Multiple Crises on Earth

[Haggis and tatties]

Lately there appear to be a slew of catastrophic events happening around the world: the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan, civil unrest in the Middle East, skyrocketing gas prices, rainstorm in the Bay Area. You'd think it's the end of the world. Or is it?

When things like these happen, do you get all panicky or depressed thinking the end is near, or do you believe this is, and has been, the normal order of things? I'm of the latter belief and don't buy into the doom and gloom apocalypse, like the 2012 myth. What say you?

I will let you know in 2013.

Assuming i can , and assuming you there to see that info, and if we are not then that's one question answered for sure.

 

[marillion]

it also seems worse because 24-hour rolling news channels can broadcast disasters to you instantly where as 50 years ago, it'd probably take days to find out and a century ago, it'd've taken weeks at least.

This, this this this....

We (humans) have a morbid curiousity in doom/gloom death and destruction.. Look at the fools who ran to the beach to watch the tsunami in Tailand a few years ago.. The rest of the animals on this planet follow their instincts and run to the hills...

Our instincts, honestly, tell us to do the same, but there's something in our brains that says "Hey.. My instincts are to run away, so maybe I should stay and check this out."... It's the same with the 24-hour news cycle.. I will admit to being one of those who flipped from channel to channel last week, trying to absorb all I could.. It didn't help that I have friends and family in Japan (all ok, btw), but still..

Directly OT, I think that the earth has ALWAYS faced multiple crises and always will.. Weather related, war related, disease and disaster related... It's as constant as death and taxes...

 

[Rincewiend]

it also seems worse because 24-hour rolling news channels can broadcast disasters to you instantly where as 50 years ago, it'd probably take days to find out and a century ago, it'd've taken weeks at least.

This, this this this....

We (humans) have a morbid curiousity in doom/gloom death and destruction.. Look at the fools who ran to the beach to watch the tsunami in Tailand a few years ago.. The rest of the animals on this planet follow their instincts and run to the hills...

Our instincts, honestly, tell us to do the same, but there's something in our brains that says "Hey.. My instincts are to run away, so maybe I should stay and check this out."... It's the same with the 24-hour news cycle.. I will admit to being one of those who flipped from channel to channel last week, trying to absorb all I could.. It didn't help that I have friends and family in Japan (all ok, btw), but still..

Directly OT, I think that the earth has ALWAYS faced multiple crises and always will.. Weather related, war related, disease and disaster related... It's as constant as death and taxes...

It's rubbernecking on a global scale...

 

[marillion]

^^ That's a really good way of putting it..

 

[Gryffindorian]

Which is why I think this is, always has been, and always will be the normal order of things. When I was a member of a Christian congregation, I always had to roll my eyes when the minister's sermon talked about Judgment Day in relation to current issues happening in the world (natural calamities, wars, epidemics, etc.) as though the end of the world were next week. Don't get me wrong. I am Christian and have faith in God, but some things in the Bible need to be taken with a grain of salt.

Or perhaps a pillar of salt.

Indeed!

Posted by Davros:

That's what we get for living on Crime Syndicate earth instead.

Isn't that Earth-2? Since we don't have any superheroes for real, I assume we're on Earth-0 for lack of a better designation.

And since all these things have been happening since the birth of our planet, it would be accurate to say we're having an Indefinite Crisis.

 

[Pingfah]

Which is why I think this is, always has been, and always will be the normal order of things. When I was a member of a Christian congregation, I always had to roll my eyes when the minister's sermon talked about Judgment Day in relation to current issues happening in the world (natural calamities, wars, epidemics, etc.) as though the end of the world were next week. Don't get me wrong. I am Christian and have faith in God, but some things in the Bible need to be taken with a grain of salt.

Or perhaps a pillar of salt.

Indeed!

What is it with you and feckin salt?

