Metals becoming scarce, Stone Age upon us

[Q Classic]

Originally posted by DanS
"I'm doing my part! Are you?"

...the only good bug is a dead bug.

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by Q Cubed


Well, there's no oil on any asteroids that we know of. It's unlikely they'll have oil, too, to boot. So... no unilateral invasions of rogue asteroids, which may or may not be hellbent on destroying our way of life by hurtling towards Earth. That'll satisfy the leftists, I'm sure.

No, you are quite right It's just that someone in one of the "oil is running out" threads said that we wouldn't get in trouble because we would learn to get it from planets and asteroids.

Since I find the article in the OP just as rediciously as "the oil running out" articles, I found it appropriate to mention it

Maybe I should make my irony not so subtle

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by Q Cubed


...the only good bug is a dead bug.

Uhmmm - sorry - I don't join before they get some new brass that dosn't deploy the ships in clusters that bug artillery can't miss

[Q Classic]

No, you are quite right It's just that someone in one of the "oil is running out" threads said that we wouldn't get in trouble because we would learn to get it from planets and asteroids.

Not having read any of the "oil is running out threads", I think I missed that spot 'o irony.

Is that ironic? (Pop Quiz. Correct answer gets a $_COOKIE['hawt_chocolate'].)

[BlackCat]

Maybe you lack iron - check your vitamin pills and see if they contain it.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Originally posted by Q Cubed
$_COOKIE['hawt_chocolate']

God, even I think that's nerdy.

[Q Classic]

Originally posted by Koyaanisqatsi

God, even I think that's nerdy.

Well, here's to hoping that the Singularity comes before Peak Copper, Peak Oil, Peak Fresh Water, and Peak FreshRPMS.net.

[BlackCat]

Sadly, we cannot expect a peak in nerdity - they'll always find yet another peak

[Harry Tuttle]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Is it time for Julian Simon to make more money?

Zombie Simon?

[Sava]

The crust of our planet is very thin compared to the whole. And these resources are limited.

With population and consumption of resources both growing at exponential rates, it's simply foolish to think that resources are going to last forever. I have no idea how the world's population is going to grow... I don't think it can continue to grow the way it's grown the past 200 years, but with China and India and other nations increasing their consumption, I think that even if population growth levels out, consumption of resources will grow.

While I don't think the sky is falling (i.e. peak oil in the next few decades, etc), I think that the people who think things are going to last forever are extremely ignorant and shortsighted.

But then again, the thinking is, let's use it now because we aren't going to be around when it runs out.

I think humanity's decline is going to result from a lack of resources, combined with long term climate change and overpopulation. It's going to suck and a lot of people are going to die. But I'll be dead.

I hope it doesn't happen, but if it does, humanity has only itself to blame. Unless some technology is developed that allows faster than light travel, I doubt space travel will be a viable option.

I suspect that humanity is trapped in this solar system. And that's probably a good thing.

I shudder to think how humans would exploit the universe if we ever manage to travel beyond our planet.

[Q Classic]

Sava: while there's no doubt that the resources will eventually run out, my thinking is more along these lines:

1. Why worry? I won't be around when it runs out.
2. Why worry? Humanity will likely kill itself before that happens.
3. Why worry? If humanity somehow doesn't do that, then they're more resourceful than I give them credit for, and might be able to manage somehow.
4. Why worry? If humanity doesn't exterminate itself, but isn't resourceful enough to manage, it'll probably destroy itself trying to manage.

So... why worry? It really doesn't matter, since being alive is a death sentence.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Q Cubed
Sava: while there's no doubt that the resources will eventually run out, my thinking is more along these lines:

1. Why worry? I won't be around when it runs out.
2. Why worry? Humanity will likely kill itself before that happens.
3. Why worry? If humanity somehow doesn't do that, then they're more resourceful than I give them credit for, and might be able to manage somehow.
4. Why worry? If humanity doesn't exterminate itself, but isn't resourceful enough to manage, it'll probably destroy itself trying to manage.

So... why worry? It really doesn't matter, since being alive is a death sentence.

Oh, I generally agree.

I think we're probably on the same page.

I actually think it's a good thing that there is such a limit out there for humanity. It's probably going to be a hurdle in our evolution as a species. At this point, I don't think we'll be able to adapt and survive. Which is good because I don't think humanity deserves to survive, morally.

My issue is more with the people who think that our resources are going to last forever. And thinking is just plain stupid.

But then again, as you said, none of use are going to be here when things run out. It's just a shame that nobody cares about the generations to come and the problems we are causing for them.

[Dr Strangelove]

Isn't copper fairly easy to recycle?

[Chemical Ollie]

Why worry? Humans is the most adaptable species on earth!

[Q Classic]

But then again, as you said, none of use are going to be here when things run out. It's just a shame that nobody cares about the generations to come and the problems we are causing for them.

Humans have never cared about their children's children.

This generation thinks nothing of saddling our generation with the costs of their spending spree. Our generation thinks nothing of giving the next one nothing but atomized and chaotic culture.

When confronted with long-term benefits and short-term gluttony, our minds and our instincts are wired for the latter.