Easygoing Eyebeast Dantius Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Originally Posted By: Golgoth But What causes more terror than killing many, What would scare you more a disease that could have a small chance of killing you or one that has a large chance of killing you? Remember the anthrax mail scares a few years back? Killed a few dozen people. Terrified the nation. I would bet that hundreds of times as many people drown is swimming pools annually. Which is scarier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Dikiyoba Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Originally Posted By: Goldenking I'd definitely say not. Five to ten years is a long time for a virus. Sure, something dormant like that could spread amongst a lot of people really fast. However, it would certainly not be reliable to suddenly become deadly, as viruses tend to do this thing called mutation, annoyingly enough for everyone. And if you plan on having the entire virus mutate at once, as seen in our example game, Pandemic, don't hold your breath. The virus would have to mutate in one spot, first, and spread all over again. It wouldn't be able to near instantaneously kill large swathes of the population infected with its predecessor. Thankfully enough. You wouldn't have to have your virus remain completely dormant. It can replicate and do whatever it wants as long as it doesn't produce any symptoms to tip people off that they have it for an extended period of time. It wouldn't suddenly need to mutate to become deadly either. Five to ten years may be a bit long, but there are viruses that can go a year or two without causing visible problems. If for some reason you wanted to wait a really long time to see the results of your secret epidemic, well, there are prions. Dikiyoba. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Dantius Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Originally Posted By: Dikiyoba Five to ten years may be a bit long, but there are viruses that can go a year or two without causing visible problems. *cough*AIDS*cough* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chittering Clawbug Golgoth Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Originally Posted By: Dantius Remember the anthrax mail scares a few years back? Killed a few dozen people. Terrified the nation. I would bet that hundreds of times as many people drown is swimming pools annually. Which is scarier? That was right after the 9/11 attacks which in turn caused people to straight away be worried there would be a pandimenic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgeoning Battle Gamma tehpineapple Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Originally Posted By: Dantius Originally Posted By: eCool You learned that from Pandemic. Yeah, and you should release your virus in Madagascar! No, dude. It's all about Greenland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Lilith Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Originally Posted By: Golgoth That was right after the 9/11 attacks which in turn caused people to straight away be worried there would be a pandimenic why would the 9/11 attacks have made an anthrax pandemic more likely anthrax bacilli don't read the news also as far as the public consciousness is concerned it's still "right after the 9/11 attacks" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Dantius Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Originally Posted By: Lilith anthrax bacilli don't read the news Yeah, but government scientists with a grudge do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Mea Tulpa Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Originally Posted By: Lilith also as far as the public consciousness is concerned it's still "right after the 9/11 attacks" Is it that way in Australia? It isn't that way in the U.S., where a series of major domestic problems (beginning with Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and culminating in the ongoing financial crisis) gradually weakened the chokehold 9/11 had on public consciousness here. Or maybe my perspective is skewed by the fact that I teach kids who are too young to remember much about 9/11 at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 The best thing to do would be to strike a major private university with, say, smallpox right before a major vacation. You'd shut down the institution and spread your disease across the country and the world. —Alorael, who doesn't think the anthrax pandemic fears were about contagion so much as a mass anthrax spamming campaign. It never materialized. The terrorists never worked out how to email anthrax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyshakk Koan La paix Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Originally Posted By: Alo The best thing to do . . . is probably not trying to instill terror in the hearts of the population. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Dantius Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Originally Posted By: Cold-Drake Equations The best thing to do would be to strike a major private university with, say, smallpox right before a major vacation. You'd shut down the institution and spread your disease across the country and the world. —Alorael, who doesn't think the anthrax pandemic fears were about contagion so much as a mass anthrax spamming campaign. It never materialized. The terrorists never worked out how to email anthrax. In other news, my agents have just come up with this picture of Aloreal: Click to reveal.. No wonder he changes aliases so often! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Mea Tulpa Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 *facepalm* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody RCCCL Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Originally Posted By: Dantius Originally Posted By: Cold-Drake Equations The best thing to do would be to strike a major private university with, say, smallpox right before a major vacation. You'd shut down the institution and spread your disease across the country and the world. —Alorael, who doesn't think the anthrax pandemic fears were about contagion so much as a mass anthrax spamming campaign. It never materialized. The terrorists never worked out how to email anthrax. In other news, my agents have just come up with this picture of Aloreal: Click to reveal.. No wonder he changes aliases so often! On the off chance that Dantius is correct, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to his family. The tragic assassination of Dantius has struck a deep chord in all of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Sudanna Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Fool, now we all must die. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Student of Trinity Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 This thread needs to change or die, folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody waterplant Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Originally Posted By: Fractal Originally Posted By: Alo The best thing to do . . . is probably not trying to instill terror in the hearts of the population. That depends on who you are - there are those that have done quite well from inflating the actual threat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrulous Glaahk Sporefrog Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 To elaborate on HIV, which was aptly mentioned: a disease absolutely can produce negligible symptoms, be latent for 5-10 years, and then be extremely deadly: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hiv-timecourse.png Now if a HIV-like pathogen were able to travel by aerosol or some other faster and less containable method than bodily fluid exchange, that could be problematic. As far as a new pathogen simply being used as a terrorist's scare tactic and not actually wiping out large swaths of humans: sure, but I don't think Venter's research fundamentally changes the game from what terrorism resources are already available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Triumph Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 I, for one, am thankful that it seems highly unlikely terrorists read the Spiderweb forums. I don't want them getting any ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast VCH Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Originally Posted By: Dantius In other news, my agents have just come up with this picture of Aloreal: Gasp! Where is this dastard and what is he doing with something so similar to my own moniker!? —Alorael, who would like to add syphilis to the list of infectious diseases with very long latencies. And for non-STD options, consider chicken pox (or, later, shingles), and, for something very different, the prion-caused disease kuru. