it would be better if people like us didn't exist

[iamjustapebble]

i hope my friends kill themselves after i die.

 

[DeadnDusted]

I think it would be better if people in general stopped breeding.

 

[iamjustapebble]

I think it would be better if people in general stopped breeding.

yea. people look at this world we live in and think to themself "wouldnt getting another human in here be great?" and i just dont get it

 

[Ben 111]

I think it would be better if people in general stopped breeding.

Exactly..procreation is root cause of all problems and suffering in this wrld

 

[Seneca65AD]

Interesting question. But the way it's phrased is confusing for me... ".... people like us...." i.e. suicidal people, or people in general? Let's assume people in general. Would that make the world a better place? Well, what does better mean? Does it mean the earth is safe from global warming? Climate change? Wars? Deforestation? Animal abuse?

Given there has been 5 Global Extinctions without human's being around, arguably, we don't have much an effect. Of course one can point to the fact we are in the middle of 6th Global Extinction that most scientists agree is man-made. So, given man is responsible for the latest extinction, I can see where the world could be better off without humans in it.

But why stop there? Nature is cruel....little animals being torn apart by bigger animals, who then get eaten alive by larger animals. If the aim of the "non-human" collective is to protect earth from suffering at the hands of humans, then would it not be better for all carnivores to be removed to protect the cute little herbivores? Then we run into problems with over-population which leads to starvation and disease and more suffering. At the very least, apes would have to be removed from the eco-system given they are most likely to evolve into higher-consciousness beings....oops don't forget about dolphins; those little bastards are sneaky!!

I'm not trying to minimize the harm that humans have caused to the planet and all things living on it, but I look at this question as more of a thought experiment which can take us down the rabbit hole....and I'm currently stuck in the world's most boring deposition. I would welcome the apocaplyse just to stay awake.

 

[iamjustapebble]

Interesting question. But the way it's phrased is confusing for me... ".... people like us...." i.e. suicidal people, or people in general? Let's assume people in general. Would that make the world a better place? Well, what does better mean? Does it mean the earth is safe from global warming? Climate change? Wars? Deforestation? Animal abuse?

Given there has been 5 Global Extinctions without human's being around, arguably, we don't have much an effect. Of course one can point to the fact we are in the middle of 6th Global Extinction that most scientists agree is man-made. So, given man is responsible for the latest extinction, I can see where the world could be better off without humans in it.

But why stop there? Nature is cruel....little animals being torn apart by bigger animals, who then get eaten alive by larger animals. If the aim of the "non-human" collective is to protect earth from suffering at the hands of humans, then would it not be better for all carnivores to be removed to protect the cute little herbivores? Then we run into problems with over-population which leads to starvation and disease and more suffering. At the very least, apes would have to be removed from the eco-system given they are most likely to evolve into higher-consciousness beings....oops don't forget about dolphins; those little bastards are sneaky!!

I'm not trying to minimize the harm that humans have caused to the planet and all things living on it, but I look at this question as more of a thought experiment which can take us down the rabbit hole....and I'm currently stuck in the world's most boring deposition. I would welcome the apocaplyse just to stay awake.

the thing with carnivores is that they didn't cause global warming, a thing that will most likely cause mass extinction.

 

[auld_fool]

It is weird to think about, but I think humans only evolved consciousness recently and not yet as fully developed as it could be. So while it is an extremely powerful capability, we as a species are too powerful without the capacity yet to be responsible or cautious. we're like babies playing with nukes. everyone dies.

 

[Lost Magic]

Governments, the mainstream media/social media and corporate greed has made people really turn. I wish people like them didn't exist, not us. They, in large part, made many of us this way.

 

[turned_to_one]

it's an understandable take, but it's a disservice to those who are out there being good to others and trying to make a genuine positive impact in the world.

global warming is a by product of capitalist industrialization, war is similar.
we can't attribute these things to every individual, because most have no power over what happens in that regard.

i think it's a cruel thing wish death on those who do desperately cling to life. I think of all the people being slaughtered in Palestine, who desperately want and deserve humane treatment. one cannot fault them for yearning for life. I don't like to use the word "evil" because it is so loaded, but it would be evil to suggest someone in that position should just die already.

misery is misery and feels horrible. i think people should have more control over their lives and their fate. as much as there is suffering, there is also peace and joy. not all the time, but it's there.

we have to try not to project our own desires onto others -though i'll hypocritically add that there are certainly a large group of people with power who choose to make others suffer who deserve death

 

[Seneca65AD]

the thing with carnivores is that they didn't cause global warming, a thing that will most likely cause mass extinction.

Agreed for the most part if one is focused solely on global warming. But what if my definition of peace on earth means no suffering even by an animal? Mother-nature is cruel so for me, I would rather have all sentient beings with nervous systems not exist since the death process in nature is almost always painful. The animal either gets eaten or it becomes old and starves to death. There really is no 3rd option without human intervention and euthanasia.

Also, I see the primary existential threat to humans as having a biological cause - either weaponized or naturally occuring. Now, global warming could contribute to the release of the biologic - think permafrost melting and releasing dozens if not hundreds of previously unidentified pathogens in the air.

** Note: turned_to_one just posted while I was typing the above. I do agree with his sentiments. There are definitely people who love life and value existing - and those people vastly outnumber us poor sods who can't wait for the end of this mortal coil. But ultimately the question is whether the earth would be better off if humans were not here. My response is still "technically yes", but I do believe every animal would also be better off if not here.

Now, what about if humans have a complete and total epiphany about the value of "mother-earth" and we took all funds, development and production currently used for the military industry and focussed it on providing clean water and enough food for all on earth? We cured diseases and all went vegan.....and our prime directive was always "do no harm". Would that change any one's mind?? I know it would make me do a 180... so maybe the issue is not the presence of humans per se but rather our current incarnation? But that is a question for another day and another boring deposition.