Is This the Future of the Human Race?

re: Is This the Future of the Human Race?

darholu — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:40:58 GMT

Biblically speaking (rather not related to techology as we are objectively observing now), the future of human race is clearly seen in the Revelations (no preaching intended). Well, I am also waiting for the future of their so-called "Atome Smasher." By the way, what happens to it now?

re: Is This the Future of the Human Race?

stevethebass — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:19:14 GMT

Ya know. It's the attitudes displayed on this thread that are doing more harm to our progress than any ignorance of the use of our technology today. If most of the human race is willing to sit on there thumbs waiting for the right conditions to utilize our beautiful ingenuity than we really are doomed.
I say bring it on! We have most of the technology we need, today, to make the profound change in global society that is desperately needed. Just because the powers that be are too stupid and greedy to embrace it, doesn't mean we should give up on MOVING FORWARD. To hell with anti-intellectualism. Advance our species along with all other species including the living earth.
We've been given a priceless gift. It's our DUTY to develop it despite circumstance.

Peace.

re: Is This the Future of the Human Race?

Grim — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:39:52 GMT

Utopia. The beehive. Don't take the chip! There's no room for the Borg in a humane world.

From wikipedia: "The Borg are depicted as an amalgam of cybernetically enhanced humanoid drones of multiple species, organized as an inter-connected collective with a hive mind, inhabiting a vast region of space with many planets and ships. They operate towards one single-minded purpose: to add the biological and technological distinctiveness of other species to their own, in pursuit of perfection. This is achieved through forced assimilation, a process which transforms individuals and technology into Borg, enhancing individuals by adding synthetic components."

Aldous Huxley talked, in 1962 at Berkley, about controlling brains with electronics and chemicals, and how they had made chickens, run, sit down, etc, with wires in their brains, remote controlled. Quote from speech: "We are in process of developing a whole series of techniques, which will enable the controlling oligarchy, who have always existed and presumably always will exist, to get people actually to love their servitude. This seems to me the ultimate in-malevolent revolution". He also said this: "In the past, we can say that all revolutions have essentially aimed at changing the environment in order to change the individual". This guy wasn't just some random nut either, but likely part of the oligarchy he talked about. His brother, Julian, was head of UNESCO and into eugenics btw.

re: Is This the Future of the Human Race?

FunRun — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:22:05 GMT

While I try to be optimistic, it is increasingly difficult to swallow the belief that we will survive this technological adolescence in which we find ourselves.

With the acceleration in our power to manipulate the most basic elements of life we must employ an even greater ability to anticipate the consequences of that manipulation. Experience has shown that we are unable to do so. We are reactionary as individuals and as a species. We solve problems. Rarely do we anticipate them and take action before they occur.

Trouble is, some of the problems these imagined technologies may create will leave us little or no time to react.

So we rely on the hope that we will be smarter in the future than we were in the past. It takes an adolescent to have that sort of naive optimism.

re: Is This the Future of the Human Race?

Islander — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:59:20 GMT

The exponentially accelerating pace of change is exactly what makes the future frightening. In no way are we ready to use what we already have. Given the computing power of today's desktop or laptop, what do we use it for? E-mail, gaming and watching YouTube. With limitless information and potentialities at their fingertips, I still hear people of all ages saying, "I'm bored."

Harry Truman, witness to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, said, "Machines are ahead of morals by some centuries." In no way are we evolved enough to be prepared for the kind of future Kurzweil envisions.

re: Is This the Future of the Human Race?

mama bear — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:08:17 GMT

Wow. This is fascinating. An interesting topic to raise when you are looking for stimulating conversation!