Thread by @swardley

X : When do you think colonies on Mars will happen?
Me : Bizarre question. I'm the wrong person to ask. I'm sick to death of all this "Earth is running out of resources" to "Climate impact" excuses for a "colony on Mars". We should fix the mess we've created or die here ...

... I believe in a moratorium on humans in space, backed by military force (i.e. manned craft to be shot down) until such time as the Earth has been stabilised for all. I know certain wealthy folk who think they'll escape to the stars. I'm all for disappointing them.

What people forget is we currently live on an amazing spaceship with advanced recycling, atmosphere generation and gravity that is way beyond our technical capabilities. We want to travel to somewhere with little of those capabilities because we've fracked this spaceship?

It's like spending five years living in a drop dead gorgeous Manhattan penthouse and then announcing that you can't live there anymore because you've never cleaned it or emptied the rubbish and your new plan is to drive across a desert to go live in a cardboard box.

The only place you should be driven is an asylum for the criminally insane.

That's roughly where my feelings on the idea of "colonies on Mars" is. Fix the major problems with our current spaceship called Earth before pontificating on wrecking other places.

X : But what if an asteroid hits Earth?
Me : Well, get a wiggle on and fix the plumbing with our current spaceship and then we can talk expanding elsewhere. I'm not going to debate future possibilities when a very real threat of our own making exists.

X: No-one, other than perhaps @robert_zubrin is advocating going to Mars *instead* of dealing with climate change.
Me : I wouldn't call Robert 'no-one' but in any case, I obviously live in a darker world than you. I know people who think that bitcoin is a good idea.

X : I think we are capable enough to deal with both things simultaneously... however, if a choice needs to be made, then Earth first!
Me : Agree. I'm an Earth first, Mars second type of person.

X : “No Timmy, you can’t go to other parts of the house until your room is a spotless utopia."
Me : “No Timmy, we’re not going to live in a cardboard box on the other side of the desert because you want to crap all over the house. You're going to stop.”

X : You don't believe in a space program?
Me : Quite the opposite. I'm all for the use of robots and exploration. I'm just not in favour of manned missions until we get our own house sorted.

X : Manned space flight is more inspiring, it has a higher purpose. Star Trek wasn't manned by robots.
Me : We're not the Federation, we're the Ferengi.

X : You're a cynic.
Me : Have you read the rules of acquisition?
1. Once you have their money... you never give it back
2. The best deal is the one that brings the most profit.
3. Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to.
... it's capitalism laid bare.