[jpfrazer]

I'm interested in what people think might be worth saving about modern civilization. Imagine you could grab one thing before the whole lot goes up in flames what would it be?

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

books. even comic books

[mindfarkk]

my man.

for objects, probably a book. not sure which one. probably one of my survival books. as a relic of the Old World, hmmm... maybe Alice Through the Looking Glass. or Lonesome Dove. or UMMMMMMmmm

[mindfarkk]

oh wait. i changed my mind. a roll of toilet paper. a big roll.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

lol, that right there makes me glad I know how to make paper by therefore how to make toilet paper! if you save the right book that could be toilet paper once you got sick of reading it

[theshadypeach]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('uNkNowN ElEmEnt', 'l')ol, that right there makes me glad I know how to make paper by therefore how to make toilet paper! if you save the right book that could be toilet paper once you got sick of reading it

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jpfrazer', 'I')'m interested in what people think might be worth saving about modern civilization. Imagine you could grab one thing before the whole lot goes up in flames what would it be?

[eastbay]

I'd save about 10 zillion billion matches.

EastBay

[KiddieKorral]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'I')'d save about 10 zillion billion matches.

EastBay

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

shadypeach: I'd go to amazing lengths to use marketing and economics books for that. I'd give up matches even for that, cause it would give me such enjoyment too.

as for matches the bottom of a bottle would seve the same function as a magnifying glass on a cloudy day even.

[jpfrazer]

Sorry - should have made myself more clear!
I dont mean 'What would be the contents of your grab bag?' but more like - what's good about civilization or society? I don't want to make any suggestions. Perhaps it should be framed as 'If yoyu were Noah what would you put in the ark?' I know some people are planning to simply survive and therefore you take the machinegun, bicycle and packet of seeds. But what about the scenario where there's no total collapse to a madmax thing but rather a mosaic of semiautonomous communities at different scales who have managed to retain some degree of civilization. What lessons should we not forget if all the libraries are used as fuel?

[Eteonian]

How about a coffeetable book of the Hubble Images? Not very useful for the longdrop but might be the best thing to inspire the next "civilisation" to look at those stars with more ambition considering that people will actually be able to see them again at night without all that difuse city glare.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

we need to learn that living in balance is important to avoid reliving history. we also need to learn that a mans word and personal responsibility are critical. also to avoid corruption we need to unmake the corporate laws so that businesses are not legal entities but those who are in charge are personally responsible for their actions. jsut as in life.

so I guess ethics and philosophy are what I am saying we need to remember.

[mindfarkk]

chocolate.

ok ok ok. um... a few things i can think of are zen buddhism and lao tzu, meditative disciplines, and the idea of democracy. art. holistic medicine. organic farming, permaculture, et al. martial arts. craftsmanship. the idea of value-centered living. the idea of responsibility and its vital relationship to choice. massage. arches. the wheel. sustainable-energy technology. refined metal, but only in small amounts. dentistry. anaesthetics. soap. glass. most of what was written by thomas jefferson and benjamin franklin. all my favorite fiction. paper and ink, but no printing presses. roads. if i had to pick one thing, and only one thing, it would be the first, because it permits everything else.

[Eteonian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mindfarkk', 'c')hocolate.

ok ok ok. um... a few things i can think of are zen buddhism and lao tzu, meditative disciplines, and the idea of democracy. art. holistic medicine. organic farming, permaculture, et al. martial arts. craftsmanship. the idea of value-centered living. the idea of responsibility and its vital relationship to choice. massage. arches. the wheel. sustainable-energy technology. refined metal, but only in small amounts. dentistry. anaesthetics. soap. glass. most of what was written by thomas jefferson and benjamin franklin. all my favorite fiction. paper and ink, but no printing presses. roads. if i had to pick one thing, and only one thing, it would be the first, because it permits everything else.

[No-Oil]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Eteonian', 'H')ow about a coffeetable book of the Hubble Images? Not very useful for the longdrop but might be the best thing to inspire the next "civilisation" to look at those stars with more ambition considering that people will actually be able to see them again at night without all that difuse city glare.

[mindfarkk]

thanks for the props, Eteonian.

two thumbs up for sterilization too. also, !

[Eteonian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('No-Oil', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Eteonian', 'H')ow about a coffeetable book of the Hubble Images? Not very useful for the longdrop but might be the best thing to inspire the next "civilisation" to look at those stars with more ambition considering that people will actually be able to see them again at night without all that difuse city glare.

[Tyler_JC]

If I could fill a duffel bag with civilization it would contain the following items:

A copy of the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence
A picture of each of the wonders of the Modern World
A few volumes of Shakespeare and others
"The Story of Painting" a book of all of the great artworks
An Atlas to show all of the "mythical" places across the pond
Lots of pictures of famous buildings a little story about each one on the back
Little toy cars and the instructions on how to refine gasoline, just to piss off future generation
And "The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith, they'll need a sense of humor in the future to read it

[pilferage]

My own ass!