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Thaluikhain Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Wouldn't it be easier to pretend that *new technology X that people can't be bothered thinking about seriously* will cause cancer or otherwise destroy the world? Scares loads of people, and no-one tries to kill you in response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Lilith Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 fun fact: one day you and everyone you love will be dead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast VCH Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Originally Posted By: Lilith fun fact: one day you and everyone you love will be dead That's likely, but it isn't absolutely certain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast The Mystic Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Originally Posted By: Lilith fun fact: one day you and everyone you love will be dead And everyone you hate. And everyone you're indifferent towards. And everyone, period. In all cases, the ultimate cause of death: having been alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody waterplant Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Nothing Ever Really Dies B-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Sudanna Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Originally Posted By: Lilith fun fact: one day you and everyone you love will be dead No, silly, we'll all be in Heaven. Duh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Dintiradan Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 And how does one get to Heaven? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Sudanna Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 The stork! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Ray Kurzweil insists that he will live forever and, if you're in the right demographic and you're careful, you might too! —Alorael, who intends to live just long enough and not a moment longer. He'll be sure to let everyone know when his time has come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Lilith Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: Sylvan Amble in the right demographic read: rich, white, nerdy, selfish, extremely lucky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody waterplant Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: Lilith Originally Posted By: Sylvan Amble in the right demographic read: rich, white, nerdy, selfish, extremely lucky , fully insured, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast The Mystic Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 I plan to become immortal; all I have to do is upload my consciousness into cyberspace. And since there's no such thing as "deleted" except on your own hard drive, I'll be around forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 You aren't familiar with the concept of server crashes. Lots of people have lost data that was supposedly safe when it happens and backups only have part of the lost data. Microsoft had it only this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyshakk Koan inni Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 Originally Posted By: waterplant Originally Posted By: Lilith Originally Posted By: Sylvan Amble in the right demographic read: rich, white, nerdy, selfish, extremely lucky , fully insured, aka, live in canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast The Mystic Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 Originally Posted By: Randomizer You aren't familiar with the concept of server crashes. Lots of people have lost data that was supposedly safe when it happens and backups only have part of the lost data. Microsoft had it only this year. Nice try; I already anticipated this, thanks to my old laptop's hard drive finally dying almost a year ago, causing me to lose the backup copies of nearly all my programs (I save the documents elsewhere). I plan to make at least two or three full copies of myself on separate servers immediately after the initial upload, thus ensuring I'll live forever in one way or another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody waterplant Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 Originally Posted By: The Mystic I plan to become immortal; all I have to do is upload my consciousness into cyberspace. And since there's no such thing as "deleted" except on your own hard drive, I'll be around forever. Just can't get enough of those 'Who's the Boss' reruns, hey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Student of Trinity Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 So Canadian medicare is going to guarantee immortality? Typical Conservative penny-pinching! That's a whopping 50% cut to the sacred promise of 'cradle to grave' coverage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast The Mystic Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 Originally Posted By: waterplant Just can't get enough of those 'Who's the Boss' reruns, hey? More like Doctor Who, plus a fair number of movies in my collection, with the occasional A-Team, Babylon 5, and/or Star Trek rerun thrown in for good measure. One can watch only so much hockey, you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Thaluikhain Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Originally Posted By: The Mystic Originally Posted By: Randomizer You aren't familiar with the concept of server crashes. Lots of people have lost data that was supposedly safe when it happens and backups only have part of the lost data. Microsoft had it only this year. Nice try; I already anticipated this, thanks to my old laptop's hard drive finally dying almost a year ago, causing me to lose the backup copies of nearly all my programs (I save the documents elsewhere). I plan to make at least two or three full copies of myself on separate servers immediately after the initial upload, thus ensuring I'll live forever in one way or another. A reasonable idea, but then what happens when you become abandonware? And, do you really want 3 different copies of yourself floating round cyberspace, all claiming to be the real you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyshakk Koan La paix Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Originally Posted By: VCH weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Originally Posted By: SoT This thread needs to change or die, folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Mea Tulpa Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Those are out of order, so the whole quotation is misleading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Rowen Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Originally Posted By: CRISIS on INFINITE SLARTIES Those are out of order, so the whole quotation is misleading. I thought it was main stream to miss quote and quote out of context these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast The Mystic Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Originally Posted By: Thaluikhain A reasonable idea, but then what happens when you become abandonware? Self-aware abandonware. That's very interesting... Originally Posted By: Thaluikhain And, do you really want 3 different copies of yourself floating round cyberspace, all claiming to be the real you? Don't worry, I'll be able to tell. And I'm not telling how. Just be thankful there's only one of me in real life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Student of Trinity Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Would you be open source? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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