Geologists are seriously considering the idea that humans, through
global heating and ecological disruption, have caused a
new
geological period, which they propose to call the Anthropocene.
I am concerned that the name "Anthropocene" may provoke irrational
pride: some humans may think, "An epoch named after US humans proves
our importance — we've really made it now." Even people who
would not say this may feel it and be subtly influenced by it. That
would be most unfortunate, since considering the epoch as an award
would lead people not to recognize this development as the catastrophe
that it is.
I therefore suggest choosing another name. The name that best
characterizes what's coming in this epoch is "Obscene".
Seriously, since the change consists primarily of global heating, how
about "Thermocene"? The heating is caused mainly by combustion (of
fossil fuel and forests), so how about "Pyrocene"?