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The planet isn't an organism with an immune system reacting to infections. It's a ball of rock that "couldn't care less" if there are beings living on it. The s

by pyre 12y ago

The planet isn't an organism with an immune system reacting to infections. It's a ball of rock that "couldn't care less" if there are beings living on it. The systems that exist on the surface of the planet are just physical processes reacting to other physical processes. Nothing more. Ocean currents aren't changing as part of a process of "healing" they are changing because they are governed by the laws of physics.

happyscrappy 12y ago
That is not completely true, virtually all the oxygen on Earth came from bacteria. Life interacts with physics.
- f055 12y ago
  Life IS physics.
- pyre 12y ago
  The bacteria weren't attempting to seed life or "heal" the Earth by producing oxygen. It was a by-product, that by coincidence other organisms were able to develop to use.
  - nashashmi 12y ago
    Enough with the "heal" already. I was being metaphorical.
nashashmi 12y ago
That is quite arrogant of a claim that it is "just a ball of rock." The planet has methods of reversal built in. My reference to the word "healing" is its ability to reverse and go back to conditions that are normal. If you want reference, look up global dimming, and look up the problems global dimming is causing. Also, take into account the different reactions that global warming is causing. You can see "healing" elements when you notice that the ocean takes in more CO2 as the planet gets warmer. Ice caps also take in CO2. if you look at weather exteremities like freezing and hot days, snow and rain and drought, and hurricanes, you notice that greenhouse gases do react to this. On hot days, infrared energy is sent back to space. On snow, rain, and freezing days, CO2 settles. The more you look, the more you see that the planet reacts to bring things back to normal. more plants, more bacteria, more life. These processes are also part of physics. But just because the planet heals does not mean we ignore climate change. The "healing" is just as detrimental.
- pyre 12y ago
  > That is quite arrogant of a claim that it is "just a ball of rock." Arrogant how? The planet is quite literally a "ball of rock" hurtling through space that happens to have a bunch of other stuff on its surface. > My reference to the word "healing" is its ability to reverse and go back to conditions that are normal. This is just a reference to a system that tends towards a particular equilibrium. There is nothing "healing" about it. Also, considering the timescales involved, we don't even know if the systems involved on Earth's surface even tend toward any sort of equilibrium. It may just oscillate on a very large period. > The more you look, the more you see that the planet reacts to bring things back to normal. more plants, more bacteria, more life. What is "normal" though? It certainly wasn't "normal" during Earth's period of volcanism.

by pyre 12y ago

happyscrappy 12y ago

That is not completely true, virtually all the oxygen on Earth came from bacteria. Life interacts with physics.

f055 12y ago
Life IS physics.
pyre 12y ago
The bacteria weren't attempting to seed life or "heal" the Earth by producing oxygen. It was a by-product, that by coincidence other organisms were able to develop to use.
- nashashmi 12y ago
  Enough with the "heal" already. I was being metaphorical.

nashashmi 12y ago

That is quite arrogant of a claim that it is "just a ball of rock." The planet has methods of reversal built in. My reference to the word "healing" is its ability to reverse and go back to conditions that are normal. If you want reference, look up global dimming, and look up the problems global dimming is causing. Also, take into account the different reactions that global warming is causing. You can see "healing" elements when you notice that the ocean takes in more CO2 as the planet gets warmer. Ice caps also take in CO2. if you look at weather exteremities like freezing and hot days, snow and rain and drought, and hurricanes, you notice that greenhouse gases do react to this. On hot days, infrared energy is sent back to space. On snow, rain, and freezing days, CO2 settles. The more you look, the more you see that the planet reacts to bring things back to normal. more plants, more bacteria, more life. These processes are also part of physics. But just because the planet heals does not mean we ignore climate change. The "healing" is just as detrimental.

pyre 12y ago
> That is quite arrogant of a claim that it is "just a ball of rock." Arrogant how? The planet is quite literally a "ball of rock" hurtling through space that happens to have a bunch of other stuff on its surface. > My reference to the word "healing" is its ability to reverse and go back to conditions that are normal. This is just a reference to a system that tends towards a particular equilibrium. There is nothing "healing" about it. Also, considering the timescales involved, we don't even know if the systems involved on Earth's surface even tend toward any sort of equilibrium. It may just oscillate on a very large period. > The more you look, the more you see that the planet reacts to bring things back to normal. more plants, more bacteria, more life. What is "normal" though? It certainly wasn't "normal" during Earth's period of volcanism.