The next 100 years

Nickatilynx · 10-16-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Chris

While I appreciate your optimism Nick, there must be a quote out there about how success and wealth can tend to put blinders on our eyes.

I just can't think of exactly what it is at the moment.

Dude even when I have been skint, I have always thought the next day was gonna be better.

Hell I'd love to see whats coming in the future!!!

I think it will be awesome for my kids!! Seriously , fan - fucking -tastic.

LOL..FUCK!!!

I was gonna post that "I don't believe in inheritted wealth etc" then realised on what I know they stand to inherit from family members they are pretty fucking wealthy. LOL

However..I think wealth to a degree is mute.

Though there is some truth in the fact that wealth doesn't make you happy ( it fucking does actually we just tell the poor people that to cheer them up) but it allows you to suffer in comfort. ;-)))

futures so bright...I gotta wear shades.

;-))

10-16-2005

Hmmm....very interesting set of posts.

One thing I notice is that everyone who is pessimistic about the future is American. The three posters who look forward to the future (myself included) aren't.

IMHO, this is a testament to a very scary trend developing in the US; the supression of technology particulary by the religious right. It strikes me as a whole lot of Americans are scared that advances in science and our understanding of the world will leave no place for a God, which the more secular nations have little concern over.

Unfortunately if Americans continue to sit around worrying more about a fictional Apocalypse in a 2000 year old story book than planning for the future, they will soon find their super power status slipping.

As for the current worry about oil supplies, who cares if oil runs out? Britain faced a similar problem in the 18th century as the country was steadily deforested and wood, the major fuel and building material became scarce. New technology enabled builders to use other materials for construction, and the introduction of coke as a fuel allowed Britain to move into the industrial revolution, greatly improving the quality of life for its citizens.

You don't hear the rest of the world bleating about energy crises and the end of days. Why? Because we have faith in our own abilities to adapt and survive and populations that embrace change as new and exciting.

Unfortunately conservatives, who seem to be the majority in only one nation, the USA, by their very definition discourage change. The inability to adapt effectively and the refusal to embrace new ideas has been the downfall of nearly every civilisation throughout history. Consider that the next time some one tries to ban stem-cell research and stop teaching evolution in schools.

MorganGrayson · 10-16-2005

Technick...a most thoughtful and well written post. (The "Stating the Obvious" prize goes to me.

You should post more, Technick. Lots more.)

You're right. Americans have watched our country slide downhill for a long time. All of the glorious things we were taught as children either weren't true or are no longer true. Our "rights" have been eroded severely. The once treasured - not merely treasured, but the reason this country exists in the first place - "separation of church and state" has ceased to exist.

It's nearly impossible to have watched all of this and have any hope for the future. The visceral reaction to Hurricane Katrina and the failure of this government to care for its citizens is still very fresh.

I'm speaking to you via technology, Technick. I'm grateful for that technology. It doesn't compare to the "real life, in person" conversations we've had, though. (Yes, it's also true that were it not for technology we never would have met in the first place to have those "real life" conversations.)

I don't know exactly when my optimism turned to pessimism. I don't like it, but I can't seem to get the optimism back. I am clearly able to see the great things technology has done...but....

I don't believe in the 2000 year old story book. The "conservatives" and the "religious right" scare the absolute hell out of me. This was *supposed* to be a "secular nation."

I'm running out of points here and my mind is going in several different directions at once, so I'll stop here for now.

Thank you, Technick. Much to think about.

Dravyk · 10-17-2005

Quote:

An immortality chip allows humans to upload into cyberspace

That would really suck if your psyche got a computer virus.

On the other hand I could see some folks on this forum sending themselves out as spam attachments.

10-16-2005	#2
Technick Guest Posts: n/a	Re: The next 100 years Hmmm....very interesting set of posts. One thing I notice is that everyone who is pessimistic about the future is American. The three posters who look forward to the future (myself included) aren't. IMHO, this is a testament to a very scary trend developing in the US; the supression of technology particulary by the religious right. It strikes me as a whole lot of Americans are scared that advances in science and our understanding of the world will leave no place for a God, which the more secular nations have little concern over. Unfortunately if Americans continue to sit around worrying more about a fictional Apocalypse in a 2000 year old story book than planning for the future, they will soon find their super power status slipping. As for the current worry about oil supplies, who cares if oil runs out? Britain faced a similar problem in the 18th century as the country was steadily deforested and wood, the major fuel and building material became scarce. New technology enabled builders to use other materials for construction, and the introduction of coke as a fuel allowed Britain to move into the industrial revolution, greatly improving the quality of life for its citizens. You don't hear the rest of the world bleating about energy crises and the end of days. Why? Because we have faith in our own abilities to adapt and survive and populations that embrace change as new and exciting. Unfortunately conservatives, who seem to be the majority in only one nation, the USA, by their very definition discourage change. The inability to adapt effectively and the refusal to embrace new ideas has been the downfall of nearly every civilisation throughout history. Consider that the next time some one tries to ban stem-cell research and stop teaching evolution in schools.

10-16-2005	#3
MorganGrayson None $100 for every ImLive sign-up Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 4,321	Re: The next 100 years Technick...a most thoughtful and well written post. (The "Stating the Obvious" prize goes to me. You should post more, Technick. Lots more.) You're right. Americans have watched our country slide downhill for a long time. All of the glorious things we were taught as children either weren't true or are no longer true. Our "rights" have been eroded severely. The once treasured - not merely treasured, but the reason this country exists in the first place - "separation of church and state" has ceased to exist. It's nearly impossible to have watched all of this and have any hope for the future. The visceral reaction to Hurricane Katrina and the failure of this government to care for its citizens is still very fresh. I'm speaking to you via technology, Technick. I'm grateful for that technology. It doesn't compare to the "real life, in person" conversations we've had, though. (Yes, it's also true that were it not for technology we never would have met in the first place to have those "real life" conversations.) I don't know exactly when my optimism turned to pessimism. I don't like it, but I can't seem to get the optimism back. I am clearly able to see the great things technology has done...but.... I don't believe in the 2000 year old story book. The "conservatives" and the "religious right" scare the absolute hell out of me. This was supposed to be a "secular nation." I'm running out of points here and my mind is going in several different directions at once, so I'll stop here for now. Thank you, Technick. Much to think about.

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