Poll of the Day > Do you think civilization will end by 2040?

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/in-1973-an-mit-computer-predicted-the-end-of-civilization-so-far-its-on-target

According to this computer, we don't have much time left. What's your view on this?

I don't care as I won't be alive to see it.
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wwinterj25 posted...

I don't care as I won't be alive to see it.

How do you know that?
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wwinterj25 posted...

I don't care as I won't be alive to see it.

You are gonna die before 2040?

That's only 20 years from now

JOExHIGASHI posted...

How do you know that?

I don't for sure but:

Zikten posted...

That's only 20 years from now

Can't rule it out.
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Very unlikely, though maybe modern society will die and we'll enter a new age.
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Given that (counter to the headline's claim) its predictions have been off so far -- we're nearing 2020 and pollution is nowhere near close to being a catastrophic issue, especially given efforts to curb it in earlier decades -- 2040 seems laughably unlikely. It's nearly as bad as that cartoon which talked about the world ending in 1995.
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No.

Weve been around as a civilization for thousands of years. I really doubt its gonna come crashing down in the next 20.
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Yes, but not for the reasons listed in the article. I actually hope it happens sooner than that.

Zikten posted...

wwinterj25 posted...

I don't care as I won't be alive to see it.

You are gonna die before 2040?

That's only 20 years from now

I probably will - I'd be 63, and I'm sure I'll die of catastrophic stroke or radically malignant tumor by then.


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Sounds like a conspiracy theory.
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Hawking believed we only have 100 years left on earth.
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We're using up resources at nearly twice the rate the planet can provide yeah, it can't last much longer
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Andromicus posted...

We're using up resources at nearly twice the rate the planet can provide yeah, it can't last much longer

The earth has far longer than just 22 years.
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Revelation34 posted...

Andromicus posted...

We're using up resources at nearly twice the rate the planet can provide yeah, it can't last much longer

The earth has far longer than just 22 years.

Maybe. But mankind on the other hand...

VixYW posted...

Maybe. But mankind on the other hand...

Not going to happen either.
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VixYW posted...

Revelation34 posted...

Andromicus posted...

We're using up resources at nearly twice the rate the planet can provide yeah, it can't last much longer

The earth has far longer than just 22 years.

Maybe. But mankind on the other hand...

Even if civilization collapsed mankind likely wouldnt. We dont have any real predators and its estimated that weve survived calamities that have reduced the global human population down to around 10,000.
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Wiped out? Nah. If the levels of stupidity keep progressing at their current rate then society isn't gonna be in good shape.

Mead posted...

VixYW posted...

Revelation34 posted...

Andromicus posted...

We're using up resources at nearly twice the rate the planet can provide yeah, it can't last much longer

The earth has far longer than just 22 years.

Maybe. But mankind on the other hand...

Even if civilization collapsed mankind likely wouldnt. We dont have any real predators and its estimated that weve survived calamities that have reduced the global human population down to around 10,000.

But we've grown too dependent of our current society. I wonder how many of us would adapt and survive without it. I'm 100% sure I wouldn't.

No, but something I rarely see talked about whenever this subject pops up is the fact that we are reliant upon the existence of a resource we can't feasibly renew: topsoil. Agriculture is the back-bone of civilization and it is dependent upon topsoil and water sources which we aren't taking proper care of. Get too short on either of those and you'll end up with a great deal of international damage. Perhaps I am a bit more aware of this because I live in the Palouse?
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VixYW posted...

But we've grown too dependent of our current society. I wonder how many of us would adapt and survive without it.

Millions of people around the world already live their whole lives without a lot of the things you probably take for granted in "our society". They get by.

Firewerx posted...

VixYW posted...

But we've grown too dependent of our current society. I wonder how many of us would adapt and survive without it.

Millions of people around the world already live their whole lives without a lot of the things you probably take for granted in "our society". They get by.

By society I mean ALL types of society all around the world. I'm picturing a scenario here in which all of them would to fall.

VixYW posted...

Firewerx posted...

VixYW posted...

But we've grown too dependent of our current society. I wonder how many of us would adapt and survive without it.

Millions of people around the world already live their whole lives without a lot of the things you probably take for granted in "our society". They get by.

By society I mean ALL types of society all around the world. I'm picturing a scenario here in which all of them would to fall.

What type of that scenario would that be? Because any scenario that invites us to "imagine if we no longer had..." is already a reality for millions of people who've adapted and survived despite chronic deprivation and insecurity. If anyone's likely to be resilient in the face of catastrophe, they are.

Firewerx posted...

VixYW posted...

Firewerx posted...

VixYW posted...

But we've grown too dependent of our current society. I wonder how many of us would adapt and survive without it.

Millions of people around the world already live their whole lives without a lot of the things you probably take for granted in "our society". They get by.

By society I mean ALL types of society all around the world. I'm picturing a scenario here in which all of them would to fall.

What type of that scenario would that be? Because any scenario that invites us to "imagine if we no longer had..." is already a reality for millions of people who've adapted and survived despite chronic deprivation and insecurity. If anyone's likely to be resilient in the face of catastrophe, they are.

Let's say the big cities collapse. most of the people there are dead, the majority of the rest are in panic, the ones that are calm are wrecking their brains on how to take advantage of the situation. Then these guys think "hey, lat's play the hero and take these people to somewhere that is still working". Then they'll go to the smaller towns, farms and remote places that didn't suffer that much (assuming that they didn't). Chances are, that place can't deal with the amount of people there, the guys from the big city will think they are better and deserve more than the locals, conflict explodes, nothing of worth there is left, Hence and repeat until all forms of society are gone.

VixYW posted...

Mead posted...

VixYW posted...

Revelation34 posted...

Andromicus posted...

We're using up resources at nearly twice the rate the planet can provide yeah, it can't last much longer

The earth has far longer than just 22 years.

Maybe. But mankind on the other hand...

Even if civilization collapsed mankind likely wouldnt. We dont have any real predators and its estimated that weve survived calamities that have reduced the global human population down to around 10,000.

But we've grown too dependent of our current society. I wonder how many of us would adapt and survive without it. I'm 100% sure I wouldn't.

Well, the next solar storm is about 50 years overdue. If one happens, it'd be a worldwide emp and all electrical equipment would explode. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

Solar storms, loss of atmosphere, perpetual ice age, large meteor etc, all would not wipe out humanity at this point. Lack of resources will not either tbh.

We could, fairly easily, colonize mars right now if we could get there as easily as we can get places on earth. Even if there was perpetual cloud cover so you couldn't use solar, we have the technology to generate power through heat/water etc, to generate and purify air, to grow plants and raise food under ground, and to make a sealed off, airproof environment.

Even if the sun went out, or the Earth got catapuleted into the space between galaxies, we could continue to exist.

Humans can cease to exist, but....honestly it would have to be humans that caused it, and would seriously require us (or other technologically advanced creatures like us) to work towards that goal.
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No. I think that computer is stupid, considering we could be on Mars at any time now.
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VixYW posted...

Let's say the big cities collapse. most of the people there are dead, the majority of the rest are in panic, the ones that are calm are wrecking their brains on how to take advantage of the situation. Then these guys think "hey, lat's play the hero and take these people to somewhere that is still working". Then they'll go to the smaller towns, farms and remote places that didn't suffer that much (assuming that they didn't). Chances are, that place can't deal with the amount of people there, the guys from the big city will think they are better and deserve more than the locals, conflict explodes, nothing of worth there is left, Hence and repeat until all forms of society are gone.

Lol.
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