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Earth - better off when humans go extinct?

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  • 7 votes
BAMFHufflepuff 5 Apr 13
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28 comments

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0

For this questions I will always say YES

0

I voted YES, but it might depend on which species is making the judgement.

1

It's too late. We've crossed over that hill. With or without us, this whole thing is on it's way out.

It would certainly grow back to closer to nature. Deformed animals would die out and the wild ones still living would go back to their natural habitats. If any exist. It wouldn't be original, but it would be whatever natural has become. The poisons would very gradually dissipate--I would hope.

1

The planet will survive. In 10 million years, there will be no evidence that we were even here.

I don't know if you meant that as literally as I look it, but dinosaurs died over 64 million years ago and there is plenty of evidence of that, so I suspect a mere 10 million years from now there will be plenty of evidence including radioactive waste from our nukes.

@paul1967 And the heavy metal wastes that will remain until the sun consumes the planet.

Very few radioactive half lifes last 10 million years. And the dinosaurs were fossilized in rock. I don't think there are a lot of humans being fossilized these days. What I did mean was that all the damage we are doing and all the structures we are building will crumble and decay and there will be little trace of it on the surface. The only long-lasting effect will be the millions of species that we are driving to extinction.

1

Depends on how we go.

Leaving nothing but a pile of radioactive plastic won't really help much.

1

One day our sun will turn into a red giant and engulf our little planet anyways

Tejas Level 8 Apr 13, 2018
1

There needs to be some sort of major disaster that wipes out 90% of the world's humans and then let the surviors rebuild the place. I am sure they would do exactly the same things over again. But with fewer people it might let the world "Gia" recover somewhat. of course all the plastic trash would still be flaoting around.

Iggie Level 3 Apr 13, 2018
1

It was fine before we got here it will be fine when we're gone. Maybe it will cook up something better than us next time. It couldn't do worse.

1

The only thing that comes to mind is, if humans go extinct then what do we care about mother earth if we won't be there??

Probably, as long as one person is alive...it will care! Right, if no one here...no care.

I enjoy life, not just mine, I really value the diversity of life. To me it is more important that life kind survives, I really don't regard humans as special in any way.

2

I sometimes say yes it would be a better place but a small part of me thinks we have so much potential if only we could get our heads out of our assess

3

When? As if it's a done deal. Do you not think the young ones are making steps in the right direction? Veganism, sustainable power, a slow realisation that petroleum based products aren't the solution that they are proported to be...I live in hope that, 'we' can move forward together and improve/ adapt and find harmony with our planet. Sorry if you think that I'm unrealistic, but someone has to keep the dream alive!

Yes, the question was posed as a done deal to provide some provocation. I happen to suspect it is a done deal. Either we wreck our environment or the next mass-extinction event occurs. Short of that, some day soon everybody currently on this site will be dead anyhow. So there is that. Some of our genes will find a way forward. Maybe forever, maybe for only a short while. Either way, it doesn't matter, I guess.

Humans are not advancing intellectually fast enough to keep up with our technological progress so we are doomed to extinction. Unfortunately, we are taking down millions of species in the process. So many that the Earth is experiencing its sixth mass extinction event due to humans, the infamous asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs being the last one.

Yes, I'll be dead before it happens, I think. No kids to worry about, but I keep supporting what I see as progressive changes in the hope that the next generation can come up with good solutions, just as some of us have tried to.

2

I voted yes, because in some ways it will be. But here's the thing, our nuclear mess is just going to be worse without people around to try to contain it. All that radiation will just leak out into nature. Not to mention other messes we've made.

The planet will heal even if it takes thousands of years . There will be a time where there won't be any evidence of us even being here and that's if we do survive the next ten thousand years

1

The question is earth will be better off deffenatly

2

Humans come from Earth. We are as much a part of nature as a tree is. We are just as responsible for the destruction of the planet as a volcano is. We didn't choose to exist, let alone be exist on Earth. All we've ever done is try to survive in whatever way we can.

That being said, we are now consciously damaging our planet in the name of money. Money is now more valuable than life. We just need to smarten up and realise that money won't fill the holes in this sinking ship...

KDzo Level 4 Apr 13, 2018
1

I personally have a lot of sympathy for the "yes" vote and I see it's contending strongly with the "no's"!
I voted Planet of the Apes though. Let's give Caesar and his ilk a chance!

2

I think it’s important to lead society away from a philosophy that demeans the species. No useful, constructive action can be taken from this mindset. If we think we are shit, we will act like shit. Let’s stop doing that please. I feel that this kind of self hatred is just as useless as religious thinking.

4

With all the damage to the earth that humanity has done in the span of time humanity has been on earth which in terms of cosmic time is but a blink of the eye, unless we change drastically and evolve into a species that coexists with all species within the biosphere we can put our heads between our legs and kiss our sorry asses good bye.

SamL Level 7 Apr 13, 2018
3

Sadly. It is doubtful that humans will get it together enough to preven tdestroying the environment on the planet needed for human life. Humans (generally) are just too selfish and stupid.

0

You should read "Evolution" by Stephen Baxter.

godef Level 7 Apr 13, 2018

Why is that? My reading list is pretty competitive!

@EB80 It's actually a novel, considered science fiction because there's speculation of some species that may have existed, but it centers on following a particular species that ultimately evolves into modern homo sapiens, and then beyond that. Stephen Baxter is thought of as the modern Arthur C Clarke.

3

We as a spieces have the capacity to change our habits. We can achieve balance with our planet.

Gohan Level 7 Apr 13, 2018
1

Let me explain the race as it stands ...

it is man's ability to homogenize vs. man's tendency to do destructive things to those who are different.

5

As the most destructive species ever to exist - yes.

And at the rate we're going - it may be relatively soon ...

2

I think the planet as a whole will go back to its equilibrium

0

How will we know? we're extinct!

mzee Level 7 Apr 13, 2018

Wormhole type of thing?

2

We will not be around to see it.

Not unless some kind of Hitch Hiker's Guide scenario comes to be!

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