Re: Colonizing the Galaxy in Eight Easy Steps

From: theBeaver (none_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 06/12/04 

Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 07:57:44 GMT

Immortalist wrote:

> "theBeaver" <none@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:vzhyc.11903$H65.9953@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
>
>>The human instinct to expand our territory and breed is not something
>>that should be indulged. Man's biggest problem is his inclination to
>>*** in his own house, thinking, instinctively, that territorial
>>expansion or future miracles will save him. It is the nature of things
>>that unbridled ambition speeds its own end, and if humans cannot reign
>>in their own animal urges by reason, we deserve to go nowhere. To hear
>>this primitive impulse touted as a laudable goal that's supposed to
>>inspire me with pride in my species disgusts me.
>>
>
>
> Shitting on your own capacity for optimism?
>
>

Some of us, I guess, are especially attuned to the pain in the world.
The destruction and disregard of animals, the inevitable threat to all
life on earth posed by humanity's expansion, and the constant excuses
and self-deception of so many people have made me cynical.

Optimism in the face of avoidable doom is a mistake. People on this
board tout optimism as if there is no question that one should always be
optimistic. But this ubiquitous facade is the core of a simple-minded
glee club that intends to seduce us into believing that there is nothing
to worry about when there is a LOT to worry about. If we keep living
near the edge, one day the perfect storm will strike and there will be
no margin, and all hell (war or starvation) will break loose. The
answer has long been to expand, to destroy more non-renewable resources,
rather than live within the limits of renewable resources and beat the
temptation to ravage every last scrap for immediate profit. This needs
to change, and it requires serious thought and sacrifice, not fatuous,
smiling optimists.

What would happen to these gloating galactic expansionists if we reached
the stars and found they were all taken? Would they feel like less of a
man? If not, then why expand? If so, then they are the spoiled
children that I think they are. They'd probably make up more excuses so
they can get what they see as their share, invent enemies, start a war,
invent new principles to justify their war, all to get what the spoiled
child must have.

The glorification of Man is really not much different than the
glorification of God. It all is a mental trick to help us think that
there is a purpose to life, that we are better than other animals, that
our destiny is not just to grovel for a brief and meaningless existence
and then die. It is self-flattering escapist nonsense intended to
justify every self-serving criminal act of Man.

Quantcast