 

[Gryffindorian]

Ah, yes, my affinity for sodium chloride. I like the expression "grain of salt" because it reflects my feelings about some of the stuff I read about on the Internet or hear elsewhere. I also like to sprinkle sea salt and kosher salt over fresh mangoes, strawberries, etc. Mmmm ... But I realize I have to watch my sodium intake, too.

 

[KJbushway]

Probably not a bad idea. While it doesn't have any trans-fat. It can increase your blood pressure.

 

[Skywalker]

A little salt is good for you, though. As with most things, moderation is key. I love to sprinkle a little salt on slices of watermelon.

 

[KJbushway]

Never heard of that. Sea Salt is heathly compared to Ionized.

 

[KJbushway]

Just a funny thought. How much off topic is salt. the title is serious and we are here talking about how health salt is.

 

[Pingfah]

No, the topic is about whether a few earthquakes and wars is signalling the impending apocalypse. That is not what I consider "serious".

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Earlier in this thread the World Wars of the 20th century were mentioned. We survived those, and they were on a level those of us who didn't live through them can scarcely imagine. That we can look at natural disasters and regional wars and think it means the end is near just shows how limited our perspective is.

The 20th century was the bloodiest in human history. We've not even begun to crack that nut in the 21st. Trying to tie war to natural disasters is also totally wrong-headed. Hell, people going on about natural disasters that occurred in the past few months seem to have forgotten the 2004 tsunami that killed over 150,000 people and left millions homeless. There's also the quake that hit Haiti last year that killed close to that number of people--in just one country.

Natural disasters happen all the time. I think a lot of people just want there to be some kind of profound explanation for why bad shit happens to good people, and there isn't. It's a cold, uncaring universe out there and we just don't matter very much, which is why it's all the more important that we band together to help each other when things like this happen--because tomorrow, it could be us.

 

[Gryffindorian]

Natural disasters happen all the time. I think a lot of people just want there to be some kind of profound explanation for why bad shit happens to good people, and there isn't. It's a cold, uncaring universe out there and we just don't matter very much, which is why it's all the more important that we band together to help each other when things like this happen--because tomorrow, it could be us.

Precisely. And some people also look to their faith for an explanation. "Oh, Lord, why hast thou forsaken us?" or "It's all part of God's great plan."

Posted by KJbushway:

Sea Salt is heathly compared to Ionized.

Are you sure?

 

[KJbushway]

Its something like Ionized I don't have infront of me.
But sea salt is one of the healthiest forms.

 

[KJbushway]

Earlier in this thread the World Wars of the 20th century were mentioned. We survived those, and they were on a level those of us who didn't live through them can scarcely imagine. That we can look at natural disasters and regional wars and think it means the end is near just shows how limited our perspective is.

The 20th century was the bloodiest in human history. We've not even begun to crack that nut in the 21st. Trying to tie war to natural disasters is also totally wrong-headed. Hell, people going on about natural disasters that occurred in the past few months seem to have forgotten the 2004 tsunami that killed over 150,000 people and left millions homeless. There's also the quake that hit Haiti last year that killed close to that number of people--in just one country.

Natural disasters happen all the time. I think a lot of people just want there to be some kind of profound explanation for why bad shit happens to good people, and there isn't. It's a cold, uncaring universe out there and we just don't matter very much, which is why it's all the more important that we band together to help each other when things like this happen--because tomorrow, it could be us.

Well put. I agree. Man you should coin that last part, becuase its the unfound truth.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

To quote Bill Maher:

If the world does come to an end here, or wherever, or if it limps into the future, decimated by the effects of religion-inspired nuclear terrorism, let's remember what the real problem was. We learned how to precipitate mass death before we got past the neurological disorder of wishing for it. That's it. Grow up or die.

 

[Captain_Nick]

Whoever is in charge of this world ending business, please postpone armageddon until mid October 2011, k thx

 

[Nowhere Man]

Whoever is in charge of this world ending business, please postpone armageddon until mid October 2011, k thx

No, I wanna see the new Superman Movie and TDK:Rises first, then we can all die.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

Just so long as we can see the new Star Trek movie.