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Scientists "performing miracles" is humanity caring for the planet. Ask yourself why you (apparently) prefer degrowth to this.

by slibhb 2y ago

uulu 2y ago
> Scientists "performing miracles" is humanity caring for the planet. Scientists "performing miracles" is one of the ways humanity is caring for the planet.
michaelteter 2y ago
Scientists have been doing things (with good intentions) which initially look like great ideas but ultimately cause new/greater problems in the future for ages. To f with nature and believe the full impact is understood in advance is human hubris.
simianparrot 2y ago
Depends. Do we know the ecosystem impact of corals that are more heat tolerant? Do we understand the evolutionary biological reasons why they aren't? Maybe it's not a problem, or maybe it is, like with so many other things we've messed with in the name of acceptable science (at the time) until we realize ecosystems are not that simple to model. I'm not saying we shouldn't do research like this. But it is not an automatic good, and it must go hand in hand with proper biological field work looked at from an evolutionary lens. Or we risk making things worse with our good intentions.
- ASalazarMX 2y ago
  I'd prefer if we didn't tamper with ecosystems, but the reality is that our current civilization doesn't have the incentives to stop global warming (even less revert it) without major catastrophes that allow some politics and business leaders to appear as saviors instead of traitors. We don't know the future impact of these modified corals, but we know it will be catastrophic if they disappear. IMO it would be worse to let the corals simply die.
itishappy 2y ago
Scientists performing miracles is caring for the planet in the same way doctors providing saline is caring for blood loss. It's important, it helps, and I'm glad we're doing it, but sometimes you gotta address the bleeding first.
xracy 2y ago
Feels like a convenient way for you to give up your own responsibility to the planet to justify not changing your impact. I'm not saying this is you alone. We all do this, but this comment is particularly egregious for it.
joshtbradley 2y ago
I'm not arguing for degrowth, nor am I discrediting the work of science. I'm observing humanity has failed to have a constructive conversation around climate change, leading to the necessity of solutions like this. I have no idea what the solution is, I've already admitted it's complex. But it's frightening that the conversation immediately devolves into assumptions about one's stance, and immediate disagreement with that stance. Even on a website like HN. That's a big problem, no?
r00fus 2y ago
A banal false dichotomy. Pushing for lower CO2 methods of energy generation and transport is not "degrowth".

Scientists "performing miracles" is humanity caring for the planet. Ask yourself why you (apparently) prefer degrowth to this.

by slibhb 2y ago

Scientists "performing miracles" is humanity caring for the planet. Ask yourself why you (apparently) prefer degrowth to this.

uulu 2y ago

> Scientists "performing miracles" is humanity caring for the planet. Scientists "performing miracles" is one of the ways humanity is caring for the planet.

michaelteter 2y ago

Scientists have been doing things (with good intentions) which initially look like great ideas but ultimately cause new/greater problems in the future for ages. To f with nature and believe the full impact is understood in advance is human hubris.

simianparrot 2y ago

Depends. Do we know the ecosystem impact of corals that are more heat tolerant? Do we understand the evolutionary biological reasons why they aren't? Maybe it's not a problem, or maybe it is, like with so many other things we've messed with in the name of acceptable science (at the time) until we realize ecosystems are not that simple to model. I'm not saying we shouldn't do research like this. But it is not an automatic good, and it must go hand in hand with proper biological field work looked at from an evolutionary lens. Or we risk making things worse with our good intentions.

ASalazarMX 2y ago
I'd prefer if we didn't tamper with ecosystems, but the reality is that our current civilization doesn't have the incentives to stop global warming (even less revert it) without major catastrophes that allow some politics and business leaders to appear as saviors instead of traitors. We don't know the future impact of these modified corals, but we know it will be catastrophic if they disappear. IMO it would be worse to let the corals simply die.

itishappy 2y ago

Scientists performing miracles is caring for the planet in the same way doctors providing saline is caring for blood loss. It's important, it helps, and I'm glad we're doing it, but sometimes you gotta address the bleeding first.

xracy 2y ago

Feels like a convenient way for you to give up your own responsibility to the planet to justify not changing your impact. I'm not saying this is you alone. We all do this, but this comment is particularly egregious for it.

joshtbradley 2y ago

I'm not arguing for degrowth, nor am I discrediting the work of science. I'm observing humanity has failed to have a constructive conversation around climate change, leading to the necessity of solutions like this. I have no idea what the solution is, I've already admitted it's complex. But it's frightening that the conversation immediately devolves into assumptions about one's stance, and immediate disagreement with that stance. Even on a website like HN. That's a big problem, no?

r00fus 2y ago

A banal false dichotomy. Pushing for lower CO2 methods of energy generation and transport is not "degrowth".