Biggest Problem Facing Humanity

[Apotheosist]

What do you guys think is the single biggest problem facing humanity at the moment?

[goldenpeach]

Jebediah Kerman.

On a serious note,I think it's global warming.

[trvtannenberg]

Poverty, famine, persecution, diseases, etc., well many things.

[Van Disaster]

Overpopulation.

Famine & disease epidemics are countering forces, at some point we're going to breed a bug medicine simply can't handle for a while. We've got some horribly resistant bacteria around as it is.

[Kerbal01]

the lack of a us space program with manned rockets.

[WestAir]

Money.

Let's be completely honest. Nothing happens without money. No projects, no successes, no new technologies advancements or frontiers can be made without money. It is the single largest drawback to man exploring the Galaxy or progressing further. Sure, we'd love to send man to Mars, but it won't happen without economic backing. Yes, we'd love to explore genetics engineering to help remove diseases before birth, but it won't happen without money. Yes, we'd absolutely love to improve the quality of life for everyone who must live in paper shacks with no clean water or power, but...

And there you have it.

[NGTOne]

I'd say lack of proper access to education. Quality education has been demonstrated to drastically reduce war, poverty, etc. within a few generations. But in the US, the educational system is flagging badly, and large swaths of the world lack access to even basic education services.

[BigOto2]

Global warming. All of the above issues mentioned are definitely very bad and if they continue to be as bad as they are, I don't even want to think about what would happen to the environment.

[m4v]

Lack of an alternative to fossil fuels.

[Nibb31]

+1 for overpopulation. It is the elephant in the room that is either the root cause or the biggest contributor to all of our other problems. Yet none of our politicians wants to address or even acknowledge the problem, mostly because the actual solutions (including worldwide birth control and sex education campaigns) go against "family values" and religious dogma.

[rkman]

The inability of most people to recognize that there be predators amongst us; fellow humans who see other humans as prey rather than as fellow humans - people who enjoy exerting power over other people and therefor are attracted to positions of power (in politics and industry) and end up in such positions because 'normal' people are not so much attracted to those positions. Having a serial killer on the lose is problematic enough, society being ruled by sociopaths is in a different league all together. I think that pretty much all other man-made problems that humanity faces stem from that.

[rkman]

Overpopulation is a myth

http://overpopulationisamyth.com/

Episode 3: Food: There's lots of it

http://overpopulationisamyth.com/food-theres-lots-it

Both of the world's leading authorities on food distribution (the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO] and the World Food Programme [WFP]) are very clear: there is more than enough food for everyone on the planet. The FAO neatly summarizes the problem of starvation, saying that "the world currently produces enough food for everybody, but many people do not have access to it." Food is a lot like money: just because some people have none doesn't mean that there isn't enough of it--it's just spread unevenly.

Africa alone could feed the world. source: World Bank

http://books.google.com/books?id=OPHJariKhU0C&pg=PA24&dq=Awakening+Africa’s+Sleeping+Giant

Edited October 6, 2013 by rkman

[Ralathon]

The gap between technology and a understanding of that technology. Look around you, the very computer you're working on. You probably have absolutely no idea how or why it works. Not even the guys who design the chips can claim they know how it works since the heating solution, programming and communication links are all designed by other guys.

For a computer this isn't much of a problem. All you need to know is that it switches on when you press the button. But some projects are so large that it does become a severe issue. How can you expect the masses to vote on a fossil fuel alternative if 90% of them don't even know how and why fossil fuels are a problem. Germans anti nuclear approach is a perfect example of this, they're against fission reactors because they think they're dangerous while in reality fission is one of the safest power sources we have right now.

I think this is one of the most dangerous things for humanity because I don't see a solution that neither involves stopping technological development nor stripping people of the ability to vote and essentially railroading society. And the gap keeps growing exponentially.

[DaveofDefeat]

The biggest problem facing humanity is humans.

[Arbolus]

Complacency. All of the other problems - famine, poverty, global warming, mineral shortages and so on - could probably be solved within a decade if people and governments were willing to take them seriously enough to actually take some meaningful action. As it is, the world's governments are agreeing loudly every time someone calls for a reduction in carbon emissions (for example), but otherwise they're doing almost nothing about it.

[Joshington]

Our stupidity

I'd say that sums it up pretty well

[rasheed]

Wars wars and more wars and bombs and nukes.

Nuff said

[EvilotionCR2]

Money. But without money we would be far worse. Why? Because humans.

[Camacha]

What does it matter what the biggest problem is? It is not a contest, we should just keep working on all of them.

