Is there any point any more?

static111

I just saw a BlackRock ad talking about the importance of biodiversity and their commitments to "natural capital". Holy Greenwashing Batman.  Maybe they can partner with the new Sea Shephard Conservation Society management.  Do they really believe they are doing good, or just doubling down on what got us this far into this mess so they can keep gaining value for their shareholders by selling us solutions to complicated problems that their unbridled capital orgies helped create?

brianlux

static111 said:

I don't know. I vacillate on this one.  There is a lot that can be done, but it would likely cause some short term hurt on the financial and paper money economy.  Rotating crops, not over producing, shortening supply chains, making diets that are more regional, Less plastic ad cardboard packaging etc.  I'm not sure people would be up for it.  We (the US) has a massive standing army that s a resource hog and bad for the environment and the human condition, that we use to basically club the rest of the world into allowing our business interests to call the shots..

Don't reread Ishmael, especially the part about the early aeronauts as it relates to the Airplane of civilization, Also do not read A Short History of Progress by Ronald Wright...We have been here before, there is geological, historical and archeological evidence dating back thousands of years, showing not just the Western world's follies, but the follies of the major civilizations of pre christianity and the major civilizations of the pre Columbus New World.  The only difference is the scale, If we overwork the planet it is going to be much harder for 7bn people to find new places and ways to live, but hey let's keep that one click low price economy going, after all we are only borrowing from the future and some of us might never have to see the bill come due.

Mentioning Ishmael actually tempts me to re-read it, but I'll take your advice.  Besides, I think I have something coming my way that I haven't read yet that sounds really great, so I think I'll go with that post-haste! 

hedonist

Someone remind me to come here when I need a bit of cheer 🙄

Really, it’s not all gloom and doom out there. I truly feel bad for - but don’t begrudge - anyone who does. 

tempo_n_groove

When ever I see doom and gloom I always think of this, it cheers me up.

brianlux

hedonist said:

Someone remind me to come here when I need a bit of cheer 🙄

Really, it’s not all gloom and doom out there. I truly feel bad for - but don’t begrudge - anyone who does. 

I'm aware that a lot of what I said here has been selfish and I apologize. 

tempo_n_groove said:

When ever I see doom and gloom I always think of this, it cheers me up.

LOL, love it!

Lerxst1992

Was just browsing a right wing message board. You want to stay upbeat, avoid places like that. The focus there was how dominion voting machines rigged the election and Biden won counties with drop box voting by 40%. 

HughFreakingDillon

I don't know how what a lot of you said was selfish and there certainly doesn't need to be any apologies doled out, Brian. 

Merkin Baller

HughFreakingDillon said:

I don't know how what a lot of you said was selfish and there certainly doesn't need to be any apologies doled out, Brian. 

+1 

brianlux

HughFreakingDillon said:

I don't know how what a lot of you said was selfish and there certainly doesn't need to be any apologies doled out, Brian. 

Merkin Baller said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

I don't know how what a lot of you said was selfish and there certainly doesn't need to be any apologies doled out, Brian. 

+1 

Thanks guys, just trying to work harder to check my negativity as well as keep it peaceful here. 

hedonist

brianlux said:

hedonist said:

Someone remind me to come here when I need a bit of cheer 🙄

Really, it’s not all gloom and doom out there. I truly feel bad for - but don’t begrudge - anyone who does. 

I'm aware that a lot of what I said here has been selfish and I apologize. 

tempo_n_groove said:

When ever I see doom and gloom I always think of this, it cheers me up.

LOL, love it!

Note my eyeroll and last sentence. It’s normal to question; I just don’t think this is end. If I really did, I’d say screw immunotherapy and just wait for cancer to take my life.

Being selfish is normal too. I am; I don’t know anyone who is or isn’t, or even has to be, at times. 

Despite how some might view me these days, everything I say here isn’t critical or meant to scold, fer chrissakes! 

brianlux

hedonist said:

brianlux said:

hedonist said:

Someone remind me to come here when I need a bit of cheer 🙄

Really, it’s not all gloom and doom out there. I truly feel bad for - but don’t begrudge - anyone who does. 

I'm aware that a lot of what I said here has been selfish and I apologize. 

tempo_n_groove said:

When ever I see doom and gloom I always think of this, it cheers me up.

LOL, love it!

Note my eyeroll and last sentence. It’s normal to question; I just don’t think this is end. If I really did, I’d say screw immunotherapy and just wait for cancer to take my life.

Being selfish is normal too. I am; I don’t know anyone who is or isn’t, or even has to be, at times. 

