Searching "comments":
| # | Comment | Survey |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | The piece of paper is definitely not alive. Common sense can tell us that. Similarly for other life-like things... a rumour can grow, spread, evolve over time, but again thats clearly not alive. Theres plenty more instances of things that have some of the characteristics of being alive, such as a language, a business, a computer virus, a country, a river. All can grow, spread, evolve but just apply the law of common sense. None of these things are alive. Viruses have no metabolism... Again, on this I'd say that you are using just a technicality. The virus acts parasitically. Its not quite the same as having its own stomach to digest, but rather when it needs to replicate, it uses the resources of others. Just because something doesnt have a stomach (or equivalent) do you deny it life? The virus is doing a pretty good job of living IMHO. They outnumber, and will probably outlive, us humans. | Do you believe that viruses are alive? |
| 42 | Follow this argument with me, and see if you can find fault... As I see it, things can be categorised into living and non-living. Somewhere there is a dividing line. Cut some dna in half, repeatedly, and you'll come to the point where you cut something that is alive, and it then becomes 2 fragments of chemicals. The question "Is a virus alive?" then boils down to which side of this line a virus lies on. It seems just so completely obvious that the virus is on the life side. It replicates, evolves, consumes, is active rather than passive, is biochemical based, follows all the darwinian evolution rules, etc .. All things that we associate with life. So, yes, I'd say that its alive. Starting from the common sense position, I'd say the onus is on you to say why they are not alive. | Do you believe that viruses are alive? |
| 43 | * They are carbon based * Not listed in one of 6 kingoms = circular argument. They arent listed therefore they arent alive therfore they arent listed etc etc.. (can I ask your reference for this) * They eat, but in a different sense to me and you. They use cellular material and make it into more viruses. That seems like a form of eating to me. | Do you believe that viruses are alive? |
| 44 | I'll summarize your question as... "Can parts of something that is alive, still be considered alive?" I'd say there's an easy answer to that, as I mentioned to biggles earlier. "Well it depends if it can it continue to function with the normal characteristics of life. If that bit of dna can be placed in some nutrients, divide, use energy, grow etc, then yes, it is still alive. If however it just sits there doing nothing, and has no hope of ever doing anything, then its not alive. You've killed it, and I hope you are ashamed of yourself. Naughty Biggles." Viruses are most definitely carbon based. If you were to look at a virus, you'd find its made of DNA or RNA with a protein coat - this isnt too far removed from a bacterium. | Do you believe that viruses are alive? |
| 45 | Theres no reason to think that life is sacred - indeed, in this context what does sacred actually mean? Its got religious overtones to it. When gene technology arrives at the point (and it will) that humans can design and create life forms from scratch, does it mean that we have become god? Or is it more likely that we have shown life to be nothing more than a very complex chemical reaction. | Do you believe that viruses are alive? |
| 46 | Does free will exist...? I think that this question needs to be answered on two levels - a technical one and a practical one. Technically, its tempting to say that it doesnt exist. The future is to a great extent already determined by the laws of physics. My body chemistry and brain circuits determine how I think and act to a great (and maybe complete) extent. Practically, we have a very real illusion of free will. I can and do make choices all the time, and to all intents and purposes, my choices dont seem to me to be pre-destined. I think for everyday purposes, this is the correct answer. We do have free will. | Do you believe that viruses are alive? |
| 47 | Big jugs. | What can turn you on about the opposite sex? |
| 48 | wednesdays. | What days and how often do the garbage men come by your house and pick up your garbage? |
| 49 | I'll guess hagrid | Who do you think gets killed off in the new Harry Potter book? |
| 50 | You've thought way too much about your answer. | Who do you think gets killed off in the new Harry Potter book? |
