[avaldez_]

I agree with you in broad terms but come on, all the care in the world for the environment won't stop external threats. Ask the dinosaurs. Sure the resources can be used to mitigate those threats like NASA DART mission but it is nice to have a plan B just in case.

[Zigurd]

"Space colony" is a misnomer. Nothing of value to bring there or bring back. No indigenous population. No life at all. That's not how actual colonies work. A Mars base would be dependent on Earth very likely forever. If Earth blows up, the Martians die a few weeks or months later.

[Ekaros]

I would say that pretty much anything can happen to earth and it will be more survivable to still live on this planet than any other stellar object or orbit at least in medium term. Say couple hundreds of years.

[archagon]

If humanity somehow succeeds in colonizing Mars, it will be through intense political and scientific collaboration, not a moonshot spearheaded by an egomaniac with a messiah complex.

[tumsfestival]

Plenty of problems to solve down here before we even start considering the idea of living in a dead rock that can't support life.