Zink
Smash Champion
oh come on guys, I just saved the thread, so at least continue the discussion. where's GoldShadow?
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December 21st, 2012. The end of days?
- Thread starter miller483
- Start date
Pretty cool. They got most of them, I think, even including the "geeky" ones such as supercollider mishaps and "The Matrix" having its plug pulled. Some I never heard of before, like a black hole wandering into our neighborhood, but that one seems much too far-fetched.
Personally, I think that if the world does end on December 21st, 2012, it will be because of a nanomachine getting out of control and turning everything into "gray goo". That's where technology is rapidly heading (I mean towards nanotechnology in general, not generically evilness), and if some mad scientist is secretly trying to make an apocalyptic nanomachine, it's construction will come even faster.
There is such a mad scientist, actually. I met him once. He gave me a tour of the facility, his doomsday device (which is still in the works), and even did the classic evil scientist laugh; you know, the "muahahahaha" in a crazy voice. All in all it was a worthwhile experience and I recommend that you try it. The ticket price is $75. I know it's a little expensive but 50% of the proceeds go to ending the world.
Probably not quite what you expected in terms of my post but at least I'm here!
Zink
Smash Champion
asdf he liiiiiives!
also lol at Jammer, 1 nanomachine would take one heck of a long time to destroy the world...
Not if the nanomachine replicates by turning everything into copies of itself. If it used carbon, it would destroy practically every lifeform on Earth.
Within hours from its release.
Zink
Smash Champion
are we even talking about the same thing? nanomachine, as in microscopic? as in, it wouldn't even be able to more three feet in an hour?
Tryptomine
Smash Journeyman
Heh, nanomachine are often made to be self replicating (or at least are speculated to be in the future). I.E. they can tear apart molecules out of pretty anything to make a copy of themselves. Think of it like a cell that divides into two once every second (for the sake of arguement).
After one minute there would be 576,460,752,303,423,488 cells.
I assume so, because we list the date as December 21st, 2012, instead of Hak-Aruk 1 glot 39 Myento, or however the Mayans wrote dates.
House M.D.
Smash Apprentice
on the subject of doomsday devices and mad scientists, i like tesla's idea. he thought he could cause earthquakes by creating a device which vibrated at the resonance of some massive object. in fact, mythbusters tested this and got an entire bridge to vibrate using Tesla's method (although the machine wasn't close to destroying the entire bridge). so hooray for Tesla. watch the prestige if you don't believe me that Tesla is awesome. or read his Wikipedia page.
also, Jammer, about believing in evolution and God simultaneously, isn't there a sense in which evolution is cruel since many creatures have to die? shouldn't a benevolent god have just created all of the creatures rather than having millions of years of brutal competition lead to their creation? (These questions are not disputatious. I just want to know how you personally resolve this dilemma)
also, Jammer, about believing in evolution and God simultaneously, isn't there a sense in which evolution is cruel since many creatures have to die? shouldn't a benevolent god have just created all of the creatures rather than having millions of years of brutal competition lead to their creation? (These questions are not disputatious. I just want to know how you personally resolve this dilemma)
I don't see how that's a dilemma at all.
First of all, God doesn't care about animals. He had people sacrifice animals to him for two thousand years. Having creatures die and fight amongst themselves may be cruel by human standards, but I don't see why God would mind. God even let humans fight wars amongst themselves--he lets tons of horrible things happen without interfering. Think of the famines, floods, earthquakes, etc., that he let happen even when he was actively interfering in the goings-on in Earth (during and before Jesus).
For some reason, people believe that God is all-loving, benevolent, and generally a really nice guy who wouldn't let anything bad happen to anybody. That is certainly not the case.
Think of the plagues God set upon Egypt. He gave them all super painful boils and killed their firstborn, among other things, just because the Pharaoh wouldn't free the Israelites whom he had enslaved.
Oh, and so someone doesn't come and say that Jesus is God, and Jesus is all-loving, and all that (which happened last time), let me say that I know Jesus is all-loving. But Jesus is not all of God. Jesus is sort of the barrier between us and God's wrath (when God gets angry at us when we sin). He's sort of our big brother, helping us get out of the trouble we'd be in with dad (God) for doing something bad.
commonyoshi
Smash Hero
If you are to take the Creationist account literally, God originally had no intention of this at all, or even of death. Everything got screwed up after the fall of man. It's the human kind's fault. There's no reason to blame God.
Just because Pharaoh wouldn't free the Israelites? >_> I noticed a couple of innacuracies. (You used the Bible for examples so I'm going to defend with the Bible in return) History lesson.
