🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <854@sagpd1.UUCP>, monty@sagpd1.UUCP (Monty Saine) writes:
> In article <A:L44S1@xds8.ferranti.com> jeffd@ficc.ferranti.com (Jeff Daiell) writes:
> > --I believe we will get there much faster if we let the robots do all our
> > --dirty work.
> 
> >Actually, the posting did *not* say "let someone else do the dirty
> >work" -- it said "let machines do the dirty work".  This attitude
>                       ^^^^^^^^^^
> >is why we have technology in the first place ... or would you want
> >your colonists to *walk* to other worlds?  It's a tad odd to knock
> >someone for wanting to use machines if your own plan is 100% 
> >dependent on them.
> 
>     My point was to NOT to be 100% dependent on machines. I was and still
>     am upset about the "couch potato" mentality that feels we can sit back
>     and not take risks and still progress. Every achivement in our society
>     has been gained by not being afraid to take that extra step. I said use 
>     the robots as tools but do not depend on them to do it all for you.

Well, that "couch potato mentality" could save billions for the individuals
from whom the monies are taken ... the taxpayers.  And if robots make the
way safer first, then the public hesitation on space exploration will be 
reduced.

> 
>     Not using machines would have left Colombus swimming off the coast of 
>     Europe, but also, he did not wait for the Queen Mary to be built before
>     he ventured out. I would very much indeed want our colonists to WALK
>     on other worlds, barefoot if possible (since that is what you seem to
>     be implying). Better to lose a foot then lose your drive and ambition!
> 
I didn't ask if you wanted folks to walk ON other worlds -- I asked if you
wanted folks to walk  TO other worlds ... in other words, Humans won't
get out in space without technology.  


Jeff



> 
> 
> 	 Monty Saine


-- 
              "Buy land.  They've stopped making it."

                                 -- Mark Twain