Inferno discussion [spoiler alert]

[Darth Verik]

Hello hello, id like to start a discussion for those who've already read the newest Dan Brown book 'inferno' (or those who are interested in the topic)

The book is about releasing a sort virus that spreads true the air so that 1/3th of the people can't become pregnant anymore, and therefor less humans will become the next generation. The reason for this virus is that we have too many people living on earth as we speak (we're already at 7 billion people). Foodsupply is getting smaller and smaller, space to live on is getting lesser, other species getting extinct because of humans. If time continues like this within a hundred years we have caused our own downfall. We have to find a solution to this problem. The mad scientist in inferno thought the best thing was to lessen our population by a humain virus.

Now, this topic was not made to express your own feelings about this, because that discussion would surely end up nowhere (plus it would probably be deleted). So what is this discussion about then you ask? Well, it's about discussion the advantages and disadvantages of spreading such a possible virus. Or trying to figure out a solution to this already known problem.

I hope some o you find it interesting, i sure do ^^

[Sereja]

I may strongly recommended do not play with viruses. We may realy change them, but we can't control the next mutation of them, since we just do not understand why and when it happens, and what kind of new trouble it's bring to us. Actualy, viruses are very like nano-tech units, but remote control, not in our hands anyway. When we interrupt the programm, the next command, from the real "control center" (if it exist), will be acquired by changed viruses, in very wrong way, so results will be totaly unexpected.

[Darth Verik]

Well, if not by a virus, how would we restrain our population growth that seems to be doubling every generation?
The virus discribed in inferno was made to select 1/3th of the women...randomly without their knowing. If not by such a virus, then how could we control the danger we are exposing ourselves to without war, rebellion, riots or anything else?

[Unit 33]

Well that sounds awfully totalitarian.
Who has the right to choose who lives and dies?
And Sereja's right, a virus can always mutate and lead to unforeseen consequences.

Er... is this breaching a forum rule yet?

[Darth Verik]

I hope not, i'm going to write a essay about this because i like the subject a lot. Yet what you both say is true, a virus can mutate...but if you objectively look at the problems we are creating for ourselves by population growth, then i see only few solutions. One of them is the chinese rule of only 1 child, but that rule also has negative sides.

[Unit 33]

Or even... colonise the Moooooon!

[Led]

I think the premise that the earth is over populated is false.  I think if you look through history, you will find that this is a theme for hundreds of years.  Yet here we are.  That said, there are certainly local issues.

I could make a case that the earth was over populated by dinosaurs.  In some places we trip over their skeletons.  It took a while, but dinosaur overpopulation was resolved.

I think of this as another instance of the hubris of mankind thinking that a) they impact the global environment on a permanent basis beyond the natural variability and/or b) that they can do anything about it.  There is also an element of people enjoying controlling other people such as your create a virus scenario.

Finally, you know that we only have a four billion years or so until the earth gets scorched by the sun--we should try to get a long until then.

[Norwood]

First I should probably note that this is a bad subject for a strict no politics forum. Seeing as this is a political conversation. Any claims that the earth is overcrowded or that climate is changing, is always a political claim or at least discussion.

The Earth is not over populated by far, I don't know where you all live, but I have been to South Dakota, and there is plenty of space left! Any laws that control peoples live is a serious breach of human dignity and rights. And at least in this country (USA) is forbidden by the "Supreme Law of the Land". (Which for those of you who don't live in the USA, is the Constitution.)

The most used claims of overpopulation are usually places like California, this year they are suffering from a serious drought. There is not enough water to go around. Well in short the problem is too many people trying to live in a area that was not made to handle that many people. It is suppose to be dry, but the more people who move in the dry it appears.

There is a lot more than can be said on this subject but you get the point.

[Gamma (Ray)]

Or even... colonise the Moooooon!

Or we could colonize a different galaxy or maybe Mars. A lot of future shows are on Mars.

[Norwood]

I don't think that Mars is a very practical planet for that, but the moon might work with the right technology.

[Gamma (Ray)]

I might read Inferno. Have any of you read The Maze Runner. Its a great book about a lot of kids getting caught in a maze and their are monsters that walk around the maze. The doors to the maze close at sundown so anyone caught in the maze has to stay away from the monster or be killed by them.

[Phobos]

Or even... colonise the Moooooon!

Or we could colonize a different galaxy or maybe Mars. A lot of future shows are on Mars.

Space colonization is a prevalent theme featured in ZC. The Aliens have colonized various moons of the gas giants such as Europa, Titan, Hyperion, etc. Here is an interesting site which explores this concept further http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/

[Unit 33]

We're not exactly at the stage of 'Soylent Green'



I have the modest faith that when pushed, humanity is sometimes capable of ingenuity rather than cruelty.

Space colonization is a prevalent theme featured in ZC. The Aliens have colonized various moons of the gas giants such as Europa, Titan, Hyperion, etc. Here is an interesting site which explores this concept further http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/

Funnily enough the moons Phobos and Deimos are vaguely in the 'habitable zone'.


But the most likely target in the next 100 years is probably our very own Luna due to connivence and potential raw materials (it also helps that we've been there a few times).
But we're very far from the envisioned future created in the 1960s, it turns out that space is actually sublimely huge and we only have meagre untested theories regarding going super-fast.

[Gamma (Ray)]

It would suck if World WarIII or World War Z happened.