4 ms·

> We’re doomed Yup. We're doomed, because we're an evolving species. In a few hundred thousand years we'll be very different - perhaps our overweight brains wi

> We’re doomed Yup. We're doomed, because we're an evolving species. In a few hundred thousand years we'll be very different - perhaps our overweight brains will have shrunk, and we'll no longer be curious about silly things like the origin or final fate of the Universe. "Spreading out" is more likely to happen to fungus and bacteria spores, than bipedal mammals.

mellavora 4y ago
> In a few hundred thousand years we'll be very different.. And thanks to the magic of epigenetic regulation, I'd say we'll be pretty different in 600 years. We are following the path of the social insects, becoming more drone-like, docile, and specialized. Also more humane and selfless. Also more childlike.
- Mtinie 4y ago
  Eloi-esque.
  - tomrod 4y ago
    Obesity rates and cultural milieu suggest that it's not just Eloi-esque, unfortunately. But I think you nailed the general trend.
  - denton-scratch 4y ago
    Not really. The Eloi seem to be like wealthy students - young, good teeth, straight blonde hair, nice duds, no job they have to do. There doesn't appear to be any significant evolution that could have affected them since the present. Only the Morlocks appear to have changed; there are no contemporary humans that are remotely like Morlocks. Dammit, this is scifi from 100 years ago; it doesn't throw any light on the future of humanity. I'm going to butt out, because I think this is OT.
    - mellavora 4y ago
      science fiction from 100 years ago, based on the author's observations of the switch from agrarian to urban/mechanized life (i.e. the start of the the epigenetic shift I referred to) matches biological realities revealed over the last few decades (thank you E O Wilson) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._O._Wilson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._O._Wilson doesn't throw any light? Perhaps, thought of course that would depend on what spectrum of light one was sensitive to. I, for one, have a hard time seeing ultraviolet. Unlike my friends the bees.
      - denton-scratch 4y ago
        "Mellavora" - is that honey-eater, in some language?
yamtaddle 4y ago
> Yup. We're doomed, because we're an evolving species. In a few hundred thousand years we'll be very different - perhaps our overweight brains will have shrunk, and we'll no longer be curious about silly things like the origin or final fate of the Universe. You might enjoy Vonnegut's Galapagos, if you've not read it. It's a quick and easy read like most of his books.
- denton-scratch 4y ago
  > Galapagos Yes, I read it. There's a twist in the tail that nobody should spoil. I haven't yet encountered anything by Vonnegut that I didn't enjoy reading. I want to re-read Breakfast of Champions. My first encounter was Slaughterhouse 5, followed closely by Cat's Cradle. So it goes.
  - yamtaddle 4y ago
    > I haven't yet encountered anything by Vonnegut that I didn't enjoy reading. Attempted Slapstick or Happy Birthday, Wanda June? :-) Or most of the posthumously-released material, for that matter. But yeah, his batting average was pretty damn high.

mellavora 4y ago

> In a few hundred thousand years we'll be very different.. And thanks to the magic of epigenetic regulation, I'd say we'll be pretty different in 600 years. We are following the path of the social insects, becoming more drone-like, docile, and specialized. Also more humane and selfless. Also more childlike.

Mtinie 4y ago
Eloi-esque.
- tomrod 4y ago
  Obesity rates and cultural milieu suggest that it's not just Eloi-esque, unfortunately. But I think you nailed the general trend.
- denton-scratch 4y ago
  Not really. The Eloi seem to be like wealthy students - young, good teeth, straight blonde hair, nice duds, no job they have to do. There doesn't appear to be any significant evolution that could have affected them since the present. Only the Morlocks appear to have changed; there are no contemporary humans that are remotely like Morlocks. Dammit, this is scifi from 100 years ago; it doesn't throw any light on the future of humanity. I'm going to butt out, because I think this is OT.
  - mellavora 4y ago
    science fiction from 100 years ago, based on the author's observations of the switch from agrarian to urban/mechanized life (i.e. the start of the the epigenetic shift I referred to) matches biological realities revealed over the last few decades (thank you E O Wilson) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._O._Wilson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._O._Wilson doesn't throw any light? Perhaps, thought of course that would depend on what spectrum of light one was sensitive to. I, for one, have a hard time seeing ultraviolet. Unlike my friends the bees.
    - denton-scratch 4y ago
      "Mellavora" - is that honey-eater, in some language?

yamtaddle 4y ago

> Yup. We're doomed, because we're an evolving species. In a few hundred thousand years we'll be very different - perhaps our overweight brains will have shrunk, and we'll no longer be curious about silly things like the origin or final fate of the Universe. You might enjoy Vonnegut's Galapagos, if you've not read it. It's a quick and easy read like most of his books.

denton-scratch 4y ago
> Galapagos Yes, I read it. There's a twist in the tail that nobody should spoil. I haven't yet encountered anything by Vonnegut that I didn't enjoy reading. I want to re-read Breakfast of Champions. My first encounter was Slaughterhouse 5, followed closely by Cat's Cradle. So it goes.
- yamtaddle 4y ago
  > I haven't yet encountered anything by Vonnegut that I didn't enjoy reading. Attempted Slapstick or Happy Birthday, Wanda June? :-) Or most of the posthumously-released material, for that matter. But yeah, his batting average was pretty damn high.