If you could have any question answered - what would it be?

The trouble might be that, even if such questions could be explained, then perhaps the problem lies with [some of] our own individual intellects to understand the answer.

Sometimes it's possible that accepting the incomprehansible or simply not understood is no bar in living a contented life ...

Was it the case that curiosity killed the cat?

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:

Was it the case that curiosity killed the cat?

ATB from George

Yes, but satisfaction brought it back

The quotation still fits even if your allusion to it alone rather than the whole context [of the post] might suggest otherwise!

ATB from George

Don't stress George, it was only a Friday morning flippant comment made in jest.

Some do say ignorance is bliss...it reminds me of the James lyrics, "If I hadn't seen such riches I could live with being poor".

Back on topic, I guess I would like to know whether the current climate change really is created by humans or a natural progression, with no political agenda influencing the "facts"?

The winning numbers for the next European lottery draw.

quote:

Originally posted by Jagster:
...

Some do say ignorance is bliss...it reminds me of the James lyrics; "If I hadn't seen such riches I could live with being poor".

Back on topic, I guess I would like to know whether the current climate change really is created by humans or a natural progression, with no political agenda influencing the "facts"?

Now that is IMHO a very important question, but not quite in the way that is generally supposed.

What ever the answer [and we probably cannot know till after the fact], with a population of humans [who are currently increasing unrepentantly their levels of emissions of the so called green house gases] at 6 plus billions, the real question is whether we can adapt to the changed climate fast enough to avoid catastrophe.

Even if we knew that the climate change phenomenon is actually down to human activity are we voluntarily going to abandon fossil fuels and therefore return to an eighteenth century style of economy?

I suspect not, so accepting that most humans will take in their lifetimes what they can get, regardless of the effects for future generations [and therefore that the actions of a minority will not make enough impact to alter the situation] then we had better start planning the ways and means of dealing with climate change as an inevitability!

This has the advantage that if it happens that climate change is nothing to do with humans at all, but a part of the natural cycle on earth, then we are better placed as a whole to cope.

Naturally this does nothing to diminish the arguments in favour of making energy usage sustainable ...

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by Sniper:
I believe that the measurement problem in quantum mechanics, the time problem in quantum cosmology, and the 'Hard Problem' in brain
science are all profoundly related but it gives me brain ache trying to work it all out. If you could have any question answered (as if by 'God')* - what would it be?*Not that I belive in God and let's not get into another tedious religion debate.

You beat me to it Sniper. For me it would have to be an answer to the hard problem of consciousness (how, at the end of a purely physical chain of causes and effects do sensations arise - the smell of coffee, the vivid colours of a sunset etc?). Closely followed by the measurement problem (anyone who says they understand quantum mechanics doesn't understand it!).

I'm not familiar with the "time" problem in QC - could you elaborate?

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:
The winning numbers for the next European lottery draw.

+1

Why can't I get a question answered here?

How can I live here on Earth forever?

After the news here of the two boys being sentenced, :-
How can we stop humans doing evil things.

quote:

If you could have any question answered

Who was it stole my wallet when I was at college in 1974 and where does he live?

Same question that I asked in 1960 something while lying flat out on warm grass on a hot sunday afternoon listening to a brass band and wallowing in the pleasure of the holy herb & fully understanding the complexities of Sgt Pepper
.... How far is it to the very edge of the universe ???.

OK OK but it the same proposition isn't it

Why do people who say they are never going to post in a particular forum again never stand by their word?

If time travel becomes possible in the future, why hasn't anybody travelled back to here, from it?

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Dudley:
If time travel becomes possible in the future, why hasn't anybody travelled back to here, from it?

To avoid a paradox ...

It has been said that as soon a viable time-travel mechanism is devised, people from the future may start coming back. It has also been postulated, from the theory of relativity that you can only travel forward in time and not back ...

Why is there only one Monopolies commission?

The answer to your question whatever it is: 42!!!!

Isn't it strange how so many of the "questions" are ones to which any potential answer cannot be backed up with credible evidence!

Would knowing the answer in most cases actually help, except knowing the future Lottery numbers, perhaps?

ATB from George

When is the scaler coming out?

Before the HDX updates?

Why does the static electricity in a cat hair keep it stuck to a cushion even when the hoover is placed directly on it and on full power???

steve

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Before the HDX updates?

This thread is about questions, not answers....

Sorry.

quote:

Originally posted by Julian H:

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Before the HDX updates?

This thread is about questions, not answers....

Can't have answers without 'em