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[poll] Are Humans Bacteria?

Blogs > Hypnosis
Post a Reply
1 2 3 Next All
Hypnosis
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States2061 Posts
November 17 2009 16:48 GMT
#1
Whatup ya'll? So I have to write a long research/argument paper on a topic of my choice by tomorrow and the requirements include a "survey" or a poll that relates to my topic. I am trying to prove that Humans are actually a bacterial infection upon the Earth and all we do is harm it and its inhabitants. Almost everything we do pollutes the ozone: We burn fossil fuels, cut down trees (it releases CO2 at a much more rapid rate than normal), contaminate water with our chemicals and we build cities that ruin the natural land (LOL LOS ANGELES).

My question to you guys is what you think about this whole idea.
[image loading]

Poll: Are Humans Bacteria Upon the Earth?
(Vote): Yes, we ruin the earth through our bacterial ways.
(Vote): No, we are just the dominant species
(Vote): I have a different opinion (please explain)

Discuss!


*
Science without religion is lame, Religion without science is blind
Dr.Lettuce
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
United Kingdom663 Posts
November 17 2009 16:53 GMT
#2
I agree with your point and understand the basic premise to it, in essence that we are bad for the planet. However I think you should replace the word bacteria for something else. Off the top of my head I can't actually think.
Rice
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States1332 Posts
November 17 2009 16:56 GMT
#3
more like a parasite not bacteria
Freedom will be defended at the cost of civil liberties.
Dr.Lettuce
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
United Kingdom663 Posts
November 17 2009 16:57 GMT
#4
Awww I came back to post parasite, and Rice beat me to it
DwmC_Foefen
Profile Blog Joined March 2007
Belgium2186 Posts
November 17 2009 16:57 GMT
#5
We're just the dominant species, and the reason we pollute kill destroy everything is all because of money and stuff (basically concepts which originated from our own minds).
Actually our intellect may be our own downfall. :s
Dr.Lettuce
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
United Kingdom663 Posts
November 17 2009 16:58 GMT
#6
That's not true DwmC I kill small children and animals for fun, there is no monetary gain for me.
topspinserve
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
United States147 Posts
November 17 2009 16:59 GMT
#7
Inspired by Agent Smith (The Matrix), no?
Hypnosis
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States2061 Posts
November 17 2009 17:02 GMT
#8
I wrote this paper almost against my own ideas. I think that we are the dominant species and I am using that idea as my counter argument. I paralleled humans to the disease "necrotizing fasciitis" which is the flesh eating bacterial infection and said that humans eat the flesh of the Earth through our activities. This parallel keeps losing power though
Science without religion is lame, Religion without science is blind
Zozma
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States1626 Posts
November 17 2009 17:02 GMT
#9
Not bacteria, per se.

But there is no doubt that some human actions harm the earth.
DwmC_Foefen
Profile Blog Joined March 2007
Belgium2186 Posts
November 17 2009 17:03 GMT
#10
On November 18 2009 01:58 Dr.Lettuce wrote:
That's not true DwmC I kill small children and animals for fun, there is no monetary gain for me.


Which brings me to my next point : maybe we just love conflict, killing, ... :p
KlaCkoN
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
Sweden1661 Posts
November 17 2009 17:04 GMT
#11
Nah humans is actually a multicellular species of genus homo, not bacteria.
"Voice or no voice the people can always be brought to the bidding of their leaders ... All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger."
samachking
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Bahrain4949 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-17 17:20:04
November 17 2009 17:11 GMT
#12
OO?
You wrote a long paper not knowing whats the difference between a parasite and a bacteria?
You do realize that without bacteria we wouldnt exist and most bacteria are actually useful to the world oO

What are you majoring in or are you still in High School? I suggest changing bacteria to parasite immediately and actually search up the words on wikipedia.

Also btw if you are including non living objects + ecosystems in your definition of a parasite most organisims will be parasites in one way or another inevitabely for their source of energy/metabolism/materials/resources for growth/synthesis. So yeah even though it sounds like a good metaphor the idea is pretty meh, but you can work the paper as a symbolic representation of the rather large negative influence our species is inflicting upon this world. Research your paper more, and if this is not for a general english class you have to rewrite most of this stuff.
"And then Earthlings discovered tools. Suddenly agreeing with friends could be a form of suicide or worse. But agreements went on, not for the sake of common sense, or decency, or self preservation, but for friendliness."
Johnny B
Profile Joined April 2009
United States76 Posts
November 17 2009 17:14 GMT
#13
I think bacteria are the dominant species. There's really no way we can get rid of them, whereas they could potentially get rid of us (bubonic plague made a good effort). Also, in terms of numbers, Wikipedia says that there are about 5 x 10^30 (five nonillion) bacteria in the world, compared to ~7 x 10^9 (seven billion) humans. Also, humans could not live without bacteria--there are more bacterial cells in your body than human cells, and these bacterial cells are essential in digestion. Bacteria, of course, would be just fine without humans around.
My dad can beat your dad in StarCraft.
UGC4
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Peru532 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-17 17:24:11
November 17 2009 17:17 GMT
#14
ur under the impression that bacteria are something destructive by nature. not the case. use your words carefully. i dont even think parasite would apply because we do not live in another organism's intestine or shit like that. damn dude this is gonna be bad paper, u got 0% supporting your idea lol. and btw, humans are only responsible for like 1% of the world's total co2 emmissions or something crazy low like that. everything emmits co2 into the atmosphere, a crushing wave, a cow's fart, etc. gl, ur gonna need it

