OT- RIP Stephen Hawking
March 14th, 2018 at 12:34 PM ^
Very interesting theory. One I admittedly have a tough mind wrapping my head around because chaos and conflict are such integral themes of our universe. I know I'm coming at it from a human perspective, but our entire existence has been rooted in conflict with one another. We disagree with one another. Differing mindsets and opinions on everything, from trivial matters to life and death situations.
But its entirely possible that other extra-terrestrial civilizations have learned from past mistakes of killing each other and moved beyond the need for it. That's what makes all of this so fascinating to think about.
Why an advanced civilization would come in conquest? Ask the Spaniards when they came to the Americas and wiped out millions of native tribes and civilizations through war, disease, raping and pillaging. The Spaniards will far more technologically advanced than the Aztecs, but that didn't make them any less ruthless or violent.
Ask our American pioneers who set out westward to the Pacific and forced thousands (if not millions) of native tribes off of their land, confining them to desolate reservations. Because they believed it was their divine right from God to build a country from "sea to shining sea." And the natives were occupying a space that they believed belonged to them. The Trail of Tears is one of the darkest, most brutal pieces of American History. We were monsters.
Just because a civilization is advanced does not in any way mean it is civilized or peaceful. In fact, it can convince one that they are justified in taking out a group of people, or a species, that they believe to be inferior. "Well they're savages anyway who haven't seen the light of Christ." "They don't know how to best utilize the resources they've been given." "Their gold is better spent in our hands anyway." All of these were uttered by our forefathers at some point.
Advanced extraterrestrials could be no different. I doubt religion is a uniquely human tradition. Extraterrestrials could have deities who they believe command them to expand and "convert" the savages by the sword.
I bet you think too that the Earth is only 10,000 years old and that humans and dinosaurs lived together in harmony, right?
Then you don't believe in that holy book you were talking about above...
Sure he can. The Bible is best thought of more as a library than a single book. It has many sections; poetry, parables, history (written in an ancient historical style)... The idea that every word has to be taken literally is only held by some Christians. So many will read Genesis as it was intended: A story to convey broad moral truths (God created the earth); not scientific history.
You claiming otherwise is too broad of an accusation.
March 14th, 2018 at 11:24 AM ^
Ah yes, just picking and choosing the parts that are to be taken litterally for convenience sake.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:16 PM ^
Do you pick and choose how you interpret the books you read for convenience sake? Or do you take into account author intent, genre, etc?
I've read Livy's book on the Punic Wars, part of Caesars gallic wars, as well as the Odyssey and Iliad. If I take the first two as attempts at history and the last two as fiction am I picking and choosing for convenience sake?
March 15th, 2018 at 11:17 PM ^
Except if you take that view, literally nothing in the Bible can be taken at face value, which negates the entire purpose of it.
Either it is the literal word of god or it is nothing more than a book of ideas that came from ancient shamans and goatherds, subject to the cultural/historical context of those people. You can't have it both ways.
March 14th, 2018 at 11:16 AM ^
I had to rewrite this post about 10 times because of how negatively I view religion.
Short, non-toxic version: That "world is 10000 years old" crap is not a fundamental tenet of the Christian religion.
Hilariously, 40 percent of the U.S. population believes that the world is less than 10,000 years old.
THAT is how short-sighted, frankly stupid things happen in this country (when combined with money-grubbing people that honestly don't care who lives or dies as long as they get paid).
We are a nation of truly ignorant people, in general. I don't kinow how we fix our education system when a large portion of our population still want to force schools to teach creationism.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:26 PM ^
'We are a nation of truly ignorant people, in general." And I think part of it is human nature.
My wife teaches. One of the things that really shocked me wasn't uneducated people. You grow up in a rough spot and it's very easy to fall behind on the education track.
What shocked me was that there were people, more than I would have ever thought, who had no interest in education. And this group composed of both religious and non religious.
If they had a TV and the internet they felt good to go for life. History is boring. Math is hard. Partying is fun.
March 15th, 2018 at 11:18 PM ^
This is a nation, by and large, more interested in affirmation than information.
