# With Culture technology what would be the best plan for humanity? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 19, 2023, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775 "2023-06-19T14:19:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cmyers1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyers1980/32/11814_2.png) [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/1 "2023-06-19T14:19:55Z")
In Iain Banks’ Culture universe trillions of people live on millions of orbitals throughout the galaxy with each orbital capable of housing billions of people. Assuming our real world Earth got Culture like post scarcity technology with resources not being much of an issue in your opinion given that there are eight billion people alive currently would it be better if humanity was spread out among various orbitals located throughout the galaxy/universe or kept on a single orbital? In the case of the former how many orbitals would be adequate and where should they be placed? For the first century or so of humanity’s uplift how do you ensure the various nations and peoples of Earth have sufficient living space without becoming detached from the rest of humanity with all the tribalism and isolation that may result? ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/2 "2023-06-19T14:34:28Z")
Does Banks state how many people can live in one orbital? My thought would be to build one orbital for each member of the U.N. Then build one orbital for each ethnic group with a militant separatist movent. One for the Basques, one for the Tamils, one for the highland Scots, one for the lowland Scots, one for the Catholic Irish, one for the Protestant Irish. Then, for every tribal enclave, build a dozen orbitals where cosmopolitan people can mix and mingle. ---
**Author:** ![Cmyers1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyers1980/32/11814_2.png) [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/3 "2023-06-19T14:41:08Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Does Banks state how many people can live in one orbital? Each orbital has many times the surface area of Earth and can hold as many as 50 billion people. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/4 "2023-06-19T14:45:22Z")
As an individual, my primary motivation to leave Earth would be to get away from all nationalism and tribalism. If you have to sort people, do it to minimize matches of dangerous recessive genes. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/5 "2023-06-19T15:00:48Z")
I don’t think it’s possible to avoid tribalism. It is human nature to think that the guy across the street is Doing Things Wrong. People join together to fight a common enemy, but as soon as They cease to be a threat, We split into factions. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/6 "2023-06-19T20:11:12Z")
> [@Cmyers1980](#): > > would it be better if humanity was spread out among various orbitals located throughout the galaxy/universe or kept on a single orbital? Spread out. Eggs, basket, yadda, yadda, yadda. > [@Cmyers1980](#): > > In the case of the former how many orbitals would be adequate and where should they be placed? Around a million to 10 million per Orbital, and everywhere possible. > [@Cmyers1980](#): > > For the first century or so of humanity’s uplift how do you ensure the various nations and peoples of Earth have sufficient living space without becoming detached from the rest of humanity with all the tribalism and isolation that may result? You obliterate the idea of nations and peoples. Ensure everyone speaks the same language, and the Culture modifications - implants and posthuman genes - will take care of the rest. That, plus Minds managing the actual running of things, an essential part of the Culture mix. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/7 "2023-06-19T22:51:18Z")
It doesn’t matter what we think. The AI is going to be making all the decisions for us. In Ian Banks’ Culture series, humanity is being taken care of by their AI wardens. We’re not really in the driver’s seat anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Cmyers1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyers1980/32/11814_2.png) [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/8 "2023-06-20T15:52:03Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Around a million to 10 million per Orbital, and everywhere possible. What made you decide on this number range given how large orbitals are? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/9 "2023-06-20T15:59:38Z")
True-Any culture that can be divided can be divided further. At the base of any culture is “Us vs. Them”, and if “Them” does not exist, “Them” will be created. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/10 "2023-06-20T16:09:27Z")
> [@Cmyers1980](#): > > What made you decide on this number range given how large orbitals are? Because the human race is ~8 billion, and I would like there to be thousands of Orbitals. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/11 "2023-06-20T16:14:24Z")
Except that cultures come in different sizes, meaning that while some cultures will have multiple orbitals, other cultures may have to share orbitals. ---
**Author:** ![A.Selene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ec8ea/32.png) [@A.Selene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.Selene)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/12 "2023-06-20T16:24:20Z")
Culture tech without Culture, well, culture, is a problem. Tribalism and xenophobia would still be present (presuming everyone’s mind hasn’t been altered, which I presume given the inviolability of the mind as recognized by the Culture). One orbital would certainly be sufficient in terms of space. More than enough space for everyone to live as they please. We would need a hell of a lot of slap drones though. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/13 "2023-06-20T17:11:15Z")
Until we stamp out tribalism, humanity should be quarantined to this rock. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/14 "2023-06-20T17:53:22Z")
So, when we unify, will it be in English, Mandarin, or Arabic? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/15 "2023-06-20T18:05:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Except that cultures come in different sizes, meaning that while some cultures will have multiple orbitals, other cultures may have to share orbitals. Is this a response to me? I see no value in preserving current human cultural continuity in a Culture-like future. The Culture is a singular created one, that’s what I would strive to emulate. > [@mbh](#): > > So, when we unify, will it be in English, Mandarin, or Arabic? It will be in [Binary](https://theculture.fandom.com/wiki/Marain). ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/16 "2023-06-20T21:31:21Z")
> [@A.Selene](#): > > One orbital would certainly be sufficient in terms of space. More than enough space for everyone to live as they please. We would need a hell of a lot of slap drones though. What’s a slap drone? Should I have known what that is? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/17 "2023-06-20T21:46:18Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > What’s a slap drone? Should I have known what that is? Have you read the Culture books? They’re mentioned in a couple of books. They’re [a way of dealing with the recalcitrant](https://theculture.fandom.com/wiki/Slap-drone). ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/18 "2023-06-20T21:47:13Z")
I have not read them but was still interested in this thread. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/19 "2023-06-20T22:26:23Z")
Basically this. [https://americasbestpics.com/picture/when-your-guartian-angel-is-tired-of-your-bullshit-lu7Yl0O78](https://americasbestpics.com/picture/when-your-guartian-angel-is-tired-of-your-bullshit-lu7Yl0O78) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775/20 "2023-06-20T22:46:06Z")
Now I need a slap drone. Where’s that Hammacher Schlemmer thread? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-culture-technology-what-would-be-the-best-plan-for-humanity/985775.md?page=2)