Attack of the Anthropic Principle!

I’m gonna just come out and say it—the Anthropic Principle is stupid. Really, really stupid.

The idea that the universe only has meaning if we (humans) are there to observe it is…just…stupid. There really is no better word for it—except maybe arrogant, but I think that doesn’t give the necessary implication of being, first and foremost, really, really, really stupid. If humans weren’t around, the universe would still be there. It would still function; it would still be full of strange and awesome (biblical awesome, not surfer awesome) things. Stars would burn, black holes would form, gravity and physics would still work. There would still be life in bizarre places.

We don’t have to understand the world or observe it for it to exist. That idea is just stupid. It’s the kind of thinking that makes people think that God must be great to put ears on our head in exactly the right place for glasses to sit on.

Go on. Think about that for a moment.

The world doesn’t care if it is observed or not. The universe does not need humans. I will repeat this—the universe does not need mankind. We humans just like to feel special. We want to be important. So we make shit up like the anthropic principle.

I don’t believe in fate or destiny. I look at Teri and I know how unlikely it is that we both existed and that we both met, and I know that if this hadn’t happened, then something else would have—and the universe would still not care, and ultimately, would be completely unchanged.

It’s like anything in the natural world. If you don’t believe in it…so what? That doesn’t stop anything. Everybody in the world could concentrate on disbelieving in the idea of the sun being a big ball of gas and plasma. The Sun would still be there. People can think whatever they damn well want about the universe—it doesn’t mean they are right.

Evolution doesn’t stop because morons can’t understand basic biology. The sun has never been a hawk-headed god in a boat, or a shining dude in a chariot. The moon is a big round rock—it’s never been cheese, or a woman, or a magical artifact. People’s beliefs just don’t matter all that much. Life started without us, and when we extinct ourselves, or the world changes and we go extinct—the world will still circle the Sun until the Sun turns into a red giant in 5 billion years. There will even still be life after us, even if we nuke ourselves to glass—for one thing, it’d be really difficult to make the critters at the bottom of the deepest parts of the ocean go extinct.

We aren’t that important. The universe doesn’t have to mean anything—it’s the universe. It just exists. It’s awesome that it exists. It gets to have meaning just by existing, as it is the background for everything. We are not important. There aren’t even that many of us. When we go, the universe won’t even notice.

I don’t, by-the-by, think of this as a depressing concept. I think of this as extremely uplifting and gives my own life meaning—I get to see just how awesome and vast and mysterious the universe is—and know that there is more to learn—more I can learn. I get to discover stuff, learn things I didn’t know, and when mankind goes the way everything does—the universe will still be there. Will still be awesome, will still be full of new stuff, and will still be stranger than fiction.

I guess what I’m getting at is that, maybe the Anthropic Principle should read as this: Humans are stupid and arrogant, so for things to have meaning to them, they have to see it. And even then, they will make up stupid shit about it and ignore the actual miracles in favor of the ones in their heads.

But maybe I’m just cynical.

WebQuest

Ok, so…I’ll admit—of all the apocalypses, nuclear war is the least interesting to me. It’s…preventable. It involves heroic, over-muscled dudes and bad-ass-but-sexy women fighting to save the world. It’s preventable.

It may say something about me that I only get interested in the apocalypses we can’t do anything about. The surprise ones. Those are the more interesting stories, those produce the feeling of being trapped and helplessness that really make me sit up and pay attention.

No, I don’t really get it either.

So. First Link:

http://nuclearholocaust.blogspot.com/

….er…I’m not sure exactly what this blog is…blogging about. It appears to be…music links? Death Metal/Thrash Metal.

Yeah. Let’s try something else.

First Link #2

Ahh…this looks promising.

Nuclear Holocaust 2010? 2011? 2012? - Steelmark Online Forum
http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/steelmark/vpost?id=1601429
3 posts - 3 authors - Last post: Jan 28, 2008

“Satchi,in answer to your fear of nuclear holocaust,NO CHANCE. Certain circumstances are in place,have no fear,it wont come to anything, ...” [sic]

I love crazy forums.

…damn. There appears to be no more end-of-of-the-world posts.

…aaaand…no links. Damn.

Ok, Next Link!

