The Earth's Sixth Mass Extinction... is looming

[PureCrimson]

I find articles like this to sensationalism and/or scare mongering, to be totally frank.

We've heard this kind of news since the 70s or even earlier, about how Earth is on the breaking point, humans are to blame, the next 30 years are the final ones, etc. And it's always garbage.

We're not there yet, but humans have made great strives technologically and even sustainable that I'm more optimistic we can enter a sort of Trek haven of prosperity with a bit more work.

The whole extinction thing is hilarious, actually. "Oh, only the 6th?" Except mass extinctions have been a part of Earth's history since the beginning. That means there were, at the very least, half before humanity, that we had no direct impact on. No one picked that up?

Literally 99.9% of every species that have existed on Earth are extinct already, and a good chunk of them died before we ever came around.

I'll say it again: sensationalism. Every human generation needs to feel they're the 'final' one or the most important. That's why you have 'days of the apocalypse' dating back to the 1500s or before. This is the same thing.
"We are the generation to decide Earth's fate", etc. It's just ego.

 

[Discofan]

@PureCrimson: Do you also believe that human-caused Global Warming is just a rumor?

 

[Gary7]

@PureCrimson: Do you also believe that human-caused Global Warming is just a rumor?

Probably does. How anyone can say "this whole extinction thing is hilarious" is beyond me -- incredibly ignorant. The acceleration of species extinction is of grave concern. Humans ARE changing the Earth's environments: air, land, sea. And not in a positive way.

The most basic way to look at all this is simply on the basis of survival. If we cause too much collapse to the ecosystems that have provided for a human-friendly environment, we put our species survival at grave risk. Beyond that is simply the matter of good stewardship and being respectful of other intelligent species (apes/monkeys, elephants, dolphins, dogs, etc.). The ASPCA is a prime example of humans showing respect for animals. And that's on an individual case. But it's nothing compared to genocide of animals. Of which we are doing.

Yes, there was a lot of doom saying going on in the 70's as people FIRST began to realize that our pollution rate was on a dangerous path. Those people who started it had INSIGHT. And they were right. Look at where we are now, with glaciers melting at an unprecedented rate. It's not just coincidence that this is happening at the VERY MOMENT that human industrialization is taking place. Thing of how long and slow geological changes take place on Earth. Many thousands of years. A sudden dramatic spike at just the moment human industrialization happens? Within a span of less than 100 years? To brush it off... shows extreme ignorance and arrogance.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

So when is this new Mass Extinction game out, and i assume by it's very nature there won't be any season pass.

 

[Spot261]

I find articles like this to sensationalism and/or scare mongering, to be totally frank.

We've heard this kind of news since the 70s or even earlier, about how Earth is on the breaking point, humans are to blame, the next 30 years are the final ones, etc. And it's always garbage.

We're not there yet, but humans have made great strives technologically and even sustainable that I'm more optimistic we can enter a sort of Trek haven of prosperity with a bit more work.

The whole extinction thing is hilarious, actually. "Oh, only the 6th?" Except mass extinctions have been a part of Earth's history since the beginning. That means there were, at the very least, half before humanity, that we had no direct impact on. No one picked that up?

Literally 99.9% of every species that have existed on Earth are extinct already, and a good chunk of them died before we ever came around.

I'll say it again: sensationalism. Every human generation needs to feel they're the 'final' one or the most important. That's why you have 'days of the apocalypse' dating back to the 1500s or before. This is the same thing.
"We are the generation to decide Earth's fate", etc. It's just ego.

Um, you do realise the previous five happened prior to humanity? That in fact we wouldn't be here without them?

That the current rate of global warming matches predictions based on both the observed increases in atmospheric greenhouses gases and the estimated tonnage produced by human industry? Furthermore that there are no currently viable models to explain that increase?

You do also realise that regardless of any steps made to regulate that industry the evidence strongly suggests that the increased temperatures could readily reach the point of increasing returns based on the additional gases produced by the additional decomposition of prehistoric organic matter, which in turn can be expected to drive temperatures further up? That if that process reaches a critical mass it could become irreversible?

 

[Discofan]

The prevalent theory about Venus' present hellish atmospheric conditions is the effect of global warming beyond a point of no return, that is a point where the deterioration of the atmosphere self-amplifies toward a paroxysm. Unless something active is done to prevent it, Earth could really become Venus' twin planet.