[Homesteader]

Pabolite, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe he is saying we will be "going back" to our basic elements, as in decomposing.

[TonyPrep]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TonyPrep', 'A')s you're claiming to accurately predict the future over the next few years, what do you see?

[dohboi]

So our computers are getting smarter and smarter while we are getting more and more stupid---and this is supposed to be a sign of a bright future?

[Lore]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dohboi', 'S')o our computers are getting smarter and smarter while we are getting more and more stupid---and this is supposed to be a sign of a bright future?

[Newfie]

One of the things that strikes me on this message board is that the lack of structured thinking and even a basic understanding of how things work.

And I also get the sense that this forum has been has somehow been targeted for attack by a certain subset of the population with a particular agenda. This may either be through design (NOT intelligent) or just because birds of a feather fly together. I guess it matters no, they surely seem to distract from the legitimate discourse.

But back to my first point, I find many of the arguments difficult because they are based upon some assumptions or beliefs I don't share. Nor do the arguments even seem to follow a logical structure. This obviously occurs with the trolls but also with other more well meaning and earnest folks. I find that I read posts that have clear reasoning flaws or hidden assumptions. Yet I don't know how to "fix" this situation. I find it frustrating. If one could simply have meaningful discussion perhaps we could sort this all out, and I too may find difficulties with my positions. But that seems impossible to accomplish with the trolls constantly jabbering and distracting.

Rhetoric and logical discourse have been with us for thousands of years Some of the topics we discuss here have been debated repeatedly over the millennium, with no resolution. It seems, to this old fart, that we have done little to advance humanities deductive prowess.

Once we get beyond a certain degree of difficulty we just do not function well as a collective. We are unable to plan over anything but a short period, surely not over decades, possible not over two years. We have difficulty in evaluating our greatest common needs and then working towards them, we can't focus. While denial has probably served us well in our prehistoric development, we can't seem to get over it now to face the challenges in front of us. Individually we can each do these things, but we can not collectively.

So perhaps we have reached another kind of "limit to growth" in the sense that humanity can only cope with issues of particular complexity. Our internal wiring limits our ability to cope with the new difficulties we face. In this sense our "limit to growth" is that we, humans, have reached beyond our capacity to manage.

[pablonite]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 'I') mean, you don't really think what you said makes any sense, do you?

[Lore]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 'S')o perhaps we have reached another kind of "limit to growth" in the sense that humanity can only cope with issues of particular complexity. Our internal wiring limits our ability to cope with the new difficulties we face. In this sense our "limit to growth" is that we, humans, have reached beyond our capacity to manage.

[Newfie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lore', 'H')ence, you have a large group of knuckle dragging chuckleheads that feel that the danger neither exists, is overblown, or can just be ignored until it actually happens. It’s not surprising that some groups would take advantage of this human frailty for their own ends.

[Cid_Yama]

I'm sorry, but, SOME of us have evolved a little more than others and can recognize the threat at a greater distance. Just not enough of us.

Doesn't really matter, does it?

The writing is on the wall. Nothing will be done. Mankind ends at it's own hand.

Intentional or unintentional doesn't matter.

[Carlhole]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'T')he writing is on the wall. Nothing will be done. Mankind ends at it's own hand.

Intentional or unintentional doesn't matter.

[Newfie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'I')'m sorry, but, SOME of us have evolved a little more than others and can recognize the threat at a greater distance. Just not enough of us.

Doesn't really matter, does it?

The writing is on the wall. Nothing will be done. Mankind ends at it's own hand.

Intentional or unintentional doesn't matter.

[Cloud9]

Ah, the Arian has revealed himself.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cloud9', 'A')h, the Arian has revealed himself.

[Newfie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cloud9', 'A')h, the Arian has revealed himself.

[TonyPrep]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', 'T')here is a line of thought as regards human evolution: that the thought, meme, science, religion, language, culture, and tradition of human societies is an important part natural evolution. It is how human beings are adapted to confronting threats or opportunities. New ideas, discoveries, inventions...these things lead to wholly unpredictable outcomes. You're a fool if you think you can be certain about outcomes beyond, say, a few short years.

I can point to all kinds of game-changing science that makes it pretty clear to me that the future is wilder than its ever been.

[Lore]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TonyPrep', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', 'T')here is a line of thought as regards human evolution: that the thought, meme, science, religion, language, culture, and tradition of human societies is an important part natural evolution. It is how human beings are adapted to confronting threats or opportunities. New ideas, discoveries, inventions...these things lead to wholly unpredictable outcomes. You're a fool if you think you can be certain about outcomes beyond, say, a few short years.

I can point to all kinds of game-changing science that makes it pretty clear to me that the future is wilder than its ever been.

[Lore]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'I')'m sorry, but, SOME of us have evolved a little more than others and can recognize the threat at a greater distance. Just not enough of us.

Doesn't really matter, does it?

The writing is on the wall. Nothing will be done. Mankind ends at it's own hand.

Intentional or unintentional doesn't matter.

[Carlhole]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lore', 'H')ere is you're typical comment from an average DEVO 'de-evolutionized' human being. [/color]

[Lore]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lore', 'H')ere is you're typical comment from an average DEVO 'de-evolutionized' human being. [/color]

[Carlhole]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lore', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lore', 'H')ere is you're typical comment from an average DEVO 'de-evolutionized' human being. [/color]