Stewart Brand: Building a home for the Clock of the Long Now

www.ted.com Stewart Brand works on the Clock of the Long Now, a timepiece that counts down the next 10,000 years. It's a beautiful project that asks us to think about the far, far future. Here, he discusses a tricky side problem with the Clock: Where can we put it?

[@drchaffee]

I like this idea. For me it evokes humility in the face of a transitory existence, but also a hope that people would be there to refurbish it for another ten thousand year run.

[@Flyborg]

What would be awesome is if they went down an old cave to put a clock in there, and found a clock already there, ticking on year 20,000 or something :) Also, I would totally visit this clock if it existed.

[@boxant]

I will be looking forward to making the journey.

[@aleighland]

If we learn to think LONG now then our creation of things in our now will likely be less damaging and more with an eye to lasting over more than a few generations. Yes If we continue to function as we do there will be nothing left of us except maybe this clock.. But if the clock happens maybe in the process of its creation we will learn to NOT destroy ourselves and our home!!

[@heartwings26]

I wish he had explained so much more about WHY they want just a clock- i understand the journey is as important as the object/experience at the end but i'm still left with questions. My thought is: they could put a time capsule there too, with maybe every person willing to make the hike, put something from their history into it. (which might defeat the purpose of a sealed time capsule but idk)

[@featheredmusic]

Of course time exists, it composes the past and our memories. Humans have achieved the intelligence to capture time. There are many things that seem pointless now or then but they do leave impressions and tell us about of who we are as a species. Look at the pyramids, it may be pointless to build such a monument back then, but at the same time look how it effected everyone and told the world about time and culture. I agree with most of your points but i also agree with inspiration, imagination.

[@captainchaos3667]

Good news people! I just traveled back from the year 12009, and it all worked out exactly to plan! It's just about to strike the year 10000, only of course now I'm here I won't get to hear it. Damn...

[@KonaChuck22]

The guy described it acuarately at the beginning...FOLLY. Would probably win best project at the high school scince fair.

[@aleighland]

Oh but isn't it wonderful that they are "wasting" money on things that cause expansion of thought and ideas rather than destruction like war and bombs. I applaud their effort and wish them years of contemplation.

[@featheredmusic]

ahhhh...gatcha, yah i see your point, def true.

[@ratholin]

thats a little like making a diamond coffin then. It's pointless hubris.

[@S0vereignX]

you know how this is going to work out, somebody long time from now is going to discover the clock and freak out when it comes close to the end because they think the world is going to end when it stops like some 2012 countdown all over again. but maybe that's part of the fun

[@kurtilein3]

i dont know. i would build 100 of those clocks, make them very beautiful and durable, and give them to museums and universities all around the planet. in 100 years, 80 might be left, and now they are more valueable and worth protecting because each one has already been running for 100 years. everyone understands that you cant just go back 100 years to make a new one. they will increase in value with time, and its about educating people, isnt it? many clocks in many museums make more sense.

[@hawkecaviar8270]

mount kalash?

[@CheezMonsterCrazy]

I'd go see it. ;)

[@Akatam0t0ma]

A great idea for a time capsule, but why did he spend so much time describing the environment, rather than discussing the idea more in-depth?

[@heyjoesoap]

How optimistic.

[@awerner2007]

the clock was nesscary due to the steam engine, since people needed to know when the train was going to show up

[@Boozinator]

I honestly can't understand the imperative for the existence of such a clock. Most TED talks blow me away.. this one left me confused.

[@featheredmusic]

haha nice nice yep maybe i'll see you there

[@TheAnthem88]

that thing is still not finished yet

[@ratholin]

I think it's the reverse of humility. An old man wants to build something to last 10,000 years and make his invention a "spiritual journey" nothing humble about that it looks like fear of death mixed with a need for self importance.

[@ratholin]

Ancestor worship always leads to the belief that stupid things that last must really be quite ingenious. "Those people up north burry their dead in small stone cairns with some possessions. I being pharoah would like a giant triangular one. Get the slaves to figure out how to build it."

[@kurtilein3]

... continued one sentence sums it up: in america, 100 years is a lot and 100 kilometres are nothing. in europe, 100 years are nothing and 100 kilometres is a lot. of course this is a generalisation, but it has some truth to it. in europe you regularly come across items that are centuries old and still in use. in america, you have this cut in history that obscures the view on the continuum. americans just spend much less time in buildings that are more than 500 years old.

[@domsau2]

Attention aux fautes dans les sous-titres, svp !

[@ghostly2]

It would be awesome if they went down into a cave to put a clock there and found the TARDIS.

[@heartwings26]

In ten thousand years time if, say, another civilization finds it, what will they find out about us? "So they lived a long on this planet before they killed themselves, but what did they accomplish? How to tell time!!" Good idea, but to me, a little misplaced.

[@featheredmusic]

are u talking to your self or? the idea behind this is to keep track of time, not to show our greatest achievements.

[@hawkecaviar8270]

sorry it's mount kailash

[@jjmm112]

care`s?.

[@JasonRainbows]

Wrong idea - hiding it. If a clock ticks in the wilderness and nobody is there to hear it, does it even matter? Put it on the moon if you're serious about it.

[@brandoYT]

Perhaps those Pyramid builders did it already? Perhaps we just forgot?? Here is a 100,000 year project scheduled to finish building near the end of this century. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3mko6urr9hkd6M

[@GosienkaGrabcia]

kubuś

[@brandoYT]

And Brand thinks Atomic Reactors and the atomic waste are OK?? Finland the best attempt so far only hopes for 100,000 years. For example of the real problems of loooong term planning see kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3mko6urr9hkd6M Never should have started building reactors just to boil water.

[@Ignare]

Kids with grey hair.

[@atripa645]

@MrJivePirate what are you doing going to old vids and posting bullshit propaganda? What are you some government/corporate agent or something? lol Some PR firm hired this guy.lol

[@beardydave]

This is a very 20XX American talk. Experience the view from where the clock is! Hayoo!! THat is what we will all say for the next, what, 20years. If that. Even now, the novelty/fascination of Christ is lessening nowadays. A person will not, can not, last 10000 yrs. A civilization can! This clock is a novel idea for a novelty culture...

[@somercet1]

You tell me: are people still around to study it? You have very small eyes.

[@yody94]

I think this guy has spent a little too much time watching movies like raiders of the lost arc...

[@GeorgeTheWild]

It's not your resources that are being "wasted." So why do you care?

[@LordKarmaUSA]

An example of one of the things that is wrong with Academia. Fortunately, these people will die long before they waste much of anyone's time and money.

[@tcorp]

A future civilization will build a religion around it and the point will be lost (again?).

[@DarwinsBeerReviews]

Meh, who cares?

There's no such thing as advanced capitalism.