Is the world getting worse?

[squeekness]

Can I go out on a limb and say the world may be getting worse for the reasons you guys say it's getting better? I mean... most will be pretty quick to dismiss the following statements, but try to keep your mind open for the next couple minutes.

Sure we save more people from disease and find new ways to prolong human life every day... Sure humanity grows more populous with every passing year. It is truly amazing that less people with HIV and cancer must suffer due to advances in science and medicine. Human beings are made safer, happier and healthier and the world is less of a threat to mankind as time ticks on.

But tell me, why is that a good thing? We celebrate and protect human life as if its in short supply. When really all we are doing is trading the other organic matter on the planet for the life most suitable for sustaining our own human bodies. Species of plants and animals become endangered or extinct more and more rapidly because they are of little or no use to us as a species.

So we'll hit 8 billion in a few years, shortly after that 9 billion, then 10. Then what? If you've ever complained about traffic, or waiting in line, or pollution, or inflation... or sat and pined over world hunger and poverty... and yet your life goal is to get married and have 4 kids and 12 grand kids (without considering adoption), then you are a hypocrite.


Personally I do believe the world is getting worse and the number one reason is over-population. In this belief, I am most definitely outnumbered.

No, I agree with you on overpopulation, it's just that I'm not sure what to do about it. I can't say I'm keen on forced abortions, though. How do you convince people of such vastly diverse customs to peacefully agree to have a lot less kids? I don't have that answer. And the ones that do have kids, how do you ensure that those kids will actually grow up to give a crap about anyone else besides themselves?

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

No, I agree with you on overpopulation, it's just that I'm not sure what to do about it. I can't say I'm keen on forced abortions, though. How do you convince people of such vastly diverse customs to peacefully agree to have a lot less kids? I don't have that answer. And the ones that do have kids, how do you ensure that those kids will actually grow up to give a crap about anyone else besides themselves?

A voice of reason! /sigh of relief. It's really good to hear you say that squeek.

Man, I think about this a lot. And its like most things. This life is a tradition. We are pressured by biology and culture and religion to procreate until we are blue in the face. And only encouraged by the government.

So thats one thing... we can vote to stop encouraging large families. For instance tax breaks often convince couples to want to marry and reproduce. People talk about welfare like its a drain on the economy.. Do you know how much more single people pay in taxes?

And we dont have to force abortions by any means! We can stop with the abortion hate and scare tactics. Pro-choice movements are one thing. But it almost makes abortion seem like the wrong "choice." Women should not be shamed for making the choice, perhaps they should be celebrated. If they aren't ready to be a parent and are strong enough to make that decision they should have our gratitude.

But its not just a woman's responsibility... get a vasectomy! They are 12 dollars after subsidies at some places in Canada. Why can't it be that way in the US?

Friggin adopt if you want a child. So often I hear people saying things like "yeah but us smart people should continue our genepools" or "us beautiful people should continue our genepools"

"US NICE PEOPLE SHOULD CONTINUE OUR GENEPOOLS" newsflash, everyone says that. Be the big person. Go against your primal instincts. Save the world from your seed. t:

 

[squeekness]

A voice of reason! /sigh of relief. It's really good to hear you say that squeek.

Man, I think about this a lot. And its like most things. This life is a tradition. We are pressured by biology and culture and religion to procreate until we are blue in the face. And only encouraged by the government.

So thats one thing... we can vote to stop encouraging large families. For instance tax breaks often convince couples to want to marry and reproduce. People talk about welfare like its a drain on the economy.. Do you know how much more single people pay in taxes?

And we dont have to force abortions by any means! We can stop with the abortion hate and scare tactics. Pro-choice movements are one thing. But it almost makes abortion seem like the wrong "choice." Women should not be shamed for making the choice, perhaps they should be celebrated. If they aren't ready to be a parent and are strong enough to make that decision they should have our gratitude.

But its not just a woman's responsibility... get a vasectomy! They are 12 dollars after subsidies at some places in Canada. Why can't it be that way in the US?

Friggin adopt if you want a child. So often I hear people saying things like "yeah but us smart people should continue our genepools" or "us beautiful people should continue our genepools"

"US NICE PEOPLE SHOULD CONTINUE OUR GENEPOOLS" newsflash, everyone says that. Be the big person. Go against your primal instincts. Save the world from your seed. t:

Im not anti-pro choice even though I don't like abortion, I don't want to tell other people what to do. It was China I was thinking about, I've heard stories of women being forced to have late term abortion against their will. I could never tolerate that. In the US it seems to me that there is enough various forms of birth control out there that abortion should be the last option (unless something medically unexpected comes up or in the case of rape). But I don't want to make a fuss over the topic, I just wish there was a way to curb population without forcing anyone in any direction. Just don't know how that is possible.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

I'm personally in the vasectomy camp. But you're probably right. There's really no efficient way to stop people from doing what their basest instincts tell them is their life's purpose. Especially when they are told its the right way to live and especially when it feels as good as sex.