Despite how some might view me these days, everything I say here isn’t critical or meant to scold, fer chrissakes! 

I didn't feel scolded, but I did take a second look at what I've said here.  I'm good with looking at what I've said and re-thinking when appropriate.

I totally agree this is not "the end".  It would take either a giant meteor strike to the planet or a nuclear war to wipe out humanity.  But I do think Kurt Vonnegut was on to something when he wrote this:

I think things are going to get to get tough.  We are going to need to learn to get along and cooperate and be more resourceful.  We shall see.

Cropduster-80

brianlux said:

hedonist said:

brianlux said:

hedonist said:

Someone remind me to come here when I need a bit of cheer 🙄

Really, it’s not all gloom and doom out there. I truly feel bad for - but don’t begrudge - anyone who does. 

I'm aware that a lot of what I said here has been selfish and I apologize. 

tempo_n_groove said:

When ever I see doom and gloom I always think of this, it cheers me up.

LOL, love it!

Note my eyeroll and last sentence. It’s normal to question; I just don’t think this is end. If I really did, I’d say screw immunotherapy and just wait for cancer to take my life.

Being selfish is normal too. I am; I don’t know anyone who is or isn’t, or even has to be, at times. 

Despite how some might view me these days, everything I say here isn’t critical or meant to scold, fer chrissakes! 

I didn't feel scolded, but I did take a second look at what I've said here.  I'm good with looking at what I've said and re-thinking when appropriate.

I totally agree this is not "the end".  It would take either a giant meteor strike to the planet or a nuclear war to wipe out humanity.  But I do think Kurt Vonnegut was on to something when he wrote this:

I think things are going to get to get tough.  We are going to need to learn to get along and cooperate and be more resourceful.  We shall see.

People will survive.

however I liken it a bit to the fall of the Roman Empire.

must have been weird to be several hundred years removed and to be the people wondering how they built all that stuff all around them. They couldn’t do it 

brianlux

Cropduster-80 said:

brianlux said:

hedonist said:

brianlux said:

hedonist said:

Someone remind me to come here when I need a bit of cheer 🙄

Really, it’s not all gloom and doom out there. I truly feel bad for - but don’t begrudge - anyone who does. 

I'm aware that a lot of what I said here has been selfish and I apologize. 

tempo_n_groove said:

When ever I see doom and gloom I always think of this, it cheers me up.

LOL, love it!

Note my eyeroll and last sentence. It’s normal to question; I just don’t think this is end. If I really did, I’d say screw immunotherapy and just wait for cancer to take my life.

Being selfish is normal too. I am; I don’t know anyone who is or isn’t, or even has to be, at times. 

Despite how some might view me these days, everything I say here isn’t critical or meant to scold, fer chrissakes! 

I didn't feel scolded, but I did take a second look at what I've said here.  I'm good with looking at what I've said and re-thinking when appropriate.

I totally agree this is not "the end".  It would take either a giant meteor strike to the planet or a nuclear war to wipe out humanity.  But I do think Kurt Vonnegut was on to something when he wrote this:

I think things are going to get to get tough.  We are going to need to learn to get along and cooperate and be more resourceful.  We shall see.

People will survive.

however I liken it a bit to the fall of the Roman Empire.

must have been weird to be several hundred years removed and to be the people wondering how they built all that stuff all around them. They couldn’t do it 

Yeah, I've thought about that myself- how this is like the next in line of fallen empires- Egypt, Great, Rome, Great Britain, and now...  hmmm, everywhere? My guess is that if we don't annihilate ourselves or get hit by a meteor, populations will be scattered in tribes or communities  and their success will depend on how well people within these groups learn to cooperate. 

Edward Abbey created that world in his book Good News.  An excellent read.  I loved the part about the renegade group who had the last record player and a single record they played for special events or rituals.

Zod

Cropduster-80 said:

brianlux said:

hedonist said:

brianlux said:

hedonist said:

Someone remind me to come here when I need a bit of cheer 🙄

Really, it’s not all gloom and doom out there. I truly feel bad for - but don’t begrudge - anyone who does. 

I'm aware that a lot of what I said here has been selfish and I apologize. 

tempo_n_groove said:

When ever I see doom and gloom I always think of this, it cheers me up.

LOL, love it!

Note my eyeroll and last sentence. It’s normal to question; I just don’t think this is end. If I really did, I’d say screw immunotherapy and just wait for cancer to take my life.

Being selfish is normal too. I am; I don’t know anyone who is or isn’t, or even has to be, at times. 

Despite how some might view me these days, everything I say here isn’t critical or meant to scold, fer chrissakes! 

