Life After People???

[Weird Harold]

The History Channel had a special some time ago about what would happen if people just vanished, which was interesting if a bit slanted to how wonderfull the owrld would become without mankind.

Now it's a series and I just can't figure out what the point is.

It still has that "man is a plague" slant, but they're really stretching for some of their projections -- Phoenix will crumble because of mud!? -- and they're projections are starting to sound like the Weather Channel's "It Could Happen Tomorrow" entry in the "Chicken Little" genre.

The series is also developing a split personality in claiming that ultimately Man is going to leave no mor emark on the planet than the dinosaurs did, but also claiming that the importation of foreign plants and animals is going to forever change the ecological balance -- Aligators are finally going extinct in Florida because Man imported Burmese Pythons to out compete them!?

So what the point, message, value of this series; it's pure speculation because Man isn't going to suddenly vanish while leaving cities and infrastructure intact.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

The History Channel had a special some time ago about what would happen if people just vanished, which was interesting if a bit slanted to how wonderfull the owrld would become without mankind.

Now it's a series and I just can't figure out what the point is.

It still has that "man is a plague" slant, but they're really stretching for some of their projections -- Phoenix will crumble because of mud!? -- and they're projections are starting to sound like the Weather Channel's "It Could Happen Tomorrow" entry in the "Chicken Little" genre.

The series is also developing a split personality in claiming that ultimately Man is going to leave no mor emark on the planet than the dinosaurs did, but also claiming that the importation of foreign plants and animals is going to forever change the ecological balance -- Aligators are finally going extinct in Florida because Man imported Burmese Pythons to out compete them!?

So what the point, message, value of this series; it's pure speculation because Man isn't going to suddenly vanish while leaving cities and infrastructure intact.

It's a PETA or ecofreak agenda, humans are bad and everybody but them should die and go away. Notice that none of them have jumped off a bridge for the good of the planet.

 

[Katyusha]

So what the point, message, value of this series; it's pure speculation because Man isn't going to suddenly vanish while leaving cities and infrastructure intact.

Yes...we are. Haven't you heard? Aliens are headed this way and they're going to beam us into their spaceships all at once and leave us to die while they take over our planet. It's been proven that this is going to happen, probably sometime in the next twenty years. *nods wisely*

I can't believe you didn't know that...I scoff in your general di-rection! *scoff scoff*

 

[Darkniciad]

Just scientists speculating for their own entertainment, presented for viewing entertainment.

As far as actual history, that pops up every once in a while when they show a location that actually has been abandoned by man for a long time -- huge chunks of Gary, Indiana for example.

It certainly isn't the focus of the series, though.

 

[TE999]

Peculiar. If man isn't going to leave any more mark on the world than the dinosaurs, then all this global warming kerfuffle is pointless.

The pythons in the glades were let loose by careless or indifferent owners...the gators can take care of themselves quite nicely. Species have migrated from one continent to another for uncounted centuries. This is nothing new.

The History Channel should stick to history, not pointless speculation.

 

[Darkniciad]

Peculiar. If man isn't going to leave any more mark on the world than the dinosaurs, then all this global warming kerfuffle is pointless.

The pythons in the glades were let loose by careless or indifferent owners...the gators can take care of themselves quite nicely. Species have migrated from one continent to another for uncounted centuries. This is nothing new.

The History Channel should stick to history, not pointless speculation.

The reasoning was that the pythons could outbreed the alligators, and thus outcompete them, due to a wider habitat range.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

The reasoning was that the pythons could outbreed the alligators, and thus outcompete them, due to a wider habitat range.

Are they kidding? In 1950, 'gators were thought to be on the way to extinction but when hunting was curtailed, they spread all the way back through their original range in less than 30 years. Damned little out breeds 'gators. All they have to do is open up an unlimited season on hide hunting for pythons and not only will the exotic leathergoods market boom but the gators will probably eat the survivors.