God never enslaved the Israelites to the Egyptians. Joseph, a Jew, was made second only to Pharaoh, and he and his people (Jews) took residence in the area. The Jews over the years began to reproduce like bunnies which made all the native Egyptians afraid of an uprising. (Joseph was long dead by this time) Then the Egyptians enslaved the people and began a mini-genocide of the Jews to keep them under control. God "heard the cry of His people" and decided to bring them into the Promised Land He had sworn to Abraham.
Moses, who was speaking on God's behalf, asked for the freedom of the Israelites. Pharaoh responded that he did not know who their god was, that he did not fear their god, and not only that but would work the Israelites even harder. Moses did some miracles like turning his staff into a snake, but Pharaoh didn't care. The miracles steadily grew worse and worse each time Pharaoh refused to listen. River into Blood, flies, gnats, locusts... Notice how these were mere annoyances, but Pharaoh stll refused, and that's when things got sticky.
So God's not quite the nasty old grouch you told Him off to be. In fact, assume He does exist for a mere moment. Is there any reason why you should refuse to do anything your creator, sustainer, and Savior has asked of you?
Um... Jammer, I found your post kinda weird. Are you religious or not?
SirroMinus1
SiNiStEr MiNiStEr
hmm if this is true im ready. w8 noo not really i live in nyc a title wave will destroy me XD
KiLlAmArTh72
Smash Apprentice
AHHHHHH THE MODS are still cheating now there posting in my closed thread.
im freaken jelous.i want to post in closed threads it looks like fun
im freaken jelous.i want to post in closed threads it looks like fun
House M.D.
Smash Apprentice
aha. so if god isn't benevolent, which seems like a reasonable conclusion given the history of bad things that happen, then does god have a plan? or is god merely an arbiter, choosing to allow the good to enter heaven and to send the sinners down to hell?
Nope. God knew everything that was coming before he even created the universe. It says in the Bible (sorry, I can't remember where) that he sent his son to die on the cross for our sins before there was even an earth (or something very similar--I'm sorry I forget the exact meaning). He had everything planned out: He planned for Adam and Eve to eat of the Forbidden Tree, and everything that came after that. It was his perfect plan.
But I'm not blaming God. I guess you could say that, since He planned it, it's His fault. But I've got Jesus, so I'm all good. I guess the other people got what they deserved for their own actions, as bad as that sounds.
Hmm.... I wouldn't say that God is a "nasty old grouch". I'd say he's more "terrible and awesome". Scary. Righteous. Those kinds of things. Would you please make it clearer to me how the story of the Israelite's slavery in Egypt contradicts that? I'm not sure I see the point of your story.
This is kinda complicated. I was raised in the Church of Christ, but I still haven't been baptized. I used to believe in God and believe the Bible as a matter of fact. Lately, I've been having doubts. Mostly, they're about "What if I'm in the wrong religion?" and "What if the Bible isn't really God's Word?" Also, a little bit of doubting God's existence.
For some reason, I generally argue in defense of my parent's religion, if only because it's more comfortable. I have yet to find an area in which it is so strange or unreasonable to make me feel wrong defending it.
The thing is, if Heaven is real, I want to go there, and not Hell. But I don't want to be a part of a mass delusion that's affected humanity for centuries, if that's what the Bible and religion is.
God has a plan (the Perfect Plan). The plan is to give us the Bible and Jesus, and let us decide for ourselves if we will obey Him. He is also the arbiter: He owns the little book that has the names of the people who are righteous and will be allowed into Heaven. So, both.
Also, that was a surprisingly insightful post, House.
commonyoshi
Smash Hero
There's a difference between knowing what will happen and preparing for it and having a plan which includes the fall of humans.
People often ask why God made it possible for humans to fall. Honestly, I think it was inevidible with free will. God didn't want robots who would be forced to love Him, but rather, a people who would chose to appreciate Him. Afterall, what if you had a magic potion that would make the girl you like "love" you? Wouldn't it feel empty and hallowto use it? Free will was the flaw in Creation, but I think it was worth it.
You might ask why God created humans at all if He knew we were going to fall. That's because He loved us so much He still wanted us alive. Think of it like two parents having a kid. They know the kid is going to get angry with them, that he's going to eventually move out, do stupid things, and all that stuff, but they have the kid anyway because of love.
Whoops. I gues it was a misunderstanding on my part.