For a computer this isn't much of a problem. All you need to know is that it switches on when you press the button. But some projects are so large that it does become a severe issue. How can you expect the masses to vote on a fossil fuel alternative if 90% of them don't even know how and why fossil fuels are a problem. Germans anti nuclear approach is a perfect example of this, they're against fission reactors because they think they're dangerous while in reality fission is one of the safest power sources we have right now.

Power production through fission is not a reality yet, at least not outside experimental reactors. Are you confusing splitting atoms with fusing them?

I agree with your story though. I actually wrote some stuff on that a while ago. While things go right, they are amazing. But when things go sour, everything goes sour quickly, as people are no longer able to sustain themselves as people even a 100 years ago were. This might be fine, because it is self correcting even in the short run, but it will mean a lot of suffering and death.

However, there is a way out. It is what I call modular society. Now, everything influences everything else. We see that in the economy. However, new technologies that allow for highly technological production on a small scale will change these vulnerabilities. Instead of one part that breaks down tearing into other bits of society, we can (and probably will) have seperate modules or cells. When one goes wrong, the others will still be able to survive and thrive. When the time comes, the surrounding cells can help rebuild the broken one. The new industrial revolution of 3D-printers, accessible computer design, lab grown foods and more things like that will enable all this without creating the system wide vulnerabilities and dependencies the first industrial revolution caused. It is like society was before the industrial revolution - very local and free from bad influences - but with the added benefits of a global network sharing knowledge and ideas. It is pretty much like an organic system like your body, with the same ability to flush out bad parts and replace them.

It is actually something I put quite some thought in, I might take some more time to explain if people are interested.

[magnemoe]

Complacency. All of the other problems - famine, poverty, global warming, mineral shortages and so on - could probably be solved within a decade if people and governments were willing to take them seriously enough to actually take some meaningful action. As it is, the world's governments are agreeing loudly every time someone calls for a reduction in carbon emissions (for example), but otherwise they're doing almost nothing about it.

Don't talk about the worlds governments as in US, China and EU.

The main problem is local governments, all major famines the last 30 years has had political reasons or at least political reasons why it has not been solved, local politic on different levels. Mostly long term civil wars who made farming hard and made helping them to hard as you basically had to go to war.

Why is not Nigeria and Congo rich countries? They has lost of resources, however either the leadership steal most of it and the other steal that they can or they fight constant low level wars over it. No nobody outside get rich of this or want it. Large companies so love to pay billions in bribes to some president then getting thrown out after the annual coup or have to hire lots of armed guards. For some reason Somalia or Afghanistan is far less popular places to start factories than China even if wages is far lower. (Yes some shady companies earns some money but they have on influence). Any large company would prefer stable honest conditions even if they had to pay an honest tax,

Yes this hit local business of some size too, India has had a lot of success with IT but little else. One reason is that they are English speaking. Another reason is that IT companies just need any office building and computers, you can patch your way around unreliable power supply and internet. if you try to open an factory you will have to import all sort of machinery, also an constant supply of raw materials and parts and export the products all who has to bribed past customs, and its hard to relocate an factory fast if local authorities want an to large cut to allow you to continue.

[magnemoe]

The gap between technology and a understanding of that technology. Look around you, the very computer you're working on. You probably have absolutely no idea how or why it works. Not even the guys who design the chips can claim they know how it works since the heating solution, programming and communication links are all designed by other guys.

For a computer this isn't much of a problem. All you need to know is that it switches on when you press the button. But some projects are so large that it does become a severe issue. How can you expect the masses to vote on a fossil fuel alternative if 90% of them don't even know how and why fossil fuels are a problem. Germans anti nuclear approach is a perfect example of this, they're against fission reactors because they think they're dangerous while in reality fission is one of the safest power sources we have right now.

I think this is one of the most dangerous things for humanity because I don't see a solution that neither involves stopping technological development nor stripping people of the ability to vote and essentially railroading society. And the gap keeps growing exponentially.

This is an real issue, again tied up to media who earn money on scaring people. Yes they earn money on other stuff to like scandals and even real news but the scare part is pretty obvious on an daily basis, everything from science news usually on health like how 50 kg of carrots each day will kill you. Why quote terrorists, more why quote terrorists who are obviously bluffing. (the mall massacre in Kenya) except to make more scary headlines to get hits.

Yes knowing how things work is useful, no you don't need to know the details but knowing the basic is always useful, an 8 core cpu don't run KSP much better than as an 4 core but might convert an video twice as fast. That an gas engine give most effect then the rev counter is high but is more fuel efficient then its low is pretty important then driving.

