Like anything, a variety of reasons played into it
There's plenty of people who think our current societal existence is pointless and miserable
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Space Travel (Interstellar question)
- Thread starter Rel
- Start date
Like anything, a variety of reasons played into it
There's plenty of people who think our current societal existence is pointless and miserable
aminalmutha
New member
At least we ain't starving.
Some people's ancestors came here to seek their fortune. Many others', like mine, came in order to survive cuz it sucked so bad back home. No job, no property, no food. Nothing to give up.
Not to say getting shot off into space isn't a noble endeavor. Not to say hoarding crap is noble either. But most people in the US aren't starving, so going into space wouldn't be out of necessity.
Hooli
Bonafide
aminalmutha
New member
And still others really had no choice.
:racecard
I was going to mention that, too, but wanted to keep it short.
One way or another, a lot of people are here due to people in the past living under some shitty circumstances, not necessarily giving everything up. Many here may live a hallow existence, but we are generally no longer just trying to survive.
Anyways, y'all get on that rocketship and GTFO off my planet.
afm199
Well-known member
Ehh, many of the early colonies were not visionary or religious, they were corporate money pooling with profit in mind. That's why there were so many failures. The investors came over with a retinue of indentured servants to take care of them, and there were not enough people to actually work, plant and fish.
afm199
Well-known member
i know it wasn't in a tin can going into space, bit what do you think the first people to sail a boat over the horizon were doing?
Walk over a mountain range to see what was on the other side?
Someone was crazier than you.
ftfy
Blankpage
alien
I know it wasn't in a tin can going into space, bit what do you think the first people to sail a boat over the horizon were doing?
Walk over a mountain range to see what was on the other side?
Someone was braver than you.
Are you more brave than me? So you'd be signing up to go?
Well i wont and i'm not about to bullshit pretend i would. Theres a lot of stuff and people on this planet that i care about but i dont give two fucks for anything that might be found on mars.
Theres a big difference in floating through empty space then setting off in a sail boat to explore the very planet where humans are designed to exist on.
Yeah have a good trip out there man but when it comes to lift off i bet you dont have the balls to pull the trigger.
Let's light this candle!
}Dragon{
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ ︵ ╯(°□° ╯)
Rel wants to travel to Uranus.
johnkol
Active member
For the people that say that they would readily embark on interstellar travel, you probably do not realise how empty interstellar space is. Basically, you will be travelling for centuries with seeing nothing but complete and utter blackness. If you have images of other-worldly beauty depicted in science fiction movies, you will be sorely (and suicidally) disappointed.
There is also a completely alternate view of this, but we can pick this up later.
There is also a completely alternate view of this, but we can pick this up later.
mean dad
verum super omnia
You're basing your opinion on your feelings, without knowing a single thing about my mental make-up, or my family ties (or lack there of). Are you the kind of guy that kills puppies for kicks? No? You know there are people out there that do, right?
I don't think anyone is volunteering for a century of sitting, kimosabi. Certain things are assumed, like not sitting in one position for a year. Maybe we can pretend that deep sleep space travel is possible? You know, since we're talking about hypotheticals and all.
johnkol
Active member
I did not get the impression that this was about hypotheticals; it seems to me that the OP was asking whether one would embark on such a mission if one was launching tomorrow.
The problem with real-world missions like these is not that the travellers will be sitting in one position; build a big enough spacecraft and move around all you want, you will still see nothing in your lifetime because interstellar space is essentially empty.
Would you still board the flight if the only prospect for discovering new worlds would be for the 100th generation down the line to do so?
mean dad
verum super omnia
The mere question of space travel posed on a motorcycle forum makes it hypothetical. And I just re-read the question. No constraints about leaving now, being awake for centuries, etc.
The question was: How many of you would travel space for the betterment of mankind. I answered that question to the best of my ability.
To address your new scenario of doom and boredom: The spaceship would be big enough to support life for 100 generations, correct? That means for my lifetime it'd be like living in an exclusive resort...but not so swanky. Movies, games, books, tv shows, etc.
Oh no, I can't see out the window. How will humans survive?
