If you could go back & forwards in time. . .

[connorlindeman]

Except they were already told that, and if they didnt at some point one of their offspring would

If they had not failed that test than God would have taken away the tree.

 

[Rocky998]

Except they were already told that, and if they didnt at some point one of their offspring would

ya smack em and go NOT TODAY

 

[Rocky998]

If they had not failed that test than God would have taken away the tree.

Probably not

 

[itiwhetu]

I would argue yes. For any puny human, figuring out the world is the big scheme of things. For any intelligent species, figuring out our place in the world is beyond valuable. We aren't exactly there yet!
You can say all learning is futile, and that we live like ants and die. But we're curious ants. I think the human need to try to understand runs deep. Even in Genesis, right at the start of that interesting old book, the naming of animals is discussed. That Adam character wasn't much of a taxonomist, but the fact that taking steps to understand nature had to be part of the story that early in the text says a lot about what mattered even to ancient shepherd cultures.. People can choose to be ignorant and shut down, or they can choose to learn. I am especially interested in seeing groups of fish and trying to understand why they are as they are. Others with different skills have been able to work with these questions and identify species key to ecologies, or species that produce medicines we can use (you can't make antibiotics without know which species of fungus can be used). We could live a full long lives believing the sun revolved around a flat earth, that we were the reincarnation of Sasquatches, or that everything happens for a conscious reason. Why not? But all those curious people finding new things - their work is really stimulating mentally. I'll take the questions, not the answers. You're right though - in the end it doesn't matter to me.

So if a person decides to dedicate their lives to understanding life, and in trying to decipher the complex web of life, the history of life, the processes of evolution or even some tiny project like why a fish is the colour it is, or why its ear has become a means of breathing - that info can be really interesting. In the big scheme of things it can lead to everything from science that helps us live better and longer to a clear understanding of the meaning of life, if you think about it.

We are contradictory. @itiwhetu , you talked about Darwin collecting bird specimens as something foolish on a forum dedicated to collecting tiny fishes and keeping them alive in boxes. Uh huh. One of the problems breeders of fish can have is misidentified species can be accidentally crossed. There are species that look very alike but have genetic differences we can't eyeball, and they produce sterile mules within a generation or two. When taxonomists have done DNA analysis of them they've realized why this was happening, and maybe that obscure info can help people like us enjoy these things, since we care about fish enough to spend all this time online...

The thing is, I don't think we should be collecting anymore species from the wild and we should be concentrating our efforts on protecting the species that are already being kept in aquariums. We have no idea if the "Corydoras L723" isn't the last of that species or how big the population is. But they insist on dragging them across the world to be sold for hundreds of dollars and then act like that is a good thing.

 

[connorlindeman]

Probably not

Too bad the discussion cant continue.

 

[GaryE]

The thing is, I don't think we should be collecting anymore species from the wild and we should be concentrating our efforts on protecting the species that are already being kept in aquariums. We have no idea if the "Corydoras L723" isn't the last of that species or how big the population is. But they insist on dragging them across the world to be sold for hundreds of dollars and then act like that is a good thing.

But that is an entirely different question. Collecting a couple of specimens to preserve so they can be further researched is what you were talking about being wrong. Now you've jumped to commercial collecting - a whole different kettle of fish, so to speak. One subject at a time...

 

[GaryE]

I would like to have sat down with Pandora and talked her out of opening that box. What a mess that created.

 

[jaylach]

I think that I'd also want to talk to Judas about the betrayal of Christ. I mean this was prophesy so did he even have a choice? I think that he probably wasn't happy about it or he likely would not suicide. I would love to hear his side.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I honestly wouldn't. The Butterfly affect if you will. Even if you went back and did "good", it would have detrimental effect to the world as we know it.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I think that I'd also want to talk to Judas about the betrayal of Christ. I mean this was prophesy so did he even have a choice? I think that he probably wasn't happy about it or he likely would not suicide. I would love to hear his side.

Human's have free will, so yes, he did have a choice. Would be interesting none the less.

 

[itiwhetu]

But that is an entirely different question. Collecting a couple of specimens to preserve so they can be further researched is what you were talking about being wrong. Now you've jumped to commercial collecting - a whole different kettle of fish, so to speak. One subject at a time...

Same thing, if you don't know the size of the population then you shouldn't be removing anything from the wild. It doesn't matter if it is one specimen or a thousand, there is a risk that could be the last of them.

 

[Colin_T]

I would love to go back in time to prehistoric life! Who knows how many other new species of things you could find!

WOW, This is great. Look at the "CHOMP"

 

[JuiceBox52]

WOW, This is great. Look at the "CHOMP"

Colin, tff just wouldn't be the same without you i love it

 

[jaylach]

Going forward in time I would be SO happy to find that the Star Trek universe actually happens!

 

[I Like Rare Fish]

Probably go back time to around 5th grade and tell myself to start keeping aquariums and animals, and to actually pay attention in science class.

Maybe Whisper in Hitlers ear. Drive him mad pretending to be the god of love (Aphrodite), and whisper love advice to him.