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8 Scary Facts About Data Centers
The Bee ^
| May 18, 2026
| The Bee
Posted on 05/19/2026 10:07:29 AM PDT by dayglored
(Image Matthew G Eddy / Shutterstock)
AI uses a lot of power, and it needs massive data centers to support it. That's why, despite data centers having existed for decades, people are suddenly running for the hills. But do they have a reason to be afraid? You be the judge.
Here are the scariest facts about data centers:
- Data centers are the ugliest buildings on earth: Ancient Greeks never built utilitarian buildings.
- They're almost as bad as nuclear power plants: And 100 times more deadly.
- They drink up one whole ocean per ChatGPT query: We might need the oceans at some point in the future.
- They use so much power that everyone nearby is forced to become Amish: And if you're Amish, you won't be allowed to watch Dune: Part Three. Horrifying.
- Dangerous levels of EMF and radiation can affect human health: Methuselah lived to the age of 969 when there were no data centers around. You think that's just a coincidence?
- Powering a single data center requires the opening of a Hellmouth: Is that what we really need? More Hellmouths?
- Data centers are the last step before the vast farms filled with crops of human beings to feed them: You will now be food for the machines.
- There's one behind you right now: Run! Run for your lives!
Are you frightened? Not nearly frightened enough. What else is scary about data centers?
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Humor
KEYWORDS: babylonbee; datacenters; satire; scary
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To: KarlInOhio
More power for the 11/780!
I cut my baby teeth on a lowly PDP-8. We ALL wanted the 11.
21
posted on
05/19/2026 11:16:37 AM PDT
by
Dr. Sivana
("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
To: Dr. Sivana
There was a PDP-11/23 with a pair of RL-02 removable pack disk drives for sale at the Dayton Hamvention flea market last weekend. I think the price was $11000, then marked down to $5000 and someone said $1000 after it rained.
22
posted on
05/19/2026 11:28:46 AM PDT
by
bigbob
(We are all Charlie Kirk now)
To: Dr. Sivana
'Regenstein Library'
Wow; that really is ugly...
23
posted on
05/19/2026 11:42:52 AM PDT
by
Jamestown1630
("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
To: Mariner
They drain our natural resources almost as much as they drain our human souls. Kinda interesting how AI/Data Centers kicked in, big time, on the heels of covid...
24
posted on
05/19/2026 11:50:07 AM PDT
by
drwoof
To: bigbob
I think the price was $11000, then marked down to $5000 and someone said $1000 after it rained.
Did that one have core memory? Did it include a DECwriter with integrated paper tape punch? I would be shocked if it worked at all.
25
posted on
05/19/2026 11:54:36 AM PDT
by
Dr. Sivana
("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
To: KarlInOhio
So that’s what a VAX 11/780 looks like. That’s what we connected to via modems at Va Tech. We had a PDP-11 in the Air Force. Nice 70’s color scheme on it—purple and mauve register switches and labels.
To: bigbob
No OnlyFans, no Youtube, no cat videos.
What’s the use in living if we can’t enjoy life?
27
posted on
05/19/2026 12:30:15 PM PDT
by
BipolarBob
(Call my personal secretary, Jennie, at 867-5309.)
To: dayglored
28
posted on
05/19/2026 12:31:20 PM PDT
by
Revel
To: dayglored
Why don’t we just call them power generation centers
29
posted on
05/19/2026 12:33:42 PM PDT
by
oil_dude
To: dayglored
...the ugliest buildings on earth...Could explain a few things.
30
posted on
05/19/2026 1:06:11 PM PDT
by
Libloather
(Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
To: no2daylightsavings
It’s all just luddite misinformation.
Oh, the water!!! I like to golf, but have you ever complained about how much your local golf course uses? To say nothing of courses in the arid west?
Oh, the power!!! Guess what, they’re not getting it for free, either.
The most unsettling thing about our modern world is that I can no longer tell the difference between the hippie leftists and the “right”. They’ve merged into a stupid borg of memes and misinformation.
But whatever... I’ve given up on society.
31
posted on
05/19/2026 1:11:53 PM PDT
by
Capn Hayek
(Capital is not responsible for Labor's lack of planning)
To: Dr. Sivana
You forgot Bam Bam’s lie berry.
32
posted on
05/19/2026 2:02:07 PM PDT
by
VTenigma
(Conspiracy theory is the new "spoiler alert")
To: VTenigma
I did. I worked off of memory of places I have seen. Many have called me out on this.
33
posted on
05/19/2026 2:03:41 PM PDT
by
Dr. Sivana
("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
To: KingLudd
I’ve always thought there was no good point in starting one up.
34
posted on
05/19/2026 2:12:44 PM PDT
by
oldtech
(oltech)
To: dayglored
~15 years ago I worked with the Army Corps of Engineers to build a data center in Kabul, if a data center can be built there - anywhere is a possible location for a data center....
35
posted on
05/19/2026 2:13:15 PM PDT
by
dakine
To: Dr. Sivana
You forgot the Obama Presidential Library.
36
posted on
05/19/2026 2:14:53 PM PDT
by
Night Hides Not
(Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
To: Night Hides Not
Just damn, slow to the punch again.
37
posted on
05/19/2026 2:16:32 PM PDT
by
Night Hides Not
(Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
To: KingLudd
I’ve always thought there was no good point in starting one up.
38
posted on
05/19/2026 2:18:12 PM PDT
by
oldtech
(oltech)
To: thesligoduffyflynns
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4379072/posts
39
posted on
05/19/2026 4:47:53 PM PDT
by
ridesthemiles
(not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
To: oil_dude
NOT GENERATING POWER——SUCKING IT UP
40
posted on
05/19/2026 4:48:55 PM PDT
by
ridesthemiles
(not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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