I was reading what is more likely a fanciful story of a billionaire, who thinks that it is possible that in twenty years from now, there could be a million people living on Mars, setting up a colony with the aim to be self-sufficient - with the first people making the trip at the ten of the decade. The billionaire is Musk of course, and while it might be up there like the flying cars that are still yet to grace our skies in any practical sense, it did get me thinking.
Would I make the cut?
No.
Putting aside that twenty years away I would be closing in on seventy, as well as all the health issues that would rule me out, and of course that I get travel sick if I feel my stomach go even slightly up and down - I just wouldn't make the cut.
Would you?
A million people sounds like a lot in the sense of a small city, and it might be easy for us to imagine that it would be a bit like a city of the same size on earth - but it would have to be nothing like that at all. Because in almost every way, it would have to be the "perfect" model of a city where everyone has a vital role to play in adding value to the community and having to rely on and trust that others are doing their jobs accordingly. There would be far less room for error, and everyone would have to be reliable as can be predicted in skill and in health.
There would be no padded resumes.
And, for that kind of undertaking, I would assume that the average experience and intelligence of the million would be incredibly high, with some of the smartest, most capable people earth has to offer will be present. There would be very little room for wastage of human resources. And this gets me thinking about what that community might function like, as they would have a common goal of survival and growth that ties them together, interdependencies on skills that require them to collaborate and high intelligence that might be able to overcome some of the problems we have on earth.
Would there be violent crime?
And, it isn't that smart people don't commit violent crimes, but on earth it is done with a certain amount of security involved, where no individual is very vital for our existence. The irony is, there are some individuals who might be one of the catalysts of our non-existence. Over seven years ago I wrote an article called "The Spock Effect" which explores some of the possible potential of extreme human intelligence - and this came to mind thinking about the million on Mars.
That wouldn't be extreme intelligence.
But far higher than the average population on earth.
Who knows, perhaps my daughter might have a chance to go to space in her lifetime, but if she were to be one of the first million on Mars, she would have to carry a pretty solid kit of technical skills with her to offer the community, right? At that point, it isn't a city of artists, it is a city of engineers and scientists. It is a place where they are able to problem solve highly complex issues, and be ready to overcome hardship and adversity at any moment. Even when things are running smoothly, they would always be surrounded by existential risk.
Money doesn't buy answers on Mars.
What is their mental health condition like? How would the average person on earth cope with the extreme conditions they might face on Mars? How many of the current crop of Gen-Z even have a chance to be considered - even if they have technical skills? I would assume that the selection process would be about as stringent as it gets, and look into a whole range of factors that wouldn't be legal to ask about on earth.
If I could go though...
If I had the skills, if I had the body, and the stomach for it. I would go. If I could take my wife and daughter - I would go. Just imagine what it would be like to live in a city where everyone is valuable, where everyone is working together, where everyone is looking to make things better.
Pity we have to go to space for it.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
There are 5 parts to the poll, so I have given you 5 votes.
I can math good.
