What do you think is the greatest epic fail for humanity?

[jacobschndr]

I would make this a poll, but theres really too much here

This came to me from seeing a book in the store that listed the 100 greatest failures in the history of humanity. In it, number one, was World War II, and I mostly agree. With over 77 million lives lost(estimated) in the period of less than ten years as well as economic collapse, the rise of global super powers and leading into the dawn of the cold war. All because a few rotten, truely evil, SOB's wanted to change the world to better fit their view of a "perfect" world.

There were others too. Scandals, genocides, uprisings, the blood diamond confilct was what in my opinion, really, really bad.

So what epic fails do you know of? Thoughts?

NOTE: these studies were based upon loss of human life, economic and political turmoil, and the outright lack or non-exsistent source of reason of why they happened in the first place

 

[Cogwheel]

Honestly, for me, it's a toss-up between one of the things mentioned above, and burning down the library of Alexandria.

 

[Saelune]

Religion. All of them. No single incident of death will ever do more damage than religion has. Their casualty numbers still going strong.

Edit: I wont bother responding anymore. I firmly stand by my view on this though. But I am being called a villian for hating something that hated me first for being different.

I am not wrong for hating murderers. I am not wrong for hating people who trample on freedom. I am not wrong for being for equal rights. Those all describe what religion often is.

And no, Im not a troll. A troll just wants to anger people. I merely want a better world.

 

[DJDarque]

Hm...I think the answer would have to be humanity. People have done so many stupid, terrible things that it's difficult to pinpoint the worst.

 

[Traun]

Honestly, for me, it's a toss-up between one of the things mentioned above, and burning down the library of Alexandria.

We actually needed World War II, without it I dread to think what war we could have had a decade later.

And I have to agree with Burning down the Library, even thinking about it makes me mad.

Religion. All of them. No single incident of death will ever do more damage than religion has. Their casualty numbers still going strong.

Spoiler

 

[soren7550]

Uwe Boll films, and how he keeps making them.

To pick something a bit more serious, I'd have to say... hmm. Yeah, I'm coming up kinda blank. Sure, I can list tons of horrible fails for humanity (America's turn against the military, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Courtney Love to name a few), but I guess I have to pick something (that's the whole point of the thread after all).

Sooo, right now I'll have to say the Holocaust.

 

[lacktheknack]

Religion. All of them. No single incident of death will ever do more damage than religion has. Their casualty numbers still going strong.

Why must you ruin a perfectly good thread with extremely personal (and small-picture) rhetoric? This is Off-Topic, save it for the Religion and Politics forum, where I can ignore it easier.

OT: Getting itself trapped in an unsupportable standard of living. Talk about lack of foresight.

 

[Hungry Donner]

This came to me from seeing a book in the store that listed the 100 greatest failures in the history of humanity. In it, number one, was World War II, and I mostly agree. With over 77 million lives lost(estimated) in the period of less than ten years as well as economic collapse, the rise of global super powers and leading into the dawn of the cold war. All because a few rotten, truely evil, SOB's wanted to change the world to better fit their view of a "perfect" world.

WWII was really just a continuation of WWI, and probably wouldn't have come about if the Treaty of Versailles had been more equatable. Instead some participants attempted to grind Germany in to the ground and fifteen years later it came back to haunt them.

(This is not to forgive the Nazi regime in any way, simply to point out the "fail" that was directly responsible for setting the conditions of WWII.)

Of course this sets up a series of connections where the Treaty of Versailles is set up by the "fail" of WWI, which came about as a combination family feud (Victoria's grandsons and grandnephews) and the inherent problems of the Congress of Vienna.

The Congress of Vienna was an attempt to reverse the conquests of Napoleon, which is rather funny since this started with Nazis, and Hitler and Napoleon have a lot in common (both attempted to conquer Europe, both made critical blunders invading Russia, et cetera).

So yeah, Cold War => WWII => Treaty of Versailles => WWI => Congress of Vienna => Napoleon => failure of the French Revolution to develop a stable government => . . . . . Enlightenment?


I'd stop at the Congress of Vienna. In many ways it was a brilliant piece of diplomacy, and it is absolutely fascinating, but it was also a tremendous FAIL. I also think the Treaty of Versailles trumps WWII, WWII may have been the more tragic failure but I think the actual "fail" here was the ridiculous demands made in the Treaty.