Terrible, awesome, slow to anger, abounding in love. These are all attributes of God. ^_^
It's good that your having doubts, and dont let anyone put you down because of it. All people have them at some point or another. I sure did, and when I had examined my belief in every angle I absolutely knew this was the thing so many people need but never find. It was after I questioned everything I believed in that I believed in it even more. (if that sentence makes sense >_>) My advice is to find good Christians who know more about the Bible whom you can trust if you have any questions. PM me if you ever feel the need.
Haha, I dont even think about Heaven anymore. I think you have a real relationship with God when you want to follow Him because of who He is and not because you just dont want to go to hell.
If it came out like it, I wasn't boasting about my super-faith in those last sentences. ^_^
House, I do believe God is benevolent, but yes, He does have a plan.
Winged Messiah
Smash Apprentice
I just don't believe in this stuff... Nostradamus, the bible code... none of it ever comes true :D.
Wazoo21
Smash Apprentice
*Rolls eyes*
I'll laugh when, at the end of X-Mas break 2012, everyone comes to school without their book report/algebra homework/whatever and the first words out of their mouths in school is, "Oh !@$#."
I'll laugh when, at the end of X-Mas break 2012, everyone comes to school without their book report/algebra homework/whatever and the first words out of their mouths in school is, "Oh !@$#."
KiLlAmArTh72
Smash Apprentice
Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmagee
teeman92
Smash Lord
Commonyoshi, it seems like we pretty much agree on everything (of any importance, at least). It's funny how two people with the same exact view can have debates between each other because they just don't understand each other perfectly.
I just realized why the date of December 21st, 2012 actually scares me. It's because it will be around that time that technology capable of easily destroying the world will be developed. Nukes are scary, but it takes a lot to set them off. I'm scared of biological and chemical weapons, and especially malevolent or broken nanotechnology. All these technologies will be speedily developed in the next few decades.
I don't want to sound superstitious, but I'd love to know how the Mayans came up with a year for the end of the world that coincided so well with these impending dangers.
I just realized why the date of December 21st, 2012 actually scares me. It's because it will be around that time that technology capable of easily destroying the world will be developed. Nukes are scary, but it takes a lot to set them off. I'm scared of biological and chemical weapons, and especially malevolent or broken nanotechnology. All these technologies will be speedily developed in the next few decades.
I don't want to sound superstitious, but I'd love to know how the Mayans came up with a year for the end of the world that coincided so well with these impending dangers.
We are not in more danger then we have ever been before. Infact, I'd say it's more likely that we're safer then ever before. With so many humans around, it's incredibly unlikely that we'd all be wiped out. We have bunkers miles and miles underground, with air filtration system and stockpiles of supplies. We have technology to help us fight against anything that can come towards us. While we may all die, and most of the human race probably will, it's not realistic to think we'll all die.
I can't remember who it was that said "People want to think the world will end in their light time because they can't comprehend the world going on past them" (someone in this thread), but I think that he's right. In 500 AD, there was widespread belief that Jesus Christ was coming back. In 1000 AD, there was belief that Jesus was coming back. In 2000AD, there was belief that Jesus was coming back. During WWII, people where going around saying Hitler was the anti-christ and that the end of the world was coming. Romans said the same around the Huns. People believed the same with the Black Plague covering Europe. Aztecs believed the same when Cortez arrived.
There have always been prophecies and predictions that the Earth will end soon, although there is little to no reasons as to why we will.
I can't remember who it was that said "People want to think the world will end in their light time because they can't comprehend the world going on past them" (someone in this thread), but I think that he's right. In 500 AD, there was widespread belief that Jesus Christ was coming back. In 1000 AD, there was belief that Jesus was coming back. In 2000AD, there was belief that Jesus was coming back. During WWII, people where going around saying Hitler was the anti-christ and that the end of the world was coming. Romans said the same around the Huns. People believed the same with the Black Plague covering Europe. Aztecs believed the same when Cortez arrived.
There have always been prophecies and predictions that the Earth will end soon, although there is little to no reasons as to why we will.
KiLlAmArTh72
Smash Apprentice
F U C K YOU B I T C H . i can spam all i want. your not the mod dont talk down on me **** head. just because your post count is high dont mean your a higher power or nothen. and if you respond to this comment it'll be in vain because im not coming back to this site.
While you make a good point, Eor, you must admit that technology makes things possible that were unthinkable only decades before.
It would be practically impossible in the 1800s or earlier for a single weapon to wipe out the entire human race. With nuclear weapons, it became possible. It was extremely unlikely, however, because it took a lot of effort to make and detonate a nuclear bomb where you wanted to, and to do so was suicide, because you would be nuked yourself. That's why, in reality, you didn't have to worry to much about nuclear holocaust during the Cold War. Neither the US nor Soviet Union was stupid enough to kill themselves along with their enemy.
