• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Which event poses the greatest threat to mankind's future?

Which poses the greatest threat to mankind's future?

  • Military aggression by China or Russia

    Votes: 4 15.4%

  • Military aggression by the U.S

    Votes: 1 3.8%

  • Expansion of world Socialism, abandonment of Capitalism

    Votes: 3 11.5%

  • Expansion of world Capitalism, abandonment of Socialism

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Financial meltdown or Loss of stability in Europe

    Votes: 1 3.8%

  • Financial meltdown or Loss of stability in the U.S

    Votes: 5 19.2%

  • Superpower status shifts to China or Russia

    Votes: 3 11.5%

  • Superpower status of U.S. strengthens

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Failure to implement global environmental policies

    Votes: 7 26.9%

  • Complete implementation global environmental policies

    Votes: 2 7.7%
  • Total voters
    26
TOJ said:
The only thing that would have a complete global effect is a super volcano such as Yellowstone, an impact from a large comet or astroid, or something like a hypernova blast.

I am rooting for the hypernova blast because it just sounds so cool.
Click to expand...
Indeed! Why worry about some insignificant *poof* caused by the 10's of thousands of nuclear weapons we've created when the possibility exists of a collision with a large asteroid? :)
 
repeter said:
That can cripple, not kill humanity. In regard to the OP, though, it could change our lifestyle, prosperity etc.
Click to expand...

Hitler had the wrong idea, Stalin had the wrong idea, Mao had the wrong idea, etc.... any questions?
 
Last edited:
Taylor said:
Indeed! Why worry about some insignificant *poof* caused by the 10's of thousands of nuclear weapons we've created when the possibility exists of a collision with a large asteroid? :)
Click to expand...
I guess the answer to the question would depend on one's idea of mankind's future.

If you think of that in terms of the survival of humans, nuclear weapons, at least from this world, are not a major threat. Even if there was a major exchange between two super powers (ie USA and USSR at the peak of their power), humans would survive. In fact, in some areas they would not even notice nor care if they did. In some areas they would cheer.

If you think of mankind's future in terms of how well off the good citizens of the USA are financially, your answer would be like a lot of the posts in this thread.

.
 
Kelzie said:
I say the chemicalization of the human species. I can't tell you how many couples I know that can't conceive. I could see us going out a la Children of Men.
Click to expand...
Might just be lack of knowledge. Have you explained and demonstrated the process to them?

.
 
I think that military aggression is by far the highest threat to mankinds existence in this planet. Economic factors may cause governments to fail, but mankind will survive. Climate issues may accelerate normal shifts in the planets cycles, but mankind will undoubtedly develop technology to survive the changes. War, though, especially that of nuclear aggression between superpowers holds the greatest threat to wipeout the species. Other than war, the planet being hit by a large comet or asteroid, or the loss of the sun, are the only other major threats.
 
tlmorg02 said:
I think that military aggression is by far the highest threat to mankinds existence in this planet. Economic factors may cause governments to fail, but mankind will survive. Climate issues may accelerate normal shifts in the planets cycles, but mankind will undoubtedly develop technology to survive the changes. War, though, especially that of nuclear aggression between superpowers holds the greatest threat to wipeout the species. Other than war, the planet being hit by a large comet or asteroid, or the loss of the sun, are the only other major threats.
Click to expand...

A catastrophic airbourne virus would do it too...

That and a zombie apocolypse...

I'm ready for Z day. are you?
 
Jetboogieman said:
A catastrophic airbourne virus would do it too...

That and a zombie apocolypse...

I'm ready for Z day. are you?
Click to expand...

Most definitely, got my shotgun ready! And as to the viruses, you are probably correct, though people in very remote areas would probably survive to re-populate.
 
tlmorg02 said:
Most definitely, got my shotgun ready! And as to the viruses, you are probably correct, though people in very remote areas would probably survive to re-populate.
Click to expand...

It's possible. Depends on the virus, imagine if the virus was brought to us by a comet as you suggested earlier, and its effects were spread throughout earths atmosphere. Few people have ever considered the possibility of this, and I think that threat is more real then even NASA wants to admit.

You'll need more then a shotgun mate ;)
 
Jetboogieman said:
It's possible. Depends on the virus, imagine if the virus was brought to us by a comet as you suggested earlier, and its effects were spread throughout earths atmosphere. Few people have ever considered the possibility of this, and I think that threat is more real then even NASA wants to admit.

You'll need more then a shotgun mate ;)
Click to expand...

Your right, I will also need a flamethrower, and tweenkies!lol

As to the asteroid, if it is big enough, the virus would be secondary to the destruction. But you are right, a comet could very well bring an alien virus, but that virus would have to be extremely tolerant to extreme heat that the virus would be exposed to during entry into the atmosphere as well as the crash of the asteroid into the Earth. Thus far, no viruses that we know of are.
 
tlmorg02 said:
Your right, I will also need a flamethrower, and tweenkies!lol

As to the asteroid, if it is big enough, the virus would be secondary to the destruction. But you are right, a comet could very well bring an alien virus, but that virus would have to be extremely tolerant to extreme heat that the virus would be exposed to during entry into the atmosphere as well as the crash of the asteroid into the Earth. Thus far, no viruses that we know of are.
Click to expand...

The trick would be, the virus would have to be encased within the asteroid itself, and be released on contact. The greatest threat would be if it landed in the Earths oceans, if it killed all life in the sea, including the plant life, the environmental consequences would be pretty damned severe for the earths populace.
 
Last edited:
Grim17 said:
What action threatens the future of mankind the most? Threatens our prosperity, lifestyle, health, happiness and even our survival on this planet?

Is it military aggression or war?
An emergence of a dominant world political structure?
Large scale economic failures?
A dominant one nation superpower?
Attention placed on the global environment?

There are a lot of potentially dangerous paths, but which path in your opinion, will have the most negative impact on our lives in the years to come?
Click to expand...

I voted "Failure to implement global environmental policies." Long term, I think that's the greatest danger to mankind. And it's not even about climate change - it's about the over-exploitation of our limited and cyclical resources. Long-term, those are things we have to think about and consider.
 
Jetboogieman said:
The trick would be, the virus would have to be encased within the asteroid itself, and be released on contact. The greatest threat would be if it landed in the Earths oceans, if it killed all life in the sea, including the plant life, the environmental consequences would be pretty damned severe for the earths populace.

:gunner:
Zombie.gif
:blastem:
Click to expand...

Though possible, I think it still unlikely, with the pressure alone the virus would be exposed to on entry and impact, it would have to be one damned tough virus. But it is a viable threat, though unlikely I should think.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom