The Atheist Preacher

[steve_bank]

Since we seem to be way off topic, as usual, let me say one thing about global warming and such things. People may recognize that humans are hurting our envirenment due to our habits, but habits are extremely difficult to change. So, while I drive a hybrid car, stopped traveling by air, and try not to waste much food, etc. The thought of giving up my gas logs is frightening. I'm very cold natured, so my house is fairly warm in the winter, but I barely use my A/C in the summer. I have friends that are the opposite. They barely use the heat in the winter but have the A/C turned down very low in the summer. Habits are very hard to change, so until something happens that makes us all realize how much we need to change, we will keep on doing what we have become used to doing.

And, sure, if you have lots of money, you can buy a new electric car, but if you're dirt poor and there's no public transportation where you live, you're not going to get rid of that old gas guzzling car that you've had for 15 years. On the other hand, you're not going to buy clothing that you don't really need because you can't afford it, not necessarily because you don't want that new shirt or pair of jeans.

It's like being obese. You know that eating less and moving more will benefit you, but most people find it to difficult to change those habits. Until, we start to experience food shortages, there is nothing that will make a very obese person cut back on all those extra calories that they eat, because most people don't have the motivation to change old habits.

And, if you've ever read Jared Diamond's book, "Collapse", you know that humans have a long, long history of destroying their own environments. So basically, we're probably doomed. Keep a happy thought. And some of you didn't like the Atheist Preacher.....

You are preaching to the choir

 

[Angry Floof]

Since we seem to be way off topic, as usual, let me say one thing about global warming and such things. People may recognize that humans are hurting our envirenment due to our habits, but habits are extremely difficult to change. So, while I drive a hybrid car, stopped traveling by air, and try not to waste much food, etc. The thought of giving up my gas logs is frightening. I'm very cold natured, so my house is fairly warm in the winter, but I barely use my A/C in the summer. I have friends that are the opposite. They barely use the heat in the winter but have the A/C turned down very low in the summer. Habits are very hard to change, so until something happens that makes us all realize how much we need to change, we will keep on doing what we have become used to doing.

And, sure, if you have lots of money, you can buy a new electric car, but if you're dirt poor and there's no public transportation where you live, you're not going to get rid of that old gas guzzling car that you've had for 15 years. On the other hand, you're not going to buy clothing that you don't really need because you can't afford it, not necessarily because you don't want that new shirt or pair of jeans.

It's like being obese. You know that eating less and moving more will benefit you, but most people find it to difficult to change those habits. Until, we start to experience food shortages, there is nothing that will make a very obese person cut back on all those extra calories that they eat, because most people don't have the motivation to change old habits.

And, if you've ever read Jared Diamond's book, "Collapse", you know that humans have a long, long history of destroying their own environments. So basically, we're probably doomed. Keep a happy thought. And some of you didn't like the Atheist Preacher.....

I know, right? Whaddya gonna do. Pointless talking about climate change or anything else really. Holding power accountable is too hard and nothing changes anyway. Pffth. I'ma go get a big mac.

 

[southernhybrid]

Floof, I don't know if that was serious or sarcastic, but I think it's close to impossible to hold power accountable. Power has too much power! Maybe this needs a new thread, since I've helped derail the one that I started.

I just read. yesterday that the largest banks, like Wells Fargo, BOA, etc. lend huge amounts of money to the oil industry so they can continue to drill etc. How do the little people stop that? Seriously. To me, the problem is overwhelming, and sadly it's the people who had very little to do with the problem who will suffer the most. Unless those who hold the most power and money decide it's in their own best interests to take the lead on this, I don't see how we can change things. I keep wondering what was in the mind of the person who cut down the last tree on Easter Island. Aren't we doing the exact same thing now, but on a much larger scale.

Maybe the atheist preacher could help motivate more people to do that right thing. I'm pretty sure she's a climate change activist.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

I keep wondering what was in the mind of the person who cut down the last tree on Easter Island. Aren't we doing the exact same thing now, but on a much larger scale.

Yes we are. The real problem was that the rats they brought to the island ate the palm nuts. As such the forests could not regenerate. Lots of species in the U.S. suffered a similar fate and continue to do so, presently ash and hemlock.

The people of Rapa Nui were still okay even after the trees were gone, the ecosystem was different but they still survived. The loss of richness and biodiversity, however, was catastrophic in terms of quality of life. What really fucked them ultimately was the arrival of Europeans, disease, enslavement, etc.