3 ms·

Space: It's cold. It's boring. It's not our concern

3 points by randyzwitch 6y ago

_Microft 6y ago
(Upvoted for visibility, not agreement.) Contrast this excerpt from the article [S]pace is simply not a good place to go. It has no history, culture, museums, or restaurants. The celestial nihility is immensely boring and perpetually unpleasant. The scale is all wrong for us. Your accommodations, at least in our lifetimes, would be something like a glorified camper trailer, and your food would at best rise to the level of a TV dinner. [...] Visiting space would be the most miserable road trip ever devised, except when the vehicle breaks down, you die. with the following quote Kirk: You know if Spock were here, he'd say I was an irrational, illogical human being for going on a mission like that. [pause] Sounds like fun!, from https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Star_Trek_Generations https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Star_Trek_Generations I suppose these two individuals, one real, the other imaginary, have vastly different ideas of what a fulfilling life should look like. So do I.
- randyzwitch 6y ago
  Yeah, I don't agree either. For example, it feels like the author would argue that it's "worth" seeing the Grand Canyon, but not worth seeing Space. But the idea of being outside of the Earth's atmosphere, or better yet being able to see the entirety of Earth from the Moon would change my life in ways I'm sure I can't even imagine.
  - _Microft 6y ago
    It indeed seems to have that effect on astronauts! It's called the "Overview Effect". Here is a link, just in case you haven't already read about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_effect
    - randyzwitch 6y ago
      I hadn't, thanks!
erik_seaberg 6y ago
Population goes up, useful land does not. That’s why we’re paving suburban farmland and cutting and burning rainforests and even going to war. I agree that space makes Antarctica and Death Valley look inviting, and major settlements in those places would be good practice, but how feasible is that while we’re limited to a share of the energy and resources readily available on Earth?

3 points by randyzwitch 6y ago

(Upvoted for visibility, not agreement.) Contrast this excerpt from the article [S]pace is simply not a good place to go. It has no history, culture, museums, or restaurants. The celestial nihility is immensely boring and perpetually unpleasant. The scale is all wrong for us. Your accommodations, at least in our lifetimes, would be something like a glorified camper trailer, and your food would at best rise to the level of a TV dinner. [...] Visiting space would be the most miserable road trip ever devised, except when the vehicle breaks down, you die. with the following quote Kirk: You know if Spock were here, he'd say I was an irrational, illogical human being for going on a mission like that. [pause] Sounds like fun!, from https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Star_Trek_Generations https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Star_Trek_Generations I suppose these two individuals, one real, the other imaginary, have vastly different ideas of what a fulfilling life should look like. So do I.

randyzwitch 6y ago
Yeah, I don't agree either. For example, it feels like the author would argue that it's "worth" seeing the Grand Canyon, but not worth seeing Space. But the idea of being outside of the Earth's atmosphere, or better yet being able to see the entirety of Earth from the Moon would change my life in ways I'm sure I can't even imagine.
- _Microft 6y ago
  It indeed seems to have that effect on astronauts! It's called the "Overview Effect". Here is a link, just in case you haven't already read about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_effect
  - randyzwitch 6y ago
    I hadn't, thanks!

erik_seaberg 6y ago

Population goes up, useful land does not. That’s why we’re paving suburban farmland and cutting and burning rainforests and even going to war. I agree that space makes Antarctica and Death Valley look inviting, and major settlements in those places would be good practice, but how feasible is that while we’re limited to a share of the energy and resources readily available on Earth?