Many, many planets, but the conditions for life to arise on one of them seem to be pretty rare. The Drake Equation didn’t account for at least a couple of factors that make it less likely than Drake supposed:
(1) Earth has a moon which is quite large compared to the planet. This causes significant tides, and tidal pools probably had a strong role to play in the development of life on Earth.
(2) Our own “intelligent” species seems pretty determined to find interesting ways to bring intelligent life to a screeching halt on our own planet; other “intelligent” species may well have done likewise.
How soon before somebody reading this responds along the lines of, “Perhaps, but Earth is the only one with intelligent life – it must be true, because The Bible Says So – so it is a big deal”?
A while back, I heard a conversation that my dad was in, talking about how a lot of people whenever they get faced with a big problem, they just act like complete idiots that don’t know how to handle the situation and just yell and scream at each other.
William Shatner finally went to space for real. He said he cried. Seeing the Earth from afar put things into a new perspective for him. Showed how insignificant we are in the overall scheme of everything. Apparently it’s a common reaction.
That’s not a useful perspective when we don’t have the first idea what’s on any of those planets and certainly haven’t got any possibility of visiting them or interacting with whatever’s there in any meaningful way. This world is all we’ve got.
BE THIS GUY 6 months ago
When your kid gets sick, the rest of the universe doesn’t matter. That’s perspective.
BasilBruce 6 months ago
Sing-along time: “Just remember that you’re standing on a planet that’s evolving, and revolving at nine hundred miles an hour . . .”
hariseldon59 6 months ago
The P could stand for pork.
Richard S Russell Premium Member 6 months ago
Many, many planets, but the conditions for life to arise on one of them seem to be pretty rare. The Drake Equation didn’t account for at least a couple of factors that make it less likely than Drake supposed:
(1) Earth has a moon which is quite large compared to the planet. This causes significant tides, and tidal pools probably had a strong role to play in the development of life on Earth.
(2) Our own “intelligent” species seems pretty determined to find interesting ways to bring intelligent life to a screeching halt on our own planet; other “intelligent” species may well have done likewise.
Bilan 6 months ago
C’mon Pig. In space, no one can hear you say Not a big deal.
syzygy47 6 months ago
P, also for Pedantic
Jml58 6 months ago
“A Pale Blue Dot”.
MeanBob Premium Member 6 months ago
cracker65 6 months ago
Our sun is a small star.
Gent 6 months ago
It…it… POWER PIG!
John Blake Premium Member 6 months ago
Wouldn’t they now be, umm, dead?
Imagine 6 months ago
Did he leave them up there?
tonypezzano 6 months ago
For when you haven’t got a Total Perspective Vortex on hand.
Walrus Gumbo Premium Member 6 months ago
We need to get over ourselves, none of us are a big deal!
some idiot from R'lyeh Premium Member 6 months ago
Think universal, act local.
A Common 'tator 6 months ago
Pigs in Space
https://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=EmI77ZBeJrQ
B UTTONS 6 months ago
He ended all arguments the moment he left the atmosphere.
iggyman 6 months ago
See what happens when Pigs fly?, Huh?!
henshaven Premium Member 6 months ago
Carl Sagan would be pleased.
Gent 6 months ago
Porkspective Pig eh. Yummy!
WaitingMan 6 months ago
The two hundred billion number of galaxies is outdated. I’ve read recently that the number of discovered galaxies is now closing in on one trillion.
Denver Reader Premium Member 6 months ago
No proof of that many planets
Geophyzz 6 months ago
When you ask for perspective, you’re supposed to be served ratatouille.
mfrasca 6 months ago
Totally vortex.
minty_Joe 6 months ago
Yakko’s Universe -
https://Www.youtube.Com/watch?v=OmfAyK6CeIg
Zebrastripes 6 months ago
Pig loves to pretend…..☺️☺️☺️
uniquename 6 months ago
Hey Perspective Pig, I have a few people I’d like you to bring into space. And leave them there.
Squoop 6 months ago
Pig is often portrayed as not being very bright but he’s actually the wisest character in the strip.
chris_o42 6 months ago
From a distance…everything looks insignificant.
fencie 6 months ago
Big blue marble.
DaBump Premium Member 6 months ago
Eh, except that’s not really relevant to what’s important. Maybe if you could see the other billions of people on the planet all at once…
Goat from PBS 6 months ago
Things we say are “big deals” are not as big as we think. Trust me, I’m a sports fan. I know.