Clueless About Nuclear Holocaust - Council on Foreign Relations
www.cfr.org/publication/4607/clueless_about_nuclear_holocaust.html - 25k -

ahh, religion and nuclear weapons.

“On Buddha's birthday in 1998, there was national jubilation when India conducted nuclear tests. Hindu extremists suggested that the radioactive desert sands in which the tests had been conducted be distributed across the nation.”
I…really have nothing to add to that. That’s awesome. Man, religious crazies in the US would be SO much more fun if we got the Hindu gods, myth cycle, and magic.

Anyway, the rest of the article is talking about how the Hindi people are so simple and naïve they don’t realize what a danger nuclear weapons are. This is evidenced by the fact that they really wanna blow up Pakistan, and think that the US (after India launches nukes at Pakistan mind you) will disarm Pakistan. ‘Cause the US hates Pakistan as much as India does, of course. Wow. Just…wow. Racism is fun folks!

But…following the linky, the linky, the liiinkyyy…

India, Pakistan, Arms Control and Disarmament
http://www.cfr.org/issue/52/arms_control_and_disarmament.html

hmm…we have a choice between Iran and North Korea.

Oh. Going with the crazy dictator ANYTIME over the current events.

Awww…that was boring. Just talking about Hillary Clinton’s visit to S. Korea, where they are (understandably) worried that North Koreas crazy dictator will blow them to kingdom come.

Bah. This site is boring. Onward to a different site.

Rick Astley Survived the Wasteland
When Rick said he'd never let you down, Not even Nuclear Holocaust/Raiders/Slavers/Mutated Insects could stop him. Thanks to...
www.wegame.com/watch/Rick_Astley_Survived_the_Bombs/ - 78k –

Hahaha. There are a significant number of Rick Astley hits from nuclear war-related searches. I’ve just been rickrolled. I don’t know why. This link was Rick Astley as a Fallout 3 guy, dancing in the middle of nuclear winter.

Okay. Next!

U.S. Drafts 'Day After' Plan for Nuclear Holocaust
www.secretsofsurvival.com/survival/day_after_nuclear_holocaust.html - 31k -

Hokay: oooh. Blinding colors? Check. American flag with “The Bible” superimposed over it? Check. Crazy Conspiracy? Double Check. Ahhhh…this is more like it.

Hmm…this article is a little old. Lets look for a more recent one—

Hahahahahahaahhahahaha

“If USA Falls to 'Nuclear Jihad', Escape to Canadian / Alaska Wilderness –
Here are three places to cross into Canada / flee for Alaska if Islamic Holy War is finally unleashed on America”

That is one hell of an awesome headline.

What are these places?

Well….they don’t really say. But here’s a bit of where they kinda talk about it…

“If you fall short of God's demands for Holiness, and you're 'left behind', where will you go?

If you live up north, will you escape to Canada and head in the direction of Alaska (depending on your present location)?

Oh yeah, and since terrorists will no doubt be waiting for such measures, we're not talking about escaping the country by road or car.

We're talking about journeying through the wilderness via hiking trails, railroad tracks, and forest service roads.”

Racism, check, check and check. Links to World News Daily, check!. WND articles talking about the “Messianic madness of nuclear Osama”

Oh man. Wow.

Ohoh! For us Minnesotans!

“Central United States Escape Route to Canadian Wilderness

Height of Land Portage: If you live in Minnesota, you likely know of this place. If not, then here's the skinny.

The Height of Land Portage is a portage along the Boundary Waters route between Canada and the United States (portage refers to the practice of carrying a boat or other water vehicle over land to avoid an obstacle in the water). Specifically, the Height of Land Portage can be found along the boundary between Minnesota and Canada.”

“…the Height of Land Portage provides relatively easy thoroughfare and has everything you need- water, wilderness shelter, various food sources, and isolation- to survive if the country were to become under attack (better dress for the cold, though). Further, invading forces are not likely to want to end up there as they will find no people.

Unless enough people read this article, that is.”

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. No fear of that, my friends. No fear of that.

And…then they talk about grizzlies being a problem.

Ok, so we’ve got Racism, conspiracies, Religious Rants about the “end times”, scary Russians, and the fear of Bears. All wrapped up in an awesome nuclear sandwich. Yup. I’m done. My work here is finished.