March 14th, 2018 at 10:01 AM ^
March 14th, 2018 at 10:38 AM ^
Don't worry, you can just log off and turn up Rush Limbaugh.
He is 100% correct. We will wipe ourselves out eventually. Science is advancing as such a rate that in a few decades an average person could go under their kitchen sink/cupboard and make a device that would crater an entire metropolis.
Or a 3rd world couintry with an evil dictator getting a hold of a more advanced weopon than we could even think about right now.
I believe their has been and is other life forms much more advanced than us in this universe (or one of the universes?) but all of them reach a level of self desctruction.
I hope the hell i am wrong, but i think my grandchildren will have the displeasure of living during this period.
really showing your true colors in this thread.
what a credit to the religious.
but could write an ubeleivable, timeless song.
Some people think he "sold out" and went commercial after his 3rd album, but they're just posers.
Wait, this isn't FAMOUS POP SINGER DIES AND WE GET NOSTALGIC ON MGOBLOG?
I'll stand by my evaluation anyway.
March 14th, 2018 at 10:11 AM ^
Autotune.
He truly was one of the greatest minds of his generation, if not of all time.
Dr. Hawking was also known to have a good sense of humor, so...
What did Stephen Hawking say when his computer crashed?
Nothing.
What do you call Steven Hawkins wife? Siri
Did you hear that Stephen Hawking wrote a new book…it’s called “Around The House in Eighty Days.”
When he was appointed to a position in the Cambridge department of mathematics that Sir Isaac Newton had once held, Hawking said "They say it’s Newton’s chair, but obviously it’s been changed."
Hawking died on Pi Day (3/14), which is also Albert Einstein's birthday.
Believe it, or not!
The world lost one of the most brilliant minds of the last millenium. Perhaps the most brilliant mind ever to walk this Earth.
Wherever he is right now, all the answers he sought about the universe and our existence for his entire life, he now has them. Whatever those answers may be. And he is no longer hindered by his own body's limitations.
So I'd like to think that at this very moment, he couldn't be happier. Rest in peace, good sir.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:39 PM ^
Well, not exactly "walk."
Pi Day is now the day after Stephen Hawking died. I will associate the anniversary of Prof. Hawkings' death with the day I learned about sonoluminescence -- also called "Star in a Jar." http://techmind.org/sl/
March 14th, 2018 at 10:00 AM ^
He died Wednesday morning in England (on Pi Day).
Granted, it was Tuesday night in the United States.
Rest In Peace Professor!
He did more in those first 15 years than most anyone on this planet does in their entire life. So even if you're right, he should still be held in very high esteem.
I've never heard that perspective. Can you offer some other sources? Or show me where he said he was mainly hype?
March 14th, 2018 at 10:40 AM ^
You should definitely post this on your Facebook page and then tweet it.
The world is collectively dumber today.
I have a shelf at home nearly entirely devoted to Hawking's books.
A truly great mind and a fascinating person in general has been lost.
I still remember his appearance on ST:TNG as the holographic version of himself. I think I'll have to watch that episode when I get home.
if there was any conference or something with Hawking and Sagan. That would have been a hell of a thing to see.
Both were brilliant, and had the ability to explain fascinating ideas to laymen.
March 14th, 2018 at 10:43 AM ^
I think Dr. Hawking would have encouraged it. The different perspectives are interesting, and maybe it doesn't mean much, but it means something. I respect the opinions/humor/hot-takes on this blog more than just about anywhere else.
RIP
but could he get in Michigan?
Rest in Peace, sir, and thank you for all of your contributions to humanity.
to his death he was hired as an Offensive analyst.....they think that by using quantum tunneling we could get a solid run game.
March 14th, 2018 at 10:57 AM ^
This thread is a blackhole!
RIP Stephen. We're all stardust. Some of us just shine brighter while here on earth before we turn to dust. Mr. Hawking's light led the way for so many new discoveries. Goodnight sweet prince.
March 14th, 2018 at 11:08 AM ^
I will miss hearing his insight about our universe. Great man!
March 14th, 2018 at 11:22 AM ^
Incredibly rare mind.