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Community => Politics and Government => Topic started by: DiscoBerry on January 10, 2012, 04:54:52 pm

Title: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: DiscoBerry on January 10, 2012, 04:54:52 pm
Quote
In a sign of pessimism about humanity's future, scientists today set the hands of the infamous "Doomsday Clock" forward one minute from two years ago.  "It is now five minutes to midnight," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) director Kennette Benedict announced today (Jan. 10) at a press conference in Washington, D.C.The clock is a symbol of the threat of humanity's imminent destruction from nuclear or biological weapons, climate change and other human-caused disasters. In making their deliberations about how to update the clock's time, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists focused on the current state of nuclear arsenals around the globe, disastrous events such as the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, and biosecurity issues such as the creation of an airborne H5N1 flu strain.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=doomsday-clock-moved (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=doomsday-clock-moved)
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Lithp on January 10, 2012, 06:03:28 pm
That thing can't tell time for shit, it's 6:04 PM right now.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: ironbite on January 10, 2012, 06:44:15 pm
Oh lord.  I really hate that clock.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Shane for Wax on January 10, 2012, 08:15:48 pm
*whistles and uses a lasso to pull the clock the rest of the way to midnight*
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Witchyjoshy on January 10, 2012, 08:30:34 pm
*whistles and uses a lasso to pull the clock the rest of the way to midnight*

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Shane for Wax on January 10, 2012, 08:34:16 pm
(http://www.forkparty.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/6-urkel.jpg)

Did I do that?

Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Jodie on January 11, 2012, 06:28:08 am
I have never heard of this before. What exactly is the point of it?
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Art Vandelay on January 11, 2012, 06:41:16 am
I have never heard of this before. What exactly is the point of it?
A prediction of the end of the world, pulled entirely from someone's ass.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Distind on January 11, 2012, 06:42:03 am
I have never heard of this before. What exactly is the point of it?
It's a wonderful expression of pessimism and expectations of impending doom.

Pretty much the closer it is to midnight the closer humanity is to killing itself off. Originally it was a cover for a story featuring the 'omg we're all gona die' nuke war of the 50s which never occured, then they made it it's own thing. I think it's been moved as far back as 14 minutes from midnight at one point, and that where it is now is about as far forward as it's ever gone.

As a note, despite this we're still not dead. It's just an exersize in symbolism taken to a really sad extreme.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Da Rat Bastid on January 11, 2012, 06:58:27 am
Just thought I'd liven up the thread a little with some classic tunes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hutUnGwHFlQ
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Jodie on January 11, 2012, 06:59:28 am
So the whole point is useless pessimism and pointless scare tactics? Gotcha.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: DarkfireTaimatsu on January 11, 2012, 07:04:40 am
Just thought I'd liven up the thread a little with some classic tunes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hutUnGwHFlQ

And Tai will add this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMNJuSl91qY

(Because it's from the episode "Twenty Years to Midnight", why else?)

(Why else is because the character was hilarious.)
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: DrFishcake on January 11, 2012, 08:49:31 am
I have never heard of this before. What exactly is the point of it?

To get RR all excited.

http://rr-bb.com/showthread.php?171789-Doomsday-Clock-ticks-closer-to-midnight-amid-fears-of-nuclear-proliferation-climate-change
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: DiscoBerry on January 11, 2012, 08:54:24 am
I have never heard of this before. What exactly is the point of it?

To get RR all excited.

http://rr-bb.com/showthread.php?171789-Doomsday-Clock-ticks-closer-to-midnight-amid-fears-of-nuclear-proliferation-climate-change

Quote
A lot can happen in just a few minutes ! Who knows , ... we could be snatched away before they hang that clock back on the wall !!!!
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: rookie on January 11, 2012, 08:57:45 am
I've never heard of this thing. Does it move by itself, or is there a dude in charge of randomly setting it ahead/back?

Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Jedi Knight on January 11, 2012, 09:02:12 am
I've never heard of this thing. Does it move by itself, or is there a dude in charge of randomly setting it ahead/back?

Several dudes, actually.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: DiscoBerry on January 11, 2012, 09:06:32 am
I've never heard of this thing. Does it move by itself, or is there a dude in charge of randomly setting it ahead/back?