edit: and one last thing...if ur trying to make it seem like "destroying the earth and using up its resources" is a horrible thing, u have to prove that its a horrible thing. and u have to prove why a human cutting down a tree is so much more horrible than an ant eating a little leaf. ur really just jump-starting your paper from the popular point of view of "omg humans are destroying the planet we are so bad" and thats weak. not too long ago humans used to think the earth belonged to them and it was in their rightful nature to exploit it, and some still do (i, for one, agree with this to a certain extent). after all, we are all living organisms, and we have to utilize resources to survive. unless ur advocating to the extermination of the human race. then i'd be interested in your paper.
#1 Movie fan~ he's got so much skill it oozes out of his skin in the form of acne. ~family comes first~
starfries
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Canada3508 Posts
November 17 2009 17:18 GMT
#15
Bacteria are a type of organism, nothing to do with humans. And many bacteria are not harmful. I think you're looking for a word that implies humanity is an infectious disease or pathogen. But the thing is, any species with our level of consumption is going to harm the earth. It's not really our species thats the problem, it's just that there's too many of us, using too many resources.. kind of like an algae bloom or something similar.
DJ – do you like ramen, Savior? Savior – not really. Bisu – I eat it often. Flash – I’m a maniac! | Foxer Fighting!
Neivler
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
Norway911 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-17 17:20:14
November 17 2009 17:18 GMT
#16
Ripoff from The Matrix I presume? It is not a bacteria, we are a virus. We infest a source(aka planet) and drain all the power and energy until it is nothing left, and the source dies. Just like virus does. We use the oil and other fossil fuels that are not renewable. Then eventually we will be our own doom cuz we use and spend and dont think about the future, even when we do care about the future we dont change our behavior at all.

A virus does not live on its own as a bacteria does. A virus infests another bacteria, thats the only way they can survive. So u can change the bacteria with the earth. A bacteria itself can be a good thing, but some are not. But they dont live off other sources as a virus does.

My English there might not be good enough but watch this clip from the Matrix. This might give u some tips

I pwn noobs
Hypnosis
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States2061 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-17 17:22:10
November 17 2009 17:20 GMT
#17
On November 18 2009 02:11 samachking wrote:
OO?
You wrote a long paper not knowing whats the difference between a parasite and a bacteria?
You do realize that without bacteria we wouldnt exist and most bacteria are actually useful to the world oO

What are you majoring in or are you still in High School? I suggest changing bacteria to parasite immediately and actually search up the words on wikipedia.


I didn't think about the definition of bacteria and confused it with parasite. I'm a sophomore in college majoring in engineering. Also my idea was more of a figurative parallel than a scientific definition because the Earth, although it is "living" it is not biologically an organism in itself.

I was thinking though maybe I could bring up the idea that some humans are good bacteria while most are bad. For example "environmentalists" could be considered good for the earth and oil companies could be bad bacteria, this way I don't run into the problem of arguing that environmentalists are still parasites. I did consider the word parasites but bacteria seemed more fitting for some reason...

Its for english comp 2 which is a general english class that I hardly care about but i still want a decent paper.
Science without religion is lame, Religion without science is blind
biomedical
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
235 Posts
November 17 2009 17:24 GMT
#18
you first gotta define "bacteria"
so you kinda fail unless you wanna write a load of toss lol
samachking
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Bahrain4949 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-17 17:28:20
November 17 2009 17:26 GMT
#19
On November 18 2009 02:20 Hypnosis wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 18 2009 02:11 samachking wrote:
OO?
You wrote a long paper not knowing whats the difference between a parasite and a bacteria?
You do realize that without bacteria we wouldnt exist and most bacteria are actually useful to the world oO

What are you majoring in or are you still in High School? I suggest changing bacteria to parasite immediately and actually search up the words on wikipedia.


I didn't think about the definition of bacteria and confused it with parasite. I'm a sophomore in college majoring in engineering. Also my idea was more of a figurative parallel than a scientific definition because the Earth, although it is "living" it is not biologically an organism in itself.

I was thinking though maybe I could bring up the idea that some humans are good bacteria while most are bad. For example "environmentalists" could be considered good for the earth and oil companies could be bad bacteria, this way I don't run into the problem of arguing that environmentalists are still parasites. I did consider the word parasites but bacteria seemed more fitting for some reason...


I added a bit on your topic by editing my post, the thing is, as an objective metaphor while including a-biotic systems within the definition of a parasite, every living thing( to my knowledge, there might be exceptions) is a parasite since they consume resources, although they give back resources in their own way, its still usually not a symbiotic relationship completely. A better way to do this paper is to think of the biosphere as a zero-sum game of parasitism and limited resources, and we humans at the top of the chain consume the most resources and hence are the greatest parasites to this world, thats a cool spin on it.

edit:English class, I suppose if the teacher isnt too picky just go with it, its a nice metaphor. If she is gay about it she probably has too much time on her hands.
"And then Earthlings discovered tools. Suddenly agreeing with friends could be a form of suicide or worse. But agreements went on, not for the sake of common sense, or decency, or self preservation, but for friendliness."
Lemonwalrus
Profile Blog Joined August 2006
United States5465 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-17 17:28:04
November 17 2009 17:26 GMT
#20
Yeah, I have to agree, you are using a very bad analogy, parasite would work best...I don't really think virus would work at all, and bacteria is just kinda retarded. A good portion of bacteria is helpful to the larger organism that it lives in/on. (There are bacteria in our digestive systems that pretty much digest our food for us, or at least break it down into things that we can digest.)

Edit: Well, seems from above others have already steered you away from bacteria.
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