Some questions even stump Stephen Hawking.

The famed British astrophysicist and best-selling author has turned to Yahoo Answers, a new feature in which anyone can pose a question for fellow Internet users to try to answer. By Friday afternoon, nearly 17,000 Yahoo Inc. users had responded.

Hawking's question: "In a world that is in chaos politically, socially and environmentally, how can the human race sustain another 100 years?"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13781538/

Hawkings is a moron.

The world is not in chaos politicly, socialy or enviromentaly. Humanity will survive for millenium to come.

quote Originally posted by Phranc: Hawkings is a moron.

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What does labor want? We want more schoolhouses and less jails; more books and less arsenals; more learning and less vice; more leisure and less greed; more justice and less revenge; in fact, more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures, to make manhood more noble, womanhood more beautiful, and childhood more happy and bright.
-Samuel Gompers

quote Originally posted by Phranc: Hawkings is a moron.

[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 07-09-2006).]

quote Originally posted by Phranc: Hawkings is a moron. The world is not in chaos politicly, socialy or enviromentaly. Humanity will survive for millenium to come.

Did you really mean that or are you just trolling? If you really meant it... explain how the world is not in chaos politically, or socialy for a start... just pick one an justify yourself.

So what are your qualifications for calling Hawkings a moron? I'm sure it's got to be better than Hawking, he's the Lucasian Professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge and if even dead people like Issac Newton can hold that post, I'm sure you've done better.

You've got to have at least these awards and more right?

* 1975 Eddington Medal
* 1976 Hughes Medal of the Royal Society
* 1979 Albert Einstein Medal
* 1985 Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society
* 1986 Member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences
* 1988 Wolf Prize in Physics
* 1989 Prince of Asturias Awards in Concord
* 1999 [6] Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize of the American Physical Society
* 2003 Michelson Morley Award of Case Western Reserve University
* 2006 Copley Medal of the Royal Society

quote Originally posted by NEPTUNE:

x2

At least I can spell Hawking.


Anyways, it's an interesting question. I subscribe to the theory that while we're down here bickering and ***** slapping each other, some 10 mile asteroid will blindside us.

quote Originally posted by Scott-Wa: Did you really mean that or are you just trolling?

It HAD to be a joke!

The funny part is putting those 2 words together, Hawking & Moron!

"That guy dances like Stephen Hawking!"

quote Originally posted by Scott-Wa: Did you really mean that or are you just trolling? If you really meant it... explain how the world is not in chaos politically, or socialy for a start... just pick one an justify yourself. So what are your qualifications for calling Hawkings a moron? I'm sure it's got to be better than Hawking, he's the Lucasian Professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge and if even dead people like Issac Newton can hold that post, I'm sure you've done better. You've got to have at least these awards and more right? * 1975 Eddington Medal * 1976 Hughes Medal of the Royal Society * 1979 Albert Einstein Medal * 1985 Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society * 1986 Member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences * 1988 Wolf Prize in Physics * 1989 Prince of Asturias Awards in Concord * 1999 [6] Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize of the American Physical Society * 2003 Michelson Morley Award of Case Western Reserve University * 2006 Copley Medal of the Royal Society

I hope you never fall off your high horse the drop is way to far for you to survive. (now thats trolling)
I hope you fall off your high horse and break your neck when you land. (thats a flame)

Calling the worlds smartest man a moron is clearly a joke. You need to relax some.

Just wondering.... I've seen some here that would mean it and attempt to back it up with something they heard on the radio

i heard on the radio that he can't walk or talk.

he can't be too smart.

Actually, the answer is relatively simple. But the solution, and because of humans being who and what they are, is extremely complex and nearly impossible. To add to it, one of the things that needs to be done is to bring back morals. The world seems to be lacking those lately. Because whatever solution is arrived upon, it seems that someone somewhere will find a way to exploit it. Just my opinion though.

