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Ask HN: What super projects could unite humanity?

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Re: Ask HN: What super projects could unite humanity?

#31

Post by scrrr »

retube wrote: post #19
scrrr wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you say less/more difficult communication and perhaps even censorship is better in order to prevent conflict?

I don't know what the solution is, or if there is one, or even if I'm right. But as an example, look at the Pastor who was going to burn the Koran. 30 years ago before cable and internet news this guy would have never been heard of. But today, thanks to cable TV and the internet a huge amount of animosity has been generated, there's been demonstrations, reinforcement of cultural biases etc etc. Is this a good thing?

I don't share the view of the world that now somehow things are worse. This seems to be the view of a conservative person.

The opposite is true. The world is now the safest it's ever been. It's also the wealthiest and offers the most opportunities.

Re: Ask HN: What super projects could unite humanity?

#33

Post by arethuza »

arethuza wrote: post #7
zacharypinter wrote: post #2

Not exactly inspiring, but an alien enemy would be a pretty good way of uniting the planet towards a common goal.

If we have to invent an enemy alien civilization can I suggest we decide to go to war with the Culture? Think of it: godless, drug-using communists in space!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Culture [NB I've always suspected that Iain M. Banks is a Special Circumstances agent - installing an author to write "fiction" about themselves is exactly the kind of sneaky thing the Culture would do]. ;-)

And if they do exist, which of course they don't, quite a lot of people might just decide they rather like the idea of the Culture and immediately defect/surrender.

I know what I would do given the choice!

Re: Ask HN: What super projects could unite humanity?

#34

Post by tomjen3 »

arethuza wrote: post #7
zacharypinter wrote: post #2

Not exactly inspiring, but an alien enemy would be a pretty good way of uniting the planet towards a common goal.

If we have to invent an enemy alien civilization can I suggest we decide to go to war with the Culture? Think of it: godless, drug-using communists in space!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Culture [NB I've always suspected that Iain M. Banks is a Special Circumstances agent - installing an author to write "fiction" about themselves is exactly the kind of sneaky thing the Culture would do]. ;-)

There doesn't seem to be much reason to go to war with them though - wouldn't it be more likely that the entire earth would unite to convince them to let us join?

Re: Ask HN: What super projects could unite humanity?

#35

Post by retube »

zeemonkee wrote: post #23
retube wrote: post #14

Manned trip to Mars Moon base Space Elevator

More likely to lead to increased competition between nations/corporations (see the dash for colonization in 19c, leading up to WW1).

Possibly. My reasoning is that, unlike colonization, these projects are so big as to be impossible by one nation. They can only be attempted through co-operation by many.

Re: Ask HN: What super projects could unite humanity?

#36

Post by prawn »

borism wrote: post #13
zacharypinter wrote: post #2

Not exactly inspiring, but an alien enemy would be a pretty good way of uniting the planet towards a common goal.

the problem is that aliens who would be able to reach Earth to threaten it will be so much more technologically advanced that any resistance will be quite futile. what I think should unite us is the understanding that this tiny blue dot in the middle of Milky Way is the only thing that keps us alive, so we need to strive to keep it so for as long as possible while searching for other ways to survive in space on a lar…

We both think that should happen, but for most people the need just isn't pressing enough and the scales of time are just too big to be appealing. People, generally, just respond to basic instincts (wanting to be entertained, titillated, make easy money, stuff their faces on the couch, etc) and short term, easy goals.

And unfortunately, it's unlikely to become a popular political position either.

Imagine a chance to route defense spending to space research and exploration - it's the geek dream!

Re: Ask HN: What super projects could unite humanity?

#38

Post by zoomzoom »

The space elevator is the most game-changing investment we can make. The cost of getting into and out of orbit is the main barrier to any grand space scheme like mars, moon bases, or asteroid mining. It would also become a target of extremist anger and ignite divisions about tech. Runner-up might be a serious global scale geothermal plant for renewable power.

Re: Ask HN: What super projects could unite humanity?

#39

Post by jsn »

I refuse to be united with humanity. And it's not just me.

Differences are good, disagreements are good, and diversity is good. Including differences in goals, values, priorities and everything else.

If you have some serious differences and if you want to avoid conflicts, you probably shouldn't keep pushing to unite. You probably should separate. Like, you know, if a family can't agree on some important set of issues, they probably shouldn't always try to find a compromise (which might as well be bad for all sides), or apply force to silence the weakest side. They would probably be much better off if they get divorced, and let each side to form a family with someone who shares their views.

I think the same logic applies to countries, and to disagreements about any serious issue -- like, i don't know, taxes, global warming, foreign affairs, gay marriage, controlled substances, etc etc.

So, tldr: I'd rather look for something to separate humanity, it tries too hard to get united.

Re: Ask HN: What super projects could unite humanity?

#40

Post by cturner »

Tichy wrote: post #32

Has there ever in history been an example of a super project uniting people?

I thought of many attempts. They grow rapidly into mass slaugher. Forcing a particular religion onto people, forcing people to fund great mausoleums to the glory of their leaders, autocracy done in the name of socialism, "super-races" states from Sparta forward.

In fairness, I did think of one that could qualify, the vaccination of Polio.

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