How much longer do you think we'll continue to exist as a species?

Question

Personally I feel in 1000 years we'll either be extinct or drastically reduced in numbers. When ever it does happen we'll probably be the only species in this planet to ever cause our own extinction, how sad is that.

What say you?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, I agree with you.

Humans are often cruel, violent, and irrational. Governments are usually tyrannical, oppressive, and opposed to change.

I wish it were not the case, but we have many people who want to kill each other. The development of nuclear weapons might signify the beginning of the decline, because it gives human the ability to destroy all life on earth. That's something only a madmen could dream about.

There are also natural issues to worry about, like asteroids (thought to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs). A thousand years provides many opportunities, and I'm sure that someone will do something stupid. I just hope that our desire for peace and self-preservation will override our tendency for conflict.

But it's far from certain. The world may have survived WW2 with 50 million dead civilians in its wake, but it will not survive another conflict of that scale. As Einstein said, "I don't know what WWIII will be fought with, but WWIV will be fought with sticks and stones." Religious, social, or economic strife may come back to bite us in the future -- hard.

That being said, I remain optimistic that humanity can turn it around and continue to improve. There has been so much social, moral, and scientific advancement over the past five centuries, from the Renaissance onward, and this gives me reason for think positively. And if humans can somehow spread to places other than Earth, our chances of extinction will also decrease.

Answer 2

How ironic you ask this as I have asked this very question in group settings lately. Unfortunately, if things continue the way that they are going, I too feel that we will see dramatic changes in our way of life and eventually extinction. The polar bears near Alaska that have lived since the beginning of time are being chased from this area due to the ice melt of today. Basically, changes are taking place throughout ALL species including man; however, you are right to say that we will probably be the only ones to CAUSE all the changes. I am not a huge history fan (although becoming more of one lately) but I too wonder how a planet that has survived so long can now be on the brink of being destroyed by the youngest species...man (and I too am at fault in this situation as are probably most humans intentional or not)

Answer 3

each 3 hundred and sixty 5 days hundreds of species have become extinct via undesirable human interference. hence we are breaking considered necessary nutrition chains arising vacant ecological niches, that are no longer immediately related to our very own life. At this value we does no longer final for quite a few hundred years. this might mark the 6th substantial extinction on our planet, after the dinosaurs.

Answer 4

I disagree. We humans are on the verge of immortality. We are going to merge with computers if our lifetimes and leave the flesh. In that form we'll probably be able to travel to every part of our galaxy and beyond. We'll meet other species that have gone the same way.

Answer 5

1 day left and 15 hours till we are all gone from the planet

Answer 6

2 days, 14 hours, 37 seconds

Answer 7

I say that we have 17 hours 13 minutes and 10 seconds to continue our wretched existence. Give or take 10 minutes.

Answer 8

Five years at best... just look at the polluted sunsets, pink means dirty.

Answer 9

That is for God to know and us to find out.-Michelle

Answer 10

forever and always