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Yes. And a key component of learning to adapt is learning to make intelligent global-scale behavior changes when it's in our interest, such as banning CFCs and

Yes. And a key component of learning to adapt is learning to make intelligent global-scale behavior changes when it's in our interest, such as banning CFCs and reducing CO2 output. Perhaps "adapt" is the wrong word; you might see some of these actions as proactive.

cletus 5y ago
If the pandemic has taught us nothing else, it's that people won't even mildly inconvenience themselves to benefit other people. What's more, that will become political. I mean think about it: is it easier to reduce global CO2 output that'll no doubt make things more expensive at least in the short term and require concerted action by other countries like India and China and with all of that it'll probably take decades to see an impact or to just form a voting bloc and get the government to bail you out when your coastal town gets flooded?
- changoplatanero 5y ago
  It's hard for people to even mildly inconvenience themselves in the short term to benefit themselves in the long term. Think how hard it is to lose weight.
- ad404b8a372f2b9 5y ago
  That's not what the pandemic has taught me. The pandemic has taught me that governments all over the world are able to make overnight sweeping changes, develop and roll out new medicine in incredibly short timespans, and that people will put up with horrible life changing protective measures for years for the sake of society.
  - Dig1t 5y ago
    This is so true, reading headlines and toxic internet comments makes it so easy to feel like we completely failed WRT the pandemic, but if you really think about it, its kind of amazing how well we responded. Especially considering the free world got to keep its individual liberties and the global economy didn't completely collapse.
Dig1t 5y ago
I agree with you that we need to be proactive, it just seems like its impossible to be proactive on a species-wide level without giant authoritarian governments. It kind of seems like the best we can do is to just be reactive unfortunately.

cletus 5y ago

If the pandemic has taught us nothing else, it's that people won't even mildly inconvenience themselves to benefit other people. What's more, that will become political. I mean think about it: is it easier to reduce global CO2 output that'll no doubt make things more expensive at least in the short term and require concerted action by other countries like India and China and with all of that it'll probably take decades to see an impact or to just form a voting bloc and get the government to bail you out when your coastal town gets flooded?

changoplatanero 5y ago
It's hard for people to even mildly inconvenience themselves in the short term to benefit themselves in the long term. Think how hard it is to lose weight.
ad404b8a372f2b9 5y ago
That's not what the pandemic has taught me. The pandemic has taught me that governments all over the world are able to make overnight sweeping changes, develop and roll out new medicine in incredibly short timespans, and that people will put up with horrible life changing protective measures for years for the sake of society.
- Dig1t 5y ago
  This is so true, reading headlines and toxic internet comments makes it so easy to feel like we completely failed WRT the pandemic, but if you really think about it, its kind of amazing how well we responded. Especially considering the free world got to keep its individual liberties and the global economy didn't completely collapse.

Dig1t 5y ago

I agree with you that we need to be proactive, it just seems like its impossible to be proactive on a species-wide level without giant authoritarian governments. It kind of seems like the best we can do is to just be reactive unfortunately.