Can End of the World Scenarios be debunked???

George B

Extinct but not forgotten Staff Member
Can End of the World Scenarios be debunked???


1) Obviously there are so many End of the World Scenarios out there . . . not all can be correct. . .


2) What are the motives for such promotions?


3) Can we assign probabilities for such occurrences?


POLL: How would you want the world to end?


http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message1719242/pg1


1) Earth struck by large Astroid &/or comet . . . 20.5% (15)
8) Invasion of hostile & exterminating Extraterrestrial Civilization 19.2% (14)
7) Our Sun dies or Super nova of nearby star 15.1% (11)
5) Overwhelming economic collapse causing failure of food production, etc. 12.3% (9)
3) Enormous Solar Maximum with Solar Flairs, CMEs and EMP . . . 8.2% (6)
10) Overwhelming naturally caused lethal epidemic 8.2% (6)
6) Overwhelming nuclear, chemical or biological war 6.8% (5)
11) Extreme tectonic activity with tsunami and mega earthquakes 4.1% (3)
2) Pole shift . . . both crust shift and magnetic shift 2.7% (2)
9) Sudden climate change of extreme temperatures, either high or extremely low. . . 2.7% (2)
4) Extreme volcanism i.e. super volcano . . . causing nuclear winter conditions 0% (0)
12) Ecosystem collapse caused by toxic pollution and overpopulation 0% (0)
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Non-Blank Votes: 73


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POLL: What is going to happen???


http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message1964517/pg1


8) Just more of the same . . . 24.2% (54)
7) The transition of the earth into a new and higher dimension? 12.6% (28)
1) Only, Continued economic stagnation? 12.1% (27)
3) The near extinction of mankind? 11.7% (26)
12) who cares? 8.5% (19)
11) The second coming of a messiah who will remake the earth and reign? 7.6% (17)
4) The reduction of the world's population to 500,000,000? 7.2% (16)
9) E.T.s will partner with mankind to improve the earth? 5.4% (12)
2) Only, Improved economy, better environmental, cultural and spiritual world?? 3.6% (8)
6) The evolution of mankind into a new species? 3.6% (8)
5) The extinction of mankind? 2.2% (5)
10) E.T.s will dominate mankind to control the earth for their purposes? 1.3% (3)
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Non-Blank Votes: 223
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. . . there are some very serious consequences to the obsessions . . .

I agree. In my opinion the most insidious is currently is the Global Warming one. People have gone wacky over that one. They propose all manner of crazy laws and government programs that will cause real-world harm.
 
I agree. In my opinion the most insidious is currently is the Global Warming one. People have gone wacky over that one. They propose all manner of crazy laws and government programs that will cause real-world harm.
Many would argue with and against that one (also the process will take decades to work its self out) but how about the prevailing feeling of the younger generation that something is going to happen (soon) so why try . . .
 
Normality excludes the above events, but there is always a degree of exception to it (normality). A degree so small as to be immediately forgotten. Must make myself some coffee...

Oh, debunked? Thought I just did that... :)
 
My own personal theory is the promotion of End of World scenarios is primarily a profit generating activity . . . especially by the TV outlets . . .


http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message1350940/pg1

POLL: As we near 2012. which Channel will win the DOOM DERBY?
2. History Channel . . . http://www.history.com/ 65.9% (56)
3. Discovery Channel . . . http://dsc.discovery.com/ 14.1% (12)
5. SyFy . . . http://www.syfy.com/ 8.2% (7)
6. Other . . . please post 7.1% (6)
4. True TV . . . http://www.trutv.com/index.html 3.5% (3)
1. Animal Planet . . . http://animal.discovery.com/ 1.2% (1)
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Non-Blank Votes: 85

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My own personal theory is the promotion of End of World scenarios is primarily a profit generating activity . . . especially by the TV outlets . . .

People enjoy being frightened and angry. This week I downloaded a slew of scary movies for Halloween. Witness the plethora of fear-based television shows with cops chasing criminals, dangerous jobs, and "reality" shows where those who deviate from social norms can be ridiculed in the comfort of one's home.

Product market is mostly based on FEAR.