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Whade' "The Duck Formerly Known As Wade" Duck
'87 GT Auto
'88 Ferrario

[This message has been edited by whadeduck (edited 07-09-2006).]

quote Originally posted by Phranc: Calling the worlds smartest man a moron is clearly a joke. You need to relax some.

My first instinct told me that this was a joke.
However, on FOX "news" they are all laughing at the genius.
I guess ignorance really IS bliss for some people.

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_colbert_report/videos/season_2/index.jhtml?playVideo=71006

[This message has been edited by NEPTUNE (edited 07-09-2006).]

Actually, that was Henninger, an editor at the Wall Street Journal and not affiliated with Fox News other than he was a guest offering an opinion. Besides that, the only thing he was really poking fun at was that he didn't want to colonize the moon, hardly something that takes great intellect. (BTW, I think we should already be on the moon with a permanent base). The only thing I really saw that was "laughing" at Hawking was Colbert on Comedy Central.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by NEPTUNE: My first instinct told me that this was a joke. However, on FOX "news" they are all laughing at the genius. I guess ignorance really IS bliss for some people. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_colbert_report/videos/season_2/index.j html?playVideo=71006

"In a world that is in chaos politically, socially and environmentally, how can the human race sustain another 100 years?"
hawking is a brilliant astrophysicist, but he's no more qualified to speculate about the destiny of humanity than the rest of us.

i just finished re-reading "a canticle for leibowitz". i first read it when i was 12 or 14. it seems to have deeply influenced my view of human nature, progress and history.

political, social and environmental chaos have always been with us. they are part of the human condition. the only thing new about this is that we have the capabilty to utterly destroy ourselves.

are we wise enough to not exercise that capability? time will tell. in the cosmic scheme of things, we are cockroaches, irrelevant but tough and adaptable. i have a certain irrational faith that somehow, come what may, pestilence or thermonuclear war, we will muddle through, perhaps to rebuild and repeat our errors.

[This message has been edited by lurker (edited 07-09-2006).]

Apparently you guys use the word moron differently over there.
Doesn't matter how smart you are. You can still be a moron.
Probably a word that equates as equally to being a geek as being an uninformed redneck, or many other things.

[This message has been edited by AusFiero (edited 07-09-2006).]

One could also take into account that someone may be a genius, does not automatically make them an expert in all areas.

I admire Hawking for his understanding of the physical universe. I don't automatically ascribe him an expert on psychology, and sociology.

Hawking lives a fairly insulated life of an academic, and has health issues. If you spent all your time around universities and fellow academics you might have a different world view of say a politician, covert agent, mill worker, etc.

Hawking has no wants (aside from the physical disability) all that he needs is provided for him. People have spent years working on the technology that allows him to speak and get around this is not the case for 99.9% of the rest of the world’s population again giving different world views.

So to the original question, the question itself is flawed. He's taking his world view as a factual baseline starting point.
The reply is fairly simple, the way we have for the past 4+ thousand years.. By working at it, and dealing with the outcome.
The world is actually more stable than in days of Rome and Greece when they were constantly at war with each other and their neighbors. Slavery and social injustice have all but been eradicated in the forward countries. Environmentally we are in much better shape then where we were just 50-30 yrs ago during the height of the industrial age.

Now before you dog pile on, Im not saying all is rosy, but "chaos" might be a bit on an exaggeration when taken in context of where we as a species have been and where we are now.

well said lurker. do you have a link to that book, or story?

quote Originally posted by sostock: well said lurker. do you have a link to that book, or story?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Canticle_for_Leibowitz

quote Originally posted by Uaana: One could also take into account that someone may be a genius, does not automatically make them an expert in all areas. [SNIP] Now before you dog pile on, Im not saying all is rosy, but "chaos" might be a bit on an exaggeration when taken in context of where we as a species have been and where we are now.