 

[Darkniciad]

Are they kidding? In 1950, 'gators were thought to be on the way to extinction but when hunting was curtailed, they spread all the way back through their original range in less than 30 years. Damned little out breeds 'gators. All they have to do is open up an unlimited season on hide hunting for pythons and not only will the exotic leathergoods market boom but the gators will probably eat the survivors.

Miss the "life after people" part of the thread title?

:: Ducks ::

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Miss the "life after people" part of the thread title?

:: Ducks ::

Oh, yeah. That's the assumption. Did anyone on the show forget that it periodically freezes in Florida? Gator's survive by going under the water or burrowing into the bank. Where did they expect the pythons to go?

 

[TE999]

The reasoning was that the pythons could outbreed the alligators, and thus outcompete them, due to a wider habitat range.

Anything is possible of course. To my knowledge, gators and pythons have somewhat different diets...both eat mammals...but gators will eat anything they can catch...turtles, fish, birds, other gators and I bet small pythons. My money's on the gators.

 

[Darkniciad]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/10/1006_051006_pythoneatsgator.html

"Clearly if [pythons] can kill an alligator, they can kill other species," Frank Mazzotti, a University of Florida wildlife professor, told the Associated Press. "There had been some hope that alligators can control Burmese pythons. … This [event] indicates to me it's going to be an even draw."

 

[TE999]

As the article says, Florida, especially southern Florida, is being overrun with newly introduced species. Several species of parrots, macaws, mynahs and budgies are everywhere...it's like the Amazon rainforest.

A few months ago I had an iguana drop on the roof of my truck as I drove under a tree overhanging the road. Then it leapt onto the bed cover shell and rode about 5 blocks as I caught glimpses of it in the rear view mirror. When I stopped for a traffic light it jumped off.

 

[sr71plt]

I can say without a shred of doubt that my Siamese cats will be pissed as hell if mankind disappears and fails to show up with the cats' breakfast on time.

 

[R. Richard]

I believe that you people down in Florida are missing out on a bit opportunity here. I see the World Alligator Python Competition (WAPC).

A well match alligator and python are turned loose in an arena that offers equal chances. The match is, of course, to the death. DYN-O-MITE showbiz and, best of all, you don't have to feed the winner.

GO FOR IT!

 

[TE999]

I believe that you people down in Florida are missing out on a bit opportunity here. I see the World Alligator Python Competition (WAPC).

A well match alligator and python are turned loose in an arena that offers equal chances. The match is, of course, to the death. DYN-O-MITE showbiz and, best of all, you don't have to feed the winner.

GO FOR IT!

No chance! The bird and bunny nuts would be screeching that it's being cruel to the poor reptiles. It doesn't matter that it happens in the wild, man just can't exploit them for personal gain.

 

[JagFarlane]

I can say without a shred of doubt that my Siamese cats will be pissed as hell if mankind disappears and fails to show up with the cats' breakfast on time.

Yeah I can think of two cats that would be pissed off once the food ran out

 

[sr71plt]

I believe that you people down in Florida are missing out on a bit opportunity here. I see the World Alligator Python Competition (WAPC).

A well match alligator and python are turned loose in an arena that offers equal chances. The match is, of course, to the death. DYN-O-MITE showbiz and, best of all, you don't have to feed the winner.

GO FOR IT!

You might draw Michael Vick as a jailhouse boyfriend though.

 

[iamincognito45]

Just scientists speculating for their own entertainment, presented for viewing entertainment.

I happen to think there is another agenda at work. The one where the network and media masses produce these works as yet another way for us to feel guilty. In this case, about being the dominant species on the planet. Just another attempt at pulling at our social consciousness heart strings as it were. Much like the Nazis at Starbucks that appeal to us to buy their $4 bottled water so they can help fund clean water projects for poor little Emilio in war riddled Africa.

 

[Weird Harold]

Yes...we are. Haven't you heard? Aliens are headed this way and they're going to beam us into their spaceships all at once and leave us to die while they take over our planet. It's been proven that this is going to happen, probably sometime in the next twenty years. *nods wisely*

I can't believe you didn't know that...I scoff in your general di-rection! *scoff scoff*

Actually I kind of figured it was based on the after effects of the Rapture. God's going to call a few more people for judgement than the Rapture Cultists would approve of.