I didn't feel scolded, but I did take a second look at what I've said here.  I'm good with looking at what I've said and re-thinking when appropriate.

I totally agree this is not "the end".  It would take either a giant meteor strike to the planet or a nuclear war to wipe out humanity.  But I do think Kurt Vonnegut was on to something when he wrote this:

I think things are going to get to get tough.  We are going to need to learn to get along and cooperate and be more resourceful.  We shall see.

People will survive.

however I liken it a bit to the fall of the Roman Empire.

must have been weird to be several hundred years removed and to be the people wondering how they built all that stuff all around them. They couldn’t do it 

people will survive, but the questions is how many?

HughFreakingDillon

Zod said:

Cropduster-80 said:

brianlux said:

hedonist said:

brianlux said:

hedonist said:

Someone remind me to come here when I need a bit of cheer 🙄

Really, it’s not all gloom and doom out there. I truly feel bad for - but don’t begrudge - anyone who does. 

I'm aware that a lot of what I said here has been selfish and I apologize. 

tempo_n_groove said:

When ever I see doom and gloom I always think of this, it cheers me up.

LOL, love it!

Note my eyeroll and last sentence. It’s normal to question; I just don’t think this is end. If I really did, I’d say screw immunotherapy and just wait for cancer to take my life.

Being selfish is normal too. I am; I don’t know anyone who is or isn’t, or even has to be, at times. 

Despite how some might view me these days, everything I say here isn’t critical or meant to scold, fer chrissakes! 

I didn't feel scolded, but I did take a second look at what I've said here.  I'm good with looking at what I've said and re-thinking when appropriate.

I totally agree this is not "the end".  It would take either a giant meteor strike to the planet or a nuclear war to wipe out humanity.  But I do think Kurt Vonnegut was on to something when he wrote this:

I think things are going to get to get tough.  We are going to need to learn to get along and cooperate and be more resourceful.  We shall see.

People will survive.

however I liken it a bit to the fall of the Roman Empire.

must have been weird to be several hundred years removed and to be the people wondering how they built all that stuff all around them. They couldn’t do it 

people will survive, but the questions is how many?

not me. lol

PJ_Soul

For the social issues, yes, I absolutely think there is a point. And WAY MORE people have to get out there and really fight for what they believe in, because it works. I'm thinking specifically of abortion rights atm. Like I said in another thread, I don't understand why people aren't out rioting in the streets over that issue in America. WHERE IS EVERYONE???? America seems to mostly just be sitting back and letting it happen, and that is outrageous to me. Same goes with all the American crazy ass right wing media, like Fox News. How is America putting up with all that shit?? How is it successful?? And same question when it comes to all the open racism/white supremacy, even in politics and religion. And religion in public schools. WTF is that?!!??! And the insane gun nut culture. It seems to me that simple apathy of the masses and the education system is ultimately to blame for a lot of it (and not so much just "freedom of speech" or the internet - if that were the cause, then every country would have the same problems).

As for the environment... I believe that we are passed the point of no return, so it is arguably too late and there is no point if your goal is to actually save the environment. There IS still a point in your actions, though, when it comes to just contributing to a rather more pleasant living space. Not driving, not polluting in other ways, makes local environment cleaner. While that's not going to save the world from environmental destruction, it will certainly make our time waiting for shit to go completely sideways a lot more bearable, lol.

brianlux

PJ_Soul said:

For the social issues, yes, I absolutely think there is a point. And WAY MORE people have to get out there and really fight for what they believe in, because it works. I'm thinking specifically of abortion rights atm. Like I said in another thread, I don't understand why people aren't out rioting in the streets over that issue in America. WHERE IS EVERYONE???? America seems to mostly just be sitting back and letting it happen, and that is outrageous to me. Same goes with all the American crazy ass right wing media, like Fox News. How is America putting up with all that shit?? How is it successful?? And same question when it comes to all the open racism/white supremacy, even in politics and religion. And religion in public schools. WTF is that?!!??! And the insane gun nut culture. It seems to me that simple apathy of the masses and the education system is ultimately to blame for a lot of it (and not so much just "freedom of speech" or the internet - if that were the cause, then every country would have the same problems).

As for the environment... I believe that we are passed the point of no return, so it is arguably too late and there is no point if your goal is to actually save the environment. There IS still a point in your actions, though, when it comes to just contributing to a rather more pleasant living space. Not driving, not polluting in other ways, makes local environment cleaner. While that's not going to save the world from environmental destruction, it will certainly make our time waiting for shit to go completely sideways a lot more bearable, lol.

Well said, Ali.  We need more of this kind of action-oriented thinking!