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99.9% of all creatures to exist on earth are now extinct. [1] We're not special. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E
by ProAm 9y ago
99.9% of all creatures to exist on earth are now extinct. [1] We're not special.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction
- stickfigure 9y agoWe're not special With big brains and tools, humans can live in a much broader set of environmental conditions than any other species. While it doesn't make us extinction-proof, it makes us pretty hardy. It is hard to imagine what would destroy all the ecological niches that humans could survive in. I would bet on the humans.
- ProAm 9y agoWe have a few people who are intelligent, and yet as a whole we constantly try to kill our fellow man and let people go hungry. The only difference is we know our eventual end is coming and the preceding creatures likely did not.
- rland12 9y agoI don't know if it's constructive, but I find it remarkable enough to note that I really don't know if you are correct or if the parent comment is correct. It's because I'm a human being, isn't it.
- dredmorbius 9y agoI've got a bunch of tardigrades on line 3 that would like a word. Or whatever it is that passes for same.
- Retra 9y ago>humans can live in a much broader set of environmental conditions than any other species. Absolutely not. Most lifeforms simpler than us have an easier time surviving because it is easier for them to reproduce quickly. You're basically ignoring insects, crustaceans, algea, bacteria, most plants, and pretty much everything else. Sure we're hardy and adaptable when you ignore most of life on earth. And then you want to bet on the only species that has almost purposefully engineered its own demise? Talk about bias...
- rconti 9y agoHow many of them were at the top of the food chain?
- ProAm 9y agoA lot of them at the time.
- volkk 9y agonot just of their local environments, but of the entire planet?
- PeterisP 9y agoTop of the food chain generally is more vulnerable to changes causing extinction, not less. E.g. if food for small rodents becomes much less available, the expected result is that small rodent species dwindle in population but survive, while some of large predators that need those small rodents may go extinct. Cockroaches and rats will outlast homo sapiens.
- hueving 9y agoWhat a tired argument. Of course we are special. We are capable of genetically modifying our food supplies and building shelter that allows us to live in any climate on the planet.