We landed on the Moon... simply amazing!
Have we had any similar accomplishments since then? Doesn't seem like it. After the Moon landing, people predicted that by the year 2000 there would be permanent settlements on the Moon. So much for that notion (makes me sad)... and what's even sadder, is that there are people who are convinced the Moon landing never took place. I've never understood why people prefer to ignore fact, and stick to their own biased view point about a huge conspiracy even though the evidence is so overwhelming there can be no doubt in any sane person's mind. Ah well, I must remind myself that most people are not particularly intelligent (ie dumb)... Anyway, thought I would check and see what people's thoughts are about the Moon landing, and if you would support efforts for a permanent Moon base and/or a manned trip to Mars?

cheers,

-avatar!

Speaking of the moon, have you ever noticed that when you ask a child what they want to be "astronaut" isn't a prevalent answer as it use to be? Now your more likely to hear "I want to make video games!" and the like.

I think a lot of people have fallen out of love with the idea of space and space travel and it's not really hard to see why. Not saying it right or it's not interesting, it's just think over the last 40 years people have just learned to set their expectations so much lower - which is a problem within many of the problems that still persist on this blue ball. Going to a red ball isn't going to really help for years to come - and - we'll probably drag our problems their anyway: refer to the story of Mega Man X8 (lol)

Still, while I know some who say space exploration is a waste of money, I'd rather be able to see where that money goes rather than it ending up supporting some lame ass, never-ending argument in the house and senate that won't resolve anything and be hidden as pork in some new bill.

you mean accomplishments hundreds of times more important in their symbolism and lack of precedent than their actual value? I'm sure those wouldn't be hard to find.

We haven't fixed our problems here on Earth, if we go make settlements on the Moon we'd just bring our same troubles over there.

Possibly. But a completely new settlement, something pretty much impossible on our planet in this day and age, offers a completely new start. It seems easier to start fresh than it does to fix or change something that's broken.

I never got that myself!  Seriously, don't you people have better things to do? (wait, probably not)

Jay: Google Earth still shows plenty of "raw land" available for making new settlements...  There's still way more options for starting fresh here compared to the supreme lack of resources over there.

Studies show that about 83 percent of the total land surface and 98 percent of the areas where it is possible to grow the world's three main crops are in usage.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news … print.html

So I think your notion of available "raw land" might be a little too optimistic.

Secondly, what do you mean by supreme lack of resources? Are you aware of the resources on the Moon, or Mars? Seems to me like it's much easier to sit back and say "it would never work" then to actually try and make something work. No one said it would be easy, and certainly it would be extremely expensive, but I think it's a worthwhile goal. I agree with you, there are TONS of problems that need fixing on Earth, but Earth will always be full of problems, that doesn't mean we shouldn't go exploring. Who knows what we'll find out there! New sources of energy, raw material, new technologies... yummy!

-avatar!

The ability to grow those 3 crops (rice, wheat, and maize) doesn't seem to be a factor either for or against any settlements either on earth or the moon; as it would merely just be imported to either location.

We have managed to turn bare deserts into livable cities by pumping in all required resources already, so yes it would be possible to ship everything over to the moon, but when the rest of the deserts and mountains on this planet are still closer than those deserts and mountains on the moon, why bother with the extra distance?

New sources of energy, technology, raw materials (many of which are hard to find on Earth)...
these are some reasons that come to mind! Also, it's in our nature to explore and learn

cheers,

-avatar!

I don't know if the aliens will take five beads for the moon. It's also in our nature to rape and pillage as we explore - Manifest Destiny ho!

I'm waiting for the day the earth shakes us off like a bad case of fleas.

As far as I've understood, the video footage from the moon landing was fake, but the landing did wasn't. It had something to with diffuculties handling cameras on the moon, or something. Watched a documentary about it once, but can't say I care too much about the subject, so I can't remember many funfacts. But I really DO understand why people believe it never happened, because 1.) We're used to the American (or, all) government lying us, 2.) The video footage looks fake 3.) It had a huge symbolistic value.

But, considering how forging, enhancing and foraging conspiracy theories've never helped the world progress, I always discourage people from investing to much time in them.

When it comes to settlements on the moon etc., I think it will come in some years. Once we have made our governments a lot more open and established a tasty e-democracy. Heh.

No, the Moon landing and the video were not fake.
Not sure what "documentary" you watched, but clearly it wasn't based on fact. As for governments lying to us, I think more often than not in a democracy it's an individual who tends to lie, and just as often those lies are exposed. As for people who are certain the Moon landing is a fake, I put them in the same category as people who also believe the Earth is flat.

-avatar!

Exposing lies from governments, corporations and organizations is an important endeavor. Scepticism towards them is most usually well-founded and rational. What's sad is when people have very strong opinions about certain subjects without knowing jack-shit about them. For example when it comes to the "theory of evolution", a lot of people seem extremely certain that it's a hoax, when most of them have no idea about the scientific method and / or biology itself.

But I really do understand them as well. To those people, evolution must sound like a conspiracy from the left, trying to dethrone their god, etc. Because they have no method to ascertain themselves of the theory's factuality from scientific documents, they have to settle with a lame and unscientific stance on the matter. I think it's the same about the moon landing, most people simply don't have the technical competence to judge whether it was real or not, and because people do (and should) be sceptical of their goverments, they think it is fake. I for one, have no idea about the moon landing except what I hear from "experts". And I don't know whom to listen to or not. My conclusion is "don't care but believe it to be true". Like it is for most the vast majority of people.

It's is very easy to trust science when you see practical implementations of it in front of your eyes. But science is difficult to trust when you perceive it as loaded with interest from a specific group - like evolution (atheism), moon landing (american government), sociology (leftists), and so on. At least that is what I think.

I guess my main point is, don't have strong opinions about stuff you don't know anything about! It is hard to follow that one line of wisdom IRL though, especially when drunk.

It also comes from the word "theory" which most people misinterpret..