- Fear of aging
- Fear of food pathogens
- Fear of low social status from driving old cars
- Fear of losing sexual potency
- Fear of being over-weight

Fear is highly profitable.

Zombies are my favorite. They are so scary because they can't be reasoned with, yet their motivation is so pure and strong. My expert opinion is that the best zombie movies ever are Dawn of the Dead and 28 Days Later.
 
People enjoy being frightened and angry. This week I downloaded a slew of scary movies for Halloween. Witness the plethora of fear-based television shows with cops chasing criminals, dangerous jobs, and "reality" shows where those who deviate from social norms can be ridiculed in the comfort of one's home.

Product market is mostly based on FEAR.

- Fear of aging
- Fear of food pathogens
- Fear of low social status from driving old cars
- Fear of losing sexual potency
- Fear of being over-weight

Fear is highly profitable.

Zombies are my favorite. They are so scary because they can't be reasoned with, yet their motivation is so pure and strong. My expert opinion is that the best zombie movies ever are Dawn of the Dead and 28 Days Later.

Yes, fear has a long history of profit, the difference is the fear of End of World presentations is not presented as fiction or a temporary game but a possible outcome which could end civilization or all human life . . .
 
the fear of End of World presentations is not presented as fiction or a temporary game but a possible outcome which could end civilization or all human life . . .
A likely outcome to ending civilization, I think, which needs careful distinction. It isn't entertaining.
 
A likely outcome to ending civilization, I think, which needs careful distinction. It isn't entertaining.
Hmmm . . . I guess you didn't watch the series on National Geographic . . . The World After Humans . . .

Aftermath: Population Zero (also titled Aftermath: The World After Humans)[1] is a two-hour Canadian special documentary film that premiered on Sunday, March 9, 2008 (at 8:00 PM ET/PT) on the National Geographic Channel. The program was produced by Cream Productions.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftermath:_Population_Zero

Content from External Source
 
Hmmm . . . I guess you didn't watch the series on National Geographic . . . The World After Humans . . .

Aftermath: Population Zero (also titled Aftermath: The World After Humans)[1] is a two-hour Canadian special documentary film that premiered on Sunday, March 9, 2008 (at 8:00 PM ET/PT) on the National Geographic Channel. The program was produced by Cream Productions.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftermath:_Population_Zero

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Excellent show. My wife caught it first (later than I stay up) so we found it on again later at a more reasonable hour. Hmmm....or was it Life After People on the History Channel? I think it was...since After People had more episodes. Very similar concepts it looks like.

Either way...what intrigued me (since I live nearby), Hoover dam would continue to hum along for something like 100 yrs even with no humans around.
 
Excellent show. My wife caught it first (later than I stay up) so we found it on again later at a more reasonable hour. Hmmm....or was it Life After People on the History Channel? I think it was...since After People had more episodes. Very similar concepts it looks like.

Either way...what intrigued me (since I live nearby), Hoover dam would continue to hum along for something like 100 yrs even with no humans around.
Could have been the History Channel . . . I agree it was a well done project . . . Yes, Hoover Dam was featured . . .
 
I guess you didn't watch the series on National Geographic . . . The World After Humans
Oh, yes I did. :)

But the presupposition was rather strange, don't you think? Everyone on Earth disappearing in an instance of time? (Shades of "The Twenty-Eighth Day"?) Civilizations may end while humans continue to exist, and it was the end of Civilization as we know it that I wrote about. A KT asteroid if it fell now wouldn't extinguish Man because of the number of hardened shelters he has built. But the civilization? Pouf.

Yes, about the running of the dam, I agree. Eerie but strangely satisfying. The Earth free of Man would be like a sick animal shaking off a debilitating parasite.
 
Oh, yes I did. :)

But the presupposition was rather strange, don't you think? Everyone on Earth disappearing in an instance of time? (Shades of "The Twenty-Eighth Day"?) Civilizations may end while humans continue to exist, and it was the end of Civilization as we know it that I wrote about. A KT asteroid if it fell now wouldn't extinguish Man because of the number of hardened shelters he has built. But the civilization? Pouf.