 

[Easton Dark]

Focus on military.

If every major country cut their military budget in half... imagine what else could be done with those billions, hell, maybe trillions.

 

[Saelune]

Religion. All of them. No single incident of death will ever do more damage than religion has. Their casualty numbers still going strong.

Why must you ruin a perfectly good thread with extremely personal (and small-picture) rhetoric? This is Off-Topic, save it for the Religion and Politics forum, where I can ignore it easier.

OT: Getting itself trapped in an unsupportable standard of living. Talk about lack of foresight.

I answered the question. Dont be upset because I am right. Just because WW2 is a game trope, doesnt mean it is also not a serious topic. This topic is about horrible flaws caused by humanity. This is a serious topic, even if phrased lightly. Maybe you just entered the wrong one.

 

[maturin]

And WWI was a fit of imperialistic competition.

So why don't we roll colonialism and World War all into one?

 

[Worgen]

Religion. All of them. No single incident of death will ever do more damage than religion has. Their casualty numbers still going strong.

yeah, Ill go with that also, and Ill throw in racism for good measure

 

[viking97]

Sarah. fucking. Palin.

 

[Slangeveld]

Military might is stupid, burning down the Library of Alexandria was stupid. I nicked the 2 (imo) best ones from the front page.

 

[gee666]

Religion. All of them. No single incident of death will ever do more damage than religion has. Their casualty numbers still going strong.

Why must you ruin a perfectly good thread with extremely personal (and small-picture) rhetoric? This is Off-Topic, save it for the Religion and Politics forum, where I can ignore it easier.

OT: Getting itself trapped in an unsupportable standard of living. Talk about lack of foresight.

To be fair to the poster if you add historic events such as the inquisition the crusades and many other wars in the name of religion, as well as many MANY persecutions the guy has a point, just because you see it as a flipant remark dose not mean that his point is invalid. were not just talking christianity there are many religions over many centuries if not milenia add them all together then yeah they prob outway the deth toll of ww2 combined, if the point made by citing ww2 was deth toll (surly humanitys biggest "epic fail" being causing the deths of others needlesly) then bringing religion into the debate is valid you can argue the many positive points of religion, but then you could do the same of ww2

on topic i feel capatalisim is one of our worst a truly psychotic point of view

 

[Jfswift]

Nuclear technology in general.

 

[D.J. D.J.]

Religion. All of them. No single incident of death will ever do more damage than religion has. Their casualty numbers still going strong.

I'm sorry you feel this way about religion but its not entirely true. Yes people have died over religion and yes they still do but I actively practice religion to try and make myself a better person and I don't hate anyone who thinks different just as long as they are respectful about it.

OT:Aside from the obvious WWII, I would say Vietnam was pretty messed up.

 

[PlasmaFrog]

Life is a series of trial and error, so you best learn to embrace the very essence of our existence.

 

[Saelune]

Religion. All of them. No single incident of death will ever do more damage than religion has. Their casualty numbers still going strong.

I'm sorry you feel this way about religion but its not entirely true. Yes people have died over religion and yes they still do but I actively practice religion to try and make myself a better person and I don't hate anyone who thinks different just as long as they are respectful about it.

OT:Aside from the obvious WWII, I would say Vietnam was pretty messed up.

Dont give me that crap. A mass murderer is still a horrible person, even if he saved one guy from being hit by a car. Do SOME people use religion to actually be better people? Sure. But a few people actually using religion for good doesnt change all the bad that it has also been used for.

 

[lacktheknack]

Religion. All of them. No single incident of death will ever do more damage than religion has. Their casualty numbers still going strong.

Why must you ruin a perfectly good thread with extremely personal (and small-picture) rhetoric? This is Off-Topic, save it for the Religion and Politics forum, where I can ignore it easier.

OT: Getting itself trapped in an unsupportable standard of living. Talk about lack of foresight.

I answered the question. Dont be upset because I am right. Just because WW2 is a game trope, doesnt mean it is also not a serious topic. This topic is about horrible flaws caused by humanity. This is a serious topic, even if phrased lightly. Maybe you just entered the wrong one.

Objectivity! And missing the point!

Blergh.