It's a think-tank and they debate humanities time left on earth, taking in factors such nuclear weapons, global warming, pollution, etc...The closest its been is 2 mins to midnight and the farthest has been is 17 mins from midnight.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: rookie on January 11, 2012, 09:40:50 am


It's a think-tank and they debate humanities time left on earth, taking in factors such nuclear weapons, global warming, pollution, etc...The closest its been is 2 mins to midnight and the farthest has been is 17 mins from midnight.

Oh. Then it's not really a clock, is it? Just a...a...a thing they do for their passive-aggressive hissy fit? Well, it's good to know that Fox News doesn't have a monopoly on fear mongering. Thanks DiscoBerry and Jedi.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Lithp on January 11, 2012, 01:51:00 pm
It's a bit more credible than that. It's moved less than 20 times since the invention of the atomic bomb. And its most recent move was something like 5 minutes BACK. As well, nuclear war & climate change are definitely valid concerns for a possible extinction of the species.

No, it's not as though the world is suddenly going to end if they ever decide to put it at midnight (which I'm not even sure they can). It is symbolic, for obvious reasons, the time left until the extinction of humanity is impossible to actually quantize. But that doesn't mean it's not worth putting into some kind of perspective, & it's disingenuous to call it "fear mongering."
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Aqualung on January 11, 2012, 02:05:46 pm
Quote
In a sign of pessimism about humanity's future, "scientists" today set the hands of the infamous "Doomsday Clock" forward one minute from two years ago.  "It is now five minutes to midnight," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) director Kennette Benedict announced today (Jan. 10) at a press conference in Washington, D.C.The clock is a symbol of the threat of humanity's imminent destruction from nuclear or biological weapons, climate change and other human-caused disasters. In making their deliberations about how to update the clock's time, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists focused on the current state of nuclear arsenals around the globe, disastrous events such as the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, and biosecurity issues such as the creation of an airborne H5N1 flu strain.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=doomsday-clock-moved (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=doomsday-clock-moved)

Fixed.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Jack Mann on January 11, 2012, 03:33:25 pm
It's basically the non-religious equivalent of that guy on the street corner with the sign proclaiming the end is nigh.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Shane for Wax on January 11, 2012, 03:34:38 pm
It's basically the non-religious equivalent of that guy on the street corner with the sign proclaiming the end is night.

...night?
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Vene on January 11, 2012, 03:40:08 pm
It's basically the non-religious equivalent of that guy on the street corner with the sign proclaiming the end is night.
I don't know, climate change actually is a pretty severe threat and we are living through another mass extinction event (it's also one of the fastest-if not the fastest). The exact number is pretty symbolic, but the threat is real.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Jack Mann on January 11, 2012, 04:05:17 pm
It's basically the non-religious equivalent of that guy on the street corner with the sign proclaiming the end is night.

...night?

Don't know what you're talking about.  Clearly says "nigh" in my post.

Knowledge of my errors is treason, citizens!
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: N. De Plume on January 11, 2012, 07:43:45 pm
No, it's not as though the world is suddenly going to end if they ever decide to put it at midnight (which I'm not even sure they can).

Well, since midnight is supposed to represent some form of apocalypse, they will only move it to midnight if something that guarantees that apocalypse occurs and they are not killed in the first expression of that event. Like if they survived the first wave of bombs in of a nuclear war.

Quote
It is symbolic, for obvious reasons, the time left until the extinction of humanity is impossible to actually quantize. But that doesn't mean it's not worth putting into some kind of perspective, & it's disingenuous to call it "fear mongering."

I agree with this. I think the goal is to point out to various leaders that they are being obtuse dicks on one of a number of serious subjects and give them a slap in the face.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: nickiknack on January 11, 2012, 09:45:55 pm
I think the goal is to point out to various leaders that they are being obtuse dicks on one of a number of serious subjects and give them a slap in the face.
Sadly, it goes right over their heads, and they don't really give two shits. *cough* republicans *cough*
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Thejebusfire on January 11, 2012, 11:02:22 pm
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"It is now five minutes to midnight,"


"It's been five minutes to midnight for the past hour. We've got plenty of time. We've got time to kill."
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Lithp on January 11, 2012, 11:09:11 pm
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Well, since midnight is supposed to represent some form of apocalypse, they will only move it to midnight if something that guarantees that apocalypse occurs and they are not killed in the first expression of that event.