Yes, about the running of the dam, I agree. Eerie but strangely satisfying. The Earth free of Man would be like a sick animal shaking off a debilitating parasite.
Wow! . . . Your evaluation of mankind is a bit harsh . . . We are not all knowing creatures you know . . . yes, short of the earth being shattered to bits seems the human species is capable of survival in some form or fashion . . .
 
Please let us return to debunking End of World scenarios . . . Why are we fascinated by such speculation???? Why can we be manipulated by it??
 
Maybe you need to narrow your focus a little George. We can't debunk ALL possible scenarios.
 
Maybe you need to narrow your focus a little George. We can't debunk ALL possible scenarios.
I was hoping someone would suggest their favorite . . . the easy one would be the rapture scenario . . . we have tons of miss hits there . . .
 
The Second Coming of Christ . . . I love this quote . . .

Library of Date Setters ofThe End of the World!!!
Over 200 predictions and counting!
Yes the end is coming, but all human predictions are wrong!


Note from www.bible.ca: False prophet Harold Camping last predicted the end of the world in 1994. Camping is now predicting May 21, 2011 at exactly 6pm (sunset in Jerusalem). Camping must quit preaching forever on May 22, 2011, as an act of repentance for speaking where the Bible is silent! He should also dismantle his multi-million dollar empire and donate the money to ministries like this one, which correctly identified Camping as a false teacher in advance. And why not? Bible.ca which teaches truth has never asked for donations from the public, while false prophets like Harold Camping have solicited hundreds of millions of dollars. Herald's last broadcast should be proclaiming himself a false teacher, after which he turns off the broadcast switch and liquidates his satanic empire and donates the proceeds to those churches who exposed his heresy.
http://www.bible.ca/pre-date-setters.htm

Content from External Source
 
This poll is about the Rapture Predictions which is considered (by some Christians) a prerequisite for the second coming of Christ which is the end of our culture as we know it . . .

POLL: Rapture Poll
It is pure speculation and theological error 29.1% (86)
It is real and can happen any minute 27.4% (81)
It is a way to make tons of money 19.9% (59)
It is to motivate through fear . . . Fear of being left behind 12.2% (36)
It is to promote Christians above other Religions 6.1% (18)
It is a control measure put in place by TPTB 5.4% (16)
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Non-Blank Votes: 296



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Since you consider yourself an evil parasite, why don't you commit suicide?
There's a difference between debilitating and evil.

We, as debilitating parasites, are (or can be) both conscious and intellectual. If, in that state, we moderate our activities we may yet attain symbiosis with the Earth. That is, mutually beneficial, causing at least as much good to the Earth as harm. (I can't see much of that presently, by the way...)

If, on the other hand, we maintain our non-involvement and deny our intellect we will be truly EVIL. But I never mentioned that word. You did.

So here's the cup of hemlock, kid.
 
That's not what you said. You said "The Earth free of Man..."

LOL. Nice.

I see where the puzzle is.

The Earth will be free of Man when Man's "civilization" collapses. He will revert to a hunter/gatherer when his population is real low, like 50,000 years ago.

This is the "natural" species. Once he's scattered and nomadic he leaves no permanent mark on the landscape.*

Until recently Earth's climate was very slowly cooling as atmospheric CO2 was slowly being fixed in rock, and onto the sea-bed.

(Only one of civilization's present unwanted tasks is to maintain atmospheric CO2 at a level inversely proportional to the ups and downs of the Malenkovitch Cycle and natural fixing, thus preventing all future Ice Ages).

* So then the Earth is free of Man, yet Man still abides, and the next Ice Age will arrive on time.

* The depicted state of Man in "Planet of the Apes", come to think of it! His brain and intellect had gone the way of the Whale's legs**.

** It's arguable that intellect once gained may never be lost. It's also arguable the other way, that there may be a breaking point due to almost complete isolation.
 
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The Earth will be free of Man when Man's "civilization" collapses. He will revert to a hunter/gatherer when his population is real low, like 50,000 years ago.

