it's a HUGE ball of elements, atoms. it doesn't "Feel" distress or "react" to human treatment. I'm tired of this recent (Last 30 years) trend that the earth needs special care and nurturing. People don't understand the scale and sheer mass of the earth, and it can take care of itself. It has, for billions of years. Do you really think the last 100 years (1.67e-8 percent of earth's existence) has done anything?
I've spent the last 40 years trampling all over it.
lol, what are you talking about?
you mean when you go camping and then take a dump in the woods?
recycling and picking up litter are good for the environment, but what you're saying is going too far.
Yep. Elements and atoms never react to anything.
Agree with the op. whatever happens, happens. Not a big deal, and as huge as it is, it's still infinitesimally small compared to the known universe. It might as well be a figment of our collective imagination, and maybe it is.
That being said, as mass increases its reasonable to assume consciousness does as well. So, maybe on some level earth is a sentient being, but I'd guess its tuned in well enough to know if its decimated by a bunch of asteroids it doesn't matter.
James Naismith, Jr wrote:
Yep. Elements and atoms never react to anything.
Humans are made of elements and atoms and they have emotions. Why shouldn't a tomato?
Because they're idiots, or mild idiots who have to personify everything.
Now, a suitable environment for humans does call for nurturing/moderation; so if you're trying to subtly suggest otherwise, a solid 6/10.
Because of Avatar.
Don't F with me, bro.
Geologist of 35 years wrote:
it's a HUGE ball of elements, atoms. it doesn't "Feel" distress or "react" to human treatment. I'm tired of this recent (Last 30 years) trend that the earth needs special care and nurturing. People don't understand the scale and sheer mass of the earth, and it can take care of itself. It has, for billions of years. Do you really think the last 100 years (1.67e-8 percent of earth's existence) has done anything?
"recent trend"?? You have any idea why Lovelock named his theory 'Gaia'? She was an ancient Greek goddess. And Lovelock began his theory in 65, which is nearer 50 years ago than 30.
I think acid rain had a pretty big impact, don't you?
As others rightly pointed out, we "feel" distress or "react" to human treatment, and we're a huge ball of elements, atoms. Why would we/earth be any different?
As the OP (and George Carlin--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W33HRc1A6c) pointed out, Earth is fine. "Save the planet"--talk about arrogance! Now "saving the people," which is what most folks really mean--actually, what most *truly* mean is "keep things nice for ME"--that might be a laudable activity.
There is simply no reason to think that Earth has sentience. But in any case: Earth was around for hundreds of millions of years before *any* life arose, and billions more before humans were here; the odds are huge (literally astronomical) that it'll be here for billions of years after humans, a minor surface irritant, no longer exist.
Planet of 4.5 billion years wrote:
Don't F with me, bro.
Mother Earth is that you speaking?
To think the human race cannot affect our planet's ecosystem is beyond idiocy.
NJ Possible wrote:
To think the human race cannot affect our planet's ecosystem is beyond idiocy.
To think that our planet "is alive / has feelings / needs care"--which is the actual thread topic--is just as wack: the pathetic fallacy, in spades.
It depends on whether or not you believe this kind of technology is possible in the future: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wVEhafuF7Ahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djZFHTa6TfA
Geologist of 35 years wrote:
it's a HUGE ball of elements, atoms. it doesn't "Feel" distress or "react" to human treatment. I'm tired of this recent (Last 30 years) trend that the earth needs special care and nurturing. People don't understand the scale and sheer mass of the earth, and it can take care of itself. It has, for billions of years. Do you really think the last 100 years (1.67e-8 percent of earth's existence) has done anything?
I'm a middle school science teacher who teaches earth and life science.
I think you have taken a fallacy that goes too far in one direction and taken it too far in the other. The earth didn't "feel bad" when volcanic supereruptions made species go extinct, nor when plate tectonics connected continents that unleashed predators on unprepared species and caused other extinctions. Earth's processes are not benevolent or cruel, they just are.
However, without this planet and it's community of organisms, we are dead... original poster included. I think it is normal to revere and respect something that (in its present state) gives you a license to attempt existence and survival. I also believe it is healthy to try to protect that planet's ecosystems if you realize that damage to it could negatively impact the community of life (homo sapiens sapiens included) that depends on it.
I think the OP might be referring to those Gaia folks that considering the planet one big organism and things along those lines. Ya know, the same sorts that want to read your palm and believe your life is determined by the arrangement of the stars.
I went on a date with a girl that was big into astrology. Needless to say, there was no second date. I don't have the stomach for that sh!t.
Then there are the folks that believe the Earth needs saving. No. The Earth will persist even after we wipe out half of the species and ourselves, if have not done already. We certainly are on a course for utter destruction of biodiversity. but the Earth doesn't care.
The purpose of preserving the Earth is for our own benefit. Perserving the planet for the planet's sake is a tough sell to us self-centered human beings.
Gaia hypothesis. Although there can be human caused "stressors" to the biosphere, the earth (including the biosphere) is not a sentient entity.
This may be the most moronic post yet. Atoms don't react?? The sheer fact that this planet even exists is 1 and 1 gazillion, and the fact that conditions were just perfect enough to begin the evolution of homo sapiens is 1 and 1 jiggazillion. We exist because of a what is the very definition of a miracle, something so balanced on chaos that it should be impossible, and you think 100 years of taking a dump on mother earth, isnt gonna do anything? Yeah thats right because earths get created all the time. Go away troll.
You're an idiot. Way fewer people think that today than in any other time in human history.
Geologist of 35 years wrote:
it's a HUGE ball of elements, atoms. it doesn't "Feel" distress or "react" to human treatment. I'm tired of this recent (Last 30 years) trend that the earth needs special care and nurturing. People don't understand the scale and sheer mass of the earth, and it can take care of itself. It has, for billions of years. Do you really think the last 100 years (1.67e-8 percent of earth's existence) has done anything?