Peculiar. If man isn't going to leave any more mark on the world than the dinosaurs, then all this global warming kerfuffle is pointless.

That's part of their split personality -- many of the predictions assume that resurgent plant-life won't reduce the CO2 levels and reverse global climate change until a couple hundred years after people other predictions just ignore the issue completely.

The History Channel had a special some time ago about what would happen if people just vanished, which was interesting if a bit slanted to how wonderfull the world would become without mankind.

It's a PETA or ecofreak agenda, humans are bad and everybody but them should die and go away. Notice that none of them have jumped off a bridge for the good of the planet.

That's the impression I got from the original two-hour special/pilot but the series is seriously MPD about "without man to care for..." arguments and dire predictions for animals like Greyhounds and some breeds of Cats interspersed with conjecture about Dolphins developing a mythology about "Man coming into the sea to teach them," and Chimps domesticating pigeons for their eggs and building "skyscrapers" in trees (after Miami washes out to sea) as "man's legacy."

 

[voluptuary_manque]

That's the impression I got from the original two-hour special/pilot but the series is seriously MPD about "without man to care for..." arguments and dire predictions for animals like Greyhounds and some breeds of Cats interspersed with conjecture about Dolphins developing a mythology about "Man coming into the sea to teach them," and Chimps domesticating pigeons for their eggs and building "skyscrapers" in trees (after Miami washes out to sea) as "man's legacy."

Seriously? That is some weird there, Harold. Man!

 

[iamincognito45]

That's the impression I got from the original two-hour special/pilot but the series is seriously MPD about "without man to care for..." arguments and dire predictions for animals like Greyhounds and some breeds of Cats interspersed with conjecture about Dolphins developing a mythology about "Man coming into the sea to teach them," and Chimps domesticating pigeons for their eggs and building "skyscrapers" in trees (after Miami washes out to sea) as "man's legacy."

So which is it?

Man is evil and the source of all suffering and badness in the world?

Or

Man is a necessary evil to prevent even more bad things from happening as they suggest above?

I suppose it's ok to be confused as long as we all feel guilty about our roles in the suffering. Group hug anyone?

 

[Weird Harold]

So which is it?

Man is evil and the source of all suffering and badness in the world?

Or

Man is a necessary evil to prevent even more bad things from happening as they suggest above?

I suppose it's ok to be confused as long as we all feel guilty about our roles in the suffering. Group hug anyone?

That's why I started this thread -- I don't know which point they're trying to make or if they're trying to make any kind of point at all.

The original was pretty clear about Man being insignificant and irrelevant and that the planet will be better off without us. The series is just a jumble of bad sci-fi plots (like yet another rehash of the premise of Planet of the Apes.)

 

[amicus]

Strange, WH, I thought about doing a thread when this first aired but reached the same basic conclusions some have posted, so I really have nothing to add except a comparison with the film, "Logan's Run", and the gorgeous actress, Jenny Agutter that was in the film and Peter Ustinov, for those who have seen the movie, who tended cats in the ruins of the White House, all covered in vines and crawly things, as portrayed by the series at several points.

I prefer neither dystopic or apocalyptic in my visions of the future; I think the mind of man will overcome all obstacles and that we will indeed, 'reach for the stars'.

Thanks for the thread...

Amicus

 

[Darkniciad]

The orginal did well, and I assume the new series is doing well, too. I know I'm watching it.

$$$ is probably the answer as much as anything.

 

[iamincognito45]

That's why I started this thread -- I don't know which point they're trying to make or if they're trying to make any kind of point at all.

The original was pretty clear about Man being insignificant and irrelevant and that the planet will be better off without us. The series is just a jumble of bad sci-fi plots (like yet another rehash of the premise of Planet of the Apes.)

Would be more entertaining if it were just that. Entertaining. Like escapist movies and the like. As opposed to some kind of apologist social commentary.