyable without SUV's, Ding Dongs, Auschwitz, Professional wrestling, edible underwear, income tax, "income", Diet Dr. Pepper, etc, ad nuaseum...

[rogerhb]

We had to do the whole "CIVILIZATION" thing to find out.

[Grifter]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', 'W')e had to do the whole "CIVILIZATION" thing to find out.

[Kylon]

The algae have wisened up to our actions,

now they produce deadly toxins that poison and kill us, according to the LA Times, Altered Ocean series.

[Kingcoal]

Whew! Gee wiz, I was starting to the think the all this was worth something. I'm glad this thread set me straight!

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('oowolf', 'T')he comfort or longevity of an individual cannot be made paramount to the survival of a species or preservation of habitat.

As a hunter-gatherer I more than likely would have died about 25 years ago assuming the accepted average lifespan of 32 years.

It's a specious statement but I would have rather lived 30,000 years ago. I think I could have found human existence not only bearable but enjoyable without SUV's, Ding Dongs, Auschwitz, Professional wrestling, edible underwear, income tax, "income", Diet Dr. Pepper, etc, ad nuaseum...

[Kristen]

admit it guys, humans are an overpopulated group of parasites sucking all the blood (oil) out of earth.

[128shot]

This,

this kind of thinking is what makes peak oil culture so confusing and dilliusional.

[PolestaR]

oowolf has realized what all people who are incredibly smart (like myself) people do at some point.

We need to push the button.

[Doly]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('oowolf', 'S')ustainable civilization is possible but apparently requires more planetary consciousness and self control--i.e. morality--than the vast majority of humans are capable of achieving.

[JustinFrankl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Doly', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('oowolf', 'S')ustainable civilization is possible but apparently requires more planetary consciousness and self control--i.e. morality--than the vast majority of humans are capable of achieving.

[oowolf]

The Mayans crashed their monument-building civilization twice before returning to a more sustainable way of living. Also the "Cahokia" mound builders. They learned the hard way.

Civilization implies city life (sedentary) and ever increasing environmental exploitation. Tipi life and proto-agriculture appears "sustainable" but couldn't be called civilization, rather, a highly refined form of hunting/gathering.

I repeat: So-called civilization has done NOTHING but degrade our species. There are way too many humans alive-and breeding. "Natural selection" has been subverted (temporarily) resulting in a horde of ignorant, degenerate, perpetually infantile, consumeroid zombies who spend their "lives" in an unreality totally devoid of any existential authenticity.

[thedoge]

A really sharp spear makes it easier to hunt, but can also inflict more severe wounds to the user if he/she doesnt know how to use it properly (after refusing to take some good advice from other tribesmen who knows a lot).