I like Doomer Porn as much as the next guy, but I don't see "civilization" ever collapsing in the manner you desire. If I were to wager, my money would be on the success of Transhumanism; machines eventually growing more intelligent than people. That's not what I want, but it is what I think will happen. Hopefully they will keep us around for sentimental reasons.

Those guys will be able to survive virtually any natural catastrophe you Watermelon types can cook up.

Remember what The Architect (Yahweh) said: "There are levels of survival we are prepared to accept".

 
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I like Doomer Porn as much as the next guy, but I don't see "civilization" ever collapsing in the manner you desire. If I were to wager, my money would be on the success of Transhumanism; machines eventually growing more intelligent than people. That's not what I want, but it is what I think will happen. Hopefully they will keep us around for sentimental reasons.

Those guys will be able to survive virtually any natural catastrophe you Watermelon types can cook up.

Remember what The Architect (Yahweh) said: "There are levels of survival we are prepared to accept".


How about the computer becomes the master and decides to eliminate, transform or enslave man??? . . . Can this be debunked as a soon to arrive reality . . . ????
 
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Can this be debunked as a soon to arrive reality . . . ????

Scientists such as Michio Kaku and Ray Kurzwell say Transhumanism is inevitable.

"Soon to arrive" I don't know. I'm not familiar with their predicted time frames.

Moore's Law seems to say it will be sooner than probabilities for the various natural extinction level events to occur. Eco-doomers have been singing their song since Malthus in 1798. I started buying prepper supplies to mitigate societal collapse in 1982. I'm still waiting. Truth be told, I'm already contemplating passing on my accumulated gear to my grandchildren.

Here's Kaku describing his H+ "Singularity"...

 
I'm not holding my breath for transhumanism. Inevitable, sure, but not for about 100 years methinks.
 
I like Doomer Porn as much as the next guy, but I don't see "civilization" ever collapsing in the manner you desire...Those guys will be able to survive virtually any natural catastrophe you Watermelon types can cook up.
You don't see what I desire... Well may the Bird of Paradise fly up your nose. Such a catastrophe springs from what you don't see. The Architect has a great beard.
 
I'm not holding my breath for transhumanism. Inevitable, sure, but not for about 100 years methinks.
Just as the ordure passes through the impeller.

Oh, to be able to see into the future...

...will a solitary male be discovered paddling between continental mountaintops in search of a mate, helped by his Sancho Panza, a sturdy combination of robot fruit picker, missile launcher, and recovered astronaut?

:cool:
 
I'm not holding my breath for transhumanism. Inevitable, sure, but not for about 100 years methinks.
Seems as long as humans control the power source they can pull the plug . . . once we give unfettered access of AI to their own animating resources they control their destiny and possibly ours . . . this along with self replication and self-repair could easily make Them immortal . . .

Another problem is we have made AI entities interconnected or at least network capable so there also lies a potential danger once self-awareness is realized . . . independent, self-actualized action to maintain existence . . . which is a logical result of human design . . . try to dismantle a Bureaucracy once created . . . LoL!!!
 
Please let us return to debunking End of World scenarios . . . Why are we fascinated by such speculation???? Why can we be manipulated by it??

I think they're just one face of the coin. Over the past years, we've had loads of New Age scenarios, some including unlimited "prosperity", the end of wars, diseases... They both appeal to people who don't like it down here. Those who see the world as violent, corrupt (reading the news I can't blame them up to this point), and expect the mess to be cleaned for us by external intervention. So deep down, I think it's a matter of despair and too much focus on the outside world, which often is a means of escaping their issues within.
 
I think they're just one face of the coin. Over the past years, we've had loads of New Age scenarios, some including unlimited "prosperity", the end of wars, diseases... They both appeal to people who don't like it down here. Those who see the world as violent, corrupt (reading the news I can't blame them up to this point), and expect the mess to be cleaned for us by external intervention. So deep down, I think it's a matter of despair and too much focus on the outside world, which often is a means of escaping their issues within.
While one despairs one isn't fixing the problem. That's the prime attribute we have - the ability to fix things. Life's too short not to fix as much as much of it as one can. Can one really take from one's grandchildren?
Yes. Just don't fix things.
 
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