How Long Do We Have?

Ro Jo-Mu · Post by **Ro Jo-Mu** » 2003-01-28 06:52am

The way society/the world is going at the moment, how long have we got, do you think, before something happens to change the way our society/world works dramatically?
Can you see society the way it is progressing getting to 2050 with nothing happening except us being a little more advanced technology wise?

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-01-28 06:58am

IMHO, i believe that we are on the verge of a clash of civilizations. east vs west will be WWIII.Well,i guess it could be avoided if we are careful, which we really aren't. it reminds me of a saying i heard once "i'm not sure exactly how world war 3 will be fought but i know world war 4 will be fought with rocks and sticks"

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2003-01-28 07:06am

WWIII can't be anything other than Nuclear at the moment thanks to a lack of shipping, We can move a brigade or two in but our Enenmies already have 50 there(I'm refering to China)

The most likley flashpoint still remains in my opioin India/Pakastan

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-01-28 08:06am

Mr. Bean! whats with the new avitar? you commie bastard!

Post by **weemadando** » 2003-01-28 08:34am

Col. Crackpot wrote:Mr. Bean! whats with the new avitar? you commie bastard! :lol:

Silence facisti swine!

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-01-28 09:01am

weemadando wrote:
Col. Crackpot wrote:Mr. Bean! whats with the new avitar? you commie bastard!
Silence facisti swine!

hey, fascism gets a really bum rap these days, and for the record you may address me as Il Duce.

DeadM · Post by **DeadM** » 2003-01-28 09:01am

it reminds me of a saying i heard once "i'm not sure exactly how world war 3 will be fought but i know world war 4 will be fought with rocks and sticks"

I think it was Albert Einstein who said that

Ro Jo-Mu · Post by **Ro Jo-Mu** » 2003-01-28 09:15am

Personally i dont think we'll make it to 2050 the way we are going, wether its a war, a natural disaster, or whats likely if we survive all the wars, that a natural resource, like oil, runs out. The way we're burning the stuff it ain't gonna be long now...

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2003-01-28 09:31am

How long do we have?

We have until the sun expands and turns our planet into a small lump of charred rock. I believe that even at our present levels of technology, that at least SOME humans could survive everything up to and including a large asteroid slamming into the planet. We're not hardy, but the one ENDURING human trait is that we can convert ANY environment into a habitable place. We can survive in the dead of space, deep underground, in the frozen wastes, underwater, anywhere for at least a short period of time. I believe that we have the skills to endure - well, most of us. The species today could be decimated five times and still have more than enough people left to rebuild.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2003-01-28 09:32am

We have enough Oil even assuming 1% Growth per year to last us to 2079

Natural Gas however is looking pretty sparce

Anyway back to the orgional Question

I'm celebrating Lenin's Birthday/Offical Celebration of Communisim Day/Earth Day ahead of time

Or did you not know those where all the same day?

Ro Jo-Mu · Post by **Ro Jo-Mu** » 2003-01-28 10:13am

Lagmonster wrote:How long do we have?

We have until the sun expands and turns our planet into a small lump of charred rock. I believe that even at our present levels of technology, that at least SOME humans could survive everything up to and including a large asteroid slamming into the planet. We're not hardy, but the one ENDURING human trait is that we can convert ANY environment into a habitable place. We can survive in the dead of space, deep underground, in the frozen wastes, underwater, anywhere for at least a short period of time. I believe that we have the skills to endure - well, most of us. The species today could be decimated five times and still have more than enough people left to rebuild.

But how long will society the way its progressing now endure? will it be in our generation that all the shit will happen and will it be up to us to survive/endure/rebuild?

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2003-01-28 10:21am

Ro Jo-Mu wrote:But how long will society the way its progressing now endure? will it be in our generation that all the shit will happen and will it be up to us to survive/endure/rebuild?

You're what we call a pessimist. If there is ever a nuclear war between every civilized nation on earth, there will STILL be people in northern Quebec and Argentina going, "What was that noise?" Frankly, I believe that people won't engage in any conflict that would result in the nuclear annihilation of a nation, for one major reason: PEOPLE ARE PUSSIES. That's not a challenge, but I bet you couldn't find one person in power who is willing to face the political, popular, and all round weight of being the guy to push the button first.

As for the planet-killer asteroid, there's no 'it must happen soon' number on that, either. It happens when it happens. I'm just pointing out that we have the ABILITY to survive anything short of a collision with something the size of, say, Australia.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-01-28 11:19am

Mr Bean wrote: I'm celebrating Lenin's Birthday/Offical Celebration of Communisim Day/Earth Day ahead of time

Or did you not know those where all the same day?

gee....what a charmining coincidence. maybe it will soon be known also as freedom for iraqi people day

Artanis · Post by **Artanis** » 2003-01-28 12:45pm

like oil, runs out. The way we're burning the stuff it ain't gonna be long now...