Radish the wordsmith 6 months ago
What did pig do with their oxygen deprived bodies?
happyinvenice23 6 months ago
Good morning Steph, Great toon! Keep em coming!, Jim
Ignatz Premium Member 6 months ago
If it’s so insignificant, how come out of a hundred billion planets, you only drew that one?
Liam Astle Premium Member 6 months ago
And Pig just killed two people.
Zippy007 6 months ago
Mark 8:35-37
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it.
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
ladykat 6 months ago
When you put it like that, it’s not a big deal at all. If only world leaders would accept Pig’s perspective.
garysmigs 6 months ago
there can be no meaningful numerical value placed on an infinite expanse or what might be in it!
Ellis97 6 months ago
Super Pig is here to save the day!
RitaGB 6 months ago
It’s a big deal because it’s all we’ve got.
old_geek 6 months ago
Perspective? Why that’s a conspiracy theory of disinformation…
del_grande Premium Member 6 months ago
How soon before somebody reading this responds along the lines of, “Perhaps, but Earth is the only one with intelligent life – it must be true, because The Bible Says So – so it is a big deal”?
Blaidd Drwg Premium Member 6 months ago
Surprised no one else had this same thought …. https://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=buqtdpuZxvk
AtariDragon 6 months ago
Is it a big deal that they are angry at each other, then? If Pig were to follow his own logic, he’d just stay in bed all day. Again.
CaveCat87 6 months ago
A while back, I heard a conversation that my dad was in, talking about how a lot of people whenever they get faced with a big problem, they just act like complete idiots that don’t know how to handle the situation and just yell and scream at each other.
Elder Lee Fox 6 months ago
Perspective man reminds me of characters on Alton Brown’s Good Eats. I’m the waffler.
[Unnamed Reader - 4c87e2] 6 months ago
When pigs can fly…
Steverino Premium Member 6 months ago
I always thought a big deal was a royal flush.
RobinHood 6 months ago
It still matters.
RobinHood 6 months ago
Mostly Harmless
Need coffee 6 months ago
Re. perspective.
https://www.youtube.Com/Watch?v=keW4QqRGVN4
miztrniceguy 6 months ago
William Shatner finally went to space for real. He said he cried. Seeing the Earth from afar put things into a new perspective for him. Showed how insignificant we are in the overall scheme of everything. Apparently it’s a common reaction.
zeexenon 6 months ago
Well, finally, pigs can fly.
Stupid 6 months ago
They upgraded the # of galaxies some years back after they took another look: it’s now one trillion galaxies.
Eric S 6 months ago
Yes, please do take them into orbit, but definitely leave them there
eladee AKA Wally 6 months ago
I love it, Pig!
Paul D Premium Member 6 months ago
We are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” That’s a big deal. We should cherish our lives.
Billavi Premium Member 6 months ago
I’m curious. If you had a neighbor who blasted window-rattling music until 3am everyday, would “perspective” make you any less angry?
Larry S 6 months ago
Life on Earth is either profoundly meaningful or profoundly meaningless. You choose.
windfinder 6 months ago
“The Earth’s a great blue marble when we see it from up there”. Sorry, I can’t remember the rest of the song.
JoeMartinFan Premium Member 6 months ago
Some issues on this earth are petty and some are worth fighting for. The number of planets and galaxies in the universe has nothing to do with it.
John Jorgensen 6 months ago
That’s not a useful perspective when we don’t have the first idea what’s on any of those planets and certainly haven’t got any possibility of visiting them or interacting with whatever’s there in any meaningful way. This world is all we’ve got.
lanainutahdesert 6 months ago
This actually was really useful. It does put things into clear perspective. Thanks, Stephan.
bjy1293 Premium Member 6 months ago
pigspective
CalLadyQED 6 months ago
Reminds me of Sipos’ song in “She Loves Me.”
Sisyphos 5 months ago
Does Pig pose a serious threat to Cartoon-Boy in the comics profession?!
wordsmeet 5 months ago
Yay, Perspective Pig!
TheDOCTOR 5 months ago
“Always look on the bright side of Life.” -Thank You Eric Idle.
Withan 5 months ago
And the fight ended immediately… as they both asphyxiated in the vacuum of space.