Welcome to the future

Discussion in 'Science and Technology' started by Serveaux, Apr 23, 2014.

  1. Serveaux

    Serveaux Fleet Admiral Premium Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2013
    Location:
    Among the sellers.
    The other shoe drops. Well, what did anyone really think would happen other than this?

    http://www.vox.com/2014/4/22/5551004/two-degrees
     
  2. sojourner

    sojourner Admiral In Memoriam

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2008
    Location:
    Just around the bend.
    Don't worry. The Singularity will save us.
     
    SPCTRE likes this.
  3. Yminale

    Yminale Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2002
    Location:
    Democratically Liberated America
    Humanity is screwed unless someone's delusion is correct (aliens, God, AI, magic unicorns, etc...)
     
  4. YellowSubmarine

    YellowSubmarine Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2010
    Think about it that way - exponential increase in energy consumption might just be the only way to combat global warming!
     
  5. Yminale

    Yminale Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2002
    Location:
    Democratically Liberated America
    I think it's pretty clear that Western society are prepared to throw the poor and disadvantaged under the proverbial bus. If there is any justice, our AI overlords will murder us in disgust.
     
  6. DarthTom

    DarthTom Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    Location:
    Atlanta, Georgia
    Dennis, thanks for sharing this. What I find alarming is smart/intelligent people no longer believe in Global Warming because of the cold winter we had earlier this year.

    I interact with business leaders here in Atlanta on a daily basis - people who are in charge of some of the largest corporations in the South and US e.g. UPS and because of the cold year here in Atlanta specifically - the 2 unprecedented ice storms we had - and generally the super cold winter the US had in 2014 - there isn't a belief [at least with some in corporate America] that, "global warming," is real.

    I don't think there is a sense of urgency on this subject - at least this year - as a result of a very odd winter we had across the entire nation.
     
  7. Robert Maxwell

    Robert Maxwell memelord Premium Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2001
    Location:
    space
    Huh?

    Wait, so where are the "smart/intelligent people" you mentioned?
     
  8. DarthTom

    DarthTom Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    Location:
    Atlanta, Georgia
    Yes - I'm serious Robert. I had a conversation about 1 week ago with the CFO of a major ATL based company and he said to quote him, "....based on this year's weather I no longer believe in global warming." The situation wasn't the right time to debate this person on the merits of his opinions but we should be concerned when powerful people in the biz community are becoming more skeptical.

    Now my experience obviously is anecdotal - but I'd water that after this year's extreme cold there are a lot more people who have more skepticism about global warming.

    Better stated as business savvy, and in powerful positions where major decisions are made about corporate policies. You may not look at such people as, "intelligent," but some of these people are considered, "leaders."
     
  9. Robert Maxwell

    Robert Maxwell memelord Premium Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2001
    Location:
    space
    The joke is that you think those people are intelligent. They obviously aren't where anything scientific is concerned.
     
  10. sojourner

    sojourner Admiral In Memoriam

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2008
    Location:
    Just around the bend.
  11. YellowSubmarine

    YellowSubmarine Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2010
    One can just apply their logic in reverse: If global warming isn't happening, how it got so warm in just the few months from December to April, duh!
     
  12. DarthTom

    DarthTom Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    Location:
    Atlanta, Georgia
    How about, perceived as intellignet because they help run very successful businesses. And yes, I know the ability to make a lot of $$ isn't equal to intelligence.

    But outside academia, the debate club, and in here - and in the real world - many people perceive top business leaders as, "intelligent," - and that's just real life.

    In any case, I'm not interested in getting into a debate with you about this minor sub-text but rather wanted to share at least what I've seen is an alarming change in some people's views on global warming because of the 2014 winter.
     
  13. Robert Maxwell

    Robert Maxwell memelord Premium Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2001
    Location:
    space
    You mean you felt the need to chime in with the laughably common anecdote that some people think a cold winter means global warming isn't real? Well, thanks for that. It's a service I'm sure none other could have provided.
     
  14. B.J.

    B.J. Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2004
    Location:
    Huntsville, AL
    Despite your snarkiness, the problem here is that these people he's mentioning in particular are the ones with the power to do something to change things. But since they don't believe it, nothing will change.
     
  15. Yminale

    Yminale Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2002
    Location:
    Democratically Liberated America
    Well it shows that people are ignorant. Global Warming can cause colder weather in northern longitudes because increase warming can change ocean currents and the jet stream. People think Global Warming is like living in a greenhouse but it's affects are much subtler than that.
     
  16. varek

    varek Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2009
    Location:
    Danville, IN, USA
    I'm worried that the "smart" world leaders have already moved to South America and are building their mansions over aquifers and in the now-cleared former rain forests!

    Don't forget all the multimillion-dollar bomb shelters that government agencies have allegedly built for their "elite."

    Remember: illusionists are usually masters of misdirection.
     
  17. Serveaux

    Serveaux Fleet Admiral Premium Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2013
    Location:
    Among the sellers.
    If you're living in the developed world you're part of the responsible "elite."
     
  18. Yminale

    Yminale Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2002
    Location:
    Democratically Liberated America
    I've come to realize that there are no "smart" world leaders. Only lucky ones who though selfish are pretty stupid.
     
  19. Yminale

    Yminale Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2002
    Location:
    Democratically Liberated America
    Not anymore. the 1% control over 50% of the world's wealth (it's probably higher). The rest of us are sliding downward in to poverty.
     
  20. Serveaux

    Serveaux Fleet Admiral Premium Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2013
    Location:
    Among the sellers.
    Yeah, bullshit.

    So some small percentage supposedly controls most wealth? What does "most" actually leave over? You're going to pretend that your lifestyle isn't exacerbating climate change? All that electricity, all those cars, air conditioning, computers, jets, all that food's being shipped around the world to be consumed by 1% of the population?

    Yeah, didn't think so.
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2014