Two Japanese companies are coming out with fuel-cell cars, as well as one American (GM I think, don't have the article in front of me though)

There's nothing I'd like more than to see these cars break Big Oil's back.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-01-28 12:54pm

Artanis wrote:
like oil, runs out. The way we're burning the stuff it ain't gonna be long now...
Two Japanese companies are coming out with fuel-cell cars, as well as one American (GM I think, don't have the article in front of me though)

There's nothing I'd like more than to see these cars break Big Oil's back.

Indeed.

As for the topic, current civilization will continue to grow slowly like it has for thousands of years. Every generation has had its 'the end is near' group that has thought that the 'ultimate weapon' of the era would destroy everything. The idea of global armagedon by massive nuclear strikes is outdated. There might be use of nuclear weapons in the future, but because there is still MAD to think of, any use of nukes will be limited. This might be of little comfort to the thousand or millions that might/would die from a limited nuclear attack, it is a far cry from the end of all civilization.

Luke Starkiller · Post by **Luke Starkiller** » 2003-01-28 12:54pm

Artanis wrote:
like oil, runs out. The way we're burning the stuff it ain't gonna be long now...
Two Japanese companies are coming out with fuel-cell cars, as well as one American (GM I think, don't have the article in front of me though)

There's nothing I'd like more than to see these cars break Big Oil's back.

In order to run a fuel cell car you still have to create the Hyrdrogen, this takes energy; this means that, unless some governments become lower orders of pussies and go nuclear, in all likelyhood oil will be burnt to create the hydrogen to be used in the cars.

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2003-01-28 04:06pm

Lagmonster wrote:
Ro Jo-Mu wrote:But how long will society the way its progressing now endure? will it be in our generation that all the shit will happen and will it be up to us to survive/endure/rebuild?
You're what we call a pessimist.

LOL! Look's like someone's havign a depressing thinking day!

I have every intention of living past a century, thank you very much!

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-01-28 04:17pm

Option 1: (god forbid) we all die when Earth nukes itself back to the stone age, in which case wars WILL be fought with rocks and sticks for a forty year old packet of radioactive sardines. I really have no faith in leadership of any fucking counrty now adays, and Bush is asking for a war.

Option 2: None of this crap happens, life goes on as usual. I don't expect to see any flying cars or any shit in my day, but I'd take a guess that maybe something we be in a prototype phase but the time I kick the bucket. Who knows whta lies on the road to the future....

Personally I fully believ and hope that Option 2 is the one that prevails. In which case, HUZZAH! I'M NOT GOING TO DIE!

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2003-01-28 04:21pm

innerbrat wrote:
Lagmonster wrote:
Ro Jo-Mu wrote:But how long will society the way its progressing now endure? will it be in our generation that all the shit will happen and will it be up to us to survive/endure/rebuild?
You're what we call a pessimist.
LOL! Look's like someone's havign a depressing thinking day!

I have every intention of living past a century, thank you very much!

You're what we call an optimist.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-01-28 05:03pm

Nothing will happen and all will continue the way it has.

Innerbrat: Ha, I'll one-up you, as I plan to live forever!

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2003-01-28 05:05pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Innerbrat: Ha, I'll one-up you, as I plan to live forever!

You're what we call delusional.

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2003-01-28 05:19pm

Actually, we still have 800 years at current oil consumption before reserves trickle too a halt. Nevermind the fuel effeicient cars too come this century.

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-01-28 05:23pm

Captain Lennox wrote:Actually, we still have 800 years at current oil consumption before reserves trickle too a halt. Nevermind the fuel effeicient cars too come this century.

Well I'll let my great great great great great great great great great grandkids deal with that.

SUCKERS!

*burns hundreds of oil wells in the middle east*

Larz · Post by **Larz** » 2003-01-28 05:35pm

It would require a lot of nukes to send society back to the stone ages... just to point out the stupidity of that saying...

All one needs to know is that, your born, you consume mass quantities of resources, you add a couple more leeches to the world, and then you die to return a pathetic precent of what you consumed back to the enviroment, thus starting the whole cycle again. Don't worry, unless something rather entertaining occurs (beatnicks take over all public offices, the stupidity of people finally make a real life black hole in the middle of the earth, ect. ect.) then we should be fine for many generations to come...

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-01-28 06:15pm

The worst-case scenarios for nukes I've heard of put us back to ~18th century levels.

It is unlikely that there will be a limited nuclear war between two nuclear-armed nations. The USAF hitting some superbunker with a B61 can't be ruled out, though.