At Class discussion in Extinction 101

you are asked to describe Humanities odds for the next 1 million years.

Are doomed? can we recover in time? Do we risk a Lemmingesque dieoff? In a controlled manner? Like the Pubs may have in mind? but cannot risk due to terrorist retaliation. Are we there with the all for one and one for all??

Like if there is a hint, nature is giving it to us. Its Perfection. Mother Nature is always fine tuning life to meet changes.

In Humanity, we fine tune everything but our Social Rules/codes/laws/

We being led to believe its in our best interest. A look at the results show different.

If we can invade another Nation because their leader is doing the nasty to the masses, can another nation/FORCE invade Us and make us change our way of governance with the explanation, "Its for your own GOOD"??

and so, what state are we in, Sane, Insane, or Glimmer?

Because I feel like answering just like I see it.

After I do so, you may want to throw me in the nearest volcano.

I'm personally very tired of hearing the blame for everything being placed on "freepers" and "morans". Just a brief look right here gives plenty of reason for feeling glum. This is supposed to be the "progressive" viewpoint, the caring and compassionate wing of the compassionate party. Yet, it's not at all hard to find plenty of posts with trigger-finger judgements about others on everything from their weight to how many children they have. I"m sure that the response to this will be "it's the freepers" among us. I suspect it's as the admins have said about the rude posts..... mostly being made by those who've been here a long time.

The snappiest putdown is considered ohhh, so cool. Considering whether someone's feelings have been hurt is passe'. Being tough and hard and thickskinned is considered a virtue. Those who aren't can leave, but they better not post about *why* they're leaving. Unless they have an important name.

I've come to the place where I realize that I am, indeed, alone. Completely. I don't belong, and never will. I certainly don't belong in the right wing crowd, but I don't belong in the left wing, either. There are many more who are feeling this same sense of not belonging, of being like last week's opala. We don't dare actually let down our guard, and say who we *really* are, and talk about our personal fears and needs and hopes. If we have to put on the armor and wear a mask among the most progressive, among the most "enlightened", then I definitely see absolutely NO hope.

Having to hide our inner selves and project some strong image at all times is not a picture of health, and has no hope to lead us to some semblance of peace. Some of us just don't have the energy anymore to try to be "cool". I know I don't, and I know from real life that many others don't, either. Yet, what we have to offer is maybe just what is actually needed to get those peace wheels turning. So, toss us out, and remain protected and cool, but maybe you have just tossed out something you need.

So, are you looking for a likely volcano?

Kanary

Smoldering and bulging, the new Mt St Helenesque dooms day shit looms on our Foyer, oops pardonn le Francaise.

Will the eruption bankrupt us? Kill off 80 million or more? Cause food production to go down across the globe? Trigger famine?

Are we prepared? Does Bush give a eole okole?

And now we're no longer alone.
;-)
I agree with much of what you say, but I'm a little more optimistic. My attitude and modus operandi have changed quite a bit since I got here. I used to get very passionate about one or another thread subject and run in with my hair on fire, determined to set everyone "right". Mainly on some of our historic North-South flame wars. Happily, that fad seems to have faded away.

Now I've learned to chill and not rise to the bait. I spend most of my DU time here in the Lounge. It's usually a lot more fun. I still scan LBN, and GD, and participate from time to time, but only if I have a particular knowledge about something being discussed.

I have only put one person (and their threads) on ignore, not because they angered me, just because they had become repetitive and tiresome. They are now gone, so my ignore list is clear.

I guess I see a glimmer, and I don't think you're ready for immolation.
Hang in there.
:hi:

You assume that I *haven't* posted here. I have. You probably noticed it about as much as others. Rarely is there a response. Very rarely. IRL, when I'm with a group of people and join a conversation, I don't stick around when everyone talks around me and doesn't say anything to me. Many others have said the same thing here, but it doesn't have any effect.

And please don't assume that my "hair is on fire" and that I "rise to the bait". (And why is there baiting, anyway? Isn't that part of what I'm talking about?) This is part of what I'm saying. Anytime an issue is raised, the result is spending time explaining why you are saying that, rather than dealing with the actual issue. I'm not as you have described.

I'm tired with the constantly blasting the right wing, and never looking at the log in our own eye. We aren't perfect, and we would do well to start with our own problems. Maybe if we were willing to look at some of our own processes right here, we would be able to help with the larger DEM party, and make it stronger.

I don't think it's going to happen, and that's why I'm more discouraged than I was when I came here.

Kanary

Somehow, for reasons that I am not privy to (and do not now think I care to know), you take my own description of myself and turn it into a series of "assumptions" that you think I have made about you.

It ain't all about YOU, babe. My reply was meant to be conciliatory and friendly. If you bite the hand of friendship in your replies, I can understand why you don't like it here.

buh-bye
:hi:

You responded by talking about you.

Since that was a reply to me, of course I took it as your telling me what to do.

Naturally.

Sometimes people just want to be heard, not fixed.

Kanary

I think we'll somehow continue to muddle through.
Not nearly as good as we could be with a truly enlightened voting populace, but not as bad as it could be.

What is really discouraging to me is listening to callers on c-span Washington Journal who support Bush* because "he's a good man...he's a Christian...he's a strong leader...blah-blah-blah".

There are none so blind as those who WILL not see.
:-(

in our markets.. tis the prob it seems.

But then again, as you state, maybe even if it were available, they would refuse to partake in Sanity/Reality and intentionally remain
"blind"

Come, we might as well have a drink or two. :toast:

Sometimes that's all you can do.
:toast:

We will have evolved into Vorlons.

There's always seemed to be a pendulum swing between enlightened self interest and primitive tribalism in most people. We as a species are herd creatures, and, like a flock of birds or school of fish, we will follow that which is defined as the best method for survival. We will follow on hope - creating, developing a strength within, proactive - or will follow on fear - fleeing, which saps our strength and energy, reactive - whichever is in the ascendant.

Right now, our US society unfortunately seems to be based fear. Which is very annoying, as I see there are forces in the International community that are attempting to be proactive with providing health, education, and economic aid, however - they're stuck dealing - amongst other issues - with the powerful, rampaging mad elephant that is now the United States culture.

The hope I have is that enough individuals with power and resources can make their way into a position where they can create a vision for a future to follow that encompasses the long term benefit to us and our planet, instead of abusing our societal vision vehicles (education, faith structures, communication technology) for their own short term profit.

Haele

Thanks for your eloquent post.

Goodness is supposed to outlast Badness. And, what IS GOOD?? What defines the term?

In My book re this subject, Goodness is what makes a species survive for the long term. As our species nears the max population limit on this planet, we as a species must adapt ways to make oue home SUSTAUNABLE, its a friggen no brainer

But then, we do have a contingent of Morans. What can I say?

Come, we go drink, join Trof and I