Has ED made you realise just how insignificant we are?

[Fray]

Think of it this way; You pilot a warship that could end lives quickly and efficiently. We are God. Destroyers of creation. Don't feel so small now, do you?

I'd say it's a particularly small thing to destroy. More notable to create.

...granted y'can't 'create' much in ED without going to various Space-Vegas establishments (unless making fuel for a rover counts!), but still, my character tries to help far more than she hinders.

And I think my Cobra III and A rated DBX would blush if you described them as "warships". ;-)

 

[Exies7]

ED has reminded me how amazing the universe is but significance is an idea not necessarily applicable, imo. Size doesn't determine significance and the concept behind significance comes from a subjective perspective. A perspective that has formed an idea behind each and every word. The idea you believe may have no relevance at all to an objective reality.

Our role within the universe doesn't need to be quantified by importance or significance. For whatever reason we're here and we are apart of the whole. Our "significance" may not be as grandiose as we would hope but it's an interesting experience to say the least.

Every cog is important. Every part makes up the whole. Or maybe the ideas behind significance, purpose, meaning, and reason are irrelevant and instead the universe is a canvass in which chaos creates art. Either way, it's all rather beautiful.

 

[skxawng]

So i stood up on the end of my bed.
With a gratifying yank i pulled the cardboard from my delapatating window.
Before my gaze was magnifcant vista of the star spangled universe and the milky way of our own system.
Agosh with admiration i wondered to my self.
What does it all mean.
What is it all about.
Wht is my significance in such a vast cosmilogical plan.
Then i thought its naff all to do with me and went back to bed.

 

[kpeanut2992]

I once read that there are more stars in our galaxy than grains of sand on Earth. Mind bending, also we'd be stupid to believe that we are the only ones here and that thargoids weren't Real.

 

[Maz13Beez]

Ok, time to put on the waders and go for a walk into this.

I'm an amateur astronomer. I take pictures of things so far away that humans were not even around when the photon that just landed on my CCD left the source. If you want to feel small put the video game down and go and take a look at the constellation of Leo, and the surround areas of sky though a telescope.

It's easy to say destruction is small and creation is bigger, but have you seen the colours of M1 and the ring nebulae, the brightness of the helix nebulae. Stars that have gone supernova. They are white dwarfs now. But in that moment of destruction, ALL of the elements heavier than iron were formed. See that gold ring you have, silver neckless, uranium power station fuel? Yup came from exploding stars.
As was quoted above. The stars literally gave their lives for you to exist.
As for God. Sure if makes you feel better, but for me I prefer to give the universe the full credit it deserves for creating life and all the wonders we see around us. Humans don't know it all though and there is a long way to go. Go a get a telescope or visit an observatory.. if you like this kind of stuff, you'll be blown away but the view. Especially when you consider that every star you see is in THIS galaxy.

Fly Safe.

PS. There is some of my images...http://www.astrobin.com/users/darksky001/

 

[Wolfe3]

Must....stop.....reading.....thread....brain........swelling......

OUCH!!!!

 

[Requiem Mortis]

I've read through the topic and there's a lot to be said for taking a perspective viewpoint, but I can't help but be reminded by this debate of the comment made by Zaphod on leaving the 'Total Perspective Vortex' and being asked how he survived . " I AM ...."

By all means stare in awe but in my own mind I am NOT insignificant and neither is anyone else.

 

[Lemnear]

Even if i think we all should be careful with this (in the respect of others beleives) and also that we have only few clues yet about what's the universe.

We don't have a single clue that there' others inteligents lifes in our universe, imagine that only in our galaxy and according that there's 0.1 % chance that life appears in suitables systems, and don't forget that earth is a young planet compare to very old parts of the milky way... well we should have at least 3 millions advanced life forms arround us... the milky way should be full of spaceships, drones, satellites... but nothing, not even a single light or radio emits... the void... so why are we the only ones in the universe ?

That's the "Fermi paradox" and since i understood that, i don't see things like before.

We are not insignifiants at all, we are the only intelligent life form in the entire universe (for now), just like a single flower in the middle of an infinite desert, so raise your head we are not nothing, we are the humans !

I won't go forward, just hope i'll get an answer about that... because if you are like me, there are much more to say about all of this.

 

[TheAntitheist Crusader]

Even if i think we all should be careful with this (in the respect of others beleives) and also that we have only few clues yet about what's the universe.

We don't have a single clue that there' others inteligents lifes in our universe, imagine that only in our galaxy and according that there's 0.1 % chance that life appears in suitables systems, and don't forget that earth is a young planet compare to very old parts of the milky way... well we should have at least 3 millions advanced life forms arround us... the milky way should be full of spaceships, drones, satellites... but nothing, not even a single light or radio emits... the void... so why are we the only ones in the universe ?

That's the "Fermi paradox" and since i understood that, i don't see things like before.

We are not insignifiants at all, we are the only intelligent life form in the entire universe (for now), just like a single flower in the middle of an infinite desert, so raise your head we are not nothing, we are the humans !

I won't go forward, just hope i'll get an answer about that... because if you are like me, there are much more to say about all of this.

