Let's Fix the Future!

[starky]

Mar 18, 2010 11:11:32 GMT -5 jessn said:

Centennial: We are a people who are willing to mix any and every belief structure into our apocalyptic nightmares if it insures complete and utter destruction of our world. For some reason, that appeals to us. I totally expect that sooner or later, we will see an apocalyptic film that includes the rising of the Midgard Serpent, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse riding on their steeds through the skies, and all sorts of asundry plagues falling upon us. More than likely all of these things will be alien creatures attacking us.

Jess, don't forget the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.....

I have a broader take on this. For all the wonderful technology on display in Star Trek, their biggest accomplishment is the elimination of greed. The Star Trek universe is not based on the aquisition of power or possessions. If somehow we could eliminate this basic human trait, then perhaps people would cooperate more to build all the things we would like to see.

Any ideas to make this happen? No....okay....just build me an R2-D2 style droid then.

[Gilberto]

In a way, the Google model is helping with this. Instead of basing consumerism on personal greed, they offer product to the consumer at no cost and satisfy corporate greed through advertising. This is a practical way of making a profit while also making their products and services available to everyone. Considering that they're offering the number one communication tool in the world - the internet - this is actually helping to build a digital democracy.

That's not a perfect world by any means, but it's a step in the right direction.

And I think Lynn's right: the cynicism of the new generation does seem to be founded in selfishness. This may actually come from the fact that our modern society is overly prosperous. We're not really worried about the world ending, we just fear an event where the boundaries are lifted and the mohawk weirdoes will come for our stuff. None of us are fit enough for a survival of the strongest scenario.

And they will have mohawks, it's a fact. I'm sorry. I don't make the rules. When the riots come, the first thing the looters go for is hair product.

[jessn]

Apparently, they will also loot every Harley Davidson location in the world because they wear leather and ride modified Harleys! Perhaps that's our real underlying fear--fear of being over-run by NeoHell's Angels!

Centennial: I love your idealism. I wish getting rid of greed were that simple. Unfortunately, it is one of those things that is still inherent in humanity. Greed is around even in non-prosperous societies as long as owning stuff is made a major form of determining success. That being said, I agree with you as far as the Google model. It is a step in the right, non-greedy direction. I am curious to see how the digital democracy theory plays out. Like I said the other night, we are blessed in that we are at the beginning of this cycle. We are the pioneers.

[jessn]

Starky: You're right...we NEED the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. He IS the true apocalypse.

[Gilberto]

Idealism has to be tempered with realism, that's why I'm a capitalist. Greed has to be managed. I don't think it can be eradicated. Neither can crime unless mankind's fundamental disposition is made to evolve. But prosperity is a factor.

The worst crimes are predominantly motivated by a lack of prosperity. Capitalism offers the promise of prosperity, which actually allows people to sublimate greed by focusing it on a positive goal.

Smart business, like the Google model, understands that insuring a baseline of prosperity for everybody increases the consumer base. If everyone can get Google services, then everyone can get Google ads. That's beneficial to the consumer because they're getting free services, it's beneficial to the sponsors because more people are seeing their ads (and they have more money to spend because the information service is free), and it's beneficial to Google because more eyes on Google means more ad revenue.

I'm not talking about doing this because it's the right thing to do. I'm putting it forward as good business. Good business isn't antithetical to making a better world. In fact it's necessary, because in order for business to thrive the world must thrive too.

[lynn]

Haven't you seen the 2nd and 3rd Pirates of the Carribean movies? "Good business" is often just a term used to justify heartless selfish greed. We should blow up those people with canons.

[lynn]

Also, I think instead of rocket packs we should all have little helicopters that come out of our hats, like Inspector Gadget. I'd give up half my brain cavity for that. Let's face it, we only use 10% of our brains anyway.

[drivebyluna]

Oh, that's a myth.

[lynn]

I don't know, I'm pretty sure I don't use everything I've got in there! lol. I think that can't be proven true because they don't really know that much about the brain and how it works, do they? They can't know how it all works and how much we use. But you know, it's a fun myth.

[Gilberto]

No, it's real. I read an article in "Scientific American" about the unused helicopter lobe in our brains.

[lynn]

oh, you see, that's how we fix the future, activate that baby.

[Gilberto]

I'm game.

[lynn]

Also, I think cars should be made out of something soft and bouncy on the outside, rather than hard and brittle, that way we wouldn't need to fork out every time we come a little too close to a pole or the car next to us.

[Scary Gary]

Apr 25, 2010 17:44:52 GMT -5 lynn said:

Also, I think cars should be made out of something soft and bouncy on the outside, rather than hard and brittle, that way we wouldn't need to fork out every time we come a little too close to a pole or the car next to us.

Your post reminded me of one I came up with years ago. Roads and cars should be altered so that the cars follow tracks of sort. In the cars, computers determine speed based on real-time feedback from the road. The cars themselves are all magnetized with the same polarity so that collisions cannot actually occur.

This is overly simplified, but I think you all get the drift.

[drivebyluna]

Invent a way give clean water access to all people.

National Geographic recently had a whole issue about water and they had a discussion on how to clean water. One of the simplest ways is to gather them in plastic bottles and put them in the sun for 6 hours. In sunny areas of Africa it works like a charm. There's also a chemical you can add to water that will not only kill bacteria but also clump sediment down at the bottom of the bottle.