So, there are around 60000 merchant vessels, and 4 million fishing vessels. If we line them up aft to prow and make the height differences work somehow, assuming an average of 100 meters for the merchant vessels and 25m for the fishing vessels ~~this would allow us to cover around 16000km of the equator, which would leave 12000km of open water. So, if my sources are not too wrong, and if I didn't fuck up the calculations, around 7.5 million people would die. Less if you sent the people with the biggest arm span to the open water. I say it would be worth it.~~ this would allow us to make floating bridges over the ocean for every one.

Edit: I forgot 1 zero. No one needs to die.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think you've tripped up with your numbers somewhere. Four million fishing vessels averaging 25m each gives you 100,000km, enough to circle the entire Earth twice over with plenty to spare

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

[–] Viking_Hippie 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

if you sent the people with the biggest arm span to the open water. I say it would be worth it.

You're just trying to get rid of NBA players and the Dutch, aren't you?

[–] Taiatari 3 points 1 year ago

Don't tell them!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Easier plan:

Most people are capable of floating on the surface of the ocean. You just need to:

optimize the path across land so the fewest number of people need to be in the ocean
put all the babies, olds, and infirm people on land
pack container ships to the gills with floaters
dump them out in a line across the ocean

Granted you still need a bunch of ships but the complications around connecting them all are gone.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Do not necessarily the equator, but is there a route where people could hold hands around the Earth that would sacrifice the least number of lives to water?

In other words what is the Great Circle Route that remains on land the most?

[–] IndiBrony 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

My general thoughts would say to go along the west coast of the Americas. You've got Canada, the Rockies, Chile, and Antarctica. Though I'm not sure where it comes out at the other side.

Edit: nope, ignore me, that line misses Antarctica entirely and doesn't reach land until you get to the Philippines 😂

To be fair, it's got to be somewhere around there as you ideally want to miss the Pacific Ocean entirely. Yes you hit the Indian Ocean, but then the line would go up Eastern Asia and back around to Alaska.

Edit 2: if you draw a line directly down Chile, it his Antarctica, Western Australia, China, Russia, Greenland, Eastern Canada then back down the Atlantic to Venezuela.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not if those on land hold tightly enough to keep the human chain taut. 😏

[–] petersr 4 points 1 year ago

My shoulder joints popped from just reading this.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well, depending on the direction equator is infinitely small, so it could basically be done by one person, on land… boom!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

The equator is a one dimensional imaginary object. This means it's infinitely small in its width. Not its height. Sooooo.... Yeah... You would still need many many people and sacrifice quite a few of them in the ocean for the greater good.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Skill issue