63 replies to this topic

[Farmer]

We don't do enough damn space travel. -.-

If only we could somehow create inhabitable atmospheres. Like in Spore .

[M_GORILLA]

facebook will end the world

[Jesse]

If anything, ourselves. Scientists are already working on creating an artificial brain and have hopes of being able to transfer someone's brain into a computer within 40 years. Imagine it. Immortality, within our lifetime.

[Dasherman]

Something nuclear with a big BOOM

[Calvary]

If anything, ourselves. Scientists are already working on creating an artificial brain and have hopes of being able to transfer someone's brain into a computer within 40 years. Imagine it. Immortality, within our lifetime.

You mean mind uploading? If scientists found a way to inter my consciousness in a computer and put that into a robot equipped with a sensory interface, I'd leap at the opportunity to do that. It's actually a theme in my first full length novel which is under the works at the moment...

[Dasherman]

Be sure to tell us when it's finished! How far are you? Halfway?

[Calvary]

My novel? It's still in the planning phase, I doubt it'll be ready until 2017 as a debut novel after university.

[Affray]

My novel? It's still in the planning phase, I doubt it'll be ready until 2017 as a debut novel after university.

Having a plan is the best and probably only way a book will ever get written.
I have two book concepts in my head right now, and half on paper, and all I need to do is sit down ans start writing.

On the tpoic of the world ending, I think it will either be social collapse in the fairly distant future, which we probably would survive, maybe.
Or planet wide destruction via nature that we can't do anything about other than start building an ark.

[Calvary]

I've published a novelette already but that's much easier than a full length book obviously. But then, that's why I'm going to uni!

[Affray]

I doubt you will have the time to do much of anything in terms of personal writing when you go to university, way to much bookwork for the classes, your brain will be too fried to be creative.

[Calvary]

I'm doing a course in English. Creative writing is part of the degree.

[Affray]

Fair enough.
Hopefully your book works out and we all get to read it someday.

[Krankykoala]

Courses in English are colleges way of reminding you school can suck

[Calvary]

Ah I love English, everything about it really.

Which brings me on to another point, humanity ceases to exist when its literature dies. In my opinion that would be the significant proof of the end of civilised existence.

[Affray]

Ah I love English, everything about it really.

Which brings me on to another point, humanity ceases to exist when its literature dies. In my opinion that would be the significant proof of the end of civilised existence.

We are closer to the demise of actual literature than ever before.
Even more so than when world leaders burned entire histories worth of literature.
You would be hard pressed to find a very large number of people, compared to any time in the past, that even read books anymore.
Most of the people that do are people like us, and educators.
Granted we are a fairly large group, when compared to the total population of the world that doesn't give two shits about literature, we are quite small.

[Calvary]

Well, literacy is actually at its highest ever levels, the inclination to read however, is dissipating and that's largely down to the new mediums from which we get our information. It's ultimately extremely sad to think about.

[Affray]

Literacy is high thanks to the internet.
But being literate doesn't mean you are any good at being literate.
And the vast majority of the content on the internet is drivel.

Also, where are the tv shows like Reading Rainbow, or almost anything that was on PBS.

Now kids have shit like these Boohbah abominations, or Teletubbies, or Jersey Shore.
Even the history channel has turned in to a smuttfest filled with alien hunters and bigfoot witnesses.
Those used to be specials on the weekend when I was a kid, not regular programming.
They also air crap like Pawn Stars, and Ice Road Truckers.
On the history channel, sigh.

[Calvary]

Hey, I loved tellitubbies and writing is my profession, don't bash classic 90s TV! ;D

I understand your point though. There is no drive to learn, as you say, where are the good programmes on National Geographic? Since when were Swamp Men and Pawnstars historical?

[SpleenBeGone]

Literacy is high thanks to the internet.
But being literate doesn't mean you are any good at being literate.
And the vast majority of the content on the internet is drivel.

Also, where are the tv shows like Reading Rainbow, or almost anything that was on PBS.

Now kids have shit like these Boohbah abominations, or Teletubbies, or Jersey Shore.
Even the history channel has turned in to a smuttfest filled with alien hunters and bigfoot witnesses.
Those used to be specials on the weekend when I was a kid, not regular programming.
They also air crap like Pawn Stars, and Ice Road Truckers.
On the history channel, sigh.

I cry a little when I see something other than Modern Marvels on History channel anymore.

[Affray]

It is a very poor era for television education.
I used to watch the history channel constantly, now I can't without getting annoyed.

Discovery channel has some gems, like Daily Planet.
Cash Cab isn't terrible as far as education goes either, though I do not partake in such shows.
They also air How It's Made, which is a phenominal show.