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GMoromisato • today at 1:38 AM • 3 replies • view on HN

But my point is, "we just go" is exactly how we conquered the Earth. We didn't think, "let's colonize the whole planet!", we just went. We walked from Africa all the way to the tip of South America.

We weren't doomed then and we're not doomed now. We will colonize the solar system and eventually the galaxy.*

* Assuming past performance is indicative of future performance.


Replies

rdtsc • today at 4:13 AM

> But my point is, "we just go" is exactly how we conquered the Earth. We didn't think, "let's colonize the whole planet!", we just went

And not even all of us said that. The majority may have even stayed just a small group probably said “we’re going to check out what’s beyond that hill”.

lisper • today at 2:04 AM

> Assuming past performance is indicative of future performance.

Yeah, well, there's yer problem right there. We will not colonize the solar system, and certainly not the galaxy, because we haven't figured out how to stabilize the situation here on earth. Yes, we colonized the planet, but for most of the history our lack of planning was compensated by technological limitations and limits imposed by the laws of physics. Those are mostly gone now, and I'll be a little surprised if civilization doesn't collapse before the end of my life (and I'm in my 60s). I would be very surprised if it lasts to the end of the century, though of course I won't be around to see that.

tupaarnaq • today at 5:39 AM

Spreading out all over the world isn't particularly special. Flies, rats and roaches did as well, for instance, so spreading all over the world is not necessarily a sign of cosmic manifest destiny.