Again sometimes you need to know the details like an server at the office was running slowly because of an single setting.

On the gripping hand this is not new, look back at history, and you see lost of very obvious mistakes done by people who not only had no idea that they was doing but frequently got the wrong idea and stuck with it. (killing all doctors in Europe from year 850 to 1850 would increased population).

Some other stuff political, social and military is just as scary, none of this is really technological, yes the world war 1 mess was in part technological but more organisation and culture.

[-Velocity-]

1) Overpopulation- almost every other problem we are facing would only be 1/7th as bad if there were only 1/7th as many of us. There is no real plan to address overpopulation- only "evil communists" advocate placing a limit to how many children you can have.

2) Apathy/Laziness/Stupidity- go hand-in-hand with each other to make things worse. People don't care if the planet is !@#$ed up in 500 years because they "won't be alive then". They think it's funny that I advocate space travel to spread humans out so that they are harder to wipe out.

3) Certain theistic religious ideologies/attitudes. Religion can be a positive force, but it can also be a HIGHLY destructive force in the modern world, and it might just be the last straw that does our civilization in. Theistic ideologies place an intangible, invisible spiritual world at a higher priority than the actual physical world, and that's where the danger stems from.

After all, consider what theistic religions can encourage people to believe-

-What does the survival of humanity matter compared to the glory of God?

-Why should we try to save the planet, when whatever happens will just be God's will anyway? Besides, as told in Revelations, the end of the world is coming, and we should be welcoming it.

-Birth control is a sin, so let's just keep popping out baby after baby after baby... after all, if overpopulation was something to worry about, then God would have written about it in this 1400/2000/3000 year-old book.

-I don't like science. Why? Because scientists try to tell me the Bible is wrong. So I don't trust scientists, and don't believe them when they tell us things. Those guys are all going to Hell anyway.

-The internet is a bad thing, as everyone is learning to speak the same language (English). Everyone being able to communicate with each other, the world becoming a more inclusive and closely-knit community, that's a bad thing. Look what God did to the Tower of Babel.

And I could go on and on and on. I am NOT making these up. All of these ideas I have actually heard people express!

Now, don't get me wrong, religion can be, and frequently is, a force for good. I've seen it draw people together, comfort them in times of sorrow, turn lives away from evil and towards good, and build stronger communities. But when religion is used to excuse irresponsible and evil behavior it becomes a destructive force. We need to make sure that our religious beliefs do not prevent us from making the right choices!

Edited October 6, 2013 by |Velocity|

[Guest]

1) Overpopulation- almost every other problem we are facing would only be 1/7th as bad if there were only 1/7th as many of us. There is no real plan to address overpopulation- only "evil communists" advocate placing a limit to how many children you can have.

Overpopulation is not an issue, everybody keeps speaking as if we are running out of food, water, minerals, oil, ect ect. In reality the earth is far more massive than we give it credit for, problems like famine and overpriced materials arise from geopolitical and economic issues, not supply and demand. For example, the earths combined food production is somewhere around 5 times the consumption of the people eating it(the rest goes to livestock to guess what...make more food), the reason 3rd world countries are starving is because most of it's grown in 1st world countries and the rest is hoarded by corrupt local governments. Another example is oil, oil is not rare, it may not be produced quickly, but there is a ton of it. While it is difficult to estimate exact numbers, we have enough fossil fuels for anywhere from 500, to 2000 years, not that we should use it for that long. Gold is also not a rare metal, and our iron supplies are unlimited compared to the demand. People are focusing on the wrong problems, the problem is not how much we have, but what we are doing with it and how it is being distributed. The earth could support many more people than we have now just fine, not to mention once a country stabilizes and becomes wealthy it's birth to death ratio becomes 1/1.

[Brapness]

Apathy. A lot of people just don't care that there's something wrong, those that do make an effort, but frequently are still unwilling to do what is necessary. Our whole attitude needs to change, but at present our system reinforces the 'us or them' perspective. If we worked together and were willing to do what it takes, humanity could overcome any problem we faced.

[Van Disaster]

There are way more issues than raw resource amounts to consider when dealing with population; you have to supply the population where it is - which is probably not where it's resources are coming from - and then you have to solve all the social issues of large, dense, population blocks ( I'm assuming you've dealt with the physical issues like sanitation ) to just grab two topics. It'd be fine if humans were distributed homogenously, but they're obviously not and it's obviously causing problems already.