Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

[Money99]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

Where does it end? We have no idea what this will do. For all we know, they're creating NEW diseases.
Instead of pumping millions of dollars into creating a membrane that MAY or MAY NOT cure something or evolve into something (of which the scientists admit they have no idea what will happen) why don't they actually spend the money on known cures.

Right now, we have technology for water engines but we don't use them (http://www.zpenergy.com/modules.php?...ticle&sid=1473). Instead, the small collection of powerful men that run the oil companies make sure we continue to poison our environment so they can make an extra billion dollars.

We have a garbage problem in North America. But instead of using proficient incinerators that filter 95% of the polution from the burners (because they cost too much) we continue to let landfills pile up while still using incinerators without filters that pump toxic fumes into the air.
The Japanese on the other hand, use these filters. Not only that, but the ash that comes from burning the garbage is used to pave roads and the methane produced from the garbage that has yet to be burned is piped into public swimming pools to heat them artificially.

So basically I'm saying, instead of pretending to be God, and potentially creating frankenstein why don't these eggheads use their smarts and money and start employing some of the technology we do have for the good of mankind.

[jmood88]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

Where does it end? We have no idea what this will do. For all we know, they're creating NEW diseases.
Instead of pumping millions of dollars into creating a membrane that MAY or MAY NOT cure something or evolve into something (of which the scientists admit they have no idea what will happen) why don't they actually spend the money on known cures.



So basically I'm saying, instead of pretending to be God, and potentially creating frankenstein why don't these eggheads use their smarts and money and start employing some of the technology we do have for the good of mankind.

Why are you acting like the money going to this is somehow going to go towards whatever you think it should be going to? These scientists don't choose to not promote other things, they've decided to research things that can potentially help people.

[Money99]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

While that is a fairly accurate statement, the ramifications of something like this falling into the wrong hands are much greater than most creations.

Well said. Like I stated, what if these new membranes become a super-AIDS virus. Suddenly the wrong people get their hands on it and use it as a weapon to hold the world hostage. Awesome!
How about they work on curing the common cold or teaching people how to NOT use the left-lane when they want to take a Sunday drive! The left-lane is for PASSING YOU A-HOLE's!!!!!

[Money99]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

Why are you acting like these scientists somehow affect what technology is used and what isn't?

Who's funding them?
A lot of the times, these eggheads get together and think of something and then they get funding from the government or some private organization.
So in a sense, these scientists go out on a limb with some crazy idea and someone who's crazier funds them to make their own tower of Babel.

[jmood88]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

Well said. Like I stated, what if these new membranes become a super-AIDS virus. Suddenly the wrong people get their hands on it and use it as a weapon to hold the world hostage. Awesome!
How about they work on curing the common cold or teaching people how to NOT use the left-lane when they want to take a Sunday drive! The left-lane is for PASSING YOU A-HOLE's!!!!!

What if they actually used the membranes to cure aids!! The "wrong people" can get their hands on anything and use it for whatever they want, if you want to stay in the stone age because you're scared then make a compound and stay out of the world.

[jmood88]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

Who's funding them?
A lot of the times, these eggheads get together and think of something and then they get funding from the government or some private organization.
So in a sense, these scientists go out on a limb with some crazy idea and someone who's crazier funds them to make their own tower of Babel.

You know, a lot of people don't believe in what you believe in and they don't see making something that they think can help people as anything more than something good.

[Money99]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

What if they actually used the membranes to cure aids!! The "wrong people" can get their hands on anything and use it for whatever they want, if you want to stay in the stone age because you're scared then make a compound and stay out of the world.

