h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Two things were in the news today ( both of which can be found on the BBC news website at news.bbc.co.uk ):

1. An enormous supervolcano has been found, beneath almost all of Yellowstone Park in America, and judging from geological evidence, it is due to erupt (geologically speaking) at any moment. The ensuing ash and consequent lack of daylight from a similar sized explosion in the past wiped out all but a few thousand members of the human race 70,000 years ago. It could do it again, at any point, but only gets a full mention on a late night documentary on a low ratings channel.

2. A new approach to economics is being pioneered on the assumption that humans don't think rationally. They have habits which are totally non-productive, but which we feel good about doing.

I don't think we do have an automatic desire to keep things in perspective. I think we often only manage to think about things that are physically in front of us, or that have been worn into us through habit, or that we think everyone else is thinking about.

That's why I think people have been slow to make changes to save the environment, and we are wrong to assume they ever will do on rational evidence alone. There has to be some kind of habit of thinking about the environment, or some immediate material gain from "going green" for people's attitudes and practices to change. Arguments alone aren't going to do it, I fear, unless they convince more independently-minded trend-setters to lead by example.

Researcher 110531, you need to give yourself a name - this is so impersonal. I saw the Horizon program you mention. It is very humbling to properly appreciate the awesome power of the forces at work within the Earth. In some ways we should perhaps take encouragement from the fact nature, in the end, will have her way whatever we do to the planet.

I wrote Raftworld about 12 years ago when I was relatively young and idealistic and thought that ideas could change the world. I am far more cynical now. I pretty much agree with everything you say.

By the way, you have highlighted a flaw in the design of this mostly wonderful site: you don't get notified on your home page when someone creates a new thread from an article - therefore the slow response. I'm going to have to check on a regular basis now. Also, as a matter of interest and general curiosity, as a new researcher, how did you get to this article? What did you search upon? Or was it true serendipity?