And I'm aware that you (or anyone) could keep coming up with reasons why I'm wrong, and that everyone that says they'd go is lying. I still wonder what it was like for the old people, sailing into the dark unknown with only what they could fit on their boat, while maximizing storage for food and water.
I'll bet there wasn't much to look at then, either.
Im operating under the assumption the hypothetical qwuestion involves some new version of propulsion that will get you there in a single generation, or within my lifetime.
certainly the mars question includes that, even if also including a dangerous and years long mission to get there
from a hard science POV I dont think humans can or will ever get out of our solar system. Im decently versed in astronomy and was my chosen interest to pursue before artistic endevors took over. its a fun hobby of mine still. the nature of real space travel is simply too big a hurdle, IMO
but this is just for fun, thats all.
certainly the mars question includes that, even if also including a dangerous and years long mission to get there
from a hard science POV I dont think humans can or will ever get out of our solar system. Im decently versed in astronomy and was my chosen interest to pursue before artistic endevors took over. its a fun hobby of mine still. the nature of real space travel is simply too big a hurdle, IMO
but this is just for fun, thats all.
Yeah, well maybe the next time aliens come back we can learn some of that stuff and keep Will Smith from pissing them off with that "welcome to erf" bullshit.
johnkol
Active member
It wasn't explicitly stated, it was merely my impression that this was a more pragmatic question.
If we're talking about a Star Trek-like mission with warp speeds and all, sure, I'll sign up too.
In the real world though, the universe is simply too vast for human exploration, not to mention the fact that there is very little to actually explore.
mean dad
verum super omnia
lol, who wouldn't want to cruise around with Captain James 'The Mack' Kirk for a century or two? 
You read the question your way, I read it mine. There is no spaceship ready to take off tomorrow, so in my mind it cannot be a seriously valid question.
It seems to me that the main question being asked is if you would give up your things and family, not if you'd mind being insanely bored forever so we can spread our seed to other planets.
Keep shooting me down and eventually I'll agree not to go, dad. But for what's in my mind right now, and my life and family the way it is, I'm only leaving behind my potential future good times (and a lot of potential for bad times). If I get to balance that out with bettering mankind? It's a done deal in my book.
Would I regret my decision in fifteen years, when I'm the only living thing within a million miles? Probably. But I'll fill that seed jar til my hand falls off!
Perhaps we should start another thread, and ask who would sit in a dark room for ten years for the betterment of mankind.
You read the question your way, I read it mine. There is no spaceship ready to take off tomorrow, so in my mind it cannot be a seriously valid question.
It seems to me that the main question being asked is if you would give up your things and family, not if you'd mind being insanely bored forever so we can spread our seed to other planets.
Keep shooting me down and eventually I'll agree not to go, dad. But for what's in my mind right now, and my life and family the way it is, I'm only leaving behind my potential future good times (and a lot of potential for bad times). If I get to balance that out with bettering mankind? It's a done deal in my book.
Would I regret my decision in fifteen years, when I'm the only living thing within a million miles? Probably.
But I'll fill that seed jar til my hand falls off!Perhaps we should start another thread, and ask who would sit in a dark room for ten years for the betterment of mankind.
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alien
Since we've relaxed the rules here a little bit than okay I'll play along. Point me to the nearest wormhole dumping me out in a blue heaven of Avatar hotties and I just might reconsider all that gets left behind.
asthmodeus
New member
cmon dude. you couldn't satisfy one of those things
regardless, if a bunch of people in white lab coats said "hey fuckface, we have investigated the north koreans claims that fearless leader kim actually did go to the sun to visit his dear departed daddy and we think we can shoot somebody into motherfuckin Betelgeuse to outdo those inky little fuckers. unfortunately, there is only about a .05% chance that you will survive. are you down?" i would still do it, as long as assured me that i would have proper sunglasses and enough heat shielding to get within an AU of that big bitch.
seriously. i would do that, just to see some of the universe up close. it would be nice if they give my fam some dough for gittin er dun, or naming a wing at MIT after me or whatever...but i would do it for free too.
JesasaurusRex
On a break
I'd buy all of you one way tickets