Greatest Threat to Humanity Currently?

Epsira · December 11, 2014, 11:10:29 PM

What has the most potential to destroy our species?
And answers other than "itself" would be appreciated.Well, you can say that... but explain what you mean.

N/A · December 12, 2014, 12:14:21 AM

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BaconShelf · December 12, 2014, 01:44:19 AM

Nukes. Bioweapons. Chemical weapons. Natural disasters we create.

To sum it up; itself.

big dog · December 12, 2014, 01:58:43 AM

Stupidity.

Ushan · December 12, 2014, 02:18:19 AM

Humanity.

More Than Mortal · December 12, 2014, 02:30:11 AM

Artificial intelligence.

Doctor Doom · December 12, 2014, 02:51:35 AM

Word Wizard · December 12, 2014, 06:08:56 AM

Islam

Septy · December 12, 2014, 06:15:44 AM

Quote from: Ushan on December 12, 2014, 02:18:19 AM

Humanity.

BaconShelf · December 12, 2014, 06:46:46 AM

Quote from: Meta Cognition on December 12, 2014, 02:30:11 AM

Artificial intelligence.

SKYNET ACTIVATION BEST DAY OF MY LIFE

Kinder Graham · December 12, 2014, 07:18:19 AM

Strong central government

Super Irish · December 12, 2014, 07:23:57 AM

Us, and Space hazards.

Meteorite impacts, intense solar flares, quasar bursts, virtually everything outside of Earth is dangerous.

Mordo · December 12, 2014, 07:35:47 AM

Viral pathogens.

Mr. Psychologist · December 12, 2014, 08:54:46 AM

Quote from: Meta Cognition on December 12, 2014, 02:30:11 AM

Artificial intelligence.

If all of humanity was wiped out and replaced with a race of sentient machines, I would die happy <_____<

MEATBAGS GO TO HELL JUDGEMENT DAY BEST DAY OF THIS UNIT'S LIFE

But srsly, don't jump on the fear train pls <_<

Trinity · December 12, 2014, 09:20:07 AM

AI and stupidity.

More Than Mortal · December 12, 2014, 09:49:03 AM

Quote from: Mr Psychologist on December 12, 2014, 08:54:46 AM

Quote from: Meta Cognition on December 12, 2014, 02:30:11 AM
Artificial intelligence.
If all of humanity was wiped out and replaced with a race of sentient machines, I would die happy <_____<

MEATBAGS GO TO HELL JUDGEMENT DAY BEST DAY OF THIS UNIT'S LIFE

But srsly, don't jump on the fear train pls <_<

I don't think it'd actually be a bad thing.

DAS B00T x2 · December 12, 2014, 09:51:31 AM

I fully expected Meta to say Islam...

More Than Mortal · December 12, 2014, 09:54:02 AM

Quote from: DAS B00TINATOR on December 12, 2014, 09:51:31 AM

I fully expected Meta to say Islam...

Islam is currently a threat to rational, cultured humanity.

Not the entire species.

Statefarm · December 12, 2014, 10:02:04 AM

Memes

Probably warfare or disease

Mad Max · December 12, 2014, 10:08:37 AM

Climate change.

More Than Mortal · December 12, 2014, 10:15:45 AM

Quote from: Mad Max on December 12, 2014, 10:08:37 AM

Climate change.

There's absolutely no way in hell climate change will kill us.

Verbatim · December 12, 2014, 10:16:49 AM

Procreation.

Which would be a cop-out answer if it wasn't said by someone like me.

Mad Max · December 12, 2014, 10:24:38 AM

Quote from: Meta Cognition on December 12, 2014, 10:15:45 AM

Quote from: Mad Max on December 12, 2014, 10:08:37 AM
Climate change.
There's absolutely no way in hell climate change will kill us.

Not even indirectly?

challengerX · December 12, 2014, 10:27:47 AM

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More Than Mortal · December 12, 2014, 10:27:54 AM

Quote from: Mad Max on December 12, 2014, 10:24:38 AM

Quote from: Meta Cognition on December 12, 2014, 10:15:45 AM
Quote from: Mad Max on December 12, 2014, 10:08:37 AM
Climate change.
There's absolutely no way in hell climate change will kill us.
Not even indirectly?

No. We'll adapt. We could probably survive climate change even if our technological development ceased right now.

Given the advances we'll make and are making, climate change will be a massive irritation more than anything else. Something with adverse effects which keeps demanding our attention, but nothing genocidal.

More Than Mortal · December 12, 2014, 10:29:26 AM

Quote from: challengerX on December 12, 2014, 10:27:47 AM

Quote from: Meta Cognition on December 12, 2014, 10:15:45 AM
Quote from: Mad Max on December 12, 2014, 10:08:37 AM
Climate change.
There's absolutely no way in hell climate change will kill us.
These freezing cold winters and extremely dry and hot summers have already killed people around the world.

I'm not saying people won't and don't die, I'm saying climate change won't wipe us out - or even half of us. It's a problem, sure, but it isn't fundamentally society breaking like some things.

Epsira · December 12, 2014, 10:37:45 AM

Quote from: Meta Cognition on December 12, 2014, 02:30:11 AM

Artificial intelligence.

To the point where it develops sentience and disregards Shelnut's supposed law stating that robots shouldn't be programed to kill humans?
At a certain point, will robots be able to change their programming?

challengerX · December 12, 2014, 10:37:52 AM

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More Than Mortal · December 12, 2014, 10:43:40 AM

Quote from: challengerX on December 12, 2014, 10:37:52 AM

catastrophic.

I still don't buy it. Technological innovation, the time it takes for the effects to materialise and the few benefits of climate change will all temper the negative effects to the point where it won't be absolutely game changing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it won't be bad. I'm just saying there are other things coming to the foreground which are potentially worse.

The Lord Slide Rule · December 13, 2014, 12:33:48 AM

Quote

climate change

It's going to be expensive. Lot of people will probably die/be displaced. Third world will probably feel the brunt of it. No way it'll wipe us out though.

Space threats, AI (which I am still in support of), nuclear war, your generic apocalypse bullshit is more likely.