There are other schools of thought too though. I really recommend the quick, simple read Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. It'll make you think about life, in a way you probably never thought you would.

http://www.amazon.com/Ishmael-An-Adventure-Mind-Spirit/dp/0553375407

 

[squeekness]

I'll take a look, but I'm buried in books right now.

 

[Apollo]

I think things are getting worse.

90 year old pastor and two others in Pakistan gets arrested for feeding homeless people at a park, no wait it happened in Florida.

http://www.local10.com/news/police-charge-90yearold-man-2-pastors-with-feeding-the-homeless/29510268

All three pastors face up to 60 days in jail in a Pakistani prison and a $500 fine. I meant a Florida prison...

Even though things are getting worse. It won't last forever.

 

[squeekness]

I think things are getting worse.



http://www.local10.com/news/police-charge-90yearold-man-2-pastors-with-feeding-the-homeless/29510268





Even though things are getting worse. It won't last forever.

I hope you're right. I'm tired of the news dragging me down.

 

[Apollo]

As long as there is a Mighty Squeek within many hearts. The world will survive! t:

 

[squeekness]

As long as there is a Mighty Squeek within many hearts. The world will survive! t:

Hee Hee, if only it was that simple. Thanks, anyhow.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I'm one of those people that feels the world is NOT getting worse. That things balance out...for every horrible thing that happens a good thing happens as well. For instance, a large earthquake destroys a town and kills a bunch of people...BUT thanks to technology we can bring help to the survivors much faster saving more than we could before.

Or a disease (not something like ebola, but still bad) hits a town and lots of people die...BUT thanks to new medicines we can save people that would not normally have been saved.

What i'm saying is...I believe it balances out. For every rotten, horrible person there is another person out there doing good and helping others.

But sometimes...reading the news...even just glancing at it I start to get a little bummed out and wonder "maybe the world really is a terrible, awful place that's falling apart...."

I just don't buy that. I just have to remind myself that's what the news thrives on...the bad. They don't care about the good things happening because that doesn't make money.

What about you guys? Do you think the world is going all to hell?

Yes, and no. The problem is that there are way more people now than there have ever been, and we live in a much smaller, more connected world. Also, bad news sells much better than no news or good news.

I think the world is a bad place and we just keep getting better and better coverage of the worst aspects. Overall though it is in some ways improving.

 

[SuperFerret]

I don't think global warming caused by us is minor. Selling women into slavery (forced marriage), kids killing kids, slaughtering endangered species for better sex. These are not minor to me. These make me cry.

This isn't the sort of situation to bring emotional responses into.

 

[LizardMan07]

I think we have an inherently pessimistic view of the world, sort of driven by nostalgia by the "good old days" where people could walk the streets, bible in one hand, gun in the other, praising God's country. Where kids could walk around without being abducted, the good old dream o' freedom.

In Australia, people yearn for the 1950's, when we were the lucky country. Good oooold times I say.

Sure, global warming, overpopulation, all that jazz. It's natural that as the world nears its destruction (sun blowing it up) its going to get worse. Its natural that as our species follows the road that nearly all species do (extinction) things are going to get worse. That's to be expected.

I feel, as a culture, we are only ever advancing, sure, its nice to fee nostalgic about simpler times, but at least we're aware of our wrongdoings now, we'll continue to make mistakes, becaus we're human. We can't view that as a slight on humanity, as a sign we're getting worse.

Has to be a sign that we can be better. Perhaps if we started defining humanity by how we overcame our mistakes, not the mistakes we made, things would be just a tad different.

Enjoy the lives you have now people, may be the only one you get. Live long, improve society in every way you feel you can. But never fear the unchangable, just know the difference between what you can and can't change.

The world is what we let it be.

 

[The End]

There's a bunch of sentiments I agree with in this thread.

There are many aspects of human life and experience that are better today, and continue to get better. More people are literate than ever before. Science has cured or made manageable many diseases. A few centuries ago, more people lived in poverty, work was pure drudgery, the average human life span was much shorter.

War still exists, it is still unquestionably horrible, but the toll of war isn't anything like what it used to be.

People in this thread have expressed concerns about global warming and over-population and these are genuine concerns.

I think we're at an important turning point in human history in this century. We could advance clean energy, artificial intelligence and robotics, space travel; all these areas and more in a way that will eliminate scarcity, drudgery, and will advance humanity to the point that we are post-human. It could also all be screwed up. There still exists a real risk that we could throw all of that away and take several steps backwards. But if we don't, I believe we will reach a turning point of advancement in the next few decades in which each human life will be truly free, healthy, comfortable, pursuing whatever interest they wish without any kind of economic or social boundary. Solar energy improves all the time. Robots can do more and more of the laborious work. Look at the work of Elon Musk, and how much progress he's made with the electric car, with solar energy, and space travel, in a relatively short amount of time. He has very ambitious plans; he wants a million people on Mars before the end of the century.

