Help save planetary exploration

[Previous]

If neither of those matter then tell me what does

A few years ago I wrote an interesting article on the topic, but I lost it (as well as everything else of the website I had). To put it short, my view on the world is that nothing really matters and there is no meaning of life.
Congratulations.


But since you asked and regardless of my view, what about piece, harmony, tolerance and a good breakfast.

[puggsoy]

I know that life is (as far as we can tell) pointless. But seriously that's irrelevant to the topic. If pointing that out was your goal then isn't that derailing the thread?

I don't mind discussing the meaningless of the universe, but I just don't think that you brought it into this topic for a good reason.

[Previous]

Oh, I am sorry I made an off-topic post.

[puggsoy]

Eurgh, dunno what I was trying to say. In any case sorry, "telling off" a mod is out of place. Guess I was just a bit deep in the discussion and your post sort of threw me off.

And now I'm derailing the thread myself. Sorry!

please don't warn me

[Garamonde]

Minor derailments happen all the time, relax.
Just try not to let it happen anymore too much~

[Previous]

Let me round up and end this off-topic trail real quick.
Being a mod doesn't mean I cannot be criticised, no problem there, really. Either way, as Mighty Jetters already said, small offtopic comments happen all the time and everywhere and as far as I know have never been an issue or forbidden, it's when the original topic gets swamped or the derailment drags on when it becomes a problem so I didn't see what the fuss was all about.

---

Back to my point; let me elaborate on how it is connected to the space exploration topic.
It has been brought up that it holds the possibility of populating mars, creating new living environment and thus helping us to deal with overpopulation. Moreover, it shall help us to survive when resources on earth get rare.
That's where the "survival of humankind" comes in. Kinda related to the dream of immortality. Couldn't it be more important to improve life instead of just makign sure it prevails? It will be over at some point anyways, so maybe instead of trying to postpone the inevitable, it may be considerable to make it as good as it can be. Try to reduce the actual problems we have that make life worse - war, poverty, all these things, you know.
Now concerning the "advancement" part. Let me just mention that there's still indigenous people somewhere in some jungles, untouched by the "civilised" world. I wouldn't say they have a bad life or must be unhappy just because they're "not advanced". Whatever was meant by "advanced".

[Gors]

@ previous, That's how I like to roll in a nutshell. A good life doesn't necessarily mean having every resource imaginable in hands; it can also be living with few resources and still leading a happy life.

I, coming from a person who lived in a farm for some time (and still lives in a really small city in middle of nowhere), am quite happy with my life. My city's internet is still shitty, tube monitors and TVs still prevail and I don't have fancy cellphones and the likes. But I don't let me be carried over by "technologically advanced products". I simply have no need for them, and could very well live without them. You might think I'm thinking too small, but personally that's all I need. I think that for a person that puts people, family and living harmoniously in first place, things such as technology kinda gets on second plan.

I know I won't be convincing any of you enthusiasts but that's what I think. If going to Mars is ever going to happen, then I hope it'll improve our descendants' lives, but I also hope that said advancements don't improve the lives of only a handful of people.

[Helmo]

Maybe but im quite sure that someone with maggots in their scrotum
is probably less happy than someone who at least has crappy tv and has easy access to food

[puggsoy]

Either way, as Mighty Jetters already said, small offtopic comments happen all the time and everywhere and as far as I know have never been an issue or forbidden, it's when the original topic gets swamped or the derailment drags on when it becomes a problem so I didn't see what the fuss was all about.

That's mostly what I was apologizing about. I was making too much of a fuss about it for a reason I can't remember (if it ever existed).

That's where the "survival of humankind" comes in. Kinda related to the dream of immortality. Couldn't it be more important to improve life instead of just makign sure it prevails? It will be over at some point anyways, so maybe instead of trying to postpone the inevitable, it may be considerable to make it as good as it can be. Try to reduce the actual problems we have that make life worse - war, poverty, all these things, you know.

The thing is that it's natural for every living thing to want to ensure its species' survival. I mean, even plants do it. It's as close to a purpose of existence as we'll ever get, an instinctive one no less, so just straight up denying it is unnatural. (Whether that's "wrong" or not is personal opinion, though.)
I do get your point, like enjoy life and such, and I agree to an extent. However the impression I got from your post was "have fun and worry about the future when you get there". Which is practically like saying drugs are OK: it feels good and who cares about the consequences.
I know that's not what you're trying to say of course. My point is just that enjoying life is just as pointless as prolonging human survival, if not more so.

Oh and about the advancement: pretty sure the people who care about that aren't discontent with their lives. Advancement in technology is just like exploring new places, it's exciting and just what people do. If mankind would halt and just stay at their current technology level we would eventually get bored.
Plus it makes us feel smart

[Gors]

@Amon, Which is why I think we should focus on not letting people having maggots on scrotum (along with other problems that lead to having a miserable life), which I'm pretty sure it can be solved with nowaday's technology.

[Helmo]

@Amon, Which is why I think we should focus on not letting people having maggots on scrotum (along with other problems that lead to having a miserable life), which I'm pretty sure it can be solved with nowaday's technology.

RIGHT they need some technology. Also I still think we can help them while exploring mars at the same time and if anything it will better educate people and improve our economy so that would probably help.

[Gwen]

Also, why is there worry for more funding in exploration when what we should really be enraged about is the FUCKING HUGE budget the Military has. The Military could easily take HUGE cuts and fund Nasa, and going towards helping people with starvation.

[Mutsukki]

Still, it's kinda immature to think we've discovered everything about Earth, when that's not true at all. We're not against planetary exploration, but what good will it do if only but a few of the people will have access to what was discovered at first?

[Gwen]

Most of what is discovered is research, we're not bringing stuff back from mars but data, and more so the gained knowledge in what it took to get there. Hell NASA and ESA are being pushed by scientists to develop speeds for spacecrafts that can reach half the speed of light, along with the fact that with the cutting of the Military budget we could also fund more research for Earth itself. Nye actually says in that second video that people should want to explore Earth.
No one's saying there's no need to find out more about Earth, because every day we're learning more about Earth, and there's no shortage of scientists, hell a lot of my friends are studying all different branches of Biology in College, hoping to find out more about Earth when they leave College. Obviously that's 3 people and just a personal example, but Science is growing, and trying to stunt it by not funding it in exploration, whether it be the exploration of Earth or distant planets is just wrong.

[Helmo]

Where are you guys coming up with this stuff? There is more left to learn on Earth but going to Mars only helps out with that.

Going to the moon was the biggest deal ever. Everyone was competing and so proud of their country , and were just super fucking hyped. Everyone was just glued to their fucking tvs. If just going to the moon did that, going to Mars will cause 10 times that. More motivated educated people!