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My Trip to Space Filled Me with Overwhelming Sadness

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121–130 of 235 posts

Re: My Trip to Space Filled Me with Overwhelming Sadness

#121

With all respect to Shatner (first canadian space tourist iirc) I dont take much from these narratives. A rich/famous/connected person does a thing that we all want to do but cannot afford, something that requires insane amounts of energy/pollution. Then they turn around and talk of the profound experience and how it has made them a better person. Big deal. The pubic good is limited to a few interviews and an article…

But Shatner is an actor? I'm not sure I agree with the implication that one type of artist is better to send than another but I do agree that maybe we should consider the frivolous waste of sending people to space for joyrides when the cost is so high.

>>I do agree that maybe we should consider the frivolous waste of sending people to space for joyrides when the cost is so high.

Each manned space orbital launch has massive spin-off benefits, and brings forward the day when space flight is accessible to the masses.

Re: My Trip to Space Filled Me with Overwhelming Sadness

#122
post #71

This was very well written, very insightful and humble. Considering he's usually an asshole to people IRL. But I guess he just comes off that way when he wants to convey his truth to people. Not completely foreign to myself, having discovered that I'm actually autistic in my late 30s. That explained a lot. Anyways, this overview effect is something I always felt, even without going into space. I always felt we were w…

I used to be in favor of a world government. But then I realized it could quite easily turn into an authoritarian system at some point, which due to the global scope would then be rather difficult to get out of.

[deleted]

Re: My Trip to Space Filled Me with Overwhelming Sadness

#123
post #119
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also technically an impossibility, since evolution would not be possible without extinction

Not sure why you're being so downvoted, must be people who haven't read Darwin or know about mass extinction from things like floods and meteorites - like that wiped out most dinosaurs. If we don't get society under "control" - and not through the ideological-tyrannical effort underway globally currently - but through voluntarily taking action through adequate organization of listening to and following competent lead…

Sadly, it's the mad pursuit of said dollars that seems to be the primary driver behind our voracious appetite to consume nature.

Re: My Trip to Space Filled Me with Overwhelming Sadness

#124
post #119
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also technically an impossibility, since evolution would not be possible without extinction

Not sure why you're being so downvoted, must be people who haven't read Darwin or know about mass extinction from things like floods and meteorites - like that wiped out most dinosaurs. If we don't get society under "control" - and not through the ideological-tyrannical effort underway globally currently - but through voluntarily taking action through adequate organization of listening to and following competent lead…

Your flippancy about mass extinction leads me to believe you aren't internalizing any of the suffering therein, or the loss.

Extinction happens, and, more broadly, death happens. However, we don't stand and deliver a eulogy composed of "idk, people die, no big deal" at a family member's funeral. Immense loss imparts grief.

Re: My Trip to Space Filled Me with Overwhelming Sadness

#125
post #119
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also technically an impossibility, since evolution would not be possible without extinction

Not sure why you're being so downvoted, must be people who haven't read Darwin or know about mass extinction from things like floods and meteorites - like that wiped out most dinosaurs. If we don't get society under "control" - and not through the ideological-tyrannical effort underway globally currently - but through voluntarily taking action through adequate organization of listening to and following competent lead…

> voting with our dollars, say by buying a Tesla vehicle, etc

Buying a Tesla is not going to save the climate. Not even if everyone does it. We need transportation options that scale. That means density, bikes, buses, trains. It means anything except personal 2+ ton motor vehicles.

Re: My Trip to Space Filled Me with Overwhelming Sadness

#126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is more of an analysis of probabilities. I suspect that this was the case but of course I don't know. What probability would you assign to Bezos being seen as the leader/setting the tone in this situation?

I'm rejecting the premise indicated by your forward slash, that being a team leader and setting an emotional tone for everyone involved are synonymous. The rest of the team had a sharp constrast to Shatner in their style of celebration, so which group wasn't following their leader's tone properly? And the group that was celebrating loudly was doing so independent of Bezos, but somehow required him to join in soon and…

>> I'm rejecting the premise indicated by your forward slash, that being a team leader and setting an emotional tone for everyone involved are synonymous.

Yes. I reject that premise as well.

>> The rest of the team had a sharp constrast to Shatner in their style of celebration, so which group wasn't following their leader's tone properly? And the group that was celebrating loudly was doing so independent of Bezos, but somehow required him to join in soon and give their tone his affirmation? It's an absurd idea. It makes no sense after just a bit of thought.

I think that if Bezos would have settled into a lengthy quiet and introspective discussion with Shatner at the time, it would have changed the overall tone of the group (or at least could have). Of course, I don't know for sure, but I have observed human behaviour in the past.

Re: My Trip to Space Filled Me with Overwhelming Sadness

#127

This piece reminded me of this music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjNssEVlB6M (it's a bit slow but the visuals are great)

Is it the official music video though ? I thought the original one was the one they did in China with a copy of the eiffel tower ?

Re: My Trip to Space Filled Me with Overwhelming Sadness

#128

This piece reminded me of this music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjNssEVlB6M (it's a bit slow but the visuals are great)

Since we are sharing music videos that show the beauty and dread of space, here is this one for Pink Floyd fans: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6xh4kiGygFM

Re: My Trip to Space Filled Me with Overwhelming Sadness

#129
post #106
post #70

Fwiw I had something akin to the overview effect when I attended a full solar eclipse. I thought I was prepared. I had read up on what to expect because I wanted to make the most of the experience for the kids. I wanted to make sure we observed the "shadow bands" (snake like shadows traversing across single colored surfaces that aren't always visible). Everything did proceed as I expected (including the shadow bands)…

Reminds me of the lyrics to “do you realize” by the flaming lips: https://genius.com/The-flaming-lips-do-you-realize-lyrics

[deleted]

Re: My Trip to Space Filled Me with Overwhelming Sadness

#130
post #119
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also technically an impossibility, since evolution would not be possible without extinction

Not sure why you're being so downvoted, must be people who haven't read Darwin or know about mass extinction from things like floods and meteorites - like that wiped out most dinosaurs. If we don't get society under "control" - and not through the ideological-tyrannical effort underway globally currently - but through voluntarily taking action through adequate organization of listening to and following competent lead…

It's just literally not true. Species can evolve without their predecessors going extinct?
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