I'd imagine the stresses in that environment would be quite extreme indeed.

Sure, he leaves details out on the first summary of events, but isn't that generally what happens in a discussion?

I've been diagnosed with a disease, and I will die.

See, I can do this, too. I could also have said "I have a mild cold", but who would give a fuck about that? And yes, everybody dies, so technically I'm not a liar. Just like your friend Bill technically didn't have sex with that woman. Behold how very smart I am.

It's just that "normal" people don't do that kind of thing.

If nobody tries, nobody will succeed.

You say this facetiously, but it also happens to be true. Someone has to be the first person on Mars, and if they die in the attempt, well, at least humanity learned something valuable in the process.

That we managed a moon landing without a single death in the space program is a historical anomaly, and a testament to the skill of the scientists, engineers, and astronauts who made it possible.

How many people died before the first person reached the summit of Everest? How many died attempting to reach the North Pole, or find the Northwest Passage? How many died in pursuit of the first successful supersonic flight?

I said it to demonstrate that it is a fallacious argument. It can be used for anything, therefore it means nothing. Just because some people have to try before one succeeds, does not mean every effort is worth supporting. Certainly not one that its initiators have decided that a way to cut costs from the estimated 100 billion to 10 billion is to not bother with brining the austronauts back to earth alive and well. It doesn't matter if the participants accept the fact that they're not going to return and most likely die there in a couple of years, assuming this whole landing thing actually works. It is unethical, it is unscientific, and I am 100% against it. This is not how it should be done. As has been said before, people *are* trying towards this goal, they're called NASA, they have more resources, they have more experience, they have succeded in various extremely complicated and taxing missions that are stepping stones to finally sending a man on Mars, and, if they do it, they will do it the right way.

I was diagnosed over 6 months ago with a liver disease. Due to my liver’s poor functionality my blood gained a problem of its own which lead to heart problems. I actually mentioned that phil67rpg

The ironic thing is that it took 2 full bottles of 40% Vodka (not 40 proof, as that would only be 20% alcohol by American standards) for me to finally let it go.

Or the "I have some liver disease and don't know if I will die" story. And now you say you're passing all tests with colors that fly (and you have never failed a test before).

No one turns on the news to hear stories about someone who recovered from a liver disease. But perhaps if I had posted it so long ago I’d not be accused of turning around my stories now.

That's assuming that it really happened the way you told us.

Excuse me for not keeping you posted daily on my health condition.


L. Spiro

Well, you are one of the most known and respected members on this forum. You do have some responsibility when you post stuff here.

Truth, we are not interested in details of your health condition, but if you make posts like you're likely to die, you could bump that thread with a message, like "Hey guys, good news, I won't die".

In short, let’s get ready for round 3! Passing round 3 is the last step; once you pass that you are officially scheduled to go to Mars.

No you're not. There's no way they are going to put hundreds of people on the 7-year training program. I can't remember the next phase but training doesn't start until 2015 so I'm sure they will weed out many candidates before then. They'd want a decent pool left to account for drop-outs, maybe 100?

Also: did you already post a link to your M1 profile? I live with someone who has just passed all the medical tests. In fact she's going to a M1 event in Switzerland this weekend. You're not too by any chance?

Even someone like L. Spiro with his experience of other cultures and possible slight sociopathy

I will take your bait

Oh, and congradulations on making it this far Spiro!

That would be my first time ever being called a sociopath. How did you come to that?

Strong creative abilities, strong technical skills, somewhat flexible relationship with details, no qualms about picking up and moving across the world, serial monogamy...

It's not an accusation - many of the world's most brilliant people border on sociopathy.

Strong creative abilities, strong technical skills, somewhat flexible relationship with details, no qualms about picking up and moving across the world, serial monogamy...

Strong creative abilities, strong technical skills, somewhat flexible relationship with details, no qualms about picking up and moving across the world, serial monogamy...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy
Most of their descriptions focus on delinquent, criminal, or otherwise questionable behavior.
I would say not a single 1 of Cleckley's 16 traits applies to me (though hard to interpret his #1 and #2).

Sociopaths are not Psychopaths.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder

I’d still have to disagree. Nothing in that link describes me either.

But it can’t be helped; not only is it hard to know someone’s real personality just from online, people are often different online and in real life.

L. Spiro