Biological warfare can change that. Biochemistry has been rapidly advancing. It is possible to use the technology to make supergerms that would wipe out almost everyone. The thing, no countries are actively trying to produce supergerms. Terrorist organizations might be, but they probably don't have the technology required.
Similar thing with chemical warfare. Chemicals aren't as scary, however, because they can't reproduce themselves and infect people. They only kill by having the necessary concentration in an area.
The scariest thing for me, however, are rogue nanomachines. For nanomachines to unlock their potential, they must be able to self-replicate. Even with safe-guards in place, they might "mutate", and start replicating uncontrollably. Even if just one nanomachine got into the wild, and it ran on carbon, it would start turning every life form it came across into copies of itself. There wouldn't really be any way to stop it, because if you miss just one of the nanomachines, the process will start all over.
The only thing to stop the nanomachine menace would be other, police nanomachines that destroy rogue nanomachines. These policing nanomachines might have self-replicating abilities themselves, which would make them prone to mutation. The alternative is for factories to produce them, in which case we hope the factories would be able to keep up with production in order to squash bad nanomachines.
Overall, it's a very hairy business. Just one wrong move and every carbon atom on Earth will be assimilated into the gray goo.
I don't think this is a case of people saying that the world will end just because they can't see it going on without them. Things are genuinely changing; fundamental shifts are taking place. Well, that's not completely accurate: Underlying trends have generally been ignored are coming to the surface.
The 21st century, I believe, is the make-or-break time period for humanity. I'm not saying that because I'm living in it; I'm saying it because it's when our technology has a chance of outrunning us.
I'm not against technology. I think we should go ahead in developing nanotechnology because of all the good stuff that will come from it. I just think we need to be careful, or we just may go out on December 21st, 2012.
It would be practically impossible in the 1800s or earlier for a single weapon to wipe out the entire human race. With nuclear weapons, it became possible. It was extremely unlikely, however, because it took a lot of effort to make and detonate a nuclear bomb where you wanted to, and to do so was suicide, because you would be nuked yourself. That's why, in reality, you didn't have to worry to much about nuclear holocaust during the Cold War. Neither the US nor Soviet Union was stupid enough to kill themselves along with their enemy.
Biological warfare can change that. Biochemistry has been rapidly advancing. It is possible to use the technology to make supergerms that would wipe out almost everyone. The thing, no countries are actively trying to produce supergerms. Terrorist organizations might be, but they probably don't have the technology required.
Similar thing with chemical warfare. Chemicals aren't as scary, however, because they can't reproduce themselves and infect people. They only kill by having the necessary concentration in an area.
The scariest thing for me, however, are rogue nanomachines. For nanomachines to unlock their potential, they must be able to self-replicate. Even with safe-guards in place, they might "mutate", and start replicating uncontrollably. Even if just one nanomachine got into the wild, and it ran on carbon, it would start turning every life form it came across into copies of itself. There wouldn't really be any way to stop it, because if you miss just one of the nanomachines, the process will start all over.
The only thing to stop the nanomachine menace would be other, police nanomachines that destroy rogue nanomachines. These policing nanomachines might have self-replicating abilities themselves, which would make them prone to mutation. The alternative is for factories to produce them, in which case we hope the factories would be able to keep up with production in order to squash bad nanomachines.
Overall, it's a very hairy business. Just one wrong move and every carbon atom on Earth will be assimilated into the gray goo.
I don't think this is a case of people saying that the world will end just because they can't see it going on without them. Things are genuinely changing; fundamental shifts are taking place. Well, that's not completely accurate: Underlying trends have generally been ignored are coming to the surface.
The 21st century, I believe, is the make-or-break time period for humanity. I'm not saying that because I'm living in it; I'm saying it because it's when our technology has a chance of outrunning us.
I'm not against technology. I think we should go ahead in developing nanotechnology because of all the good stuff that will come from it. I just think we need to be careful, or we just may go out on December 21st, 2012.
SirroMinus1
SiNiStEr MiNiStEr
he makes a good point. and that language was uncalled for. but he wont see this message anyway
ArtieBoy, take away that quote immediately. Just a friendly warning.
And there's no excuse for acting how KiLlAmArTh72 did. If he really had a problem, and wasn't just some idiotic troll, he would have resolved it by telling the mods.
