I'm not sure this is the good place for this thread so feel free to move it where it belong. Thanks

So do you feel that we are part of the eco system; I mean if the human kind disapear, other form of life will go on right?

Does that mean we are like a virus, since we are hurting nature and earth?
Though please.

I heard an analogy once that stuck with me because of how right on it is. Human kind right now act as mold, and our earth is bread. If you look at our planet you can see the mold growing, such as cities get larger, more cars on the roads etc. The mold has the potential to take over the planet and ultimately destroy it, however, because our planet has such amazing recovery properties, in my opinion it has potential to recover.

Again, this is humans today. What I'm hopeful for is that our priorities has a species will shift dramatically, although it is more than likely this change will occur when everything goes wrong, although it should be now.

Right now we are doing damage that is unpredictable what it will actually do it different ecosystems etc, we are doing things that are even cutting off oxygen supplies to coral reefs that have existed for over 500 million years.

It is scary really, I think everyone has to put some effort into self-educating themselves so they can live in harmony with the planet.

Different definition of mold would be best.

meh, might as well get some value out of it since it's all gonna be destroyed one day by the sun. that's not to say that we shouldn't take weigh benefits of our actions in terms of longterm and shortterm gain, though.

I'd like to share a revelation that I’ve had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species, and I realized that humans are not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment; but you humans do not. Instead you multiply, and multiply, until every resource is consumed. The only way for you to survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern... a virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer on this planet, you are a plague, and we... are the cure.

I think we are very like a virus, except we anthropomorphize and viruses don't bother with such silliness.

We're a type of organism. A virus is a type of organism. Wow, we have something in common. That must mean, like, we could have so much more in common!

....We're not a virus.... Stop watching too many movies, guys. lol

^ A virus isn't even an organism.

We arent really hurting nature or earth. We are arguably hurting ourselves (not really though) and we are from time to time hurting SOME types of nature and SOME parts of Earth (to the advantage of other parts). So no, not like a virus really, in the sense you mean.

I really would like an example please, as I can't think of one.

...

The definition of organism includes something that holds the property of life, and therefore some people don't include a virus in the category of an "organism".

Agent Smith was claiming that, but they proved him wrong didnt they.

Hello Mr Anderson

Really? Before I start, what is the "correct" or "best" type of Earth? How "should" it be?

balanced?

I dont know what that means, but the Earth seems, to me, to be reasonably balanced right now (as it was 100 years ago, 10000 years ago, etc). How much of each thing is required for the earth to be balanced? Same number of parking lots as hot springs? One redwood for every skyscraper?

I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt that we arent heading into Noble Savage territory here.

I think I didn't understand the question. Earth seems very well balanced to me too.

Yeah, a jump from 1 bill to ~7 bill population in ~200 years is very balanced um hum.
We are doing this planet a favor yah.
Nations are preparing to drill for oil in both Arctic and Antarctica,
think about that... WE ARE GOING TO F%#K WITH THE PLANET POLES!!!!

Super awesome balance yeah....

As you said we are not going to get away with that, that's why it's balanced DUCY ?
I mean the planet is gonna f uck us before we f uck her, even we will damage her greatly, she will damage us too. That balance IMO

No matter what we do the Earth is still gonna orbit the sun and will be no less of a planet. It was here a long time before we got here and will be here a long time after we're gone.

Its life on Earth that's be affected by humans. I don't find the virus analogy particularly apt. We're exploiting the resources which is no different to what every other organism is doing. However, because of our intelligence we can be more efficient in this exploitation. If we're not responsible though, it could be a disaster for all life, including us.

Really? Seems to me that only the most complex organisms will even be affected. This will be less of a disaster for "all life" than the dinosaur extinction, and MUCH less of a disaster for "all life" than when oxygen became prevalent in the atmosphere (an event that killed just about everything).

Even worst-case wise, I doubt the extremophiles are shaking in their boots.

As for the earth, you're right it was here before us; it was here a billion years before any kind of life showed up. The earth, for all our kumbaya nonsense, is a rock orbiting the sun. Human life is not a cancer of the earth - in fact, all life taken together is just a case of mild acne.

We're certainly capable of negatively affecting far more than just the most complex organisms. However, saying 'all life' was an exaggeration.

I think this quote sums up the human race pretty well:

I disagree, Mr. Chomsky. You're a brilliant linguistic theorist, but this is a personal opinion of yours that, while it may be valid, shares the same value as the next guy's opinion.