The thing about companies mining in space is actually interesting.

I don't disagree.

As of right now, a lot of our technologies are held back based on not having enough access to rare-earth metals such as gold, lithium, platinum, etc.

I see what you believe, I however don't think "a lot" of "our" technologies are held back due to a lack of rare earth metals. If that were so I believe we would have more market pressure to recycle said metals. Elon Musk... I get the feeling that what he wants to do and what will be done might differ, and I don't think the difference will be decided so much by the availability of lithium. I would guess that the success or failure of his endeavors will have more to do with corporate and governmental actions (or non-actions).

This however invokes a further question in me. If we were to be forced to evacuate the earth and live somewhere else, would we still continue with earth-based industry?

Uh, hrm.... Yes? But, in a different way. I mean it depends way too much on what you consider the traditions of earth-based industry. I doubt humans will treat the rest of the universe with too much more care than they (we) have Earth. My guess would be that we will have some form of space based slavery. That hangs on my definition of slavery.....

Odd to have this thread pop back up.

The presence of the dogs bothered me, but I can't say I understand what is happening there right now.

I would like to know if the cell phones that are said to have recorded the events are still in the hands of the owners, or whether the phones have been claimed as evidence in some way.

Yourself?

Mostly in bed, after I wake up - I like to lay in bed with my thoughts more than might be advised.

Thanks for replying though....

I don't tend to believe people who say they "don't have ANY violent inclinations." To me that would mean they are either more in control of their emotions than anyone I have ever met, or they have a different definition of violence.

What is violence to you, especially, if you think you live a life where it is absent?

I would also be curious where you live that you think it is safe and secure from threats of violent action.

Is there merit in it, or is profit simply cash? What is the time frame for the returns, etc.

What I like about space is that you can't know, really, what you will learn by going there. I think some companies are getting into space, precisely because it is a laboratory that almost guarantees new breakthroughs in science. Those should be profitable at some point, but I agree I don't think companies are gonna go mine for gold or oil any time soon.

But to answer your question, what I like about space is that the encounter with it challenges our abilities and assumptions like very few encounters still do. I agree that venturing into space is potentially an evolutionary event, and I'm all for evolving. Being active in our engagement with space changes how we can feel about the Earth itself. Astronauts have talked about how meaningful it is to them to simply look at the Earth, and how that changes what it means to them.