And there's no excuse for acting how KiLlAmArTh72 did. If he really had a problem, and wasn't just some idiotic troll, he would have resolved it by telling the mods.
I already answered all of that.
All that you have described is about as unlikely as me saying that aliens will come and blow up our planet. What you're talking about is in science fiction, not real science. I'm not going to go out of the way to say "No what you're describing in impossible", but there is really no reason to think that what you're describing will happen. It's as unlikely as aliens.
Industrial Revolution is similar to whats going on now. Unless you're simply talking about the science fiction idea of our technology revolting against us.
MattDel
Smash Apprentice
the only thing we have to worry about is the sun exploding!
i don't think that's supposed to happen for a while, though... so i doubt that 12/21/12 is going to be the "end of days"...
i don't think that's supposed to happen for a while, though... so i doubt that 12/21/12 is going to be the "end of days"...
I think you're not familiar with what you're talking about. There is no reason to believe Grey Goo will happen, and scientists agree. Michael Chrichton's Prey used nothing but terrible science for the plot (I'm not sure if thats where you got the idea from, but I might as well throw it out there).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3788673.stm
http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/on_the_impossibility_of_grey_goo.htm
http://robotics.caltech.edu/~mason/ramblings/grayGoo.html
http://gr3gstuder.wordpress.com/nanomunchies/
http://comment.silicon.com/0,39024711,10005490,00.htm
Really, that was from just a few moments of research
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3788673.stm
http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/on_the_impossibility_of_grey_goo.htm
http://robotics.caltech.edu/~mason/ramblings/grayGoo.html
http://gr3gstuder.wordpress.com/nanomunchies/
-http://newmediasphere.blogs.com/nms/2004/06/why_scientists_.html
http://comment.silicon.com/0,39024711,10005490,00.htm
Really, that was from just a few moments of research
I agree that gray goo is unlikely to happen. I'm just saying that it's possible, at least more possible than many other things, and it's probably the thing I'm the most scared about.
The fact that it could wipe the whole world out, and the fact that it is decidedly more likely to happen than the earth getting hit by a huge meteor, makes it a very serious issue to me.
The fact that it could wipe the whole world out, and the fact that it is decidedly more likely to happen than the earth getting hit by a huge meteor, makes it a very serious issue to me.
cF=)
Smash Lord
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2005
- Messages
- 1,909
SirroMinus1
SiNiStEr MiNiStEr
im not taking no sides killa marth should of never said what he said and that other guy did not have to shout him out like that
Haruno Kotetsu
Smash Ace
The Mayans weren't always right about everything, and they dont exist anymore. They didnt know about nuclear weapons, which president we were going to get, the advancement of weapons, the wars we would fight and where they would be, anything of that sort.
Those reasons above are more than enough to change a factor, besides, our society's obsessed with our own doom. The news here is all about manipulation, The Y2K deal. Nothing happened. They said we were going to get a meteor on us in '97, that never happened. They said other times a meteor was going to cause a nuclear winter also.
What are the chances of a asteroid or space formation going out of orbit, shoot towards us, go through our orbit, and not dissolve into out atmosphere? Not likely soon, Ill tell you that.
This global warming isnt as bad as everyone thinks it is, either. At least I think.. take that anyway you want to, not trying to start a flame war ^^;
Those reasons above are more than enough to change a factor, besides, our society's obsessed with our own doom. The news here is all about manipulation, The Y2K deal. Nothing happened. They said we were going to get a meteor on us in '97, that never happened. They said other times a meteor was going to cause a nuclear winter also.
What are the chances of a asteroid or space formation going out of orbit, shoot towards us, go through our orbit, and not dissolve into out atmosphere? Not likely soon, Ill tell you that.
This global warming isnt as bad as everyone thinks it is, either. At least I think.. take that anyway you want to, not trying to start a flame war ^^;
cF=)
Smash Lord
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2005
- Messages
- 1,909
Global warming is horrible and will lead us to our death. Just telling you the basics.
I meant the current belief in it, not just the prophecy itself. The Mayan view of the world is proven wrong (that the world has constantly been destroyed), and their religion is dead. There is no reason to think that they had secret knowledge of the world that we didn't.
Though the points you brought up are correct, I guess I wasn't fully thinking when I wrote that.
commonyoshi
Smash Hero
Why is everyone so fascinated with meteors ending life on earth? As unlikely as it is to happen, wouldn't astrologers find out about it ahead of time? Then our governments would just launch a couple of nukes at it. Even if we dont destroy the thing completely it would be sent off projectory.
Or am I terribly wrong about this?
Or am I terribly wrong about this?