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> In reality though humans are actively manipulating this virus in a laboratory environment and are able to select strains that are deadly enough, but not too d

> In reality though humans are actively manipulating this virus in a laboratory environment and are able to select strains that are deadly enough, but not too deadly, also transmittable enough. If you think that humans are the only organism capable of influencing the behavior and functioning of other organisms, I would recommend you read up on Toxoplasma gondii. This is exactly the sort of "hubris" I was referring to. Allow me to rephrase your original statement, as you might have worded it in a reply to Newton: In reality though humans are actively manipulating this ball in throwing it and are able to impart a directionally focused momentum so that the ball flys far, but in a specific direction. Surely you can't expect this ball to obey the same laws as the apple that fell from your tree. See how ridiculous that sounds? I think because evolution is so closely linked with our identity as free-thinking, free-acting individuals, it is tempting to believe that evolution follows no laws but is rather a reactive system. In reality, you can no more violate the laws of evolution than you can violate the laws of motion. The only difference is that we have a much better understanding of the laws of motion...

rdtsc 15y ago
> humans are actively manipulating this ball in throwing it and are able to impart a directionally focused momentum so that the ball flys far, but in a specific direction. I was thinking more of : Here is naturally occurring uranium ore in the environment. Sometimes water would seep through it and start moderating the neutrons enough to cause a self-sustain short term nuclear reaction vs Here is an arsenal of 1000 MIRVed 5MT thermonuclear warheads. Both follow the laws of physics , no question about it, one can wipe us all out pretty much one can make a few villagers sick perhaps.
- jballanc 15y ago
  1. Personally, I think that the ability of humankind to destroy itself with nuclear weapons is generally overestimated. Of course, I would prefer these sorts of things be overestimated and not underestimated... 2. Once you light the fuse of that nuke, we actually know quite a bit about what happens next. If you were to release this virus, we know pretty much nothing about what happens next. Could be bad...but probably not as bad as you would expect. 3. You analogy would be more apt if you had said: "Here is naturally occurring uranium ore. Sometimes it can self-sustain short term nuclear reactions, but sometimes is spontaneously detonates and takes out a 100-mile area." See, that's the problem with the flu. Outbreaks will be bad, very bad, from time to time, but that's all thanks to Mother Nature. Part of the reason is simple numbers: 7bil humans x ?bil birds x ?x10^15 virus particles... What makes you think that humans can do worse?

rdtsc 15y ago

> humans are actively manipulating this ball in throwing it and are able to impart a directionally focused momentum so that the ball flys far, but in a specific direction. I was thinking more of : Here is naturally occurring uranium ore in the environment. Sometimes water would seep through it and start moderating the neutrons enough to cause a self-sustain short term nuclear reaction vs Here is an arsenal of 1000 MIRVed 5MT thermonuclear warheads. Both follow the laws of physics , no question about it, one can wipe us all out pretty much one can make a few villagers sick perhaps.

jballanc 15y ago
1. Personally, I think that the ability of humankind to destroy itself with nuclear weapons is generally overestimated. Of course, I would prefer these sorts of things be overestimated and not underestimated... 2. Once you light the fuse of that nuke, we actually know quite a bit about what happens next. If you were to release this virus, we know pretty much nothing about what happens next. Could be bad...but probably not as bad as you would expect. 3. You analogy would be more apt if you had said: "Here is naturally occurring uranium ore. Sometimes it can self-sustain short term nuclear reactions, but sometimes is spontaneously detonates and takes out a 100-mile area." See, that's the problem with the flu. Outbreaks will be bad, very bad, from time to time, but that's all thanks to Mother Nature. Part of the reason is simple numbers: 7bil humans x ?bil birds x ?x10^15 virus particles... What makes you think that humans can do worse?