That's fucking dedication.

Quote
Like if they survived the first wave of bombs in of a nuclear war.

That is an event I was thinking of, but I wasn't sure. Even then, maybe that's just like, one second to midnight? Maybe midnight can't actually be achieved because it's, you know, the end of the world? And no one will be left to record it?
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Yaezakura on January 12, 2012, 12:28:19 am
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Well, since midnight is supposed to represent some form of apocalypse, they will only move it to midnight if something that guarantees that apocalypse occurs and they are not killed in the first expression of that event.

That's fucking dedication.

Quote
Like if they survived the first wave of bombs in of a nuclear war.

That is an event I was thinking of, but I wasn't sure. Even then, maybe that's just like, one second to midnight? Maybe midnight can't actually be achieved because it's, you know, the end of the world? And no one will be left to record it?
Kinda have to go with this. Midnight is humanity's end. As long as enough survivors exist for eventual re-population, it can't be midnight. The only person who could technically set the clock to midnight is the very last living human. Or, I suppose, a small group if they were all of the same sex.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Oriet on January 12, 2012, 12:43:56 am
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Well, since midnight is supposed to represent some form of apocalypse, they will only move it to midnight if something that guarantees that apocalypse occurs and they are not killed in the first expression of that event.

That's fucking dedication.

Quote
Like if they survived the first wave of bombs in of a nuclear war.

That is an event I was thinking of, but I wasn't sure. Even then, maybe that's just like, one second to midnight? Maybe midnight can't actually be achieved because it's, you know, the end of the world? And no one will be left to record it?
Kinda have to go with this. Midnight is humanity's end. As long as enough survivors exist for eventual re-population, it can't be midnight. The only person who could technically set the clock to midnight is the very last living human. Or, I suppose, a small group if they were all of the same sex.
It could be done under other circumstances. Like if they knew they were all gonna starve cause climate change killed all the crops, or if there was too much radiation so they'd all be dead in a couple years (if not much shorter), or even if they knew that in a decade or so climate change/fallout would finally kill humanity off. Basically, there's several ways we can know we're fucked before we're dead, and I actually worry we're headed straight for such (do to climate change) and that nothing will really get done to avoid it in time.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: ironbite on January 12, 2012, 12:50:36 am
If Fallout happens...start hording bottle caps

Ironbite-you will not regret it.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: Shane for Wax on January 12, 2012, 07:13:38 am
If Fallout happens...start hording bottle caps

Ironbite-you will not regret it.

You're an idiot. Who hoards bottle caps after the bombs drop if we know to do it beforehand? I've got a collection already. I feel bad for you folks who don't.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: rookie on January 12, 2012, 09:50:25 am
Lithp, you say it's disingenuous to call it fear mongering. Ok. I'll play along. But it is still called a Doomsday Clock, right? But hey, what's in a name, right? So we'll move on from that rather silly point. It's used to make us aware of how our actions along with natural forces push us towards and away from the precipice of our survival as a species. And they science the hell out of observable data, make models, study them to hell and back. Cool. That's what our scientists should be doing. Then, based on all of the peer reviewed data, they push the minute hand closer or further away as needed. Then someone calls the Washington Post or whoever and announces it, most likely through a press release. That's my summed up understanding from the Wiki article.

The work the Doomsday Clock people do is important. And I do not in the slightest mean to take away from that. As I said earlier, these are the things that should be studied. But the clock counting down to midnight? Really? That rings waaay too much of fire and brimstone. "The end is nigh" and "It's five minutes to midnight for our species" sound eerily similar. Our side is that of Truth and Beauty, theirs is more for revisionist history and a warped morality. Our side uses facts and established peer reviewed processes while theirs is more into myths, strawmen, and shifting goalposts. But the methods are the same. Proclaim a violent painful death unless we change our ways.

But we are the side for truth and beauty. So I'll concede. The Doomsday Clock can be the whatever the happy euphemism for fear mongering is.
Title: Re: Doomsday Clock Moved 1 Minute Closer to Midnight
Post by: N. De Plume on January 12, 2012, 11:09:07 am
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Well, since midnight is supposed to represent some form of apocalypse, they will only move it to midnight if something that guarantees that apocalypse occurs and they are not killed in the first expression of that event.

That's fucking dedication.
I can only hope they are that dedicated. :D