But that's a GIANT 'if'. Like someone else stated, these white-coats have NO idea what's going to come of this. They're playing God without the recipe book. Nobody on this planet has any clue what this could do.
Do you want to take that risk?
What if someone came to you and said "If we mix these chemicals together there's a 1% chance we'll unleash the most horrible disease known to man that will have no cure. Everyone on earth will die in 24 hours". Would you do it?
I'd rather see the money and resources go to groups that are actually working towards a KNOWN conclusion. There's people that are working on curing cancer, MS, paralysis, AIDS, etc. In each case, these people know what they're working towards. In this case, nobody has a clue what's behind door #1.
I'm not willing to take that chance.

[Money99]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

You know, a lot of people don't believe in what you believe in and they don't see making something that they think can help people as anything more than something good.

I'm just repeating myself, but these people have no clue if any good will come of it. They're rolling the dice HOPING something good comes of it.
It's too much risk.

[jmood88]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

I'm just repeating myself, but these people have no clue if any good will come of it. They're rolling the dice HOPING something good comes of it.
It's too much risk.

Umm no, they're researching and studying what they can use them for. That's better than dismissing it because you believe that they're "playing God".

[jmood88]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

But that's a GIANT 'if'. Like someone else stated, these white-coats have NO idea what's going to come of this. They're playing God without the recipe book. Nobody on this planet has any clue what this could do.
Do you want to take that risk?
What if someone came to you and said "If we mix these chemicals together there's a 1% chance we'll unleash the most horrible disease known to man that will have no cure. Everyone on earth will die in 24 hours". Would you do it?
I'd rather see the money and resources go to groups that are actually working towards a KNOWN conclusion. There's people that are working on curing cancer, MS, paralysis, AIDS, etc. In each case, these people know what they're working towards. In this case, nobody has a clue what's behind door #1.
I'm not willing to take that chance.

Is that really what you think that science is? Where do you see them saying that they're just randomly throwing things together without knowing what they're going to be using them for?

[Brandon13]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

Who's funding them?
A lot of the times, these eggheads get together and think of something and then they get funding from the government or some private organization.
So in a sense, these scientists go out on a limb with some crazy idea and someone who's crazier funds them to make their own tower of Babel.

Just about every major invention or discovery was a crazy idea at one time. I'm just not getting the "if it falls into the wrong hands," argument because, like jmood said, that argument can be used for anything.

[Brandon13]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

I'm just repeating myself, but these people have no clue if any good will come of it. They're rolling the dice HOPING something good comes of it.
It's too much risk.

When they came up with these "known cures" there was never any risk of it not panning out? I don't see how we could keep advancing as a society if everyone had the same ideas as you.

[Money99]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

When they came up with these "known cures" there was never any risk of it not panning out? I don't see how we could keep advancing as a society if everyone had the same ideas as you.

But what are they advancing to? The guys admitted that they're basically doing this just to see if something grows and hey, maybe something good will come of it.

This whole concept is just a mad experiment. It's nothing like when man tried to find cures for rabies or small-pox.
It's people messing with nature just to say they did.
I'm all for advancing the human species. I pointed some ideas out in my original post in this thread.
This is nothing but man playing God.

[Money99]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

Is that really what you think that science is? Where do you see them saying that they're just randomly throwing things together without knowing what they're going to be using them for?

So tell me what their definitive goal is in this. Tell me where he says "this is to cure this".

From this quote:

Bedau said there are legitimate worries about creating life that could "run amok," but there are ways of addressing it, and it will be a very long time before that is a problem.

it makes me believe that they don't really know what's going to come of this.

[Brandon13]

Re: Artificial Life Likely Within Ten Years

But what are they advancing to? The guys admitted that they're basically doing this just to see if something grows and hey, maybe something good will come of it.

This whole concept is just a mad experiment. It's nothing like when man tried to find cures for rabies or small-pox.
It's people messing with nature just to say they did.
I'm all for advancing the human species. I pointed some ideas out in my original post in this thread.
This is nothing but man playing God.

I just don't agree at all. Could it end up failing miserably? Yes. Could it end up doing more harm than good? Yeah, it could. But could it also do more good than harm? Yes, it's a possibility. I just don't see what's wrong with at least attempting this.