We are not insignificant to ourselves, no one is suggesting that, but we are insignificant to the universe, the galaxy, and even the solar system since we have not even been able to put a man on mars. And try zooming out on the ED galaxy map, even the bubble on ED is insignificant, even if the bubble was real i would still ask you:- how do you know that the galaxy is not full of non human ships or life forms since we have barely covered it ? On that note i'm going to take the DBX on a screenshot trip to Antares and then Rigel before making a stop at barnards loop, all the time out there i'll be scanning for life forms....i just love scanning for life forms (Star trek Generations comes to mind).

 

[Gaarp Kobayashi]

Looking at the Sun today, I suddenly realised that through playing Elite that just how insignificant we are, I suddenly realised that we are just a a mere speck in the known universe. I suddenly realised that the sun is just "not in the sky" but millions of miles away yet we (I or some) take it for granted. Just thought I would share my "self aware moment" when I realised this because I have never thought deeply as this, and this is through playing ED so thanks to the Devs and the community.

Having a huge loggia in ny flat at 6th floor and your thoughts are exactly same as mine, when having a cigarette therere and our sun is just hiding behind the horizon at the evening and my Elite session is about to start.

Splendit!

 

[Maz13Beez]

Well if it's awe you want....

[video=youtube;HEheh1BH34Q]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEheh1BH34Q[/video]

The video is not mine, and it's creator is marvelous for making it.

 

[The Real Adster]

In an infinite multi-verse there has to be at least one universe in which humanity is the only life forms that exists. What's to say it's not this one?
Not saying we exist in an infinite multiverse for sure, but if we do then it's a possibility

 

[Requiem Mortis]

We are not insignificant to ourselves, no one is suggesting that, but we are insignificant to the universe, the galaxy, and even the solar system....

Slightly out of context perhaps but....

I am not insignificant to the universe because without me to 'Observe it' it would not exist.

 

[OriginalZulkai]

In an infinite multi-verse there has to be at least one universe in which humanity is the only life forms that exists. What's to say it's not this one?
Not saying we exist in an infinite multiverse for sure, but if we do then it's a possibility

I believe in the theory of infinite multiverses. But that would mean in theory there is actually a race of Klingons out there in one of the universes. You're only limited by your own imagination as to what's out there.

 

[Frank]

Looking at the Sun today, I suddenly realised that through playing Elite that just how insignificant we are, I suddenly realised that we are just a a mere speck in the known universe. I suddenly realised that the sun is just "not in the sky" but millions of miles away yet we (I or some) take it for granted. Just thought I would share my "self aware moment" when I realised this because I have never thought deeply as this, and this is through playing ED so thanks to the Devs and the community.

There's nothing like looking at the Sun to make you feel that the human race is insignificant.

 

[DrDevice55]

Maybe some of the other astronomers have felt this same thing......being out on a very very clear night, dark sky, looking through the scope at a nebula or open cluster and if you stare long enough, ive actually had a 3D feeling of space expanding around me rapidly. Happened a couple times, would have to pull away from the scope and kinda center myself again. Awesome feeling but also incredible terrifying at the same time. When you are able to, even for a second, get a hint of the scale, its a visceral feeling that all humans share. Most people just don't look up or want to think about it.
We are one ant colony, in one backyard.

 

[Maz13Beez]

Slightly out of context perhaps but....

I am not insignificant to the universe because without me to 'Observe it' it would not exist.

It will. Because you are made of the Universe.

 

[gingerbreadgit]

That's one of the best aspects from games like Elite, it's not just about blowing things up it's about the scale of what's out there and figuring it out.

I just wish more people were aware of how big everything is and how we need to band together to actually get out there.

 

[EponymousCowherd]

Ok, time to put on the waders and go for a walk into this.

I'm an amateur astronomer. I take pictures of things so far away that humans were not even around when the photon that just landed on my CCD left the source. If you want to feel small put the video game down and go and take a look at the constellation of Leo, and the surround areas of sky though a telescope.

It's easy to say destruction is small and creation is bigger, but have you seen the colours of M1 and the ring nebulae, the brightness of the helix nebulae. Stars that have gone supernova. They are white dwarfs now. But in that moment of destruction, ALL of the elements heavier than iron were formed. See that gold ring you have, silver neckless, uranium power station fuel? Yup came from exploding stars.
As was quoted above. The stars literally gave their lives for you to exist.
As for God. Sure if makes you feel better, but for me I prefer to give the universe the full credit it deserves for creating life and all the wonders we see around us. Humans don't know it all though and there is a long way to go. Go a get a telescope or visit an observatory.. if you like this kind of stuff, you'll be blown away but the view. Especially when you consider that every star you see is in THIS galaxy.

Fly Safe.

PS. There is some of my images...http://www.astrobin.com/users/darksky001/

I do a spot of astronomy myself, and there is nothing quite like looking at the wonders of the universe with your own eyes. When you look at, say, M82 (Bode's Galaxy), the actual photons hitting the retina in your eye to form the image have taken around 12 million years to make the trip.

Now that does give a sense of perspective...

I'm pretty much a visual observer as my OTA is on an alt-az mount (A Celestron Evo 9.25), though I do have a video eyepiece for demos.

 

[Ste1623]

I lay on my back garden basking in the lovely sunshine and what went through my head??

yep i could scoop of of that beauty lol