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54 sats \ 15 replies \ @kr 23 Jan 2024 \ on: What possible future (technological) breakthrough might be a grave mistake? science
hmm, another tough one.
i’m generally optimistic that when humans make mistakes they’re able to recognize them and reverse course in time to avoid total catastrophe.
i think most things people might recognize as mistakes happen when humans get “stuck” trying to use inefficient technology at scale.
whale oil was once used to light candles, and led to a dramatic decline in whale populations (near extinction) before electric lighting rendered whale oil useless.
wood was the resource that britain almost ran out of 500 years ago, when it was the primary construction/heating material.
i’m generally optimistic that when humans make mistakes they’re able to recognize them and reverse course in time to avoid total catastrophe.
... Okay, well, I can't share that sentiment - I think that one of our greatest weaknesses - and source of many unnecessary trouble - is our hang to indifference. And boy, am I guilty of that.
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i’m sure there are examples where human action or lack of action has led to total catastrophe, are there any particular moments that come to mind?
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What about the ongoing hunger in the Eastern parts of the globe?
Do you care about those people?
Because I don't- just like most of the Westerners. I know I (we) should, but since it doesn't hit me, who cares.
It's harsh, it's blunt, but that's the truth.
Same about consumerism;
The global West mindlesly consumes and dumps the trash it doesn't need anymore in some shit hole of a country- but don't worry, that very trash will come back to bite us in the arse, too, some way or another, be it through microplastics or what not.
I really think that our indifference will cost us our heads in the end, we Sapiens simply grew too fast, too furious.
We haven't had the oh so sourly needed time to develop the necessary "oversight" and "responsibility" (for lack of better words) of the power we wield and the implications it has on our planet and its inhabitants.
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What about the ongoing hunger in the Eastern parts of the globe?
extreme hunger was once pretty common around the world, but technology has eliminated this problem from many people’s lives.
undernourishment and malnourishment are still issues affecting 10-20% of the world (which i’m optimistic will eventually be solved), but extreme hunger and famines are quite rare today.
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And we could eliminate the rest, too.
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i think we will.
but this is getting off-track, my original question was if you can share any good examples of human action (or lack of action) leading to total catastrophe? i’m specifically thinking about things that once they are broken cannot be fixed.