Earth is a Terrible Place to Live

[Isard]

Originally Posted by X.,.Pandora.,.X

Because obviously you can't leave earth....unless your an astronaught, and he should learn to love what he has.


oh btw



the world isn't 100 people, its 3 billion....where did they get the statistics for this video

You take a reasonable balanced survey of a much smaller group, then assume it stays true in the big picture. It's never accurate, but it's the closest you'll get to a reasonable guess.

[josie20]

Originally Posted by X.,.Pandora.,.X

the world isn't 100 people, its 3 billion

6.9 billion

where did they get the statistics

[Banefull]

Originally Posted by X.,.Pandora.,.X

the world isn't 100 people

If you took a sample of 100 random people from around the world, this is what you would probably get.

100 individuals is really an adaptation of simple percentages. You can verify some of the statistics from other sources.
For ex: according to the CIA World Factbook

0.8% of adults globally have HIV AIDS (similar to the 1 person in the video)
13% of males are illiterate and 23% of females are illiterate globally (video had 14 people overall)

Originally Posted by X.,.Pandora.,.X

where did they get the statistics for this video

It is an adaptation of the original 2001 miniature Earth project as stated in very beginning of the video. That is the source. The statistics are slightly out of data as its from 2001 but they are still very reflective of today's figures. Certain things are now slightly better but several statistics are also much worse (especially due to the global recession).

[Theorist]

I think the Earth is an Amazing place. Look at the mud beneath your feet, the sky above your head. If you look for beauty you'll see beauty. If you look for hate, you'll see hate. You can find what you want about the Earth if you look for it. It's filled with love and beauty, and **** and hate.

As for what to do? Well I work hard in school, so that one day I can hopefully become an ecologist, and hopefully do something about the environment i care about. Hopefully I can do well enough to change something, as I've got not a penny to my name I can donate.

As well, live by principle. I don't go charging off on my own path of ambition. If there's someone who needs help t some point along the way, I stop, turn around and go back and help. If you want a world with more love, love more. If you want a world with more care, care more. If you want a world with less hate, hate less.

And never stop questioning. Question what you do, what the government is doing, anything. I don't mind if people question my faith, morals, or goals, because it makes me think, then when I decide, I've become enlightened, or strengthened my belief in my morals/goals/faith.

Yes, this world can be a great place if you choose to make it so.

[Mune]

Alright- I've a lot to say on this- First of all, let me comment upon the religious aspects of this- Though it probably ended a while ago.

Religion has nothing to do with making this world a better place, nor a worse place (in my opinion). It's really about how people use the religion that they found/were brought into. I don't believe that religion affects any aspect of life. I do not believe some of the statistics I hear about religion/disbelief, and I don't really care to know either.

If someone wants to believe in religion- Let them. It can be a great way to get closer what you believe to exist. And quite frankly- Who are we to say what is real or not?

I'm sticking with the good old fashioned philosophy of "Don't mention your religion around me, and we'll get along." - Though that's not a bias-prejudice towards religion, it's like that towards any form of belief.

It's hard to give an example straight off- But I find it quite pointless debating things that are, as I created a thread about, subjective. The reason why I'm writing this in the first place is that I keep reading things on the previous pages like "Christians are forceful." - "No they aren't." - "Yes they are" [That's what I see, anyway] and it's just... ...why even bother?

Of course some Christians are going to be very forceful of their beliefs. Of course some Christians are going to force their children to belief from the moment they're born- But isn't it the same with everything?

Don't many parents force manners upon children without telling them the reasons? Many parents force their children to respect authority. Respect should not be instant. It should be earned. If anyone respects -me-, for example- Without me having earned it, then I'm quite insulted.

On the other hand- Of course there are Christians who are very non-forceful and simply believe it privately. [Will allow their children to grow, choosing their own beliefs from scratch] - In the same way that some parents don't demand manners- but rather let the child learn.

My parents for example drive me insane with this whole 'manners' thing.

[To my two younger brothers, from my mum.]

Brother: Why do we have to sit at the table to eat?
Me: [Thinking: That's a perfectly valid question, It'll be interesting to see what my parents say]
Parents: Because we must. Stop being cheeky.

Bah! I've rambled. My point was- Religion has nothing to do with being pushy. Some people are forceful of experiences, and some aren't.

------------------------------------------------------

Anyway! Okay, the thread *ahem*-

It's my belief that, well, it depends on how you look at the situation. You can't walk into a hotel's lit room blindfolded and then complain at the staff for darkness. If you see the world as a bad place to live- It's your opinion based upon well, experiences I'm guessing, and thoughts. But how can one judge something that he/she has seen so little of.

Seriously- Go on YouTube and find some videos of mushrooms... wildlife... etc. It really warms your heart. [My personal favourite to search was the 'Earth version of those orange things that contract when they're touched'] I've forgotten the name.

Speaking of poverty- Of course there's always going to be poverty in the world. But like Zenit would say- We must understand that complaining about a problem is really quite pointless. Take that step further and do something about it. I really don't know just how off-topic I went here.

[Banefull]

Originally Posted by Mune

It's my belief that, well, it depends on how you look at the situation. You can't walk into a hotel's lit room blindfolded and then complain at the staff for darkness. If you see the world as a bad place to live- It's your opinion based upon well, experiences I'm guessing, and thoughts. But how can one judge something that he/she has seen so little of.

Subjectivism is necessary for understanding individuals but I find that it is very damaging to let people sit in their own little worlds. There are real world problems out there and everyday I see a lot of people who are not even aware. They sit in their own little world and think everywhere else is the same while these problems continue to go unsolved.

Ignorance may be bliss, but it also gets other people killed.



Perhaps my thread title is not the best choice. Life has its up and downs, but all too often I see people who focus on only one and not the other. We need to keep challenging ourselves and others to break out of our own little worlds that we created for ourselves and discover more. Sometimes we need to "wake up".

[Theorist]

Quote time

"Ignorance is bliss. When Ignorance reigns, life is lost."

You gotta see the good things in Earth, so you don't become hopeless. But you gotta see the bad things in Earth, so you want to change them. Part of change is to bring these things up, so other people see them and may be moved to do something about it.

Misery inspires. Being sad/depressed from seeing the world's horrors isn't bad. I think too many people think it's bad to be sad. Being sad can be good! When I'm sad, I dig out my soul, and decide to change it. If i were drugged up happy all the time, my life would have no purpose.

[caveman]

I think it was Sempu who said it, something like,

Martin Luther King Jr said "I have a dream", not "this sucks".

Surely, King and his followers knew firsthand of all the injustices that existed. But they chose a more positive route in changing them - focusing on peace, love and justice. And it obviously proved to be very effective.

This is what I believe. We need to adress the issues realistically, and then chose the most effective means of change, which would be that "positive energy". And being positive-minded, even optimistic doesn't in any way mean being ignorant.

[Banefull]

Originally Posted by caveman

This is what I believe. We need to adress the issues realistically, and then chose the most effective means of change, which would be that "positive energy". And being positive-minded, even optimistic doesn't in any way mean being ignorant.

Well said.