You made some good, well thought out points, Uaana. While I don't agree 100%, much of what you said is true.
I thoght the Fox "news" laughfest was shameful.
Your disagreement, however, showed proper respect to a brilliant man and I thank you for your civility.
I only wish I were able to solve this riddle.

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What does labor want? We want more schoolhouses and less jails; more books and less arsenals; more learning and less vice; more leisure and less greed; more justice and less revenge; in fact, more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures, to make manhood more noble, womanhood more beautiful, and childhood more happy and bright.
-Samuel Gompers

[This message has been edited by NEPTUNE (edited 07-09-2006).]

Only if they do the same to CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, and MSNBC.

Pick any of the above (and include Fox). Tally up the hours devoted to "NEWS", then tally up the hours devoted to opinion, interviews of opinion, and new (and I use the term loosely) type programs. News at any of them in the old Huntley/Brinkley-Cronkite style is non-existent.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by NEPTUNE: Sorry I couldn't find the original FOX clip, with frequent guest Henninger. Apparently it is no longer available. I shouldnt wonder. I always try to hide it when I put my foot in my mouth too. Not to hijack the thread, but IMO someone should sue FOX 'news" and force Rupert Murdick to take the word "NEWS"off his broadcasts. They are nothing of the sort.

John, that SOUNDS like a valid argument, but it just isn't.
It's worn out and false. There's no comparison.
Like comparing Soap Opera To legitimate theater.
We could argue that 'till the cows come home, but it's off topic.
And I know you would rather argue than eat.
Best regards and goodnight, sir.

[This message has been edited by NEPTUNE (edited 07-09-2006).]

Not really an argument, my friend.

Personally, I'll take the BBC over any US news source for just delivering the facts. My only point was that none of them are worth a hoot.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by NEPTUNE: John, that SOUNDS like a valid argument, but it just isn't. It's worn out and false. There's no comparison. Like comparing Soap Opera To legitimate theater. We could argue that 'till the cows come home, but it's off topic. And I know you would rather argue than eat. Best regards and goodnight, sir.

Living without chaos is unnatural. Self destruction of any society is inevitable. The question is moot.

Next...

hehehe

quote Originally posted by F-I-E-R-O: Living without chaos is unnatural. Self destruction of any society is inevitable. The question is moot. Next...

If that answer wasn't so depressing & true, I would be right there with ya'!
But I prefer the illusion of hope, against all hope.
Don't get me wrong.
HOPE.
Not faith.

Faith can be broken.
Hope requires no investment.

quote Originally posted by MclarenF1: hehehe

In our attempts to elliminate chaos, we create it.

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Whade' "The Duck Formerly Known As Wade" Duck
'87 GT Auto
'88 Ferrario

Wouldn't we take our problems with us to Mars or wherever we go to escape the problems on earth?
No matter where you go, there YOU are.
We created the chaos here. We can do it again.

[This message has been edited by NEPTUNE (edited 07-10-2006).]

Maybe it's all just a matter of the balance of the universe. In order to know what order is, we have to have chaos. Bad to know good. Sour to know sweet, etc. Without chaos, we would adjust to label what we now know as normal as chaos. It would become, and is anyway, a situation of things being relative. What we consider chaos in this country is probably considered the norm in others.

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Whade' "The Duck Formerly Known As Wade" Duck
'87 GT Auto
'88 Ferrario

quote Originally posted by Phranc: Hawkings is a moron.

quote Originally posted by NEPTUNE:

X3. Boy, I'm still laughing.

[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 07-10-2006).]

The only man smarter than Hawkings..................Buckaroo Banzai!! Heck, He traveled dimensions, was a brain surgeon, and played a mean Gi-tar.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by NEPTUNE: No matter where you go, there YOU are.

quote Originally posted by jstricker: The only man smarter than Hawkings..................Buckaroo Banzai!! Heck, He traveled dimensions, was a brain surgeon, and played a mean Gi-tar. John Stricker

One of my top ten fave movies.
Always glad so see ANYONE mention it.
I'd give you a + but you already have one.