The modern world sucks ass

submitted by yabbit from self.whatever

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[–]StillLessons 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

+1 for fschmidt's response.

What you are talking about are surface entertainments; it's like eating grass instead of steak, potatoes and salad. There's lots more grass to eat, but no matter how much of it we eat, we will remain as hungry as when we started.

You acknowledge that social interactions have suffered, but you don't realize that those social interactions are the foundation of true meaning as we pass through this universe. Interactions with people had infinitely more spiritual, intellectual, and moral "nutrition" in them decades ago. A much higher percentage of people were complete and entire human beings, where talking to them gave you something in return. With the explosion in the "virtual" world came "virtual" life. That isn't even close to real life. Not even close. This is why the various measures of misery are through the roof at this point. Those I feel sorriest for are the children. To grow up in a world where "virtual" is considered the ideal? We're on a path to hell, and they've never had the opportunity to experience the alternative.

You can keep your entertainments. If they all went away tomorrow and we brought back the ability of people to be complete and colorful (non-drug-mediated, especially prescription varieties), I would take that trade ten times out of ten.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

surface entertainment

I'm not watching reality TV here. You can read the great works of literary masters, view famous artwork, talk to incredible people (mentioned that one). Read every patent ever filed. Research whatever you want from the comfort of your own phone.

+1 for fschmidt's response

+1 for fschmidt in general, a person we both know (I assume) through modern technology.

Those I feel sorriest for are the children

I also feel sorry for the lost experiences they will never have too but they have so much more.

but you don't realize that those social interactions are the foundation of true meaning

I think mostly you're just being nostalgic. We tend to forget all the bad things and remember the past overly fondly.

[–]jet199Instigatrix 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Social interactions are the one thing it's easy for you to fix. Just start speaking to people. Don't blame society for that.

[–]StillLessons 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I have a healthy real-life social circle, and I have a very happy life, actually. That doesn't change the fact that among the people I see around me in broader society, I witness a large amount who appear to be barely holding on from the stress of our current social arrangements. The posts from Reddit that show up here periodically represent that cohort. For myself, I'm fine for the moment, but being empathetic, I'd like to help those who demonstrate signs of extreme stress and insecurity. When I look at them and what it is that they do with their lives, the elements that I believe to be making them unhappy are precisely the elements which are being put forward in this thread as progress. Doesn't look like progress to me based on the results...