As long as some trigger happy, short sighted, greedy president or minister or dictator doesn't **** it all up, the next century can bring rapid advancement towards a golden age for humanity.

 

[CyclopsWasRight]

I think some of it is that with the internet and the twenty-four hour news cycle, you hear about stuff that you might not would've heard about years ago. Also, what Schlosser said.

Agreed with this. I never heard of terrorists until 2001 but then the word was everywhere. It's a case of these things were around before we just didn't hear about them as much

 

[Feenix]

I can't wait for a massive asteroid to impact the planet. It's long overdue anyways.

Seconded. I'll sit on my patio furniture, beer in hand, and watch it all happen. I want front row seats for the end of the world.

As for the original question, technically, no. We live longer, we can combat diseases better, there are less of us that are illiterate/starving/sent off to war, etc.

Buuuuut, the negative effect of this is overpopulation. We breed like animals, but instead of our young dying because the environment can't sustain us, we warp our environment so our young can grow up and have more young. I personally despise people who don't believe in birth control and I also think that people should have to be tested medically and psychologically before they can have children.

 

[Lighthouse]

It's a little of both. I have no doubt between global warming and overpopulation, we are on the verge of a global catastrophe, and until something really bad happens, people and governments aren't going to pay attention. The question is if we survive, rise and learn from that catastrophe as a better human race.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

Seconded. I'll sit on my patio furniture, beer in hand, and watch it all happen. I want front row seats for the end of the world.

As for the original question, technically, no. We live longer, we can combat diseases better, there are less of us that are illiterate/starving/sent off to war, etc.

Buuuuut, the negative effect of this is overpopulation. We breed like animals, but instead of our young dying because the environment can't sustain us, we warp our environment so our young can grow up and have more young. I personally despise people who don't believe in birth control and I also think that people should have to be tested medically and psychologically before they can have children.

It's actually refreshing that people here are in agreement with the sentiment I expressed yesterday.

Honestly, the way the world is, with single parents and large families getting so much respect and admiration.. while the people actually saving the world, those who opt out and choose abortion, adoption or the single life are ostracized and even demonized. Or just laughed off.

It makes me sick. I should write a book.

 

[james-in-cali]

It's actually refreshing that people here are in agreement with the sentiment I expressed yesterday.

Honestly, the way the world is, with single parents and large families getting so much respect and admiration.. while the people actually saving the world, those who opt out and choose abortion, adoption or the single life are ostracized and even demonized. Or just laughed off.

It makes me sick. I should write a book.

I would read it! My wife and I are early 30's ,college educated, good jobs and we have no kids. I had a vasectomy at 25 we knew we didn't want kids. At least once a week I get questioned what is wrong with us and that we are missing out on what life is all about blah blah blah...... I think people telling/showing every terrible thing their kids do like its the greatest thing ever is a big lie they tell themself because they are secretly jealous of my life....... At least that's what Itell myself and maybe I am missing out on something

 

[CyclopsWasRight]

Concerning overpopulation and birth control I read or saw something recently. Don't know if it was news or just theory or even a movie or book but the idea was a way of stopping pregnancy so that no one has Children unless the opt out at the point in time when they want Children.

So basically no unplanned pregnancies. Wonder what the statistics are of planned vs unplanned pregnancies

I personally despise people who don't believe in birth control and I also think that people should have to be tested medically and psychologically before they can have children.

In what manner?

Eugenics?

 

[Aesop Rocks]

is the world getting worse? nah but this thread is

 

[Teelie]

It certainly didn't take long for certain opinions to come in and train-wreck it, did it?

 

[chamber-music]

I think the world is getting better. The world has never been some magical utopia and it isn't now but life today is still far better for most people than it was in the past.

There is a lot of historical revisionism to the good old days but if you actually look back at history the good old days were not really that good. The rigid social conservatism alone most modern people would find suffocating.

Over population will possibly be a problem going forward. We don't have unlimited resources so a huge change in life style or some form of population control will be needed eventually if things carry on the way they are going.

Climate change is a big problem as well. It doesn't matter if you think it is man made or not we still need to things to offset the effects of extreme weather events.

 

[squeekness]

There is good and bad during every era, it just seems to me that I am more aware of a kind of moral decay that wasn't so obvious to me in years past. Maybe you notice these things the older you get. We didn't have school shootings and bombings like you hear about now. This lack of caring for the sanctity of life.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

is the world getting worse? nah but this thread is

It certainly didn't take long for certain opinions to come in and train-wreck it, did it?

I'm under the impression you're referring to my certain opinions.

Not sure I understand how it was train-wrecked

 

[SuperFerret]

There is good and bad during every era, it just seems to me that I am more aware of a kind of moral decay that wasn't so obvious to me in years past. Maybe you notice these things the older you get. We didn't have school shootings and bombings like you hear about now. This lack of caring for the sanctity of life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath_School_bombings

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Whitman